A guide to enjoying New York City kidstyle!

New York City is overwhelming for first time visitors, particularly for families with kids. Although it is expensive, loud and crowded, the city can be an exciting experience for kids, filled with infinite landmarks and attractions that they will definitely appreciate. Here are a few suggestions on activities and attractions to explore in NYC with your kids.

Interesting Museums to visit

There are plenty of excellent museums that offer something of special interest to kids. The Tenement Museum on Lower East Side offers a glimpse into the family life of Italian, Jewish and Irish immigrants in the city. MoMA is another excellent place to visit because it makes contemporary and modern art accessible to children. Join one of the groups where children can draw and observe artwork or visit the art laboratory that offers plenty of activities.

The Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum also offers a number of programs and exhibits for families. The Space Shuttle Pavilion is particularly popular while Operation Slumber is another great choice because it allows overnight visits for children along with many special activities.  If your kids love trains, the New York Transit Museum is another great museum to visit.

Fun Playgrounds and Parks

Central Park in NYC offers it all - the lake, Venetian gondola ride, carousel and zoo spread luxurioulsty over a huge expanse of greenery. Your NYC guide for visitors will be able to point out the best spots for picnicking, where to find a football game you can join, and where you can relax beside a stream or small lake, the ambience so relaxing that its’ hard to believe one is in the heart of one of the busiest cities in the world. Tompkins Square Park in the East Village is another good choice with plenty of green spaces, modern playgrounds and basketball courts.

Heckscher Playground in Central Park is particularly suitable for toddlers with climbing frames, swing sets and sandboxes. If you're downtown and want time out, Imagination Playground is a colorful spot with modular play equipment, interactive fountains and much more. River Run Playground features a Hudson River replica and a playground, sprinklers, jetsprays and even a splashpad that is ideal for a hot day.

Interactive Animal Experiences in NYC

The Bronx Zoo is the largest urban zoo in the country and is home to over 4,000 animals. Kids will love camel rides, the petting zoo and the aerial tram. The Central Park Zoo is another great choice with polar bears, monkeys and sea lions. The Tropic Zone inside has rainforest creatures while the petting zoo will allow toddlers to pet llamas, pigs, goats and more.

The Staten Island Zoo is quite popular with families because it has several intimate exhibits and a petting zoo that will allow kids to interact with animals. Getting to the zoo is quite exciting for kids too since you'll need to take a ferry.

Fantastic Cultural Experiences

One of the coolest cultural spots in NYC is DUMBO with several family attractions like the Jacques Torres Chocolate factory, Jane's Carousel and Brooklyn Bridge Park. Theaterworks NYC plays wonderful shows each weekend for kids with classics like Purple Crayon and Charlotte's Web. 

New Victory Theater is another landmark theater that offers a cozy place to enjoy Broadway type productions with kids. If you prefer an outdoor setting, Shakespeare in the Park during the summer is perhaps one of the best cultural experiences in the city. The performances are free each evening in Central Park's Delacorte Theater.

Last but not the Least…great places to shop!

The oldest toy store in the United States, FAO Shwartz is every kid (and many an adult’s) dream come true. Toys of every genre from dolls and puzzles to building blocks and musical instruments jostle each other for attention from maze like rows in this expansive store on Fifth Avenue. Do a bit of research to determine a good time to head to the store, as there’s always something going on, like a cupcake decoration spread or a round of face painting to add to your little one’s memorable experience.

The LEGO Store nearby is home to an awesome experience of giant displays (a giant green dragon last seen!) play areas, videos and well stocked array of Lego kits. All this ensure hours of gleeful play as your youngsters explore the fun facts displayed in the store and take expert advise from the staff on building matters, while you build your own masterpiece nearby!

Credits: East River Ferry / Brooklyn Bridge by George RexCC BY-SA 2.0; New York City Skyline from the Ferry by André NattaCC BY; Starry night, MOMA by Josh Staiger CC BY; Intrepid Museum, Space Shuttle Pavilion by Daisuke FUJIICC BY; Bow Bridge, Central Park, NYC by Francisco Diez CC BY; Umpire Rock by Eden, Janine and Jim CC BY; Bronx Zoo by Shinya Suzuki CC BY; Staten Island Zoo by ScubaBear68 CC BY; Jane's Carousel by Kristina D.C. Hoeppner CC BY-SA; Victory Theater by Satish Krishnamurthy CC BY; Lego Store by karendotcom127 CC BY; FAO Shwartz by Khaz CC BY-NC-SA