All Articles NYC with kids: 7 unexpected, fuss-free ways to explore the city

NYC with kids: 7 unexpected, fuss-free ways to explore the city

Sky-high views, splash pads, and red sauce.

By Salwa Jabado28 June 2023 7 minutes read
Young family with two daughters stand against the sun across the river from the New York City Skyline
Image: monkeybusinessimages/Getty Images

Visiting New York City can feel daunting for anyone, but especially parents, who may find themselves wrangling meltdowns on stalled subway cars, jamming strollers through crowded swarms of midtown lunch-goers, or popping down a mobbed, over-hyped restaurants, only to learn that all the high chairs are claimed. But there is another way.

One of the keys to enjoying NYC with kids is letting kids be kids: splashing in a playground while they make new friends, moving at a less-than-breakneck speed (yes, even here in New York), and experiencing the city as a local family would. Here, a guide to doing exactly that, complete with skyline views, great grub without the queues, and epic only-in-NYC shopping.

Instead of the Empire State Building, try the Edge NYC

The Empire State Building was crowned the No. 1 attraction in the United States in Tripadvisor's 2023 Travelers' Choice Awards—and it's not hard, even for locals, to understand the draw. But pick another option with similarly staggering heights, and you're in for a pretty spectacular view of Grande Dame E.S.B. herself.

Teetering 100 stories up, the outdoor viewing deck at the Edge NYC (from $31 a person) at Hudson Yards juts out from the building and has a glass section of the floor that you can walk across—if you dare—plus slanted glass walls. The staggering lookout affords those aforementioned views, as well as sight-lines to One World Trade and (my personal favorite) the Chrysler Building.

If you have adventurous teens in tow and are looking for a stomach-in-your-throat adrenaline rush, consider booking City Climb ($185), where you can lean out over the side of the building—safely harnessed and clipped into a rail, of course. They’ll come home victorious with a medal and a TikTok-worthy video to post, after.

Tip: If the idea of taking kids over 1,200 feet in the air doesn’t sound appealing, head to Hunter's Point South Park in Long Island City, Queens. Directly across the river from Midtown’s skyscrapers, the park offers fantastic skyline views and room for kids to roam. Grab snacks at a bodega on Vernon Boulevard, the area’s main drag, before entering. And at the park’s northern edge, don’t miss a family photo op at the giant, landmarked PepsiCola sign, created for a now-closed bottling plant in the 1940s.

Instead of the Bronx Zoo, try the Central Park Zoo

Depending on how much time you have, the Bronx Zoo—about an hour north of Midtown by subway and worth at least three hours of your time—may not be feasible. But the Central Park Zoo (from $15 a person) is a pretty awesome swap. Here, you can visit the penguins from Madagascar—this is the zoo that Skipper, Kowalski, Rico, and Private expertly escaped from—along with sea lions and red pandas. Be warned: there are no lions, giraffes, or zebras here, so prepare your kids that Alex, Marty, and Melman will be M.I.A.

The Central Park Zoo is fairly small, so it’ll only take you about an hour to wander. While you're here, check out Conservatory Water, AKA the Model Boat Pond, where you can rent a little remote-control sailboat. Food options are limited in and around the park—though there are hot dog stands aplenty—so pack snacks or head to the unexciting (but adequate) Le Pain Quotidien near the Conservatory Water. Afterwards, stroll over to Sheep Meadow and pray your kids take a stroller nap so you can sunbathe and people-watch—on nice summer afternoons, this is a major, very obvious singles scene for 20-somethings (ah, those blissful days before kids).

Travelers say: “[The] remote-control sailboat rentals are AWESOME! It's hard to beat the entertainment value at $11/half hour. My kids and I had so much fun the first day [at the Conservatory Water], we went back for more the next day which was even more fun as there was more wind!” @TaylorL772

Instead of walking across the Brooklyn Bridge, stroll along the Brooklyn Heights Promenade

A couple walks a golden retriever behind people sitting on benches viewing the Manhattan skyline from the Brooklyn Heights Promenade
Brooklyn Heights Promenade
Image: palinchakjr/Getty Images

Spanning the East River from downtown Manhattan to DUMBO, the Brooklyn Bridge is gorgeous, full stop. But short little legs and large quantities of bridge-crossers make it a not-so-great choice for young kids. Instead, make your way to the Brooklyn Heights Promenade (the 2 and 3 trains stop at Clark Street, just across borough lines), which offers some of the city’s best views of the bridge itelf.

In Brooklyn Bridge Park, a vast swathe of green that stretches along the river just below the promenade, Pier 6 is never a bad idea: Younger kids can swing like Tarzan, slide down two-story slides, and play in the sprinklers at the Water Lab (pack a swimsuit and towel). On certain days in summer, you can also launch kayak off Pier 4 (for free, with a reservation) in the East River Estuary.

When hunger strikes, pizza is the move: You have tons of options, from Fornino, right on Pier 6, to Dellarocco’s in leafy Brooklyn Heights, just up the hill. Or, walk north toward DUMBO; rather than face a two-hour dine-in wait, place an online order from Juliana's, grab your pie, and find a picnic spot near Jane’s Carousel ($2 a person) and the Main Street Playground (themselves, major kid draws).

Instead of FAO Schwarz, try CAMP or the Harry Potter store

Getting into the reopened FAO Schwarz at Rockefeller Center these days can mean standing in at least two lines, first to get in and another to check out. But there are plenty of other phenomenal kid stores in the city.

First up: CAMP, which is part toy store, part play space, with interactive exhibits at each of its three locations. As of summer 2023, the stores have been taken over by Disney’s Encanto, and kids can tour Bruno’s and Mirabel’s rooms, meet characters, and sing along to their favorite songs (timed tickets required).

And for Potterheads, the Harry Potter store in Flatiron offers a few exclusives you won’t find anywhere else: New York Harry Potter merch and the world’s only Butterbeer Bar—with butterbeer, of course, and treats like butterbeer ice cream. You’ll also find Olivanders wands, which you can have personalized at the interactive wand table. Note: Capacity is limited so scan the QR code outside to join a virtual line and let your kids loose in Madison Square Park while you wait.

Travelers say: “Two adults, a 10-, and 13-year-old all LOVED both VR experiences, and we highly recommend them to [Harry Potter] fans. Being on the train platform, flying around Hogwarts, and seeing Dobby up close were huge highlights! If you are considering, just do it!!”—@Lauralea C

Instead of Little Italy, try: Arthur Avenue

A sub roll full of multiple meets, lettuce, and cheese sits on a plate next to the menu for Mike's Deli
Sandwich at Mike's Deli on Arthur Avenue, Bronx, New York
Image: Pietroleonecerrone/Tripadvisor

You may have to elbow your way through crowds of nonnas—and anyone else from around the Tri-State Area who likes food, really—doing their weekly shop, but if you’re looking for New York’s real Little Italy, it’s here.

Stock up on pastries and olive bread at Madonia Bakery, a Sicilian spot that's more than 100 years old. Or grab a big-as-your-head sandwich, truffle pasta, or ball of fresh mozz at Mike’s Deli: There's almost guaranteed to be a wait on Saturdays around lunchtime, but the vibes are jovial and the guy slicing prosciutto is probably regaling the crowd with hilarious, if unsolicited, stories. Other favorites up there are the Calabria Pork Store, where cured sausages hang overhead, and, just off the avenue, Borgatti’s Ravioli & Egg Noodles, a veritable emporium to fresh pasta.

Tip: About 20 minutes from Arthur Avenue, the recently opened Bronx Children’s Museum has a water-play area (always a hit with little kids), interactive turtle and snake exhibits (ditto that), and a play area modeled after a typical Bronx block. Just be sure to reserve in advance: This is an oddly hard-to-get-into kids' museum, since it's only open three days a week (Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays) and seems to sell out weeks in advance.

Instead of the Color Factory and Museum of Ice Cream, try the New York Transit Museum and Fire Museum

Tailor-made for the social-media generation, the Color Factory and Museum of Ice Cream are fun. They're wild. They may blow up your feed. But they're pricey.

Better to pair the cute Instagram pics with a bit more substance, anyway. At the New York Transit Museum (from $5 a person) in Downtown Brooklyn, you can board vintage subway cars, get behind the wheel of a city bus, and more. A particularly great choice on bad-weather day, the entire museum sprawls below ground in a former 1936 subway station.

A fact that's both ironic (given the subject of transit) and completely fitting (given the overall inaccessible nature of even the modern-day New York City subway system): Strollers are not allowed in the elevator, meaning you'll have to (carefully, cautiously, nervously) navigate the stairs.

Another great, oft-overlooked museum is Manhattan's New York City Fire Museum (from $6 a person), which displays historic firefighting carriages and cars, tools and uniforms, and tons of FDNY memorabilia, plus a tribute to 9/11, all within an old fire station in Soho.

Travelers say: “[The Transit Museum] was a perfect stop at the end of the day. We secured out tickets for the last time slot at 2:30pm. The museum closes at 4pm. It was the perfect amount of time to explore the museum. The entrance to the museum looks just like a regular subway entrance so keep your eyes open.”—@Appelofmyeye

Instead of the Statue of Liberty, try the Tenement Museum

For a hands-on look at New York’s immigrant history, head to the Lower East Side’s Tenement Museum, where you can choose from nine interactive tours (from $30 a person; children under 6 can attend the nieghborhood walking tour for free). Best for kids 8 years and older, the Day in the Life: 1902 tour visits a recreated tenement where five children, two parents, and three garment workers lived and worked after immigrating from Poland in the 1890s. And for younger kids, the Meet Victoria tour is led by an actor playing a Greek immigrant in 1916—kids can interact with “Victoria,” asking her questions and hearing her tales.

Katz’s Deli and Russ & Daughters Cafe, both near by, have the name recognition and goods to match. But neither take reservations, and winging it with kids (at such popular restaurants, no less) could mean long lines and epic meltdowns. Instead, head to Dudley’s a block away from the Tenement Museum; with breakfast until 4 p.m., burgers, and sandwiches, the charming Aussie cafe has plenty kids will eat (and yes, reservations are accepted).

Tip: If you’re still looking for great views of Lady Liberty, take the free, round-trip journey on the Staten Island Ferry, which glides right by it. You can also see the monument from afar from the Brooklyn Heights Promenade.

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