Kids love New York City. The Big Apple truly has something for everyone, and we are here to help you have fun with your whole family.
The Sports Family
Kids of all ages love going to sporting events. The roar of the crowd and the excitement of live competition always captivates an audience.
Watching a game at Madison Square Garden is a New York City must. Madison Square Garden is home to both the New York Rangers hockey team and the New York Knicks basketball team. Two different sports sharing the same stadium can pose a few complications. About three times a year, the Rangers hockey team will have an afternoon game, and the Knicks basketball team will have an evening game. This means the hockey rink needs to be transformed into a basketball court in less than four hours. The Madison Square Garden crew can make this transformation happen in as little as one hour and 11 minutes!
Baseball is one of America’s favorite pastimes. A trip to Yankee Stadium, grabbing a hot dog, and taking the seventh-inning stretch, will be a forever cherished memory. If you’re super lucky, maybe you’ll catch a foul ball as a souvenir.
Sports fans can take a tour of most of New York City’s stadiums and sports arenas. These tours will give you a chance to walk out onto the court, a view of the game from the best seats in the house, and even take you into some of the sports team’s empty locker rooms.
Action-Filled Attractions
If your kids love action, New York City has a lot to offer.
In the summer, Pier 26 offers free kayaking on the Hudson River. For those who prefer calmer waters, the Loeb Boathouse in Central Park offers quaint rowboats that will make everyone feel as though they are in a fairytale.
A trip to Chelsea Piers allows your kids to do everything from ice-skating, to bowling, to taking a gymnastics class. Chelsea Piers even has a driving range so your golf swing doesn’t get rusty!
Brooklyn Boulders offers active, engaging, and collaborative rock-climbing experiences, guided by trained climbing experts. Brooklyn Boulders offers both competitive and noncompetitive climbing teams, so your kids can pick the experience that will give them the most joy.
In the winter, New York City is brimming with outdoor ice rinks. Most outdoor ice rinks are set up so that adults can grab a quick adult beverage while the kids skate circles around each other. The Bryant Park Winter Village, is especially well-equipped for this frosty experience. Bonus, Bryant Park is right next to Times Square.
New York City Sites
Some sites are simply must-sees in New York City. Almost all are set up to be extremely family friendly.
Kids love the New York City observation decks. New York City currently has four observation decks, The Empire State Building, Top of the Rock, One World Observatory, and The Edge, with a fifth, One Vanderbilt, opening this fall. The Edge at Hudson Yards features a see-through floor, where the brave can step out and pretend they are walking on air, 1131 feet above the ground! Top of the Rock is located in the heart of Rockefeller Center, where NBC studios is located. Keep your eyes open. You might see a television star or two!
The most well-known museums, such as The American Museum of Natural History and the Met are always popular with families. We also encourage visitors to check out a few lesser known museums as well.
The Museum of Math has hundreds of engaging interactive activities that will delight even the youngest guests. The Children’s Museum of Art invited kids to engage and interact with art first-hand. They can paint, weave on a loom, and bounce around in a giant ball pit. The Tenement Museum features guided multimedia tours that truly bring the past to life, teaching guests about the history of immigration in the United States. The Museum of Ice Cream is currently open in New York City. Anything with “ice cream” in the title is sure to be a hit with the kids of all ages. Not only do you get to taste ice cream, but there are activities like a giant pool of sprinkles in which to play!
This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to things to do in NYC with kids. New York City is truly a family city, and the best way to experience it is with a knowledgeable guide. We will love to show you around on one of our exciting New York City tours. Click here for more information.