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Kids In New York
City |
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New York can be a wonderful city to visit with
children . Obvious attractions include museums, skyscrapers
and ferry rides, as well as the simple pleasures of just
walking the streets, seeing the street entertainers and taking
in the shopping scene. Free events, especially common in the
summer, range from puppet shows and nature programs in the
city's parks to storytelling hours at local libraries and
bookstores. In addition, many museums and theaters have
specific children's programs.
For a further listing of what
is available when you're in town, see Friday's Daily
News or New York Times , and "Activities for
Children" in the weekly New York magazine, as well as
Time Out and the Village Voice . An excellent
automated directory of family-oriented current events all
around the city is available through the New York Convention
and Visitors Bureau, 810 7th Ave (between 52nd and 53rd sts),
NY 10019 tel 212/484-1222 (Mon-Fri 8.30am-6pm, Sat & Sun
9am-5pm; www.nycvisit.com ).
Central Park
Year-round, Central Park provides
sure-fire entertainment for children. In the summer it becomes
one giant playground, with activities ranging from
storytelling to rollerblading to rowboating. The following are
merely a few of the highlights.
- The Carousel 64th St
mid-park.
For just $1, children can take a spin on
the country's largest hand-carved horses.
- Central Park Wildlife
Conservation Center (Zoo), 5th Ave at 64th St.
A small but enjoyable zoo, with sea lions, polar
bears, monkeys and the Tisch Children's zoo.
- Hans Christian Andersen
statue 72nd St on the East Side (next to the Boat
Pond). A forty-or-so-year tradition of storytelling
sessions; Wed & Sat 11am-noon, June to Sept.
- Loeb Boathouse 72nd St
mid-park.
Rent a rowboat on the Central Park lake
and enjoy the views or take a gondola ride in the
evening. Bike rentals available too.
- Wollman Rink 62nd St
mid-park tel 212/396-1010.
Roller/in-line skating
during the summer and ice-skating during the winter.
Skate rental and instruction available.
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NYC Kids
Museums |
Brooklyn Childrens
Museum
The children's museum idea is
Brooklyn's gift to the world." - Anna Billings Gallop,
director, 1926
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One could spend an entire holiday just checking out
the city's many museums, which almost always contain something
of interest for the kids; the following is a brief overview of
the ones that should evoke more than just the usual
enthusiasm
American Museum of Natural
History and the Rose Center for Earth and Space
Central Park W at 79th St. Sun-Thurs 10am-5.45pm, Fri &
Sat 10am-8.45pm; $10, students $7.50, children $6; IMAX films,
the Hayden Planetarium and certain special exhibits cost
extra; tel 212/769-5100, www.amnh.org
The
planetarium is sure to sate most kids intergalactic desires,
and the dinosaurs are also a sure-fire attraction.
Children's Museum of the Arts 182 Lafayette St
(between Broome and Grand sts). Wed noon-7pm, Thurs-Sun
noon-5pm; $5, under 1 free; tel 212/274-0986.
Art gallery
of works by or for children. Children are encouraged to look
at different types of art and then create their own, with
paints, clay, plaster of Paris and any other simple medium.
Children's Museum of Manhattan 212 W 83rd St
(between Broadway and Amsterdam Ave). Tues-Sun 10am-5pm; $6,
under 1 free; tel 212/721-1234, www.cmom.org .
A
terrific participatory museum, with exhibit space over five
floors; not to be missed is "Seuss!" - a whimsical area with
decor inspired by the Dr. Seuss books, where kids can
(literally) cook up some green eggs and ham. For ages 1-12,
and highly recommended.
Fire Museum 278 Spring St (between Hudson and Varick
sts). Tues-Sun 10am-4pm; $4, students $2, under 12 $1; tel
212/691-1303.
More popular than ever now, this
unspectacular but pleasing homage to New York City's
firefighters, and indeed firepeople everywhere, has fire
engines from yesteryear, helmets, dog-eared photos and a host
of other motley objects.
Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum W 46th St and 12th Ave
at Pier 86. April-Sept Mon-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat-Sun 10am-7pm; Oct
-March Tues-Sun 10am-5pm, last admission 1 hour prior to
closing; $12, children 12-17 $9, children 6-11 $6, children
3-5 $2, under 2 free; tel 212/245-0072,
www.intrepidmuseum.org .
The world's fastest spy
plane, a guided missile submarine, and other modern and
vintage air and sea craft are all here; not recommended for
kids under five years.
Museum of the City of New York 1220 5th Ave (103rd
St). Wed-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun noon-5pm, Tues 10am-2pm for
pre-registered tour groups only; suggested donation $7,
students $4, families $12; tel 212/534-1672,
www.mcny.org .
The New York Toy Stories is a super
way to bring young ones back to simpler times, before video
games, when wooden toys, rubber balls, and board games were
just about the only options in the late 1800s. For girls (and
grownups) there is a worthwhile and surprising group of
dollhouses.
National Museum of the American Indian (Smithsonian
Institution) 1 Bowling Green (at Battery Park). Daily
10am-5pm, Thurs until 8pm; free; tel 212/514-3700,
www.si.edu/nmai .
Kids will enjoy looking at the
ancient dolls and feathered headdresses and the replicas of a
reservation home and schoolroom. Programs often include
theater troupes, performance artists, dancers and films.
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| Shops, Toys and
Clothes |
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Books of Wonder 16 W
18th St (between 5th and 6th aves) tel 212/989-3270.
Excellent kids' bookstore, with a great story-hour on Sun
at 11.45am, and author appearances Sat in the spring and fall.
F.A.O. Schwarz 767 5th Ave (at 58th St) tel
212/644-9400.
Showpiece of a nationwide chain sporting
three huge floors of everything a child could want. Fans of
Barbie will want to check out the Barbie store, in the back of
F.A.O. Schwarz, with its own Madison Ave entrance.
New Victory Theater 209 W 42nd St tel 646/223-3020.
There is always a rich mix of affordable theater, music,
dance, storytelling, film and puppetry, in addition to
pre-performance workshops and post-performance participation.
Everything about this theater is child-oriented, including the
duration of performances (60-90 minutes). Closed during the
summer.
Thirteenth Street Repertory Company 50 W 13th St
(between 5th and 6th aves) tel 212/675-6677. Sat & Sun 1pm
and 3pm, year-round; $7.
Forty-five-minute original
musicals - such as "Rumplewho?" - specifically created for
"little humans." Reservations needed, as these are very
popular shows.
Penny Whistle Toys 1283 Madison Ave (at 91st St) tel
212/369-3868; also 448 Columbus Ave (at 81st St) tel
212/873-9090.
Wonderful shop selling a fun, imaginative
range of toys that deliberately eschews guns and war
accessories, including replicas of old-fashioned toys rarely
seen these days. Highly recommended.
Red Caboose 23 W 45th St (between 5th and 6th aves);
lower level - follow the flashing railroad sign in back of
lobby tel 212/575-0155.
A unique shop specializing in
models, particularly trains and train sets.
Tannen's Magic Studio 24 W 25th St (between Broadway
and 6th Ave) tel 212/929-4500.
Kids will never forget a
visit to the largest magic shop in the world, with nearly 8000
props and magic sets. The staff consists of magicians who
perform free shows throughout the day. |
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Sights and
Entertainment |
 
The New York Times Guide to New York
City 2005
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Bronx Zoo (formally, the
International Wildlife Conservation Park) Bronx River
Parkway at Fordham Rd. March-Oct Mon-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat &
Sun 10am-5.30pm; Nov-Feb daily 10am-4.30pm; $9, kids $5,
free on Weds, rides and some exhibits are an additional
charge; tel 718/367-1010, www.wcs.org .
The
largest urban zoo in America has more than 4000 species of
animals, reptiles and birds on display, many in huge
simulated natural habitats. A children's section allows kids
to climb around on large exhibits, including a giant spider
web, and pet some of the tamer animals.
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New York Aquarium W 8th St
and Surf Ave, Coney Island, Brooklyn (Mon-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat
& Sun 10am-5.30pm; $9.75; tel 718/265-FISH).
The
aquarium is largely a series of darkened halls containing
creatures from the deep, but open-air shows of whales and
dolphins are held several times daily, as are the shark, sea
otter and walrus feedings. Call for daily show/program info.
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Skyride 350 5th Ave (at 34th
St) in the Empire State Building. Daily 10am-10pm; $13.50,
4-12 $10.50; combination ticket to Skyride and observatory
$17 and $10; tel 212/279-9777.
The Skyride, in the
Empire State Building, is a big-screen thrill ride through
the most well-known sights in the city, complete with
tilting seats and surround sound. Bring a strong stomach; it
may be too much for small children.
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Barnum & Bailey Circus
Madison Square Garden tel 212/465-6741.
This large
touring circus is usually in New York between the end of
March and the beginning of May.
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Big Apple Circus Lincoln
Center tel 212/546-2656.
Small circus that performs in a
tent in Damrosch Park next to the Met, from late Oct to
early Jan. Tickets
$10-45. | | |
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