Where to take the kids in NYC

It’s summer in New York City, which means tourists are everywhere. Some of them may even be your good friends, who are wondering where they should take their children in the city. Heck, you may have kids and still be stumped by the question.

What would a 12 year-old boy like? Who knows! A toddler? If you have one, you probably haven’t slept through the night in three years and remember nothing.

But we polled the parents, aunts and uncles in our newsroom, and they had loads of suggestions for how to have a good time with little ones. Here are some ideas to get you and your guests on your way to a great time in the Big Apple. Go get ‘em!

A day in DUMBO (Brooklyn)

For an action-packed morning before naptime, take the East River Ferry to DUMBO and explore Brooklyn Bridge Park, where you can take a ride on Jane’s Carousel for $2. For lunch, head to Shake Shack or Time Out Market, and finish the outing with an ice cream at OddFellow’s. If you’re feeling extra, you can walk across the Brooklyn Bridge; there’s a little stairway at Washington and Prospect streets. Note that the carousel is closed on Tuesdays in summer. Another tip: arrive early to beat the lines and avoid the hordes of people taking selfies.

American Museum of Natural History (Upper West Side)

This is a beloved place to bring kids among the grownups in the newsroom. The only downside is that seemingly the entire city has the same idea, particularly during the summer and on holidays and weekends. If you can deal with crowds, there truly is something for everyone here: sharks, dinosaurs, butterflies, astronomy, movies and way too many gift shops. Some of the exhibitions cost extra, and reservations are strongly recommended, so plan your day before heading here. Tickets start at $28 for out-of-town adults and $16 for kids ages 3-12. Tristate area residents can pay what they wish for admission.

Ancient Playground in Central Park and a visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Upper East Side)

If you’re spending a day at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in summer, tell the kids to bring a bathing suit in case the sprinklers are on at the nearby Ancient Playground, where the structures were inspired by Egyptian structures from around 15 B.C. But first see actual Egyptian art at the museum, visit the Frank Lloyd Wright Room or check out Van Gogh’s Cypresses, which is on through Aug. 27. The museum is free for children under 12. New Yorkers can pay what they wish for admission, which is $30 for adults from out of state. You can learn more here.

Baseball

The Brooklyn Cyclones, a minor league baseball team, has games all summer, and they play at Maimonides Park in Coney Island, which makes for a great setting. Going here can also be a twofer: some days there are post-game fireworks. Another fun bet? Mets games. Citi Field is accessible in under an hour on the 7 train from many spots in the city, and Mets tickets can be as cheap as $12. Because this guide is not intended to be controversial, you can also bring the kids to a Yankees game. For a recent weekday game, tickets were as low as $20. It’s an easy commute on the subway.

Brooklyn Children’s Museum (Crown Heights)

Little ones can spend hours at the museum’s kid-sized stores, inspired by actual shops in Brooklyn. They can pretend to run a grocery store, a pizza parlor or a bakery. Toddlers will love the sand pit and burn off energy at the rooftop play area. The museum regularly hosts fun events around holidays and even has free admission on Thursday afternoons, so check the calendar to plan ahead and reserve your spot. Tickets are $13; children under 1 get in for free.

Bronx Zoo (The Bronx)

Lions, tigers and bears, oh my! The Bronx Zoo has a diverse array of animals from all over the world and its huge grounds make for a nice day of walking. Little kids will love the bug carousel. Getting here is doable on public transportation but could require a transfer, depending on where you start your journey, which could be cumbersome with children and a stroller. If you’re going with little kids, you’ll definitely want a stroller, which you can rent at the zoo starting at $13. Another tip? Focus on the animals you really want to see, because the zoo is huge – more than 200 acres – and kids may get too tired to explore the whole place. Tickets start at around $29 for kids and $38 for those age 13 and up. Children 2 and under get in for free. You can learn more at the Bronx Zoo website.

Coney Island

It has an amusement park, an aquarium and a beach. The amusement park has roller coasters, kiddie rides and carnival games. A few steps down the Boardwalk, the New York Aquarium has a fun shark exhibit and a sea lion show, several times a day. Afterward you can grab a hot dog at Nathan’s Famous for lunch. And if you want to cool off at the end of the day, there’s a sandy beach right there.

Governors Island

What can’t you do on Governors Island? It has sheep, art exhibits, glamping, bike rentals, yoga, petanque, and an innovative playground. Pack a picnic and head there on a $4 ferry ride from Lower Manhattan. Once you’re on the island, you can rent bikes and pedal along several miles of trails or explore the day’s programming. And if you don’t have energy to pack a lunch, there are several fun food options, including tacos and fried chicken. You can learn more here.

Green-Wood Cemetery (South Slope / Sunset Park / Windsor Terrace)

It may sound grim, but the cemetery is a wide-open space where kids can roam, see headstones and mausoleums and get great views of Manhattan. If you don’t feel like walking, there’s a two-hour trolley tour, which might be too long for little kids, but great for slightly older children who’d love the ride.

MoMA PS1 Museum (Long Island City)

A modern art museum may not be top of mind for a toddler outing, but one colleague says she’s had a great time bringing her niece here. The art can be really interesting for children, plus there’s an outdoor courtyard where kids can run around. Admission is $10 for adults and kids under 16 are free.

Serendipity 3 (Upper East Side)

Children may not know or care about all the movies and TV shows that have referenced this legendary restaurant (“Girls,” “Gossip Girl” and “Serendipity,” to name just a few) but kids do appreciate an enormous, over-the-top dessert. Escape the heat and enjoy one of their famous frozen hot chocolates or a sundae while you sit among the collection of Tiffany lamps. Learn more and reserve a spot here.

Staten Island Ferry

Don’t sleep on the Staten Island Ferry – it could be the surprise hit of your trip to New York City. Sit on the side facing the Statue of Liberty (top floor, right side) and admire the views as well as some people-watching. Once you get to Staten Island, you’ll typically wait less than 15 minutes for a ride back. And the whole thing is free!

Transit Museum in Brooklyn (Downtown Brooklyn)

Got a kid who loves cars or trains? Make a beeline here. But even if the kids aren’t into transit, the museum is a fun way to spend two hours. One highlight is entering through an actual subway station. Kids can “drive” the buses inside or explore an old train car. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for kids, and you can learn more about the museum here. After your visit, you can get a not-too-expensive lunch on Court Street at Dos Toros or at Taqueria Al Pastor.

For rainy days, really hot days or when you just want to sit inside

A Broadway show (Times Square)

Some fun musicals for kids right now are: “& Juliet,” “Lion King,” “Six,” and “Wicked.” Slightly older kids may love “Hamilton.” A Broadway show is definitely a splurge, and you’re likely to get the best deal if you can be flexible on what you see and when. One option is to head to the TKTS booth in Times Square for same-day discounts. Another idea is to head to a theater’s box office as soon as it opens to see if there are any last-minute tickets for sale.

Alamo Drafthouse Cinema (Brooklyn and Manhattan)

For a next-level movie going experience, check out the Alamo Drafthouse, which has locations in downtown Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan. It has comfy, reserved seating and you can order popcorn, food and drinks delivered right to your seat while you catch a flick. The Alamo also hosts special screenings of classic hits (think: A “Mama Mia!” sing-along) and sometimes has weekend programming just for little kids. Be sure to check the age limits before you book tickets, though: Some screenings don’t allow children, and Alamo enforces this policy. You can learn more at the Alamo website.

Dave & Buster’s (Times Square and Barclay Center)

Does this place feel like a casino for kids, with its windowless rooms, loud noises and flashing lights? Yes. Do kids lose track of time and compulsively spend money (OK, tickets) to win stuffies? Yep. But sometimes it’s pouring rain outside, the kids have a ton of energy, and this place is fun and easy to reach on the subway. A potential bonus for grownups: Dave & Buster’s has $6 beers and a fun menu.

The Escape Game (Midtown)

An escape room is like an interactive riddle. Players solve a series of interconnected puzzles to “escape” a room. Each is rated by level of difficulty so you can decide how you’d like to be challenged. If this sounds like your thing, check out The Escape Game in Midtown – fans rave about the games “Gold Rush” and “Playground.” It’s a family-friendly experience and takes about an hour. Prices start at $45 per person.

Galli Theater (TriBeCa)

This gem of a theater in Lower Manhattan hosts productions of kid-friendly shows like “The Three Little Pigs” and “Puss in Boots.” Most performances have a run time of 60 minutes – perfect for short attention spans. Galli is cheaper and smaller than Broadway, and the cozy setting is a fun way to introduce kids to theater. Tickets are $20 for kids and $30 for adults.

Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum (Times Square)

If you find yourself near Times Square, consider a trip to the wax museum. Is it a tourist trap? Yes. But also it’s amazing and hilarious to see what human beings can sculpt with wax. Check out their renditions of Kim Kardashian, Queen Elizabeth, various presidents and even Marvel superheroes. Snap some selfies, send ‘em home and make friends wonder if you ran into Kim K. on your trip to NYC. Tickets start at $44 and go up from there.

Spyscape NYC (Midtown)

This interactive museum-slash-entertainment experience will delight kids who love spy stories or just solving a challenging puzzle. Here kids (and their grownups) can learn about spy history, hacking, encryption, and surveillance; they can also test their lie detection skills. One colleague said her son’s absolute favorite part of the experience was a “Mission Impossible-style” laser room, where you dodge lasers. She said he “probably did it 1,000 times” when they visited. Tickets start at $32 for children and $39 for adults. You can learn more at the Spyscape website.