Manhattan is a diverse city with many unique places to take your children. From a quiet day in the park with your infant to a day in the zoo with your toddler. Try a brain teasing trip to the museum with your teen. New York City has top notch attractions for all age groups.
One of the more famous spots in N.Y.C. is the Bronx Zoo, located above Manhattan, is best reached via a $20 cab ride or subway. The zoo’s website is easy to find on the web which of course has hours and other key info. This trip is a full day affair and you might not even see it all if you don’t start early. The zoo is huge and very well maintained. Rare species are always on loan from other countries and if your lucky you might see a one of a kind animal. The price for entry into the zoo is less then $15 a person and is quite a bargain for the size of the compound. The zoo is open all year round and is a good choice for children 5 years old and above.
The most well known hang out in N.Y.C. is Central Park. Located in the center of everything it can be accessed from four sides. There are playgrounds all around the park for younger children and places to picnic, hike, canoe, paddle boat, Ice Skate ( in winter only ), bike or roller blade. You can find a Museum inside the park if you look carefully. There are always interesting happenings in the park and you can check their website www.centralparknyc.org for schedule of events. Concerts, benefits, craft shows, art shows and much more happen in the park almost every week. You can certainly find something to do for children of all ages in central park and experience the calm in the middle of the concrete jungle that so many New Yorkers call their sanctuary.
The N.Y. Aquarium is one of my favorite spots around N.Y.C. The world class facility is home to a cornucopia of marine and freshwater species. Located in Brooklyn, it is easy to get to from lower Manhattan via the Brooklyn Bridge. It’s a short trip that can be a full day of fun for the whole family. Like the Bronx zoo, tickets are under $15 and aquarium is open all year round. The summer is a great time to visit this great educational and extremely entertaining place. your Kids won’t be board a minute they are there and will want to come back. This summer several events are happening at the aquarium. The next being held for Earth Day April 21-22. Check their website at www.NYAquarium.com for abundant event schedule.
Ever consider the theater ? There are special performances oriented for children of all ages and designed to keep kids entertained and occupied. The N.Y.C. theater district is one of the finest in the world. With so many places to find cheap tickets in Manhattan, a web search is all thats needed and you can have your pick of shows. A theater outing is a slightly more expensive option at about $50 a ticket on average, so theater trips should be for children from 10-12 and up. As a child I remember going to performances and loving it. It was always a day to remember. Weather you choose off Broadway or on, a play, musical or comedy, you can’t go wrong adding a little culture to your child’s life. Try the good old fashion Saturday matinee.
Visit the old classics that make Manhattan. Most New Yorkers I have talked to have lived here all their lives and never been to the Empire State Building or Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. I myself have been to the latter and it was amazing. The whole trip takes you back in time. Ellis Island is a day trip worth taking. It’s a trip which you and any child can enjoy and appreciate. Ellis Island is open 7 days and I recommend not bringing children under 10 as the boat ride could be rough on them. Find Further info at www.ellisisland.org Besides lady liberty there is the Empire state building. The staple skyscraper on the New York skyline. You can still visit the several observation decks of this building built and completed in 1930. Tickets are under $20 dollars and children under 5 are free. All children will enjoy this outing and the view will be talked about all the way home. You can visit 2 observatory’s, take an audio tour, shop or even have lunch at one of many eateries. Located very conveniently in central Manhattan its easy for the subway or bus to get you there.
Next there are always the museums. Being the cultural center that Manhattan is, you have a plethora of choices. There are old favorite like the Museum of Natural History, which is right next to the Planetarium, and across from the Central Park. The Natural History museum has awesome collections ranging from mummies to vikings and some of the finest art in the world. The museum of modern art, or MOMA, is located off 6th ave and is perfect for a teen or young aspiring architect. Try the swirling building called the Guggenheim with modern art that is sure to wow. There is the museum of radio and telegraph, the fire and police museums, the subway and transit museum. If your interested in something there is a museum for it in N.Y.C. Simply do a search on the web and its very easy to find info.
New York City is a hub of activity and fun for all ages. These ideas just scratch the surface of whats out there on a daily basis in the city. Find an interest and its represented. Make fun outings for the kids, but don’t forget that it wouldn’t hurt if it interested you a little too. Get out there and explore the hidden and not so hidden sights. Get out the bikes and take the kids to see the Alice and wonderland statues in Central Park. Let your children’s minds be occupied with questions of history and science and interest their young minds in something new. It’s a big world for your child and New York City has lots to offer.
