New York City is one of the most vibrant and exciting cities for people of all ages.
The city offers an incredible nightlife for the over 18 but still youthful lot, and there is no paucity of things to do for the younger ones.
If you are in the Big Apple and are looking for kids’ activities in NYC, the following are some of the best options.
1. Children’s Museum of Manhattan
Children’s Museum of Manhattan is right on top of the list when it comes to fun activities for kids in NYC.
This museum is for kids below the age of six and has several exciting activities.
There are exhibits at the museum throughout the year, and the kids can learn something about little ones from different cultures in the world.
When it is warm out, I would highly recommend spending some time at City Splash water play which is a hit among the younger lot.
While the museum will provide waterproof smocks, I would suggest you also carry a change of clothes.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: Ink 48
Related: Best Family Hotels in New York City
2. Brooklyn Bridge (Pedestrian & Bike Promenade)
If you have seen any film set in New York, the Brooklyn Bridge is certainly going to make its way into one of the shots.
The pedestrian and bike promenade on this historic bridge is a great way to enjoy the Big Apple’s skyline.
The walkway is 1.3 miles long and you can cover it on foot in about half an hour, perhaps longer if you make many stops.
Though this does not sound like the typical New York’s kids’ activities, I am suggesting this because this is an incredible place to capture family memories in photographs.
However, let me warn you that this can be quite a walk even from the nearest subway station.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge
3. Central Park
Is a visit to New York even complete if you have not walked through Central Park?
This is one of the most kid-friendly activities you can participate in in the city.
Whether you are looking for outdoor activities or indoor activities, Central Park has them all.
There is a separate children’s zoo where the younger lot can even feed gentle animals!
At the Central Park zoo, you can also visit the sea lion pool to wave hello to the incredible animals or even give a formal curtsy to the best-dressed birds of the polar world—penguins of course!
If you are visiting during the winter months, you can also rent ice skates and go for a joyride on the Wollman Rink.
The area is just as vibrant in the summer and the ice skating rink becomes the Victorian Garden that has several thrills for kids and adults alike.
Central Park is one of my favorite things about New York and I am sure I am not the only one holding this opinion!
Recommended Hotel Nearby: The Whitby Hotel
Related: Best Things to Do in NYC with Kids
4. New York Hall of Science
If you are looking for something to do indoors, especially when it rains, but do not want to waste a day of your vacation in the incredible city, New York Hall of Science is a great place to visit.
The museum is tailor made for kids, so much so that they will have an absolute blast without even realizing that they are learning something.
Say goodbye to textbook education when learning can be so fun and interactive!
Some of the most exciting exhibits and a few of my favorites include Seeing the Light, Sound Sensations: The Inside Story of Audio, Realm of the Atom, and more.
The Sports Challenge is one of the hit exhibits with the little ones where they can test their reflexes through fun activities.
When the weather clears up, you can also step outside to play some miniature golf!
Recommended Hotel Nearby: Wyndham Garden LaGuardia South
5. Dylan’s Candy Bar
Dylan’s Candy Bar is one of the most fun places to take the young members of the family (and also the older members, let’s not pretend the adults dislike candy).
The ‘bar’ has an incredible lollipop tree in the center and the decor will truly blow you away.
The confectionary is supposed to have over 7,000 selections of candy so there is surely going to be something at the store that will satisfy your palate.
You will have to pay by weight at the store so simply take a bag and get started!
Fill the bag up to your and your child’s heart’s content.
There are also some souvenirs you can take back from the store, such as pillows, personalized mugs and more.
The fudge station is at the lower level, and at the level above you can select the scoops you want for your special sundae.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: InterContinental New York Barclay Hotel
6. Brooklyn Children’s Museum
Brooklyn Children’s Museum has to be mentioned in a list of NYC children’s activities.
The historic museum dates back to 1899 and is the first of its kind in the city.
The museum has recently acquired more space and is twice the size.
I think Collections Central will be a favorite among the kids so you should just hit that exhibit first thing since that is also expected to take some time.
At this exhibit, you can explore the permanent collection of almost 30,000 objects that the museum houses.
The highlight, of course, is the skeleton of an Asian elephant.
Next, Neighborhood Nature is something the kids should certainly explore.
This includes a tunnel inside the pond aquarium, crawling through which the kids will be able to get a fish-eye view of the pond.
They can also dig around in the mud for fun and sow pretend plants in the garden.
There are several incredible activities to enjoy here and I think the kids will have a memorable time.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: EVEN Hotel Brooklyn
7. Bronx Zoo
The Bronx Zoo is world renowned and is the largest city zoo in the country.
There are approximately 4,000 animals that the zoo is home to.
Naturally, I would suggest setting aside a full day if you want to cover the zoo in its entirety.
Even with a whole day, there may be some parts you may not be able to cover with satisfaction, but it will certainly be a valiant effort.
The children’s zoo, of course, is a big hit with the kids.
Here, they will be able to interact with the animals and even feed some of the tame ones.
I would also recommend the African Plains where you can observe zebras, giraffes, lions and other incredible animals.
The Madagascar section is my personal favorite—I cannot get enough of the lemurs swinging from the trees and putting on an incredible show.
The kids can also go on a camel ride and the bug carousel is also a mandatory zoo experience.
This is a large zoo but you do not have to walk the whole way and can make use of the tram.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: Aloft Harlem
Related: Things to Do Near NYC
8. Madame Tussauds Wax Museum
New York is a happening city for showbiz, but there is no guarantee you will run into any celebrities walking the streets.
However, you can get incredible photos with some very famous people at the Madame Tussauds Wax Museum.
From sports stars to movie stars and franchise superheroes, the museum has wax models that look very close to the real person, though some, of course, are slightly off the mark.
Some of the figures popular with the kids are cartoon characters like SpongeBob or characters from famous kids movies like ET.
I guarantee you will be able to take home several pictures for your social media profiles.
If you are traveling with teenagers, they will certainly have a blast here.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: The Benjamin
9. DiMenna Children’s Museum at the New York Historical Society
DiMenna Children’s Museum at the New York Historical Society is a great place for kids between the ages of 8 and 13.
The museum of history will allow the kids to go back in history and discover more about the city from its modern origins.
Some of the biggest hits at the museum include the exhibit where you can flip a switch to see what a street looked like a century ago and compare it to the present.
The kids can also practice cross-stitching and see how they fare to get a taste of how people would sew their own clothes in 20th century New York.
If you are traveling with young as well as old kids, there are separate exhibits that both can enjoy without taking away from each other’s experience.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: Lotte New York Palace
10. Coney Island & the New York Aquarium
Coney Island & the New York Aquarium is one of the oldest ways to have a blast in the city but the experience still holds up.
The arcades, aquarium, and the 2.5-mile boardwalk that leads to the waters are great ingredients for an incredible day with the family.
The Luna Park amusement center is one of my favorite things about the island and I would recommend definitely giving the 1918 Wonder Wheel a try.
For the older kids and the more courageous adults, the 1927 Cyclone roller coaster is also a great option.
But for most people, the New York Aquarium makes the trip to Coney Island memorable, and the recently added exhibit Ocean Wonders: Sharks is an incredible experience.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: Best Western Plus Brooklyn Bay Hotel
Kids Activities NYC: Top 10 Child Friendly Attractions
