New York with kids
STOP 1 OF 10
American Museum of Natural History
Uptown · Paid entry
Dinosaurs and the blue whale; book timed tickets.
3 hours or more · General admission paid; NY, NJ and CT residents pay what they wish
EThe editors
New York with kids
Ten easy wins: dinosaurs, a carousel, a free boat ride and a day at the beach.
10 placesTwo or three daysRead the guide ↓
- 1. American Museum of Natural HistoryDinosaurs and the blue whale; book timed tickets.UptownPaid entry3 hours or moreGeneral admission paid; NY, NJ and CT residents pay what they wish
2. Intrepid MuseumClimb into planes on an aircraft carrier.Chelsea & the HudsonPaid entry2–3 hoursPaid entry; the Space Shuttle pavilion is included
3. Central Park ZooSmall and easy, with sea lion feedings.Central ParkPaid entry1.5–2 hoursPaid entry; kids’ rates
4. Staten Island FerryA free boat ride past the Statue of Liberty.Lower ManhattanFree to visit1 hour round tripFree
5. Jane’s CarouselA carousel with the Brooklyn Bridge behind it.Brooklyn Bridge & DUMBOPaid entry15 minA few dollars a ride
6. Pier 6 playgroundsSome of the best playgrounds in the city.Brooklyn Bridge & DUMBOFree to visit1 hourFree
7. New York Transit MuseumOld trains to climb into, in a real station.Brooklyn Bridge & DUMBOPaid entry1.5 hoursPaid entry
8. New York Hall of ScienceHands-on science and an outdoor playground in Queens.QueensPaid entry2–3 hoursPaid entry
9. Brooklyn Children’s MuseumThe first children’s museum in the world.BrooklynPaid entry2 hoursPaid entry
10. Coney Island and Luna ParkThe beach, the boardwalk and Luna Park’s rides in summer.BrooklynPaid entryHalf a dayFree beach; rides are paid
The guide
How to do it: New York with kids
New York with children is about short hops and big wins: a ship full of planes, dinosaurs, a free ferry and carousels. Plan one big thing a day and keep the rest flexible.
The subway is part of the fun for most kids; avoid rush hour with a stroller.
- The order to do it in
- Natural History and the zoo one day; the Intrepid; Brooklyn Bridge Park and the carousel; the Staten Island Ferry; Coney Island in summer.
- When to go
- Weekday mornings are quietest. Coney Island is a summer day.
- Getting there
- Subway, with elevators at major stations; check accessibility before you go with a stroller.
- What to bring
- Snacks and water; many museums allow them in set areas.
- What it costs
- Museums and the zoo are paid; the ferry, the parks and the beach are free.
Worth knowing
- Kids under 44 inches ride the subway free with a paying adult.
- Book timed museum tickets to avoid queues.
Started from the pins on Capture the Atlas’s NYC with kids map (the map). Places, notes and the guide checked and written by us; prices and opening times change, so check before you go.