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The Family Vacation Guide

New York City Family Travel Guide: Everything You Need to Know Before Visiting With Kids

posted by Charmaine Cortes on February 21, 2023 // last updated on February 28, 2023

Across the world, artists in different countries pay homage to their beloved cities in different ways—but none like New York City. With nearly nine million people within its borders, NYC is the most populous city in the world and boasts iconic spots including Times Square, the Hudson River, Central Park,  the Empire State Building, and the Statue of Liberty. 

New York is the global center of entertainment, fashion, economics, and more. But even if it wasn’t, the city is worth at least one visit. 

Of course, you’ll be visiting NYC with kids, so that’s a bit stressful. Not to worry, our New York City family travel guide will help you have the best vacation ever.  

5 Reasons Why New York City Is the Perfect Family Vacation Destination

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With all the hustle and bustle in this city, you might be wondering whether a New York City vacation is really a good idea. Here are five reasons NYC is the perfect spot for your family vacation. 

Popular Landmarks

Numerous Hollywood movies have been shot in New York, so we’ve all grown up watching the city. Even so, it’s always a delight to see the city in real life. This delight extends to famous landmarks. 

Your kids will feel a similar excitement when they recognize the buildings and places. They’ll love the Statue of Liberty, Times Square, Central Park, New York Public Library, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art. 

You’ll also recognize The Plaza Hotel from Home Alone, The Radio City Music Hall from the Godfather, and The Grand Central Terminal from The Avengers. The more you look around, the more places you’ll recognize. 

There are four fashion capitals in the world (formally called the Big Four), namely Milan, Paris, London, and New York. Given that information, it would be a waste to go back without purchasing something. Some may even say it’s impossible. 

The city has every brand you can think of. If you love branded designs, visit Fifth Avenue, Meatpacking District, Madison Avenue, and SoHo. However, if you’re not brand conscious, you’ll have a greater pool of choices.

New York’s Theater District has big-name theaters like Broadway, Apollo, Palace, Shubert, and St. James Theater. The city is home to multiple original productions, like The King and I, Oklahoma, Les Miserables, Hamlet, and more. 

If you can leave your kids at a daycare, visiting this district would make for an epic date night. Alternatively, you can look for family-friendly shows, like The Lion King, Wicked, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, and Peter Pan Goes Wrong.  

History and Museums

Did you know New York was called New Amsterdam? The Dutch were the first settlers, but they lost it to the English, so it was named New York (after the Duke of York, the mission leader). The city has a long history, and it’s a melting point of cultures. 

You’ll find many historically significant sites and museums while here. If science is more your thing, you’ll find plenty of attractions like the New York Hall of Science and the Museum of the Earth. 

Art’s also a pretty big deal in the Big Apple. If you’re into that, you should go to museums like The Museum of Modern Art, Frick Collection, and Neue Galerie.

Although New York bears the moniker “concrete jungle,” the city still emphasizes greenery. Hence, there are several great parks spread throughout the city. 

Central Park is the largest and most well-known park in the city, so you can start there. After that, you can start exploring other locations like Bryant Park, The High Line, Prospect Park, and more. 

Spring and fall would be the best seasons to visit New York. The weather’s pleasant, and the crowds start ebbing away. Plus, it’s the off-season, so the prices are more reasonable. 

Of course, if you have school-going kids, you don’t have the luxury of choosing the time. In that case, we’d say to visit during the summer. However, you’ll probably have to wrestle with crowds and spend more money on accommodation.

Spring starts in March and lasts till June. The temperatures start in the fifties and go up to the seventies. The weather’s pleasant, and everything is nice and pretty. It’s neither too hot nor too cold, and rain is infrequent and is usually just a shower.

Springs fade into hot, crowded July summers. The season lasts till September, and the temperature starts in the mid-eighties but drops back to the high seventies as the season fades. However, the nights are pretty cool. 

Things start getting colder in fall and dip into the fifties by November. The fallen leaves look beautiful, even if clean-up is painful. Plus, the season doesn’t see that many tourists. 

Winter stays from December till March. The temperatures fluctuate between the thirties and forties. The weather remains cold, and you will see some snow. But the beautiful decorations, Christmas discounts, and Ball Drop can make it worth it. 

We’d say a week. Of course, you can hit the famous spots over one weekend, but it’ll feel more like a speedrun than a holiday. 

So, if you have the time, slow things down a bit. If you do, you can go deeper into the city and keep your itinerary more flexible. 

New York City is a major family vacation destination, so there’s something for everyone. It’s simply a matter of finding things you and your kids will enjoy. Here’s a list of places you can’t miss while you’re here:

Central Park

Central Park first opened its doors to the general public in 1958. The park is spread over nearly eight hundred and fifty acres and features many lawns, streams, lakes, a carousel, skating rinks, and more. 

This park features a zoo that’s home to over hundred and fifty different species, including snow leopards, red pandas, penguins, Japanese macaques, Californian sea lions, and more. The Tisch Children’s Zoo caters to kids and has feeding and petting areas. 

You can book guided tours to see everything including Central Park Zoo. Don’t forget to visit Belvedere Castle, Ancient Playground, Delacorte Musical Clock, and Victorian Gardens Amusement Park.

Madison Square Park 

Madison Square Park is a two-acre area on Madison Avenue. It features three lawns, a playground, and a dog park. This playground is called Police Officer Moira Ann Smith Playground after the female policewoman who lost her life in the 9/11 attacks. It features tire swings, water fountains, and other fun activities. Plus, it’s close to Shake Shack. You’ll also like the Reflecting Pool and the various monuments throughout the park. 

It’s easy to confuse Madison Square Park with Madison Square Garden. But the places are different. Madison Square Garden is an arena in Penn Plaza. The indoor arena hosts different events ranging from sports to music and family events. The name is similar to the park because they used to be located near each other. 

Staten Island Ferry

The Staten Island Ferry is the only one for you to take a boat to Staten Island from Manhattan. You can enter the free Staten Island Ferry from the Whitehall terminal in Manhattan and get to the St. George Ferry Terminal on Staten Island. The boat will have snacks and bathrooms, so you don’t need to worry about being hungry or unable to urinate. 

Remember, you have to get off at the end of every trip. The service doesn’t permit a round trip. However, that’s okay since you can take time to explore Staten Island. 

The ride lasts twenty-five to thirty minutes, and you get breathtaking views of the city and Ellis Island. Try to schedule a visit during the non-peak hours for the best experience.

Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) may not sound like a very kid-friendly place, but it is. The museum has collected art pieces from around five thousand years and displayed them for all the world to see. Of course, that’s a lot of art; you’ll probably need to visit a few more times to see everything.  

The Met has its locations on Fifth Avenue and Margaret Corbin Drive. You can pick up an audio guide at the information desk. These are designed for kids and help them learn about the things they see.

Start your visit with the American Wing and then make your way to other wings like Ancient Egypt. We recommend exploring places the kids like, as this is a great learning experience. When you’ve had enough fun, you can have food at one of the seven on-site restaurants.  

Ellis Island

The Statue of Liberty may be on Liberty Island, but the ticket usually includes Ellis Island too. You can reserve tickets ahead or go to Battery Park to take the ferry and get a ticket there.

When you get to Liberty Island visitor center, grab the junior ranger booklet so you have a guide. When you get to the Statue of Liberty Museum, you’ll need to reserve access if you want to go up the statue. You can reserve different parts, like the pedestal or crown.

Once you get to Ellis Island, explore The National Immigration Museum. Here you’ll see the stories of immigrants and all they had to go through to come to America. 

Rockefeller Center

Rockefeller Center deserves a visit, especially if you’re there during winter. You can see the amazing lights and massive Christmas trees during the holiday season and enjoy skating on the rink. However, only one hundred and fifty people can go on at a time, so your family may have to wait a while.

Once you’re done with the winter fun, you can go up to the Top of the Rock to see magnificent views of the entire city. Other attractions include the Radio City Music Hall, NBC Studios, and Channel Gardens. 

Brooklyn Bridge Park

The Brooklyn Bridge Park is a waterfront park that spans eight-five acres near the East River. The park has six sections or piers and nine playgrounds equipped with swings, slides, water channels, and more. Kids generally favor Empire Fulton Ferry and Jane’s Carousel, so you might want to visit those first.

You can also catch a movie at the Harbor View Lawn. Alternatively, you can let the kids go roller skate or kayaking. Other activities include bird watching, fishing, and more. The park doesn’t impose an entrance fee, so you can go whenever. 

One World Trade Center

One World Trade Center has replaced the Twin Towers destroyed in the 9/11 attacks. The building is home to several restaurants and other places. However, that’s not why you’re here. 

Your focus is on the One World Observatory. The Observatory is on the top floor of the One World Trade Center. Once there, you’ll see complete views of New York City. It’s a fantastic place to walk around and see everything from a different perspective. 

However, the ticket lines can be long, so be ready to wait. If that’s not an option, you can get reservations, but you’ll still have to wait a little while. Another option is to get the Express Pass and cut through the line. 

FAO Schwarz

Yes, FAO Schwarz is in Rockefeller Center, but it’s so great we had to give it a separate place here. This iconic toy store has been in operation for over hundred and fifty years. You don’t just get to shop here. There are many interactive experiences meant to entertain the kids. 

Your kid can style their own barbie doll, design an Elmo Monster, or adopt an FAO Schwarz Baby Doll. You can even build your own racecar. Other attractions include a piano and more. 

Children’s Museum of Manhattan

The Children’s Museum of Manhattan is on the Upper West Side. The kids will get a chance to learn about different cultures, history, and other topics through interactive exhibits. 

Exhibits focus on animals, art, water, voting, and more. Kids have to be supervised, and you can’t take food inside. 

A huge factor in the enjoyment of any vacation is the place you’ll stay . This is even more true when you’re having a family trip. You need to be comfortable and close to all the places you want to visit. It’s a little difficult to find kid-friendly places, so here are a few suggestions:

Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park

You’ll find the Ritz-Carlton Central Park in Midtown Manhattan. The hotel is close to tourist attractions like the Natural History Museum, Rockefeller Center, and more. The luxury rooms and suites come with views of Central Park and the city.

Other room amenities include complimentary Wi-Fi, soundproof windows, a minibar, a workspace, valet, and laundry services. Later, you can relax at the La Prairie Spa or break a sweat in the fitness center. You can also request room and limousine service.

The hotel is kid-friendly, and you can take advantage of the Ritz Kids offer to get a bunch of perks. These include cookies and milk turn-downs along with a special craft pass to CAMP. 

The Muse, New York

The Muse is also in Midtown Manhattan, so it’s near Broadway, Times Square, Rockefeller, and the nearby museums. Guests can access the on-site fitness center and a business lounge. 

They also offer valet parking, complimentary Wi-Fi, laundry service, and a charging station for your electric car. The hotel is child-friendly and offers your kids a care package, including M&M stuff. Other kid-friendly offers include child-sized robes and help to connect you to nice babysitting services. 

The Peninsula New York, Midtown East

This luxury hotel may be expensive, but its facilities and kid-friendly options make it worth every penny. 

Guests can use the Peninsula Spa, Fitness Center, Hotel Indoor Pool, and Vu Hair New York. Additionally, you can request car service and ride around the city in a luxury BMW with a chauffeur. 

Kids get a welcome card and specialized amenities. Plus, if you book the Camp Peninsula package for them, they can get cozy inside the Camp Peninsula tent that the hotel will set up in the suite. They can also participate in a scavenger hunt. 

Loews Regency Hotel New York

You can find the Loews Regency Hotel on Park Avenue. It’s just a short walk away from attractions, like Central Park, Broadway, and Madison Avenue. The luxurious hotel offers an on-site fitness center, complimentary coffee, shoe shine, and Wi-Fi. 

Other services include babysitting, concierge, dry cleaning, room service, and parking. You can request complimentary cribs, baby bath kits, board games, toys, coloring books, and a PlayStation. The best part is you don’t need to pay for the kids if they’re under eighteen.

If you want to relax, you can do that too. Treat yourself at the Julien Farel Restore Salon & Spa. This spa offers massages, spa treatments, hairstyling and coloring, and nail services. 

The Rockaway

The Rockaway hotel is in Queens, but you get to stay near the beach. All the rooms are air-conditioned and non-smoking. The hotel offers housekeeping, laundry, and concierge services. There’s also a seasonally heated pool and snack bar. 

Other hotel perks include the spa, wellness classes, and a complimentary Orange Theory class. You can also visit the Winter Pool House, where you’ll have access to a sauna, outdoor heated pool, and lounge space. The hotel frequently rolls out family packages with activities for the kids, so check for those before you reserve anything. 

The average cost for mid-tier hotels in New York ranges from $200 to $250 per night. However, luxury hotels can charge up to $1000 per night. It all depends on the time of the season, amenities provided, luxury level, and location. Additionally, most hotels don’t include taxes in the quoted prices. 

New York City has loads of great food places, but are they kid-friendly? Your child will need a kid’s menu, a fun interior, and food that looks delicious. Here are a few places that we think would be an instant hit:

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que

This Harlem location has been serving good food since 2004. If you love smoked meat, this is the place to be. The menu includes BBQ pork ribs, chicken, and brisket. You’ll also see burgers, sandwiches, wings, salads, and more. The kid’s menu includes sliders, chicken wings, bbq and crispy chicken, mac & cheese, and fried rice. 

Harlem Shake

You can’t leave NYC without visiting Harlem Shake. The restaurant opened in 2013, but since then, it has gotten rave reviews from celebs and publications. The menu includes burgers, sandwiches, shakes, beer, soda, and some specials. The kid’s menu is simple, featuring grilled cheese, mini burgers, chicken tenders, and a few combos. 

Café Un Deux Trois

Located in the Theater District, Cafe Un Deux Trois has been functioning since 1977. This French café doesn’t have a separate kid’s menu, but the fare is simple enough, so the kids will like what they get. The menu changes according to the time of day, so keep that in mind before you go. 

Jackson Diner

Jackson Diner has been giving New Yorkers a taste of Indian cuisine for over thirty-five years. The food is so good that they’ve served various big shots like Hillary Clinton, Harrison Ford, and Sylvester Stallone. The menu includes tandoori meat, curries, soups, salads, biryani, bread, and more. 

Benihana is a Japanese restaurant chain. You get a personal chef that cooks the food in front of you while indulging in some theatrics. The kids will love the experience and can order from a separate kid’s menu.

If you’re coming to town for a longer period, you’ll definitely want to check out some nearby places. Here are a few places you can enjoy with your family. 

Riverhead is almost two hours away from NYC. It’s a small town on Long Island but offers its visitors plenty of experiences.

You can start sightseeing at the Long Island Aquarium. The aquarium houses sting rays, sea lions, turtles, sharks, penguins, and otters, among other animals. 

If you want to go to an indoor attraction, we recommend The All-Star and Safari Adventure. Kids can see how farms work at Garden of Eve and Hallockville Museum Farm. Other attractions include the Railroad Museum of Long Island, Riverhead Raceway, and Martha Clara Vineyards. 

Cold Spring

Cold Spring is in Putnam County, an hour and fifteen minutes from New York City. It is a quaint little village you can tour on the Cold Spring Trolley. Take the kids to Tiny Tots Park and relax while they play in the fenced space. 

You can take a canoe or kayak out on the Hudson River; just rent the equipment. The village also has several art galleries, such as the Buster Levi Gallery and Magazzino Italian Art. Walk along Main Street and see all the shops and places there. This village isn’t wild in any sense of the word, but it makes for a relaxing day. 

Cape May is a New Jersey city, just two and a half hours’ drive from New York. It’s famous for its beaches, and you’ll enjoy being at the resort. The city has sixteen beaches with popular ones, including Broadway and The Cove. 

You can hang out here, and the kids can make sandcastles, or you can go into the water and try swimming and surfing in the sea. Alternatively, you can go on the Cape May-Lewes Ferry to see the scenery and encounter a few dolphins. 

Other attractions include the County Zoo, Point State Park, Cape May Lighthouse, Jersey Shore Alpacas, and Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum. You can also go on a carriage ride through the city with the Cape May Carriage Company.

Norwalk is a city in Connecticut. It’s just over an hour away from New York City. Once there, you can start with the Sheffield Island Lighthouse Tour. This lighthouse has been there since 1868. Afterward, you can go to the Stepping Stones Museum for Children, where they’ll have fun with the interactive exhibits. 

You can also go to The Maritime Aquarium, Sono Fieldhouse, and New Canaan Nature Center. The Sono Fieldhouse offers multiple sports like lacrosse, soccer, baseball, hockey, baseball, and others. 

Philadelphia

Philadelphia is an hour and a half away from NYC.  We recommend starting your visit with the Franklin Institute, where kids can learn about science through interactive kid-centric exhibits. 

Later, you can visit the Please Touch Museum. This kid’s wonderland features Alice’s Wonderland and other exhibits. If your kids love animals, you must visit the Philadelphia Zoo and Adventure Aquarium.

The kids can have fun in Franklin Square, the LEGOLAND Discovery Center, and Sesame Place. For a touch of history, visit the Independence National History Park to see how the Founding Fathers worked for our independence. If you want to witness a hint of magic, visit the Museum of Illusions and Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens.

New York City has an efficient public transit system, so you won’t need to rent a car. Here’s a brief overview:

Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)

The MTA regulates the transport system, which consists of buses and subways. You need a MetroCard to get on these. You can purchase this from the station via self-service machines or booth attendants. The card also works with the Roosevelt Island Tram.

New York has its characteristic yellow taxis. You can hail one if its number is illuminated. You can call a cab anywhere, but they’re expensive. Still, it beats getting on the subway when you’re dead on your feet. 

Other Methods

Other travel methods include using your car or getting a rental. You can also rent a bike or take the ferry, but those methods are limited. 

There are multiple methods to get to New York City. You can decide which one’s the best depending on your needs. 

If you’re flying in, you will land at one of these three airports; John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), LaGuardia Airport (LGA), and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). Once you land, you can go to your hotel by taxi or by public transport. 

There are two train stations in New York City; Grand Central Terminal and Penn Station. Depending on where you live, you can take one of the five rail services that function here. These include Amtrak, Long Island Rail Road (LIRR), Metro-North Railroad, NJ Transit, and PATH (Port Authority Trans Hudson). 

If you want to start the vacation with a road trip, you can use your car. Be sure to use Google Maps and keep snacks and toys for the young ones. If your children are too young, a long car trip might make them antsy so be prepared to take regular breaks.

New York City isn’t any more dangerous than other major cities. However, you need to be careful so you can be safe. 

• Hold hands with the kids, especially in crowded places.
• Make sure you get on the subway together and have a contingency plan for if you lose each other.
• Don’t engage with strangers.
• Teach your kids to approach the police if lost. 
• Be careful of pickpockets.
• Make sure your hotel is safe and leave your valuables there. 
• Stick to well-lit, crowded areas.
• Be careful on the subway. Ensure the kids stay away from the tracks and don’t lose them in the crowd.

New York City is a popular family vacation spot. It’s a big city, and one short vacation isn’t enough to do or see everything. Prioritize what you want and try to check off the important stuff first. However, since you’re traveling with kids, you can’t be too strict with your itinerary. If things don’t go strictly to plan, don’t worry too much, and try to enjoy the vacation. You can always visit again.

More about our TFVG Author

Charmaine Cortes

11 Best Family Vacations in New York — That All Ages Love!

By: Author Janik Godoy

Posted on Published: September 15, 2020  - Last updated: November 25, 2023

If you’re thinking about planning a family vacation to New York state, you’re in for a treat.

Sure, New York City steals the spotlight with its towering skyscrapers and famous attractions, but the state has so much more to offer beyond the bustling metropolis.

Having personally experienced these incredible places, I can vouch for the fact that New York is a treasure trove of family-friendly adventures. 

From beautiful beaches where the kids can build sandcastles to serene mountain retreats perfect for hiking and bonding, the state has it all.

So, let me be your guide as we explore the best family vacations in New York. 

Whether you’re seeking thrills, relaxation, or educational experiences, there’s something here for everyone. 

Get ready for an unforgettable journey through the wonders of the Empire State.

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Best Family Vacations In New York Compared

Discover our hand-picked top picks, filled with thrilling attractions, iconic landmarks, and captivating experiences.

Editor’s Choice

Gurney’s Montauk Resort & Seawater Spa

Gurney’s Montauk is an excellent choice for families aching for a relaxing beach escape.

• Kid-friendly Activities: 4/5
• Family Accommodations: 4/5
• Dining Options: 4/5
• Safety and Security: 5/5
• Value for Money: 3/5
• Location and Accessibility: 4/5

#2nd Best Choice

The Whiteface Lodge

At the Whiteface Lodge, you’ll enjoy a bevy of luxuries and activities suitable for the entire family.

• Kid-friendly Activities: 5/5
• Family Accommodations: 5/5
• Value for Money: 4/5

#3rd Best Choice

Hope Lake Lodge & Indoor Waterpark

Hope Lake blends family fun with deluxe accommodations, making it one of the most irresistible New York vacations for families.

• Dining Options: 3/5
• Safety and Security: 4/5
• Location and Accessibility: 3/5

Here are the top 11 family vacations in New York.

1. Gurney’s Montauk Resort & Seawater Spa (Editor’s Choice)

290 Old Montauk Hwy Montau, NY 11954 (631) 668-2345 Visit Website Social Media Open in Google Maps

They don’t call Gurney’s Montauk one of the best and most luxurious family resorts in New York state for nothing.

Ratings Criteria

• Beautiful location: The picturesque views of the ocean and the surrounding landscape provide a tranquil and serene atmosphere for a family vacation.
• Luxurious amenities: The resort offers a wide range of luxurious amenities, including a seawater spa, outdoor pools, and private beach access. 
• High costs: The luxurious amenities and prime location come with a price tag, making it a less affordable option for some families.
• Crowded during peak seasons: This may result in longer wait times and a less peaceful atmosphere, particularly around shared facilities like the pools and spa.

Who Should Vacation Here

There’s also a kids’ club to keep the little ones busy, as the parents enjoy the healing treatment of the full-service spa.

If you want some action, the resort has on-site water sports as well.

Their 3-bedroom cottage is ideal for large groups and family reunions.

With 2 bedrooms and a host of amenities, it can comfortably fit in up to 8 adults and 4 children.

Also See: Restaurants in Montauk Things to Do in Montauk

2. The Whiteface Lodge

7 Whiteface Inn Ln Lake Placid, NY 12946 (518) 523-0505 Visit Website Social Media Open in Google Maps

Does your idea of the best family vacations in New York include relaxation and easygoing family trips?

• Rustic charm: The lodge’s design and architecture provide a warm and inviting atmosphere, perfect for families looking for a quaint and intimate vacation experience.
• Outdoor activities: It offers a wide range of outdoor activities such as hiking, skiing, and mountain biking. 
• Limited dining options: Although it offers on-site dining options, the choices are limited compared to larger resorts or urban locations. 
• Distance from major attractions: The lodge is located in Lake Placid, which is a bit removed from major cities and attractions in New York. 

The Whiteface Lodge is a serene, luxury getaway with plenty of amenities to entertain the whole gang.

Kamp Kamu, the resort’s kiddie program, entertains youngsters with exciting games and activities.

There’s also a seasonal ice skating rink, a movie theater, pools and on-site bowling.

For a comfortable vacation, stay at their 2-bedroom suite.

Aside from its spacious rooms and living room, the suite also has a comfy king bed and queen bed.

Not to mention, it comes with a sofa that can be converted into an extra bed.

3. Hope Lake Lodge & Indoor Waterpark

2177 Clute Rd Cortland, NY 13045 (607) 218-8714 Visit Website Social Media Open in Google Maps

• Indoor waterpark: Families can enjoy a variety of water slides, pools, and other water-based activities regardless of the weather.
• Family-friendly activities: There are plenty of options to keep children of different ages entertained during their stay.
• Limited dining options: Families staying for an extended period might find the dining options repetitive or have to travel further for additional variety.
• Potential crowding: Like other indoor water parks, it can get crowded, especially during peak times such as school holidays.

If your crew loves to spend a lot of time on water, then indulge in a family vacation at Hope Lake Lodge.

Not only does it feature an indoor water park, but it also has an adventure center and a spa.

What’s more, it has a kids’ club, on-site water sports, a beach and a ski facility.

We recommend staying at the resort’s deluxe suite.

With 2 separate bedrooms and a living room, it gives moms and dads a little privacy on their vacation.

Plus, it comes with a spa bath that adults and kids will love.

Related: Best All Inclusive Resorts in New York

4. Cooperstown

Cooperstown, NY (607) 322-4046 Visit Website Social Media Open in Google Maps

Cooperstown is a haven of fun for families with baseball fanatics and outdoor adventurers.

Known for its all-American charm, Cooperstown is a superb destination for sports-loving families.

In fact, the town is famous for the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, with its artifacts and interactive exhibits.

There are even seasonal baseball clinics in this town.

Of course, there are plenty of other family-friendly attractions in Cooperstown, including the Farmers’ Museum and countless outdoor pursuits.

To save money on accommodations, I suggest that you stay at The Inn at Cooperstown .

Besides its affordable rates, it also has spacious suites and a tasty continental breakfast.

Hotel’s location is excellent too, and is literally minutes away from tons of activities and attractions.

Recommended Hotel: The Inn at Cooperstown

Also See: Restaurants in Cooperstown

Albany, NY (800) 258-3582 Visit Website Social Media Open in Google Maps

The capital of New York is home to a diverse collection of attractions to suit visitors of all ages and tastes.

Albany is a gorgeous urban destination filled with cultural treasures and indoor attractions that will satisfy everyone in your family.

For a memorable vacation here, visit the New York State Capitol, Washington Park and Nelson A. Rockefeller Empire State Plaza.

Furthermore, Albany offers easy access to a number of family vacations near New York.

Drop by Grappa ‘72 Ristorante and enjoy a smorgasbord of mouth-watering Italian staples.

One of the city’s best-kept secrets, this elegant restaurant also impresses visitors with its tasteful decors and Italian wines.

Recommended Hotel: Renaissance Albany Hotel

Also See: Restaurants in Albany Hotels in Albany

6. Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls, NY 14303 Visit Website Social Media Open in Google Maps

No list of the best fun things to do in New York with kids is complete without a visit to Niagara Falls.

With its towering and jaw-dropping 188-foot waterfall, Niagara is, no doubt, an awe-inspiring natural wonder that should be on every family’s bucket list.

And after gazing at the stunning falls, spend some time checking out the other family-friendly attractions in Niagara.

Our favorites include the Niagara Gorge Discovery Center, Aquarium of Niagara and Cave of the Winds.

The best way to see this natural wonder is to take a Maid of the Mist boat tour, which takes you and other poncho-clad tourists on a steamboat to the base of the cascades.

Recommended Hotel: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Niagara Falls New York

7. Rochester

Rochester, NY Visit Website Social Media Open in Google Maps

With endless outdoor pursuits and museums , Rochester is, hands down, one of the best places to visit in New York with kids.

Rochester is an exceptional urban destination for families with younger kids.

In Rochester, you’ll find scores of kid-approved museums , including the George Eastman Museum and the Strong National Museum of Play.

In warmer months, the city offers all types of outdoor attractions.

And, did we mention that the city is also a cheap family vacation destination?

Don’t forget to drop by Seabreeze Amusement Park.

From classic kid-friendly rides to roller coasters, the amusement park has numerous diversions to keep everyone entertained for a few hours.

Recommended Hotel: Hyatt Regency Rochester

Related: Summer Vacation Ideas for Families

Also See: Restaurants in Rochester Hotels in Rochester

8. New York City

New York, NY Visit Website Social Media Open in Google Maps

From historic educational wonders to mind-blowing indoor attractions, New York overflows with fun family vacation ideas.

The Big Apple offers families infinite big city fun with its world-class museums, state-of-the-art attractions and iconic landmarks .

Plus, most of its museums and landmarks are incredibly educational, especially the American Museum of Natural History and Statue of Liberty.

Moms and dads will also appreciate the mesmerizing sights and shopping centers.

Whether you’re traveling with teens or toddlers, you’ll surely have a blast in NYC.

On top of it all, kid-friendly accommodations in NYC are easy to find so your trip is sure to be a great one.

Seeing all of the top sights in New York City with kids can be a challenge.

That’s why signing up for a guided tour might be a smart idea.

From walking tours to boat and food tours, you’ll find an array of experiences that will suit your family’s taste.

Also, to save money on food, enjoy some cheap meals that are offered by street vendors, especially those with Vendy Awards posted.

Recommended Hotel: Ink 48

Related: NYC Restaurants

Also See: Hotels in NYC Beaches in NYC Family Resorts Near NYC

Buffalo, NY (800) 283-3256 Visit Website Social Media Open in Google Maps

From museums to outdoor spots , there’s something for everyone in Buffalo.

Buffalo is a vibrant city teeming with family-friendly places to go and attractions .

Kids and teens will adore the vibrant Canalside district, with its Instagrammable public art, cruises and paddle boat rentals.

The Buffalo Museum of Science will also wow everyone with a collection of Egyptian mummies and mastodon skeletons.

Hampton Inn & Suites Buffalo Downtown is an excellent accommodation option for families.

Enjoy its complimentary hot breakfast, indoor pool and central location.

Then, after a busy day in Buffalo, re-group in a spacious hotel room with a couple of queen beds.

Recommended Hotel: Hampton Inn & Suites Buffalo Downtown

Also See: Restaurants in Buffalo Hotels in Buffalo

10. Long Island

Long Island, NY (877) 386-6654 Visit Website Social Media Open in Google Maps

Escape the hustle bustle of your city life with a fabulous beach retreat on Long Island.

With miles of white sand beaches, Long Island makes a quaint and relaxing escape for families.

A can’t-miss here is the age-friendly Jones Beach State Park, home to a mini golf course, a pool and shuffleboard areas.

For surfers, make sure to visit Ditch Plains Beach.

Fond of wines?

Guess what?

Long Island has over 70 tasting rooms and wineries.

Some of these wineries are part of the North Fork Wine Trail of Long Island.

Recommended Hotel: Montauk Manor

Related: Long Island Restaurants

Related: Best Family Beaches in New York

11. The Catskills

Catskill, NY Visit Website Social Media Open in Google Maps

Searching for outdoorsy kid-friendly weekend getaways in New York ?

Trust me, you’ll have a blast exploring the natural wonders of the Catskill Mountains .

The Catskill Mountains are a paradise for families who are into exhilarating outdoor activities.

In summer, families can go zip lining, boating and hiking here.

Meanwhile, winter offers ample opportunities to snowboard and ski.

Need a break from the non-stop outdoor escapes in the Catskills?

Luckily for you, the area is filled with non-outdoorsy activities that will satisfy the entire family.

If you’re into museums, visit the Bethel Woods Center for the arts and Galerie BMG.

For live music, head to Colony Cafe and Levon’s Midnight Ramble.

Recommended Hotel: Resorts World Catskills

Also See: Restaurants in The Catskills

Vacationer’s Guide 

Comparing destinations: which one is right for you.

At Gurney’s Montauk Resort, ocean breezes stirred up smiles and laughter. 

Our kids filled their buckets with sand as if hunting for gold. 

An impromptu sandcastle contest? Priceless memory. 

We’ve sealed our joyous laughter into the timeless Atlantic whispers.

At The Whiteface Lodge, we tucked into the quiet, sylvan haven. 

Fireside hot chocolates warmed us, as the kids ventured on leaf-strewn trails. 

The family pinnacle? 

Star-gazing in the open Adirondack sky while savoring perfectly roasted marshmallows, and that unforgettable magical sleigh ride that left our cheeks flushed with excitement.

Then Hope Lake Lodge – a cascade of joy and giggles. 

Its indoor waterpark – our oasis amid urban hustle. 

The children’s ecstatic cheers from those thrilling water slides are now our forever echoes of happiness. 

What a heartwarming adventure each destination has been.

How I Picked The Destinations 

Prepare to be dazzled by the countless wonders of New York.

With first-hand experience and insider insights, I’ve delved into the heart of this bustling metropolis. 

From iconic landmarks like Times Square to the tranquil oasis of Central Park, I’ve uncovered the ultimate family-friendly destinations. 

Get ready for an unforgettable journey through the enchanting streets of the Big Apple.

Our Rating Method 

I rate these properties based on the following criteria:

• Kid-friendly Activities: I use this to evaluate the availability and variety of family-friendly amenities at every property. Does it feature playgrounds and kids’ clubs? Does it organize events designed specifically for kids? I ask myself these questions whenever I rate this property’s kid-friendly activities. 
• Family Accommodations: This is used to assess the family accommodations of the property. Are the rooms spacious? Does it offer family suites with connecting rooms? Can it accommodate families of different sizes? Is there a crib or baby-proofing in every room? These questions are essential whenever I rate the property’s family accommodations. 
• Dining Options: This evaluates the dining options at the property. Are there kid-friendly options at the property? Is there an on-site restaurant that caters to everyone’s dietary preferences and needs? I use these questions to assess the dining options of every property. 
• Safety and Security: I use this criterion to assess the safety and security of every property. Are the premises secured? Is the staff trained to handle any emergency? I consider these factors when rating the property’s safety and security. 
• Value for Money: This is used to evaluate the value for money of every property. Are the room rates reasonable? Are the services, activities, and amenities suitable for the price? I ask myself these questions to rate the value for money provided by the property. 
• Location and Accessibility: This measures how accessible the property is for families. How far is it from the popular family attractions? Is it easily accessible via public transportation? I use these questions to evaluate the property’s location and accessibility. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

Is new york good for a family trip.

New York can be a good destination for a family trip, offering a wide range of attractions and activities suitable for different age groups. From iconic landmarks like Central Park and the Statue of Liberty to museums, theaters, and family-friendly restaurants, there are plenty of options to keep everyone entertained.

Is New York A Good Holiday For Children?

New York can be a great holiday destination for children, as the city offers a multitude of family-friendly attractions and experiences. From interactive museums like the American Museum of Natural History and the Children’s Museum of Manhattan to Broadway shows, boat rides, and street performances, there are numerous opportunities for children to have a memorable and enjoyable time in NYC.

Is NYC A Child Friendly City?

New York City is generally considered a child-friendly city, with a variety of attractions and amenities catering to families. Parks, playgrounds, zoos, and interactive museums like the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum provide entertainment and educational opportunities for children, making it a city that can accommodate family needs.

How Long Do You Need In New York With Kids?

The duration of a trip to New York with kids can vary depending on personal preferences and the specific activities planned. However, to experience some of the city’s main attractions and get a taste of its vibrant atmosphere, a recommended minimum stay would be around 4 to 5 days. This allows families to explore popular destinations, visit museums, enjoy parks, and even catch a Broadway show or two, ensuring a well-rounded experience for both kids and adults.

Conclusion 

To conclude, for the best family vacations in New York, Gurney’s Montauk Resort & Seawater Spa shines the brightest. 

Luxurious, yet family-friendly, it truly outclasses other places I’ve experienced in the area. 

With their blend of restful ambiance and adventurous offerings, it’s a standout spot for families. 

So, if you’re charting out a holiday that offers a balance of relaxation and excitement, I wholeheartedly recommend setting your sights on Gurney’s Montauk. 

This destination offers a one-of-a-kind experience, promising to etch unforgettable memories for you and your loved ones.

45 Places to Discover with this 4 Day NYC Itinerary

As one of the top destinations in the U.S., New York City exudes nonstop energy and is a must-do for teens. In a city that never slows down, travel lessons abound, like navigating public transportation. Pack some comfy walking shoes since NYC offers urban trekking at its finest. I lived in NYC for two years, though I didn’t introduce my kids to the metropolis until they could walk all day without whining. Find everything from Top museums to parks and shopping to snacking. New York City offers a week of fun with teens in this NYC 4 Day Itinerary.

Table of Contents

Top Things to Do With NYC 4 Day Itinerary

Statue of liberty  and ellis island, castle clinton and battery park, wall  st. and federal hall, 9/11 memorial and museum , top of the rock and rockefeller center, museum of modern art–moma, st. patrick’s cathedral , grand central teminal , a broadway show, times square, american museum of natural history , central park, roosevelt island tram , chelsea market , high line park, scenic cruise, intrepid sea air & space museum, the metropolitan museum of art , a baseball game, day one downtown manhattan with kids.

Start at the southern tip of Manhattan and see the oldest part of New York City first. Catch a ferry to the Statue of Liberty and see some of the best views. A must for families along with most visitors to NYC.

Tip: All the destinations are walkable so put on the walking shoes and grab a bottle of water to explore. An umbrella and a rain jacket are great additions to your backpack too.

Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island – First Stop

New york city harbor, admission starts at $24.50 and $12 for kids.

How to get there: Depart your hotel and grab some breakfast before heading south to the southern tip of Manhattan at Battery Park. Use the MTA subway stop at Whitehall St/South Ferry on the 1 or the R train.

Make the effort and visit the Statue of Liberty, especially if you are traveling with kids. When I lived in NYC I never visited it. Instead, I opted to take the Staten Island Ferry to see it from the water. Don’t make my mistake.

As a symbol of freedom and liberty known worldwide, the Statue of Liberty sits on a 12-acre island in the middle of New York Harbor. Learn about its construction in the museum under the pedestal. Then climb the stairs to the top of the pedestal or head to the crown to capture views of downtown Manhattan (additional tickets required). Take lots of pictures and stand at the base and look up at her in wonder.

Separate reservations are required for Pedestal Access and Crown Access. Depending on the time of the year, these reservations sell out months in advance.

Operated by Statue Cruises, the ferry departs from Battery Park in Lower Manhattan. Explore the Statue of Liberty first then re-board the ferry to tour Ellis Island, an additional stop. The first ferry leaves at 9:00 a.m., and the last one departs at 3:00 p.m. with extended hours during peak seasons.

Tickets start at $24.50 for adults and $12 for kids 4 to 12 with discounts for seniors. Ferry tickets are required for everyone.

Statue Cruises also operates a Statue of Liberty Ferry from New Jersey.

Ellis Island

From 1892 until 1954, Ellis Island welcomed 12 million immigrants to the United States. The Ellis Island Immigration Museum walks visitors through the facility that processed close to 5,000 people a day.

Concessions are available at the Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island Museum or grab some to-go before boarding the ferry.

To tour both islands, give yourself the morning. Reservations are a must, and book months in advance for the pedestal tour and six months in advance for the crown tour. A Junior Ranger Booklet is available. All passengers will go through airport-style security screening.

Top National Park Sites in NYC

Castle Clinton and Battery Park – Second Stop

Battery park open seven days a week from 7:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. free.

After disembarking the Statue Cruises ferry, explore the Castle Clinton National Monument for more immigration history, located steps from the ferry dock. For war buffs in the family, it’s also a fort from the War of 1812 with antique cannons. Junior Ranger booklets are available.

SeaGlass Carousel

After the history lesson, walk over to the newest carousel in New York City, SeaGlass Carousel in Battery Park. Built in 2015, visitors can hop on a fish to whirl around the pavilion to classical music. Open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., weather permitting. Admission is $5.50 per person.

Top Sites for Walking Tour of Lower Manhattan

Charging bull and fearless girl, trinity church, new york stock exchange, federal hall, 9/11 memorial.

Walk up Broadway from Battery Park, a quick .5-mile walk, to take some selfies at the Charging Bull Statue , though Fearless Girl has been moved, Broadway at Morris St.

Continue up Broadway and walk by Trinity Church , located at 75 Broadway at Wall St. The first church was built in 1698 and rebuilt two times. A notable building from the American Revolution and people fleeing the 9/11 attacks found shelter in the church from falling debris.

Next walk by the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), at 11 Wall St., unfortunately tours aren’t available so grab another picture. In front, find Fearless Girl, the statue depicting a 4-foot tall girl urging more women on corporate boards.

I would pick either the Federal Hall National Monument or the 9/11 Museum to tour, depending on interest and time.

Best Museums in New York City

Federal Hall National Monument – Fourth Stop

Federal hall national monument 26 wall street open monday through friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. free.

Federal Hall served as the first Capitol of the United States, the Supreme Court and the Executive Branch offices. George Washington took the oath of office as the first President of the United States at Federal Hall as well.

Junior Ranger booklets are available. There is an interpretive film shown as well.

Located at 26 Wall Street, Federal Hall’s visitor center is at the Pine Street entrance. It’s open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. During the summer, it’s open Saturdays as well. Free to enter,

To get to the 9/11 Memorial, head north from Federal Hall to Cedar St. Walk a couple of blocks west to Greenwich Street then take a right. The memorial is in the following block.

9/11 Memorial and Museum – Fifth Stop

180 greenwich st., open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., 9/11 museum, open wednesday to monday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. (closed tuesday), admission starts at $21, 6 and under free.

How to get there: For the 9/11 Memorial, head north from Federal Hall to Cedar St. Walk a couple of blocks west to Greenwich Street then take a right. The memorial is in the following block.

As a former American Airlines flight attendant who lived through that horrific day, I visit the 9/11 Memorial to remember my former colleagues. The memorial is a somber space that gives visitors a place to reflect.

For visitors with more time, reserve tickets to the 9/11 Museum , located steps from the memorial. It uses artifacts from the World Trade Center and actual recordings of emergency calls. Touring the museum is an emotional experience though the area around the WTC has recovered, experiencing a rebirth.

Adult admission is $33, students (13 to 17 and college students) are $27 and kids (7 to 12) are $21.

Tip: Please be respectful of other visitors at the Memorial and Museum. Advance reservations are required.

Time to eat so head to a downtown NYC icon.

Top Things to Do in Lower Manhattan

Dinner at Katz’s Delicatessen – Sixth Stop

Katz’s delicatessen 205 e. houston st., open 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. monday to thursday, 24 hours from friday at 8 a.m. until sunday at 11 p.m..

How to get there: Walk east along Cortlandt St. to the MTA Fulton St. Station for the Brooklyn-bound J train (it will be headed north). Exit the Essex St. Station and walk north along Essex Street to 205 E. Houston St.

Katz’s Delicatessen is an NYC icon. The pastrami-on-rye sandwiches are pricey, but I ordered half and got a bowl of Matzo ball soup. This location is as original as it gets, with locals dining alongside the travelers.

Tip: You can order at the counter and seat yourself or sit at a table with table service. Don’t lose the paper ticket the waiter gives you, you will have to hand it to the person working the door.

Time for dessert so walk to Little Italy.

Dessert in Little Italy – Seventh Stop

Ferrara italian bakery, 195 grand st., open sunday to thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., friday and saturday from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. how to get there: from katz’s deli, walk south on orchard st. for two blocks until grand st. and head west eight blocks (about half a mile)..

Stop at Ferrara Italian Bakery for a cappuccino and cannoli fix with table service. Or grab a gelato on the street and walk around Little Italy as it sparkles at night.

Time to head back to your hotel so grab one of the three MTA Subways at Canal Street with service on the N , 6 , Q , Z trains.

50 Places to Eat in NYC with Kids

Day Two – Exploring Midtown and the Theatre District

Fill up your culture tank and head to Midtown.  Midtown offers all the big city thrills one expects from a trip to NYC. Wear walking shoes, and the Broadway shows that appeal to families and don’t require dressy outfits.

Rockefeller Center and Plaza– First Stop

Rockefeller center 45 rockefeller plaza free, tours additional admission.

How to get there: After breakfast near the hotel, take the MTA subway D or F and exit the 47-50 th St./Rockefeller Center Stop.

Developed by the Rockefeller family, it’s a complex of buildings and outdoor space in Midtown. In addition to the buildings, find a summertime cafe and a wintertime ice skating rink. Inside and out find quick service food outlets and shopping like the LEGO store. One of the top activities is checking out the NYC skyline for the observation tower.

Top of the Rock

Admission starts at $34, open daily from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. with seasonal hours.

After a quick elevator ride, explore three different floors all with incredible views. With the best views of Central Park, this is also the best way to see landmarks like the Chrysler Building and Empire State Building.

Reserved timed entry tickets are required to the Top of the Rock. It offers several different packages, like VIP. Adult admission ranges from $40 to $55, and kids (6 to 12) are $34 to $49. Tickets are based on demand pricing.

Radio City Music Hall

Admissionstarts at $29, open tuesday to saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m..

You can tour the legendary theater and home to the Rockettes . After the Top of the Rock tour, stay at Rockefeller Center and tour Radio City Music Hall. Art Deco theater features rich architectural details from a bygone era along with some of Bob Mackie’s Rockettes costumes.

This 60-minute tour goes behind the scenes, and tourgoers will meet a Rockette.

Adult admission is $33, and kids, students, and seniors are $29. Reservations are recommended.

If it’s time to feed the kids I recommend grabbing a bite at Rockefeller Center. Between the Plaza and the concourse level, I found close to 30 different places to eat.

Museum of Modern Art MoMA — Second Stop

11 w. 53th st. open from daily10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., 7 p.m. on saturdays. admission for adults, kids under 16 free. timed entry reservations required.

How to get there: From Rockefeller Center, walk .5-mile north along 5 th or 6 th Avenues to the MoMA, located at 11 W. 53th St.

With a city full of the best art museums in the U.S. where should you start? I suggest the Museum of Modern Art or MoMA.

If your kids have short attention spans, head straight for the Fifth Floor. That’s where I found Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh, Dance by Henri Matisse, along with works from Andy Warhol, Frida Kahlo, and Pablo Picasso.

Adult admission is $28 with online tickets.  Students get in for $15, and kids 16 and younger get in free. The MoMA hands out guides for family visits. Walk through the gift shop for unique souvenirs. After art comes architecture so head to a grand Gothic Cathedral located on 5th Ave.

St. Patrick’s Cathedral — Third Stop

Fifth ave. between 50th and 51st st. open daily from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. .

How to get there:  From the MoMA, walk three blocks down Fifth Ave. to 51st St.

Regardless of religion, St. Patrick’s is one of the pieces of architecture. Take a few minutes and walk through the Neo-Gothic Cathedral in the center of midtown. During my last visit, I saw a girls’ choir performing and the acoustics were unbelievable.

St. Patrick’s Cathedral offers a self-guided tour with an iPad. it guides visitors through the architectural highlights of the cathedral along with its history. The tour is $19 per person.

Up next, walk a .5 mile to a grand train station and have some dinner.

Grand Central Terminal — Fourth Stop

89 e. 42nd st. terminal open from 5:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. dining concourse open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. monday through saturday, sunday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. free to enter.

How to get there: From St. Patrick’s, walk down 5th Ave for seven blocks to 43rd St. then walk east for two blocks.

Walk through the Beaux Arts Masterpiece and my favorite building in New York City. As the largest train terminal in the world, Grand Central Terminal is a top destination for locals and travelers with dining and shopping along with commuter trains and subways.

The ceiling of the main concourse features an astronomical ceiling, a four-sided brass clock and Tennessee marble on the stairs and the floor. The exterior features granite with expanses of divided-light windows and sculptures.

There are lots of options for dining. The Oyster Bar is the oldest business in Grand Central and offers an iconic NYC dining spot. Or walk to the concourse level for more casual dining, with options like Shake Shack . Grand Central Market offers prepared food, coffee, cut flowers and specialty food items.

After dinner, it’s time to see a Broadway show. If this is your kids’ first theater production, I recommend a Disney on Broadway show.

Theater District for a Show — Fifth Stop

The theater district runs from 40th to 54th streets and from 6th to 8th avenues..

How to get there: Grab an MTA S Train at Grand Central Terminal and exit at Times Square Station.

With audiences full of families, a Disney on Broadway production is my choice for kids’ first theater performance. Packed with tunes they know by heart, elaborate sets and glittering costumes, kids stay glued to their seats. During one visit we saw Aladdin. With my sons, we got tickets to Harry Potter .

Tip: Sure, you can hope for last-minute reduced seats though I reserved my seats way before my trip to ensure my family sat together.

Top Things to Do in Midtown Manhattan 

Times square – sixth stop, intersection of broadway and 7 th avenue.

After a show, celebrate a great trip with the brightest lights in the city. The best time to walk through Times Square is after dark. Times Square also features street performers and lots of shopping.

Tip: Times Square is also a major MTA subway stop with service on the  N , Q , R , S , 1 , 2 , 3 , and 7 trains.

Junior’s Restaurant and Bakery – Seventh Stop

1515 broadway at 45th st. and 1626 broadway at 49th st.  open from sunday to thursday 7 a.m. to midnight, friday and saturday 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. .

With all the walking, it’s time for dessert. I recommend heading north on Broadway to Junior’s for cheesecake. Topping the best cheesecake list for years, it’s a dense, not-too-sweet and creamy NY-style cheesecake. I ordered the plain and didn’t share. It also holds for next-day snacks if you have a refrigerator.

Day Three — Central Park & NYC Animals

Animals live in New York City, lots of them. Then find more animals at the Natural History Museum and Central Park, both favorites among kids. After learning the history of New York City and its early residents, it’s time to learn about its famous park.

American Museum of Natural History and the Hayden Planetarium — First Stop

American museum of natural history central park west at 79th st. open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. admission starts at $16. timed entry reservations required.

How to get there: After enjoying breakfast at your centrally located hotel, take the A or B MTA subway train and exit the 81 st / Museum of Natural History.

A must for families, even my teen daughter spent hours exploring the American Museum of Natural History and the Hayden Planetarium . A sprawling museum that could take all day. Hit the highlights, like the Hall of Dinosaurs, “Lucy,” the early human, the giant blue whale, and the Theodore Roosevelt Rotunda along with the Hall of North American Mammals.

Carve out a little time for the Hayden Planetarium to learn more about the world beyond our atmosphere. It’s located on-site and requires an additional timed ticket.

Tip: I recommend eating lunch at the Natural History Museum and the Museum Food Court on the lower level features family favorites. During our visit we enjoyed salads though pizza, burgers, sandwiches and a selection of desserts are available. Reserve tickets to the Hayden Planetarium before arriving to make the best use of your time.

Adult admission is $28, students are $22, and kids (3 to 12) are $16. Timed Entry Reservations are required. An additional ticket is required for the Planetarium.

After exploring the museum, walk across the street to Central Park.

Tip: First load a  Central Park map on your phone and find your phone’s compass. Even after living in New York City for several years, I still get turned around in the park since all its paths curve and meander.

Walking Tour of Central Park — Second Stop

Enter Central Park right across the street from the Natural History Museum and grab some water from a street vendor lining the park’s edge.

Head for the Swedish Cottage and stay out of the Ramble, a thicket of woods. I have had to use my phone’s compass to navigate out of it, and I lived in the city for years.

After Swedish Cottage, walk through Shakespeare’s Garden and tour Belvedere Castle (donations accepted for tour) to grab a NYC skyline photo from the top.

Next head south to Conservatory Water for a charming area dedicated to the young-at-heart. Rent a wind-powered sailboat ($11 for 30 minutes) or just enjoy the scenery.

The Hans Christian Anderson Statue is close along with the Alice in Wonderland Statue . Both offer must-dos for families.

If the kids want to paddle a boat, head to Loeb’s Boathouse to rent one ($25 an hour, cash only. Summer only). Then grab an ice cream cone at the Loeb Boathouse Café Express for an afternoon snack. It also serves light meals from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Up next, Bethesda Terrance, Fountain, and Arcade, top for pictures of the park. If the kids need a pretzel, find a street cart near Bethesda.

Next walk south along The Mall , a wide sidewalk shaded with trees. Another must for families, the 1908 Carousel is open April though October from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is $3 per person, cash only.

After riding the Carousel, walk by the Chess and Checker House and play a game. Then move on to The Diary , a visitor center for Central Park.

Another must for families, the Central Park Zoo boasts a sea lion exhibit that visitors can see while walking along a free path through the zoo.

Find lots of playgrounds sprinkled throughout Central Park so take a minute and let the kids play.

Top Things to Do in Central Park

Walk about .5-mile east on 60 th St. to the Roosevelt Island Tram.

Roosevelt Island Tram — Fourth Stop

At the intersection of 59th st. and 2nd ave..

How to get there: From The Plaza Hotel on 59th St., walk five blocks east to Second Ave, about half a mile.

Take the family on a tram ride for free, if you purchased a MTA MetroCard for the subway (or $4 roundtrip). The bright red tram cars climb up and over the East River to get to Roosevelt Island. Get off and re-board to return to mid-town for some of the best views of Midtown.

After a full day, head back to your hotel. The MTA Lexington Ave./59th St. Station offers service on the  N , R , 4 , 5 , and 6 trains, two blocks from the tram station. Another day of exploring awaits in New York City.

Top 9 Things to Do in NYC in Winter 

Day four more to explore.

After three packed days, NYC still offers more neighborhoods to explore. Start the day in the trendy neighborhood of Chelsea in Lower Manhattan, packed with boutiques, foodie destinations and one of the NYC hot spots–High Line Park.

Chelsea — First Stop

Chelsea market, 75 9 th ave., open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m..

How to get there: From your centrally located hotel, take the downtown-bound C or E trains to the 14th St. Station. Walk west on 14th St. to 9th Ave. Chelsea Market is one block north.

Chelsea Market is a food hall and shopping complex across several floors. After grabbing a bite at any number of places for breakfast, wander around the market for unique shopping.

Head across the street to the High Line for an urban hike, a top destination.

High Line Park — Second Stop

Runs from gansevoort st. to 34 th st., open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m..

How to get there: Located across the street from Chelsea Market, take the elevator to the High Line from the western side of the Chelsea Market Building.

Next walk High Line Park, an elevated walking path and park created from an abandoned New York Central Railroad Spur on the west side. Created in 2009, High Line is a destination for locals and travelers alike. As a bonus, it’s free, unless you want to grab a snack or a quick coffee along the route.

Take the High Line to its northern end at 34 th St. After returning to the street level, hail a cab to the next destination, Circle Line Circles for a NYC cruise.

New York City Cruise — Third Stop

Circle line circles, departs from pier 83 at w 42 nd, first cruise at 10 a.m., tickets start at $23.

How to get there: You can walk from High Line Park to Pier 83 via 10th Ave., but it’s 13 blocks. Or hail a cab.

Sure, you can take a bus tour, but a scenic cruise is better. No street traffic and lots of fabulous city views and as a bonus, see NYC’s bridges from the water.

Tip: Check out the schedule before arriving to see which cruise appeals to you. During peak periods reservations are recommended.

After cruising the open water of the New York Harbor, time to explore another ship at the Intrepid Museum. But take a lunch break first.

Gotham West Market –Fourth Stop

600 11 th ave., open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m..

How to get there: From Pier 83 walk along W. 43rd St. to 11th Ave. Gotham West Market is one block north.

Food Halls offer lots of options, especially for families, and I rely on them for eating in NYC on the cheap cheap. The Gotham West Market offers options like burgers and noodle bowls along with a bar and desserts.

Top 23 Things to Do in Hyde Park NY

Intrepid Sea Air & Space Museum — Fifth Stop

Pier 86 w.46 th st. at 11 th avenue, open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., admission starts at $34. kids 4 and under and free. timed entry reservations required.

How to get there: From Gotham West Market, walk west W. 43rd St. to Pier 86.

As a top destination for kids along with the American Museum of Natural History, the Intrepid Sea Air and Space Museum is a must for school-age kids. Don’t let the aircraft carrier throw you off, I found more than military aircraft.

Clamber across the deck of the USS Intrepid to see a retired Concorde (I miss seeing her at JFK), and of course, seeing one of the retired space shuttles is a must. The Space Shuttle Enterprise is one of several on display across the U.S.

If you or your group doesn’t have problems with claustrophobia, explore the USS Growler, a submarine.

After exploring the Intrepid and seeing the Space Shuttle, time to switch gears again. This time I offer some choices.

Adult admission is $36, students are $34, and kids (5 to 12) are $26.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

1000 5th ave., open sunday, monday, tuesday and thursday from 10 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (closed wednesday), friday and saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. , admission starts at  $17, kids under 12 free. timed entry reservations required.

As the largest art museum in the U.S., you can explore The Metropolitan Museum of Art all day and still not see it all. So check out the map when you enter and concentrate on your interests.

My favorites are The Temple of Dendur, the Medieval Art for its imposing display, and the American Wing. Yet don’t miss the extensive collection of European Masters.

Adult admission is $20, students are $17, and kids 12 and younger are free.

Tip: Need a break? Grab a snack or light meal at any of the cafes located in The Met.

NY Yankees Stadium

1 e. 161 st., bronx, tickets required.

How to get there:  From Midtown, take the Bronx-bound D train to the 161st St./Yankee Stadium Station. Yankee Stadium is just outside the subway station, and for a game, the subway is the best way to get there.

The energy at a Yankees game could power a medium-sized city on its own. If you have baseball fans, make the effort and see a game.

If it’s an away game, take the Classic Tour instead. Led by a tour guide, visitors see all the best of Yankees Stadium, like the historic baseball artifacts. (Admission based on age.)

Tip: For baseball fans, this is a must. Check the schedule way in advance and purchase tickets before your trip. Be ready for some fun. Yankee fans are loud, and the energy at the games is electric, even for non-fans.

Using A NYC MetroCard With Kids

Use the subway to get around, a must-have skill for teens who will be exploring on their own in a few years. To explore NYC via the subway, head to the nearest subway station to purchase an MTA pay-per-ride subway card. There is even an app for an easier way to ride the subway.

I prefer to use the MetroCard vending machines, but cards can be purchased at the subway station booths. The vending machines accept credit cards and are usually faster than the booths, which might be closed.

Each fare is $2.90 when using a MetroCard, and you get a 5% bonus when you load more than $5.50 on each card. A single-ride ticket is $3.25 via the vending machines or booth.

The MTA unlimited passes come in 7-day and 30-day options. Stick with a pay-per-ride card unless you will ride the subway more than 14 separate times.

Tips and Hints for the NYC Subways

• MetroCards can be used on subway trains and local buses.
• A $1 new card fee applies to all new cards.
• Free transfers between trains at the same station.
• Metro cards bend easily so keep your cards in a protected place, like a wallet.
• If this is your first trip to NYC, stay away from Express trains and buses.
• Up to three kids 44″ and under can ride for free with an accompanying adult.
• Free kids usually crawl under the turnstile before the paying adult swipes their card or use the nearby accessible gate.
• Get a card for each person to swipe so you don’t look like a tourist. Kids 12 and older should be able to navigate by swiping Metrocards and moving through turnstiles.
• Know if you are traveling Uptown (Bronx/Queens) or Downtown (Brooklyn). Trains and subway platforms will be labeled, and maps will be displayed in each train car along with multiple spots in the subway station.
• Since there are lots of stairs to navigate, pack your lightest stroller.
• Hold hands if traveling with smaller kids, especially during peak periods.
• Make sure your child knows to go to an NYPD officer or MTA personnel if lost. Give kids a card with contact information in case of emergency.

Where to Stay in NYC

What to pack in your NYC Bag:

• Water bottle
• Protein bars
• Hand Sanitizer
• Bleach Wipes
• Packable Rain Jacket or Poncho
• Phone Battery Charger and Cord
• Something to sit on for parks

Know Before You Go:

• Travel like a New Yorker and take the subway. I’ve got the directions for you. Or grab a cab or other car service.
• Free public restrooms are hard to find. Pack hand wipes, bleach wipes and hand sanitizer to clean up. McDonald’s is reliable but be prepared to buy a drink to get the key.
• Wear comfortable shoes, you’d be surprised how much walking you can do in NYC.
• The streets of New York are safe, but be aware of who and what is around you at all times.

Consideration for brands mentioned. This post contains affiliate links.

Catherine Parker has a passion for travel and seen all 50 U.S. States. As a former flight attendant with one of the largest airlines, there isn't a North American airport that she hasn't landed in at least once. Since clipping her professional wings after 9/11, she combines her love of the open road with visiting architectural and cultural icons. She is based out of Central Texas dividing her time between writing and restoring a pair of 100-year-old houses. She shares her life with her three kids and her husband.

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Visiting New York City With Kids [Itinerary Included]

Visiting New York City with kids is such a fun trip with all the educational opportunities , broadway shows and food exploration ! It can be overwhelming to decide where to go and what to do and hours can go into planning your trip. Below we share our 3 day itinerary for exploring NYC with kids .

We packed a lot into our 3 day stop in New York City on our East Coast road trip , but it was so much fun! Check out all the things to do in New York with kids!

Table of Contents

• 2pm – Check in at Railroad Terminal for the New Jersey Ferry
• Ellis Island and Statue of Liberty
• 4:45pm – Arrive back at Railroad Terminal and drive to the RV park
• 5:15pm – Get on the Liberty Harbor Ferry to head over to the Wall St Ferry
• Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge
• Julianna’s For Pizza

Brooklyn Bridge Park Basketball Courts and Swings

Brooklyn heights promenade, washington street/water street picture.

• World Trade Center Path Station to take the train back to New Jersey

If you have time be sure to add in the Escape Game too!! We love escape games!!

Ellis Island

Since we were staying in New Jersey we parked on the New Jersey side ferry for Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. (We had to buy tickets ahead of time and had a timed entry in order to get in).

They have a metal detector and a lot of security as you are getting on the boat so plan time for that.

We checked in at 2pm and got on the boat and headed to Ellis Island first. They said with a 2pm checkin you couldn’t do both Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty – that sounded like a challenge to me :). We had to do a pretty quick tour of Ellis Island and definitely could have spent more time exploring. But we didn’t want to miss the boat that would take us to the Statue of Liberty.

We took about 1 hour to explore Ellis Island – but really 2 would have been better – or even 3 if you really want to spend time reading everything there. It was a cool experience and our kids were really into it too. It is such a great way to learn about United States history and how/why we are the country we are today.

If you can make it where you aren’t rushed I would recommend that. You can check out tickets and departure times here .

Statue of Liberty

From Ellis Island, we got on the ferry to the Statue of Liberty . This was confusing to me. But it is exactly how it works. If you are coming from the New Jersey side and want to do both you will start with Ellis Island. Once you are done there you get back on the ferry to go to the Statue of Liberty.

If you are coming from the New York side (Battery Park) you would start with the Statue of Liberty first and go to Ellis Island second. And to be honest, when you check in at the ferry I would ask and confirm this is how the ferry is running that day. Also, be aware of the times the ferries go or ask before you get on so you know when to be out to pick the ferry up for the next destination.

Here is a good map of how the ferries run .

We got off, walked around the front of the lady liberty and took some pictures, and walked back to get on the ferry. We did this all in 20 minutes. Which meant the ferry never left but was just there the whole time loading people up to take them back.

This worked for us since we wanted to catch the earlier ferry back to New Jersey to head over to Brooklyn still that night.

It was a fast walk to make the 20 minutes work but we did it. With more time we would have explored the museum and the gift shop. Again if you have time I recommend giving this time to explore without feeling rushed. We were basically running to get back to the ferry.

The ferry brought us back and we drove and dropped the truck off at the RV park and walked over to catch the 5:15 pm ferry to New York City – which was right outside the RV park at Liberty Harbor Ferry.

We would go from Liberty Harbor Ferry which was a 1 minute’s walk from the RV park to the Wall Street Ferry drop-off. We bought our tickets on the NY Waterway app and just showed those to the boat worker when they pulled up at the stop. Here is a link to our route .

Here is where you buy your tickets: NY Waterway. You are looking for the Liberty Harbor Ferry if you are staying at the Liberty Harbor RV Park.

Brooklyn Bridge

From there we walked to the entrance of the Brooklyn Bridge walkway and made our way across. Here is a map of where we walked to get on the Brooklyn Bridge .

We started on the Manhattan side which is at: right across the street from City Hall Park, along Centre Street. You can check out the map here. Also, look for the signs that point you in the right direction to get on the walking bridge NOT the driving bridge.

They are 2 very different things. The walking bridge is just that. Just for walking. You are basically walking over the cars that are driving across the bridge on a completely separate walkway.

The bridge is about 1 mile across. It is a nice pedestrian walking area. They even have a separate area for bikes so you don’t have to worry about that. There are also a lot of great places to stop to grab pictures.

When you reach Brooklyn you are in the Dumbo neighborhood in Brooklyn which is a trendy area with great restaurants and outdoor activities.

Juliana’s Pizza

Once in Brooklyn, we headed to Juliana’s for pizza. Juliana’s is owned by pizza legend Patsy Grimaldi who use to own Grimaldi’s pizza. We loved Juliana’s and it felt like a local pizza shop. Plus the pizza was good!

After that, we checked out the basketball courts and swings at the Brooklyn Bridge Park – with the NYC skyline in the back. These are public courts and anyone can play. Just the week before an NBA player was there playing a pick-up game.

They also have an astroturf soccer field and swings. All overlooking the New York Skyline.

After checking out the courts we walked on the Brooklyn Heights Promenade taking in the NYC skyline at night. It was a beautiful walk.

We headed to Time Out a collection of restaurants located in a building. There was an awesome variety of different types of food and restaurants. Since we had already had pizza we got some Ice Cream at the Sugar Hill Creamery.

Next up we grabbed a picture at the Washington Street and Water Street intersection spot – one of the favorite street photo places in the Dumbo area of Brooklyn.

We headed back across the Brooklyn Bridge at night and to the World Trade Center PATH station to take the PATH train back to New Jersey and the RV Park (it was a 5-block walk from the Grove PATH station to the Liberty Harbor RV Park). Since the ferry wasn’t running anymore and because this option was a lot cheaper than the ferry. Be sure to check out the great views of the city!

If it seems like that was a lot of walking it was! But we truly feel that walking around a city is a great way to really take in the sites and the vibe of the area.

Here is a map of what we did in Brooklyn .

Bike Central Park

5th avenue and shopping, st. patricks cathedral, rockefeller center.

• Time Square

Dinner: Haru Sushi

Dessert: juniors, lion king on broadway.

New York City

We had bought tickets to see The Lion King on Broadway which meant the kids had to show a negative rapid COVID test that was done within 6 hours of the play. Or a PCR test that had been done 72 hours or less ago. We weren’t sure where to do this so we ended up making an appointment at an Urgent Care place. It was a free rapid test and we had the results within 20 minutes. But we did see a lot of pop-up COVID testing places around NYC and we probably would have just done that.

Since we were going to Broadway this also meant we couldn’t have any big bags or backpacks with us so we headed out with my fanny pack and that was it!

We again took the PATH over but this time took it to the 33rd street station that would get us closer to our starting point for the day: Central Park. It was about a 1.5-mile walk from there to Central Park and in hindsight, we should have taken the Subway further. But also thought it was good to get in the experience of just walking the streets of New York. The kids ended up seeing a Foot Locker shoe store so we stopped in to check to see if they had any Jordans in stock :). They did but not the right size.

We had eaten breakfast before we left and would get a few random snacks (and cupcakes) throughout the day before getting Dinner.

Next up we reached Central Park. We hadn’t planned on biking it but someone was there with a brochure for Bike Rent NYC and after the 1+ mile walk a bike seemed like a good idea! We rented bikes for $15 each for 2 hours (he gave us the 2nd hour for free) and headed out to bike around Central park. They did provide helmets and the kids had to wear them.

There is a dedicated bike path but it is still pretty crazy on it and you definitely have to be careful. The kids 13 and under had to wear helmets (they provided them) and it was a good idea. We also had to talk to them about going straight and not swerving all over the place.

We ended up doing the whole 9 miles around the park and it was a nice bike ride. There were only a few times when the kids got off to walk their bikes up a small hill. We made one stop at the Fountain but other than that just biked around the whole thing. It took us about 60 minutes to do that.

We brought the bikes back to Bike Rent NYC – Central Park which was just around the corner from Central Park at 58th Street and 6th Ave and went on our way.

The plan was to explore 5th Avenue and some of the shops on it before heading to do the COVID test. New York is an awesome place to shop or even just look around as all of the stores are HUGE!

Where we stopped:

• Foot Locker
• The Lego Store

We walked over to the cathedral and walked into the entrance to see the church. It was a magnificent structure!

We walked around the Rockefeller Center and found Magnolia Cupcakes – and of course, tried the cupcakes! Yummy!

After that, we headed to get the Covid test at the Urgent Care center. It took us about 45 minutes to do that.

From there we headed back to Time Square. We also got an email with the results and all of the kids were negative so that was good!

Times Square

We walked around Times Square and stopped to look up and take in all the magic that is Time Square. We then headed to the following stores:

• Hershey World
• M&Ms World

Went to dinner at: Haru Sushi (We did have a reservation and did have to show proof of vaccination for Craig, Carson and I). They had Chicken Wings on the menu too for the kids that didn’t want sushi. It was delicious and they had a happy hour menu with food and drinks on it!

We headed to Juniors to try their famous cheesecake for dessert. It was yummy!

This was the first time the kids would see a Broadway play and it was amazing. From the first scene, the kids’ eyes were glued to the stage. I also liked that the theatre was not humongous so every seat was a good seat!

They also had snacks and drinks. Since we had just eaten dinner we put in an intermission order at the concession stand before the play started. That way at intermission we just walked over and got our food. We didn’t have to wait in the long line.

We bought our tickets here: https://www.broadway.com/shows/the-lion-king/

After the play, we headed back to 33rd street PATH station to take the PATH train back to the RV Park (Grove Station). It was a late night but it was a great day!

1st half of the day: https://goo.gl/maps/hcBFjFLQm7WsiLQP7

2nd half of the day: https://goo.gl/maps/4jZ1ssL6ePNPxwS96

9/11 Memorial

• Wall Street and NYSE

Little Italy

Knicks game.

We didn’t get back until after midnight the night before so everyone slept in a bit but we got up and moving and out the door by 11 am (for us that is an accomplishment :)). We took the PATH train from Grove Station to the World Trade Center. Craig and I had wanted the new Apple watches so we took a chance and stopped at the Apple Store at the World Trade Center and they had them! We bought them and after that went on with our day.

The first stop was the 9/11 memorial. We had read the What Were The Twin Towers book to the kids so they understood everything that had happened here before we got there. We went to check out both the South and North Pools and talked more with the kids about it and answered their questions. Next, we walked over to see the Survivor Tree.

We did not do the 9/11 museum this time but would like to come back to do that in the future.

Wall Street and the NYSE

Next up we walked over to Wall Street and the NYSE and talked to the kids about all of that. And went to see the Bull (well really the Bulls balls :)) There was a huge line for pictures so we didn’t do that but talked to the kids about a Bull market.

Next up we went on the subway to get to Chinatown. In Chinatown, we walked the streets, went to the Canal Street market to see the local shops, and get some rice rolls to try( they were yummy).

Sugar Tiger

Melia knew she wanted to try some Boba Tea in Chinatown. I looked online and Sugar Tiger had the best reviews so we could check it out! Melia said it was amazing.

Mahayana Buddhist Temple

We basically just stuck our heads into the Temple to check it out. It was gorgeous in there and so colorful.

Next up we headed over to Little Italy to find some cannoli and cheese! We didn’t do pizza here since we had already tried some New York pizza in Brooklyn.

Ferrara’s

I had read in a blog post that Ferrara’s was the place to go for cannolis. You could either grab one to go at their outside stand or head inside to a table. We decided to head to a table since everyone was thirsty too and it made eating the cannoli way easier.

The cannolis were delicious! We tried a regular one and a chocolate-covered one. It was a split decision about which one was the best.

Di Palo’s

I had also read that Di Palo’s was the place for cheese. We stopped in to grab a couple of different kinds of cheese to try and headed out.

The mozzarella cheese was delicious!

Little Italy Sign

I am a sucker for any cool signs :). So we had to stop and grab a picture under the Little Italy sign! To be honest, if we didn’t just happen to walk by it we wouldn’t have gone out of our way to find it. But I was glad we did.

More Shopping

From there the kids wanted to do some more shopping. I don’t blame them New York City is a great place to shop!

Thrift Store – Good Will

Melia wanted to do some thrifting at the Good Will so we started there and she found a few good things.

Flight Club

Next up we headed to Flight Club – an unreal shoe store with all the cool shoes that the kids have been wanting – but also unreal market prices for the shoes! We didn’t buy anything but it was fun to see the walls of shoes!

Shoe Shopping

We went to Foot Locker and Champs so Carson, Cannon, and Knox could try to find a pair of Jordan shoes. Cannon and Knox ended up with a pair, unfortunately, they didn’t have the ones Carson wanted in his size. It wasn’t that big of a deal since he just got a pair of Jordans for his birthday and really we don’t have room in the RV for more shoes!

Our kids have been really into basketball so we knew we wanted to take them to Madison Square Garden. Craig found really reasonably priced – pre-season (the season hadn’t started yet) tickets on Stub Hub.

We were going to catch dinner before heading to the Knicks game but we ran out of time so we ended up just getting food at the stadium. It was actually really good food from local restaurants so it worked out well.

If you plan to eat dinner there I recommend getting to the stadium with plenty of time before the game starts. It seemed like the lines were a lot shorter for food at that time. They know what they are doing and pack your food in a handy box that makes eating it at your seat pretty easy.

The Knicks were losing the whole time but right at the end they came back and won on a buzzer-beater shot! It was so exciting and fun!

From there we made our way back to the 33rd street PATH station and home to the RV.

Google map of our day: https://goo.gl/maps/yfVgpxZsUQU8nQMU8

Additional Places To Check Out

New York City can get expensive. For that reason, we picked and choose where we would spend our money – Broadway play and basketball game. Here are a few other family-friendly options to check out:

• The Escape Room
• American Museum of Natural History especially after watching Night at the Museum!
• Bryant Park
• New York Botanical Garden
• Empire State Building
• Children’s Museum of Manhattan
• Ice Skating Rinks
• One World Observatory
• Hudson River Park
• Top Of The Rock
• Coney Island
• Central Park Zoo
• Dylan’s Candy Bar
• Museum of Ice Cream

If you are interested in spending a week in New York with kids be sure to check out this post: New York In 7 Day With Kids

Path and Subway

By day 3 we finally felt like we had the swing of the PATH and Subway! We were hoping we could just buy one ticket and use it for our whole family. That didn’t work out as you can only use the same ticket 3 times in a row before it gives you an error. That meant for our family of 6 we needed 2 tickets.

We also quickly learned that the machines to fill your tickets don’t always work . . . and that normally cash worked but using a credit card did not. We weren’t the only ones having issues with our credit card at the machine so it wasn’t a user error :).

Next time around we would know to buy 2 refillable cards and carry cash to use at the machines to refill the tickets. Plus if we knew we were going to be cutting it close – like trying to catch the last express train to the Path – that we should be sure our tickets had enough money on them. That one caused a fight between Craig and I when we missed a late-night train (because our ticket was out of money) and we had to wait for 30 minutes for the next one.

In reality, I think the Path and Subway just take a few days to get used to. By day 3 it was no problem and very easy to use.

We had so much fun in New York and loved it but were totally exhausted after 3 days in a row of 9+ mile walking days! There is so many things to do in NYC with kids, that we will be back!

Where To Stay

We would 100% highly recommend the Liberty Harbor RV park as a great place to stay if you are coming in an RV. It wasn’t cheap at over $100 a night for basically a water and electric parking lot (there was a dump station) but with the location, it was perfect for exploring NYC!

Craig drove the 5th wheel through the Bronx and over the George Washington Bridge and onto the New Jersey Turnpike. It was a nail-biter and a lot of traffic and we now know we are under 13 feet 6 inches . . .

We got to the Liberty Harbor RV Park in Jersey City, New Jersey – right across the Hudson Bay from New York City. It is basically a parking lot but perfect for exploring NYC! The Grove PATH Station was about 5 blocks from the RV Park and took you into New York City for $2.75 a person one way.

The Ferry was right outside of the RV Park and ran every hour from 6:15 am – 6:15 pm it was about $8 a person one way to get you to NYC.

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One Bedroom Apartment With Den In NYC

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Manhattan: 3 days in New York with kids

April 11, 2020

Being the most populated and most visited city in America with hundreds of attractions, tours, and restaurants to choose from, New York City can to be overwhelming for first time visitors, especially those visiting with kids. Whether you have 2, 3, or even 5 days available, this guide is complete with everything that you need to know when planning an itinerary for Manhattan and New York City with kids.

3 days in New York City with kids

Day 1: things to do in lower manhattan with kids, statue of liberty.

No visit to New York City would be complete, especially with kids, without a visit to the Statue of Liberty . The statue began welcoming immigrants to America in the 1800’s and has since become a universal symbol of peace and democracy. Visible from multiple viewpoints in the city, the statue stands just over 305 feet tall. A ferry ride is required in order to visit the statue. When you reach Liberty Island, you can access the museum, gift shop, and the area around the statue. In order to enter the statue or the top of Fort Wood, you must purchase a ticket for the pedestal , the crown, or both.

Buy your tickets to the crown online well in advance – these sell out months ahead. There are 10 flights of stairs needed to reach the crown. Therefore, it is not recommended for those with mobility issues or young children in a stroller (unless you wish to carry them). The self guided tour inside the statue covers the history, construction, and so much more. As a homeschooling family , it was one of the best history lessons ever.

Ellis Island

Included with the price of the ferry ticket is access to Ellis Island . The ferries make continuous loops throughout the day from Battery Park in lower Manhattan, to Liberty Island, to Ellis Island, and back again. After purchasing a ticket, you have access to all of the stops and may stay as long as you wish at any of them. There is also a ferry from New Jersey that works in the same way. The ferries also include a snack bar if the little ones need a treat along the way.

We enjoyed visiting both during our stay. However, if you are visiting with very young children they may not be as impressed with the immigration museum as they will be with the Statue. If you choose to skip the museum, you will just remain on the ferry until the next stop back in lower Manhattan. You can do both tours can in one morning.

Ticket prices begin at $26 for adults and $16 for children ages 4-12. Children under 4 are free. I highly suggest that you purchase tickets online in advance.

9/11 Memorial and Museum

The 9/11 Memorial was opened on the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in a dedication ceremony for the victims’ families. It was then opened to the public on the following day. The Memorial consists of two enormous reflecting pools set in the footprints of the Twin Towers. Each pool is about an acre in size and include 30 foot cascading waterfalls on each side. There are 2,983 names on the 9/11 Memorial, honoring all of those that lost their life in the attacks. The Memorial is free and open to the public everyday. I truly believe that this Memorial is one that must be seen in person for the full effect.

The Museum is located between the two reflecting pools and a ticket is required for entry. The Museum contains a collection of more than 40,000 images, 14,000 artifacts, 3,500 oral recordings, and over 500 hours of video. The survivor staircase pictured here was the first artifact added to the museum. As a homeschooling family we have visited the museum twice and I always recommend it to adults. For families traveling with young children, I will warn you that the videos and voice recordings from that horrific day can be overwhelming.

Tickets can be purchased online starting at $24 for adults and $15 for children 7-17. I highly recommend purchasing tickets online if you plan to visit the museum as the lines can be extremely long.

One World Observatory

Located at the top of the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, on levels 100, 101, and 102 of the 1,776 foot tall One World Trade Center building, One World Observatory is beyond breathtaking. Don’t blink when you enter the elevators because it only takes 47 seconds to reach the 102nd floor, almost a quarter of a mile above the city. The fastest elevator in the world features full-length digital screens on three sides in order to take you on a journey through the progression of the New York City skyline from the 16th century through 2016. And, the elevator ride is just the beginning. We have been twice and still get chills when the doors open at the top and the view is revealed.

“See Forever” is the perfect tag line for One World Observatory. On a clear day you can see over 50 miles into the distance. The observatory wraps around the entire 100th floor, providing a 360-degree view from the floor to ceiling windows. On this floor you will find yourselves 1,250 above the streets below. Most of the tickets include a digital skyline guide to help you understand what you are seeing beyond the windows.

Dining at One World Observatory

There are 2 options for food at the Observatory. One is a grab and go snack which includes sandwiches, chips, desserts, and a coffee bar. Hightop tables are provided, but there is no seating in this area which can make it difficult with kids. The other option is One Dine Restaurant . The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner; and I recommend you make reservations in advance. This is a full service sit down restaurant offering delicious food with an amazing view. We have dined at both of these and prefer the restaurant for our family. However, if visiting prior to 11:30am, the snack bar will be the only option.

There are multiple ticket options available with general admission tickets starting at $35 for adults, $29 for children 6-12, and free for children under 5. There are also upgraded ticket options that include priority lane entry, the digital guide, and credits for shopping and dining.

Can you cover lower Manhattan in 1 day with kids? Depending on age of your child/children and their stamina when traveling, all of the above are doable in one day. One World Observatory and the 9/11 Memorial are located side by side and the Battery Park Ferry is only one mile away. Our daughter was 9 years old when we completed all of them in a day.

Day 2: Things to do in Times Square & Central Park with kids

Empire State Building

The Empire State Building has been an icon of New York City since its construction was completed in 1931 making it the world’s tallest building (at that time). Since then it has been featured in countless movies and has hosted numerous dignitaries and famous people. In late 2019 a 4 year $165 million renovation was completed giving it brand new energy and life. We have visited both before and after the renovation and I can tell you that it is a completely different experience.

The 1st floor features a new entrance and the 2nd floor includes several exhibits showcasing the skyscraper’s original construction and other aspects of the past. Pictured above is a room with a movie like display on all four walls showing the construction and includes sound. It is mesmerizing to watch the scene unfold from the 1930’s right before your eyes.

There is also a room that features the hands of King Kong smashing through the wall to grab you while peeping in from the window. There are other rooms showing clips of movies that were filmed here and another one showing photos of famous people that have visited over the years. The 2nd floor was once the area where you waited in line until it was your turn to venture to the top. Now it is just as much a part of your visit as the observation areas. We found ourselves wanting the lines to slow down so that we could spend more time in this area.

On the way to the observation decks at the top, the elevators now stop on the completely renovated 80th floor that includes 6 exhibits totaling 13,000 square feet. Our favorite was the augmented reality experience that can be seen by peeping through the classic binocular viewfinders. Looking in you can see and hear the sights and sounds from some of NYC’s most famous locations. There are multiple viewfinders and they all face in the direction of the landmark. This is especially great when the weather outside prevents you from seeing all that lies beyond from the observatories.

86th Floor – Observation Deck

As the most famous observatory in the world, the 86 th  Floor is where you will find the open-air observation deck. In the center of it all, above it all, is the perfect way to describe the feeling of being here. This observation deck has been the setting of dozens of movie and television scenes, as well as tens of millions of unforgettable moments.

The Observation Deck wraps around the building, providing 360-degree views of New York and beyond. From up here you’ll get one-of-a-kind views of Central Park, The Hudson River and East River, The Brooklyn Bridge, Times Square, The Statue of Liberty, and much more. The official Observatory Experience app teaches you about your view from every direction and is free to download.

102nd Floor

And then the glass elevators take you to the top on the 102nd floor. Featuring floor to ceiling windows, the 360-degree views from here are unmatched to any we have seen before. It is absolutely breathtaking. Without the worry or rain, wind, ice, or other unfavorable weather, from the 102nd floor you are able to soak in the views at your own pace.

There are 8 different ticket combinations offered in order for you to choose the experience best for your family and your budget. Standard pass tickets start at $36 for children. Observation decks and express entry are an additional cost.

FAO Schwarz

FAO Schwarz is the most iconic toy store in the world and has been in business since 1862. There are currently 6 locations. The flagship store (located at 30 Rockefeller Plaza) is a must for anyone visiting NYC with kids. The 20,000 square foot toy store is filled with stuffed animals, gadgets, unique toys, and the dance-on piano made famous by the 1988 movie Big .

Central Park

No visit to NYC would be complete without a visit to the iconic 843 acre Central Park . With an estimated 38 million annual visitors, Central Park is the most visited urban park in the United States. Depending on the season of your visit, there is a magnitude of options to choose from. If you are limited on time and it is your first time visiting, I would recommend a sightseeing tour. These tours are offered in the forms of walking, biking, pedicabs, and horse drawn carriages.

Horse drawn carriage

Payton’s first visit to New York City was to celebrate her 9th birthday. We chose the horse drawn carriage at sunset for this special occasion. It was definitely a fairytale experience for her. There are multiple companies that offer this service and price depends on the length of the ride, number of stops, and add on services provided.

Pedicab Tour

The following year we visited at Christmas and chose the pedicab tour. These tours include many additional stops for less money when compared to the horse drawn carriages. Blankets were provided for warmth and our guide was knowledge and entertaining throughout the tour. The following are some of the stops that we visited that I would recommend during your time in Central Park.

Playgrounds

One of the 21 playgrounds: Bethesda Terrace and Fountain (made famous by the movie Home Alone ); The Alice in Wonderland statue; Bow bridge; Strawberry Fields and Imagine (tribute to John Lennon); Central Park Zoo; Ice skating (when in season); The carousel; The Balto the Dog statue

There are more than 73 attractions in Central Park. A complete listing can be found here , including more information on each one.

Sightseeing cruise at sunset

If you and your kids have any energy remaining, I would definitely recommend a relaxing sunset cruise on the Hudson River . There are multiple companies that offer river cruises throughout the day , not just at sunset. Most of the boats depart from Pier 83 in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood which makes it convenient to have dinner before or after your cruise.

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If possible I would recommend a minimum of 3 days when visiting New York City with kids. There is so much to see and do in the city. Three days allows you to slow down the pace and make your time in the city more enjoyable.

Day 3 : Extras OR Catch-up

Take in a show.

For the older kids (or those who can sit still for a time), I would recommend The Lion King on Broadway . There are many broadway shows to choose from, but The Lion King is Payton’s favorite.

With more time on your hands, I would add in The Rockefeller Center , National Geographic Encounter: Ocean Odyssey , Madame Tussauds Wax Museum , or Ripley’s Believe It or Not . All of these attractions are wonderful things to do in NYC with kids.

After dinner would be the perfect time to take the kids to see the bright lights and activities of Times Square. Being from a small town, Payton loves the energy and excitement found in Times Square after dark.

Extras in Central Park

Depending on the age of your child / children and the season of your visit, I would add in ice skating or a visit to the butterfly garden. Maybe a boat ride on the Lake or climbing the stairs to Belvedere Castle. For lunch you could choose from one of the restaurants in Central Park or enjoy a picnic lunch and kite flying in Sheep Meadow.

The possibilities of things to do in Central Park with kids is endless. Keep in mind, many of these activities are seasonal and availability will depend on the season of your visit.

Where to eat in New York City with kids

John’s of Times Square

Like most kids I know, Payton loves pizza. At the recommendation of a fellow travel blogger, we decided to try John’s of Times Square . All of the pizzas are made to order in one of their four 800 degree coal-fired brick ovens. The flavors were amazing.

Carlo’s Bake Shop

Made famous by the TLC hit show Cake Boss , Carlo’s Bake Shop is the best place for dessert in Times Square. The original bakery is located in Hoboken, NJ and is said to have waiting lines that last hours. Thankfully, there is a convenient location in Times Square. We visited on Payton’s 9th birthday and only waited in line 15 minutes for her cake.

Junior’s

You haven’t really lived until you’ve had cheesecake at Junior’s.

You can’t visit New York City without enjoying a slice of cheesecake. During our visit we asked multiple people where to find the best and the answer was always the same – Junior’s . This restaurant has been in business since the 1950’s and lives up to its reputation. Offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner the expansive menu offers something for everyone. The cheeseburgers are just as amazing as the cheesecake. With 15 different cheesecakes to choose from, the only problem is deciding which one to try.

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Things to do in manhattan with kids

Planning for 3 days in New York with kids is probably an overwhelming prospect, so I hope that this guide has helped you to plan your family vacation. You can pack in your activities if your kids are old enough / up for the challenge. Or take a longer than 3 days in New York, and discover all there is to do in Manhattan with kids. Payton has loads of energy, so we try to do as much as possible, but we realise that isn’t possible for every family. New York is a buzzing city with lots to offer for kids and families – enjoy your visit!

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41 thoughts on “Manhattan: 3 days in New York with kids”

Great suggestions Michelle esp if you want to maximize your time. I lived in the US but never been to NY. Hoping to visit one day when the time is right. The view of the city from the Observation Deck is stunning. I can imagine taking photos here during sunset.

I agree. Sunset photos from there would be amazing! I hope you are able to visit soon and capture those photos!

Your Statue of Liberty sunset photo is stunning! Wish I’d read this post before our trip to New York City a while back. Looks like another trip is in order!

Sounds like a plan! You can never visit the city too often : )

Nice itinerary! We’ve done NYC in 3 or 4 days with grown kids 😁

Great guide! I’m hoping to be there in the fall.

You will love it! Let me know if you have any questions or need any help planning : )

Thanks for sharing your idea of New York

Great suggestions! I agree with them. I was just commenting to my friend that I don’t see too many kids in NYC and hardly any babies. I think it’s a great place for 12 and up. So full of learning experiences.

This looks like an amazing trip! I love trying new foods and that cake looks delicious! I use to watch cake boss all the time!

My favorite is the picture with King Kong! I had no idea this existed and it looks so fun! Thanks for a wonderful picture experience.

We love NYC! I love seeing the Statue of Liberty when it’s lit up.

Such amazing suggestions! King Kong is my favorite, what a great picture!

I haven’t been to NYC in almost 20 years. Would love to go back and see these places again as well as some of the newer ones.

Love NYC. So many iconic and wonderful areas to visit.

The food trucks have always been my main attraction to NY. 😂

I’ve never been to NYC! Always wanted to go!!! It’s my DREAM to go during Christmas/New Years at least once in my life! Great suggestions of where to visit!

Christmas is my favorite time to visit!

What an amazing trip and the tips are fantastic! Thank you so much for sharing!

You packed in a lot of great experiences in your three day trip. We have still not been to New York. Your post makes me want to change that.

I’m the only one in my family who has been to NYC. It was for work training, and I had all-day morning sickness the whole time, so I didn’t even get to see any sights. This is definitely on our bucket list!

I have been to NY, but I have surprisingly never been to a lot of these locations. I am going to have to put them on my list! Thank you so much for writing this!

Thanks for sharing this amazing travel destination! I am looking forward to seeing more

Wow, that looks like a busy but amazing trip! My girls would love to see these sights one day! I would especially love to see the Empire State Building one day.

I have been to almost all of these locations! This is a great list for a trip to New York.

Great Photos! It really looks like fun! New York City is on my bucket list!

This inspires me to make another trip to NY, this time with my kids! Great suggestions!

We were just there! Now my husband wants to make it an annual trip!

I always dreamed of going to New York City. I still hope to go some day but climbing the ten flights of steps are out for me. Thanks for the tour.

We live an hour away from the city but have yet to take our kids, your list makes it seem less daunting.

Great post! So many wonderful things to see and do there. My daughter got to travel to NY with a dance group when she was 10, and she loved it. I’ve never been, but totally want to now!

There is so much to do and see in NYC. We have been several times with the kids and always try something new, but have our favorites as well 🙂

Looks like an amazing trip! We loved our trip to NYC with our boys too. So much to see and learn. Thanks for sharing! We wish we had time to visit Central Park. There will have to be a next time for sure.

Looks so fun! I’d love to visit NYC.

So much to do in so little time, but you made it look so easy! Saving this for later.

These are all on our list to visit! My boys SO want to go to NYC and thinking will make it happen after all this is past us!

I have always wanted to go ice skating in NYC! That sunset cruise is stunning! Wow!

Amazing! I have had the opportunity to take one of my kiddos there and would love to go back!

I love this post! I have a bunch of kids that I want to travel the world with. Having all the kid activities in one place is awesome! As a teacher I think traveling is the best way to learn history so New York is definitely one place I’d love to take my kids. AND because it will remind us all about the movie Home Alone. 🙂

This seems like the perfect itinerary to me. I pretty much want to see everything you have mentioned. Will definitely save it for future reference. Thanks for the tips too, good to know to book well ahead for a Statue of Liberty.

I am so happy that it was helpful for you!

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Kid-Friendly New York in 7 Days Itinerary

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Planning a trip to New York City with kids and want a totally do-able itinerary? Keep scrolling to check out my kid-friendly New York in 7 days itinerary from my last trip to NYC!

This kid-friendly new york in 7 days itinerary was written by family travel expert marcie cheung and contains affiliate links which means if you purchase something from one of my affiliate links, i may earn a small commission that goes back into maintaining this blog..

Planning a trip to New York City with kids?

I just did a week in New York City for Spring Break with my 8-year-old son and we had a blast! In fact, it’s one of our favorite trips to date!

Keep scrolling for my detailed 7-day New York City itinerary that was tons of fun without being too exhausting. We hit up a lot of top New York attractions, ate at easy restaurants, and did some epic tours.

Follow my guide below and you’ll have an amazing time in the city that never sleeps!

Don’t have time to read a bunch of New York City blog posts and reviews? Here are some of our top picks for visiting NYC with kids.

Popular NYC Tours/Activities

• Summit One Vanderbilt (this is the coolest observation tower in NYC)
• NYC Tour (this one drives around to the highlights and goes to the Statue of Liberty)
• Museum of Ice Cream (perfect for kids who love treats and parents who love taking photos)
• American Museum of Natural History (there are tons of interesting exhibits for kids)
• Flytographer Photo Shoot (this is an easy and affordable NYC photography option)

Kid-Friendly NYC Hotels

• Mint House at 70 Pine (has full kitchens and laundry)
• SIXTY SoHo (super close to the Museum of Ice Cream and the Color Factory)
• EVEN Hotel New York Times Square South (great location near Times Square)

New York 7 Day Itinerary

Before I really get into the New York in 7 days itinerary, I wanted to note that we flew to NYC from Seattle but I wasn’t thinking about the time change and so I booked tours for the morning.

This forced us onto East Coast time and we ended up heading back to the hotel by 5 pm-6 pm most nights because we were so tired.

Day 1: NYC Tour with Statue of Liberty

New york city van tour.

The number one thing my son wanted to do on this trip to New York City was visit the Statue of Liberty . I know you can take the free Staten Island Ferry to see the Statue of Liberty (we did that on the last trip) but it doesn’t actually stop on Liberty Island.

So, I found a NYC tour that included a visit to the Statue of Liberty and hit up a TON of other spots. Check out the latest rates and availability .

I highly recommend this 5.5-hour tour because we rode in a large van that had 180-degree windows so we could really see all the sights. And we hopped out from time to time to see some attractions, grab food, and take photos.

A few of the highlights included seeing the Empire State Building , getting treats at Ferrara Coffee Bar , seeing the 9/11 Memorial , checking out the Statue of Liberty Museum , and taking selfies with the Statue of Liberty . All of these should be on your NYC bucket list !

Even though our tickets came with pedestal access to the Statue of Liberty, they weren’t allowing people inside the statue in April 2022.

The tour itself ended at 2:30 pm at the Empire State Building and we could have bought tickets to do that but we were both pretty tired and we were doing a different observatory later in the week.

We thought this was one of the best NYC tours for kids because there was minimal walking and it was moderately-paced. I’m glad that we booked this for the beginning of our New York in 7 days itinerary.

Since we hadn’t really eaten much on the tour, we ended up stopping at a corner deli to pick up pre-made sandwiches, chips, cookies, and drinks to take back to our hotel.

Times Square

We headed back to our hotel to unload our bags and rest for a bit. But, our hotel was SO close to Times Square that I insisted we get out of the hotel for a little bit to walk over and see it before it got too late.

We had seen it briefly in the Uber ride to the hotel the night before but it was cool for my son to see all the lit-up billboards for a few minutes.

But, we really only needed a few minutes to look around and then we headed back to our hotel to eat the rest of our deli purchases and crash.

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Day 2: color factory, sloomoo, museum of illusions, gregorys coffee.

On our first day, I didn’t have time to grab a caffeinated beverage. I was NOT going to make that mistake again.

Thankfully, we had a Gregorys Coffee right across from our hotel. Their chai tea is fabulous and they also sell smoothies and hot chocolate for kids. And they had a great assortment of breakfast items and treats (like a marshmallow Chex bar that was so yummy)!

Color Factory

I booked 10:00 am tickets for the Color Factory in SoHo. We planned on taking the subway there, but I misjudged the time and we ended up grabbing an Uber. It was nice to be able to book timed tickets, but it was super annoying that we were tied to a strict schedule.

This was such a cool place for kids! I’d call it an “Instagram Museum” because it was obviously set up for people to take photos of themselves in the different exhibit areas.

We got a little card with a QR code on it that we scanned in the different rooms to activate the cameras. Since it was just my son and myself on this trip, I loved getting photos of the two of us that weren’t selfies.

The only annoying part about the Color Factory is that they handed out treats along the way, but there was never really a good place to eat them. It started with popsicles right as we entered. So my son was slowly eating a popsicle in our photos for the first few rooms.

We ended up spending about an hour here including the time we spent perusing their gift shop. The Color Factory is a fun thing to do in NYC with teens , tweens, or kids of any age.

Sloomoo Institute

Our next timed ticket was for Sloomoo Institute at Noon. It was only a 10-minute walk from the Color Factory to Sloomoo, which meant we got there about 45 minutes before our timed ticket. Thankfully, they let us in early.

I had heard mixed things from other families about whether or not Sloomoo was worth a stop. However, I’m so glad we did it!

My son was ready for some hands-on activities, especially after having so much fun at the Color Factory. As soon as we entered, there were tons of vats of scented, colorful slime ready for playing.

A few highlights included the slime slingshot , the slime walk , and adding to the epic slime wall . And of course, he had a blast making his own slime .

There’s also an option to “get slimed” and I’m honestly so glad we didn’t do that option. We watched a family do it and they went in barefoot and wore shower caps and plastic ponchos. A staff member poured buckets of watered down slime on them. It looked cold and uncomfortable. But it was fun to watch!

I nsider tip: Roll up your sleeves and make sure to wipe down the counters before adding color to your slime. It can stain clothing. They do have a special solution available to clean clothing there, but you won’t want to walk around with damp clothes.

Minetta Playground

After we did Sloomoo for a bit, we still had about 3 hours before our timed ticket at the Museum of Illusions. So, I figured we could do the 30-minute walk to the Museum of Illusions instead of taking the subway.

As we were walking, we saw the Minetta Playground and my son asked if we could stop. We hadn’t done any NYC playgrounds yet and we had time to kill, so it was perfect!

Lunch at Washington Square Diner

I admit the main reason we stopped at the Washington Square Diner was that my son needed to use a restroom and it looked like they might have one.

I’m glad we did because the food was either really delicious or we were really hungry! I had a deli sandwich and my son got a burger and we both had chocolate egg creams to drink.

Museum of Illusions

After lunch, we still had about 2 hours before our Museum of Illusions timed ticket, but I figured it was worth a shot to see if we could get in early. I’m glad we did because we could! And it’s definitely one of the best cool museums in NYC !

This was a cool, but cramped, museum that is pretty fun for taking cool photos. I think there were 30+ exhibits between the two floors.

Some of the exhibits (like the hologram pictures) were hung a bit too high for my son to see them and he’s too heavy for me to pick up, so he just missed out on those.

But, he had a blast in the room with infinite mirrors, posing for a photo where his head was on a platter, and doing optical illusions.

We ended up doing this museum in about 45 minutes. This is mostly because my 8-year-old sort of raced through the different areas.

Harry Potter New York Store

So, one of the things that were high on my son’s NYC itinerary was visiting the Harry Potter New York Store. But, I was really confused about how we could actually visit since it sounded complicated with needing to scan a QR code on the door and then getting a text back when it was our turn.

Since we finished the Museum of Illusions at about 2 pm, we figured we’d walk the 20 minutes to the Harry Potter store and try our luck. We ended up only having to wait 15 minutes to get in!

The store is two-levels and it includes New York-specific products in addition to tons of Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts merchandise. Plus, there are some cool photo ops and a Butterbeer bar near the exit.

Insider tip: If you order the Butterbeer in the souvenir cup, be sure to stop at their cup-washing station to fully rinse your cups before throwing them in your bag.

Dinner at the Red Flame Diner

After we got back to our hotel, we were pretty tired and I wanted something “easy” for dinner. We really wanted to order room service at our hotel, but it was unavailable.

So we went right next door to our hotel to eat at the Red Flame Diner .

The food was fine. I ordered a steak and baked potato and my son had a grilled cheese sandwich with fries.

Day 3: NYC Walking Tour and Summit One Vanderbilt

After grabbing drinks at Gregorys Coffee, I made sure that we had plenty of time to head to the subway station. We needed to purchase subway tickets.

I ended up putting $22 on each of our cards because I wasn’t sure how much we’d be using them the rest of the week. We rode the subway a lot and we never ran out of money.

NYC Walking Tour

There are a TON of New York City walking tours, but I chose this one because it also included food samples. That’s what my son was most interested in and I figured it would keep him motivated.

This NYC walking tour hit up 30 attractions and several food stops. There were lots of opportunities to stop for photos, grab coffee, and ask tons of questions. We ended up walking about 7 miles and my 8-year-old barely complained (which is saying a lot)!

The main food highlights included getting fried dumplings and ice cream in Chinatown , canolli in Little Italy , and $2 pizza .

The other tour highlights included seeing the Vessel , walking the Highline , seeing the Bull on Wall Street , seeing the 9/11 Memorial , going inside the World Trade Center , and hearing all the stories along the way.

I highly, highly recommend this 5-hour NYC tour. It was one of the best tours in New York City.

Summit One Vanderbilt

Since our NYC walking tour ended at 3:00 pm in Times Square, we had an hour to get to Summit One Vanderbilt for our 4:00 pm timed tickets. It only took us about 10 minutes to walk there from Times Square.

Summit One Vanderbilt is the newest NYC observatory and it’s incredibly cool! The only weird part was watching the video in the lobby about how the idea of this observatory came about. I expected a safety video and it was just sort of bizarre.

After you take a lightning quick elevator, you’ll get to explore 3 floors of this beautiful building. The main themes are glass and mirrors.

Kids will especially love the room that is filled with silver balls that sort of float around the room. It’s great for photos and videos but they will want to stay and play much longer than you expect.

The views from each level are stunning and you’ll want to take a million photos. It’s even a great thing to do on a rainy day in NYC .

We went in the late afternoon, but they also sell tickets for the evening so you can see the lights. Oh, and there’s a bar on the top floor if you want to hang out and enjoy a drink.

Grand Central Station

Summit One Vanderbilt is actually connected to Grand Central Station so we didn’t even have to go outside to get there.

I remember being in awe of the ceiling at Grand Central Station on my last trip to NYC so I figured that was worth a quick stop.

But, our main reason for going was to pick up dinner. There are TONS of good places to eat at Grand Central Station. We picked up food from Central Market New York and chocolate chip black and white cookies from Zaro’s Family Bakery .

There’s also a Shake Shack and a Magnolia Bakery here that we would have done if we had more time.

Day 4: Brooklyn Pizza Walk and Museum of Ice Cream

Coffee and slow morning.

After having to get up early for the past few days for tours, we were really excited that we could take a slow morning.

We grabbed drinks and breakfast at Gregorys and then laid in bed doing screen-time for a couple of hours.

Brooklyn Pizza Walk

Our Brooklyn Pizza Walk tour was at Noon in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn. We took the subway to get there and had a little bit of time to walk around the neighborhood.

We met up with our guide and she took us to 5 pizza places in Brooklyn that served very different styles of pizza. Most of the places gave us medium-sized samples and I was so full that I could barely eat at the final place.

The tour was fascinating and we learned a lot about pizza and popped into places that I might not otherwise have known to go. I highly recommend it if you want to taste a variety of delicious NYC pizza!

Museum of Ice Cream

The NYC pizza tour ended right at 2:00 pm so we had plenty of time to take the train to SoHo for our 4:00 pm tickets to the Museum of Ice Cream .

We ended up getting there at 3:00 pm and tried to see if we could get in early but they told us we’d need to come back right at 4:00 pm. So, we hit up Uniqlo and Minisoo to shop a bit before getting back in line.

The Museum of Ice Cream is a kid’s dream! We spent 3 hours here and I pretty much had to drag my 8-year-old out because he wanted to live there.

This is another Instagram-style museum that is set up for cool photo ops, has lots of play areas, and it includes 5 places to get unlimited ice cream.

A few highlights include the indoor twisty slide , the pink subway train , the hanging bananas , and the pit of sprinkles !

Insider tip: There’s a ticket option to get an ice cream sundae at the end. We were WAY too full to eat a sundae and I’m so glad we didn’t pay for that.

Deli Dinner

After all the ice cream, we really weren’t super hungry. But, I felt like we probably needed “real” food so we went to a deli near Times Square to grab sandwiches, chips, and drinks to eat back at our hotel.

Day 5: Chinatown and Central Park

Lazy morning.

This was our first official “free day” where we didn’t have a single thing scheduled. I figured we could either go back to a place we enjoyed or explore somewhere new.

We grabbed drinks and breakfast at Gregorys and spent the morning lounging in the hotel just relaxing before heading out for lunch.

When we were on our NYC walking tour, my son asked the tour guide where we could find soup dumplings in Chinatown. He pointed out Shanghai 21 . So, that’s where my son insisted we go as soon as they opened for lunch.

We ordered the soup dumplings and fried pork buns for a light lunch. The food was pretty good and on par with the Chinese food we get in Seattle.

Next, we hit up one of the shops to buy Chinese silk pajamas so my kids had something to wear for multicultural day at school (they are half-Chinese).

And then we headed back to Chinatown Ice Cream Factory . We stopped here on our walking tour and my son fell in love with their lychee ice cream. So we got another one, plus I ordered their lychee sorbet and we bought a souvenir shirt!

Central Park

Since we were visiting New York City on a gorgeous and warm spring day, Central Park seemed like the obvious place to go. Plus, there are so many Instagrammable places in Central Park !

We took the subway up to the Ancient Playground by the Met. When I showed my son photos of some of the Central Park playgrounds, that one seemed the coolest to him. Even though we were literally next to the Met, he still didn’t want to pop in.

After the playground, we walked over to the Alice in Wonderland statue , got drinks from a cart, and then made our way over to the Adventure Playground .

Then, we grabbed a pretzel and churro and sat on the grassy lawn for a while and just relaxed.

Levain Bakery

I’m a huge fan of “food souvenirs” and my favorite chocolate chip cookies are made by Levain Bakery . There happens to be a few locations within walking distance of Central Park, so we were able to stop.

I ended up getting a dozen cookies and they are so heavy that I insisted we take the subway back to the hotel instead of walking the 30 minutes.

We stopped by a deli on the way back from the subway station to grab sandwiches and drinks to enjoy back in our room.

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Day 6: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

We knew we had 1:00 pm tickets to Harry Potter and the Cursed Child , so we decided to have one more lazy morning with drinks and screens.

Our original plan had been to do the Harry Potter store this morning, but since we were able to go earlier in the week, it freed up some time.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway

We were beyond excited to finally watch Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway! Instead of doing the 2 parts, they condensed it to one 3.5-hour show.

They opened the doors at Noon, so that’s when we got there. That gave us plenty of time to take photos outside of the theatre and pick up drinks and snacks inside.

I splurged for really good seats since this was my son’s first Broadway show and I wanted to make sure he could see the stage.

The show was EPIC and worth every penny. Plus, there were tons of other kids there and many of them were dressed up in Hogwarts robes.

Insider tip: Try to get aisle seats on the main floor for a close encounter!

Joe’s Pizza in Times Square

The show ended around 4:30 pm and since we didn’t really have lunch, we opted for an early dinner. My son loved eating at Joe’s Pizza in Brooklyn, so he was excited to see the Times Square location.

We ordered a few slices to go and then ate them back at our hotel. That also gave me plenty of time to pack up.

Day 7: Departure

Usually, on our last day, I get up early and run around to pick up food souvenirs. The black and white cookies at William Greenberg’s are amazing! And there are tons of things at Eataly .

It’s also a good opportunity to do some last-minute shopping.

But, we had a morning flight and traffic was pretty brutal so we spent our last day packing up and getting ready for the flight home.

Tips for Visiting NYC with Kids

Stay near times square.

My friend Vanessa from Wanderlust Crew recommended the Algonquin Hotel specifically because it was located near Times Square. Having been to NYC before, I wasn’t a fan of Times Square, but I totally trusted her suggestion and booked it.

I’m so glad I did because it was SO convenient. It was an 8-minute walk to Grand Central Station, 6-minute walk to Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, and about 5 minutes from the Times Square subway station.

Ask Your Kids What THEY Want to Do

Kids love to be included in planning trips and it makes them more excited about the itinerary. My son chose the Brooklyn Pizza Walk, NYC walking tour with food stops, and the Museum of Ice Cream and those were some of his highlights.

I asked him about visiting the Met or the Museum of Natural History but he wasn’t remotely interested in either. I had those on my original itinerary and I’m so glad we swapped those with things he actually wanted to do.

He also wanted to do a day at Coney Island, but I had a feeling we’d be pretty wiped and so we did our Chinatown and Central Park excursion instead. That was a great plan for us!

Color Factory vs Museum of Ice Cream

When I was originally writing up our New York in 7 days itinerary, I figured we didn’t need to do both the Color Factory and the Museum of Ice Cream because they seemed similar. But my son insisted that we do both and I’m glad we did.

But, I know a lot of families might want to just pick one, so here’s a quick comparison.

The Color Factory has a photo pass that’s included in admission where you can download your photos. That means everyone can get in the photo instead of someone always needing to take the pictures. They also offer tasty treats, but there’s no place to sit and eat them.

The Museum of Ice Cream has plenty of places to sit and eat ice cream but you’ll need to take all of your own photos, meaning it’s tricky to get photos of your entire family.

We spent about one hour at the Color Factory and we spent about 3 hours at the Museum of Ice Cream. Personally, I’d pick the Museum of Ice Cream.

Consider a Broadway Matinee

Even though we were coming from the West Coast and the time difference meant that we’d be staying up late, I booked us a Wednesday matinee for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.

The perks of doing it was that it was mostly tourists (I mean, who else can do a mid-week matinee) and there were TONS of kids.

That meant my child wasn’t the only kid whispering during the show or fidgeting around. And it meant that most of the audience was dressed pretty casually.

Check online before you go to see which New York City kids shows are playing. There was also Aladdin and the Lion King playing when we were there.

Use GPS for Subway Routes

I admit that I was a bit intimidated at visiting New York City specifically because of the subway system. I’m directionally-challenged and I was stressed out thinking about missing trains.

It’s awesome that we live in a world with GPS because I was able to easily get the subway route including which stop was right before the one I needed to get off at, plus it told me which exit to take (so I ended up on the correct side of the street).

New York Itinerary with Kids FAQs

Absolutely! There are so many New York family trip ideas depending on the ages of your kids and their interests. My top tip for traveling to New York City with kids is to set realistic expectations. Your kids might not be able to keep up with all the walking or they might need time to play at a park or rest back at your hotel.

Are you wondering what to do in New York City with kids? There are almost unlimited options, which can feel overwhelming. A few of my top suggestions for kid-friendly New York City activities include doing a sightseeing tour, seeing a kid-friendly Broadway show, eating authentic NYC pizza, getting cookies at Levain Bakery, and playing at a local playground.

There are plenty of attractions in New York City for kids. A few of the top things to do with kids in New York City include checking out an observatory (like Summit One Vanderbilt or the Empire State Building), seeing the Statue of Liberty, visiting the Museum of Natural History, and exploring Central Park.

New York City Family Vacation Wrap Up

I hope this post helped you figure out what to do with kids in New York City! This was one of my favorite kid-friendly trips in the United States and we can’t wait for our next family trip to NYC!

I recommend checking out some New York City shows for kids, as well as pop-up events, and anything else you can’t find in your hometown.

Love this New York 7-day itinerary? Check out my 4 day NYC itinerary , where to stay in NYC with kids , NYC tours for families , how to save money in NYC , New York City travel tips , day trips from New York City , Museum Hack tour of the Met, Big Apple Greeter tour, and Real New York Tour review!

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Where to Stay in New York City with Family

If you’ve got a trip to New York coming up and wondering where to stay in New York City with family, then you’ve come to the right place. In this article, I will share with you some of the best hotels in NYC for families.

One thing for sure is that when it comes to the best New York hotels for families – they are super expensive!!! The family hotels New York has are probably the most expensive hotels I’ve ever come across in the world!

Even the tiny little NYC hotels for kids are going to cost you a pretty penny – so don’t fall off your chair when you see the prices of these supposedly budget New York family hotels. However, being the penny pincher I am, I will show you where you can get the best value for your money. But just be warned – there is no such thing as “cheap” family hotels in New York City.

So if you’re frustrated with trying to find family-friendly hotels in NYC that will not only accommodate your whole family but be in a great spot and be affordable (well, somewhat affordable – this is NYC, after all), then you will love this guide on the best hotels for kids in NYC. I’ve done all the research for you and located the perfect family-friendly hotels New York City has on offer.

In this best family accommodation New York City guide, I’ve listed a range of great places, all of which are in fantastic locations. The guide covers all sorts of options for where to stay in New York with Family. So whether you prefer one of the super cheap and affordable family hotels in New York City, one of the more spacious family suites in NYC or even one of the NYC hotels with pools for kids – you’ll find a great option for your NYC trip.

So, let’s get started and find you the best place to stay in New York City with family.

Talk to other families about their tips on visiting New York City and join our Thrifty Family Travel Facebook Group o r get inspired via our Instagram .

This post may contain compensated links. Please refer to my disclaimer here for more information.

Page Contents

• 1 New York Family Hotels Map
• 2 Family Hotels in New York- A Quick Overview
• 3.1 Upper West and East Side
• 3.2 Midtown West and Times Square
• 3.3 Midtown East
• 3.4 Chelsea, Flatiron District and Union Square Neighborhoods
• 3.5 Greenwich Village
• 4.1 Radio City Apartments
• 4.2 Hyatt Place New York City / Times Square
• 4.3 Riu Plaza New York Times Square
• 4.4 The New Yorker, A Wyndham Hotel
• 4.5 Hotel Shocard
• 4.6 Hotel St James
• 4.7 Empire Hotel
• 4.8 Hotel Belleclaire
• 4.9 Night Hotel Broadway 
• 4.10 Heritage Hotel
• 4.11 Holiday Inn Manhattan 6th Ave
• 4.12 Hilton Garden Inn New York / Manhattan Chelsea

New York Family Hotels Map

Family Hotels in New York- A Quick Overview

Below is a super quick overview of all the best hotels for kids in New York reviewed in this guide. You can use this guide to quickly determine if the accommodation is right for you and your family. For a more comprehensive review, keep reading below.

Where to Stay in New York City with Family?

NYC is huge and includes five different boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island. So, what is the best area to stay in New York City family?

Given that most attractions are in Manhattan, and that is where most tourists stay, I’m only going to list the best family hotels in Manhattan in this guide.  However, if you have an extended stay in NYC, I’d definitely recommend you consider some of the other boroughs as you can find much better options in terms of cheap family-friendly hotels in New York City.

Even in Manhattan itself, there is a stack of neighbourhoods to choose from regarding where to stay, with each neighbourhood having its advantages and disadvantages.  It’s impossible to list all the Manhattan neighbourhoods, so below, I have provided a brief overview of some of the best areas to stay in Manhattan with kids.

Wherever you stay in NYC, the best area to stay in New York with family is somewhere within a few metres from a subway station.  With a subway station close by, you can pretty much go wherever you need to go in NYC with ease.

So if you’re after the best area to stay in Manhattan with family, read on.

Upper West and East Side

If you’re looking for family hotels near Central Park, the best area to stay in New York for families is New York Upper West and East Sides.  Other great attractions for families include the American Museum of Natural History, Children’s Museum of Manhattan and Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The Upper West Side is a lovely residential area where brownstones line the streets. On the other hand, the Upper East Side is the ritziest neighbourhood in NYC, with luxury apartment buildings and fancy stores along Madison Avenue.  However, the Upper West Side is where you’ll find some of the great value family hotels New York has, and it’s within easy reach to the Mid-Town, where most of the family-friendly attractions tend to be.

Keep reading below for my recommendations on the best family-friendly hotels in NYC Upper West Side.

Midtown West and Times Square

If when you think of NYC, you think of giant billboards, street performers, flashing lights and Broadway – then this is the area you’re thinking about.  Here you will find most tourist attractions within walking distance of each other and heaps of places to eat and shop. If this is the NYC your family has come to see, and you want to be in the thick of the action, this is where to stay in New York City with kids.

The area of Midtown and Times Squares is very convenient and often the best area to stay in New York for families who are first time visitors and wanting to do all the popular attractions. However, because of this, the hotels here tend to be very expensive and often full, although you can still find some good value New York family accommodation here, provided you’re not after anything too fancy.

Keep in mind though, that this is a very touristy area and you will be absolutely swamped by tourists as soon as you leave your accommodation.  If this doesn’t sound like you, stay in one of the other family hotels New York City has.

Keep reading below for my recommendations on the best hotels in Times Square for families.

Midtown East

Just to the east of Times Square is Midtown East.  This is a much more corporate area, yet there are still a few tourist spots here, such as the Rockefeller Center, St Patrick’s Cathedral, Empire State Building, Grand Central Station and Radio City Music Hall.

Whilst not the best area to stay in NYC with kids, it is a good area to be in if you’d still like to be within walking distance to Times Square but not in the thick of it all.  Although the New York family friendly hotels in this area still tend to be rather expensive.

Chelsea, Flatiron District and Union Square Neighborhoods

These three neighbourhoods are located just below the midtown area and are among the trendiest places to stay.  The area is super pretty with lots of cobblestone streets, little boutiques and charming cafes.  Here you will find plenty of shops and places to eat as well as some reasonably priced New York City kid-friendly hotels.

While not a lot to do in terms of family attractions, it’s easy to reach them via the subway.  The Highline is also located in Chelsea.

So if you’re thinking where to stay with kids in NYC, this is probably the best area to stay in NYC with family, for those who either don’t want to stay in the centre of all the action or simply can’t afford to yet want a location close by.

Greenwich Village

Just south of Chelsea, the Flatiron District and the Union Square Neighborhoods is the very hip and cool Greenwich Village.  The area is beautiful with long winding narrow tree-lined streets and lovely brownstone homes.  You will also find plenty of places to eat at charming little cafes.

Greenwich Village is perhaps most well known for being the home of the Friends Apartment building.  It is also where you will find the home of Carrie from Sex in the City and Washington Square Park, which has featured in numerous movies.

While this area is not usually considered the best area to stay in NYC with family for sightseeing – it’s a gorgeous area and great for those that may have visited NYC previously and looking for something a little different this time around.

The Best Family Hotels in New York City

If you’re still wondering where to stay in NYC with family, below I have reviewed 12 options for the best place to stay in New York with family.

Radio City Apartments

When it comes to where to stay in NYC with kids – location is critical, which is why Radio City Apartments is such a great choice.  Located just a 3-minute walk to Radio City Music Hall and only 500m to the Rockefeller Centre and Times Square, the Radio City Apartments are among the best family friendly hotels in NYC. In addition, the nearest subway station is 49 th Street, only 1 block away, and if you like to walk, it is only 10 minutes to Central Park.

Like most of the best family friendly hotels New York has, these apartments are surrounded by restaurants and café’s and is in a great position to really sink your teeth into the hustle and bustle that Manhattan lives every day. In addition, parking is available nearby at a price, so if you have brought your car with you, there is no need to worry about where to store your car!

The best accommodation choice for a family is the one-bedroom apartment with two double beds in the bedroom and a sofa bed in the living room.  The room has a small kitchenette with all the facilities you need to prepare some of your meals and save some dollars.  There is also a spacious living room with a sofa and dining room table.

Other facilities in the rooms are free WiFi, ironing facilities, heating and air-conditioning, flat-screen TV with cable channels and some rooms include a private balcony. These New York family apartments cover all the necessities a family needs when travelling.

Also, if you’re looking for NYC hotels for families of 5, there is the option of a two-bedroom apartment that can accommodate up to 5 people.

Why We Love it?

In terms of location, this is one of the best NYC hotels for families.  The hotel is within walking distance to Times Square and Central Park and a short walk to the nearest subway station, so you can easily get to other NYC attractions. For apartment accommodation in New York for families, this is a good choice.

What’s Not to Love?

One of the more expensive family friendly hotels in New York City listed in this review, however you’re paying for the location, and it has a kitchen too so that you can save a bit of money on meals.

For families that want a spacious apartment in a central location, the Radio City Apartments really is the best place to stay in NYC with kids.  Not only will you appreciate the roomy self-contained apartment, but you will also be in the thick of things, right in the centre of Manhattan.  So close to the subway, restaurants and cafés, Times Square and the Rockefeller Centre. So again, a great choice to enjoy your family holiday to Manhattan.

Click here for more information, the latest prices and availability.

Hyatt Place New York City / Times Square

If you’re looking for comfortable and spacious family suites New York City has, the Hyatt Place New York City is a great choice.  This family hotel, New York, Manhattan offers is conveniently located for sightseeing in the Hells Kitchen district of NYC. The hotel is just a short walk to Madison Square Garden, Broadway and all the tourist sites of Time Square.

Located in the southern end of the Time Squares region, the Hyatt is just a 10 minute walk to Penn Station subway or Madison Square, which is perfect for those families arriving out of town via train and coming to see a concert. Plus you’re no more than 10 to 15 minute walk away from all the restaurants, cafes and shops of Time Square. 

Spacious and modern rooms – great if you’re after one of the spacious hotels in New York for family of 5. Plus, it’s an easy walk to Penn Station and all the other tourist attractions of Time Square. I rate this as the best hotel in NYC for family of 5 people.

Not the best area of New York to stay for families that are after the closest proximity to Times Square, as some of the other hotels in this guide.

The Hyatt is in a great location and one of the great New York hotels with kids for spacious accommodation. The whole family will appreciate being able to return to their room to relax after a hard day sightseeing and shopping in one of the world’s most famous cities—another great option to consider for New York kid friendly hotels.

Click here for more information, the latest prices and availability.  

Riu Plaza New York Times Square

If you’re looking for super central kid-friendly places in NYC, the Riu Plaza is well worth considering. Located in the heart of Broadway and just a four-minute walk to the centre of Times Square, the Riu Plaza is an excellent choice when it comes to where to stay in New York with kids.

When it comes to sightseeing further afield, you’re just an 8-minute walk from the Times Square Subway which provides easy access to all the NYC tourist attractions. Alternatively, the Port Authority Bus Terminal is just 480 metres from your door.

The deluxe family bedrooms come with two double beds as well as an additional sofa bed in a spacious room. The room also includes air-conditioning and heating, tea and coffee-making facilities, free WiFi and flat-screen TV with cable channels.

This New York family hotel also serves breakfast daily included in the rate so you can fill up before you explore. The hotel has a terrace and fitness centre, and guests can enjoy a meal at the restaurant, The Theater Buffet. The hotel also has a fitness centre on-site.

Location, location, location! This is the best place to stay in New York with kids, for seeing a play on Broadway or sightseeing around Times Square.

If you prefer somewhere quieter, staying in the centre of Times Square may not be the best option for you and your kids in New York.

The Riu Plaza is a great choice if you’re looking for suite hotels in NYC for families in the very heart of Times Square. From here you’ll easily be able to walk to many tourist attractions as well as have easy access to public transport for sightseeing further afield.

The New Yorker, A Wyndham Hotel

The New Yorker is another great option when it comes to New York hotels with suites for families.  The hotel provides spacious family rooms and offers a good location near Penn Station, Madison Square Gardens and the Manhattan Mall.  Not only is it so close to transport and shopping, but it is also within walking distance to the Empire State Building and Times Square.

The accommodation best suited for the budget-conscious family is the standard room, which includes two double beds, flat-screen TV with cable channels, air-conditioning and heating, and free WiFi.  Every room also offers fantastic views of NYC and surrounds, whichever side you happen to be on.

The New Yorker has an onsite 24-hour restaurant and bar, a 24-hour fitness centre, room service, a gift shop and free WiFi throughout this boutique art-deco style hotel.  The hotel also offers onsite parking.

If you’re on a New York holiday with kids, having the convenience of concierge services onsite to assist with Broadway tickets, guided tours, restaurant reservations and more, could be the clincher to stay at The New Yorker.

This is one of the best kid friendly hotels in New York in terms of its location and facilities.  The hotel is within walking distance to a range of popular tourist sites and a 24-hour on-site restaurant which is perfect for those getting in late.

No tea or coffee making facilities in the room; however, the 24-hour onsite restaurant is easily accessible, so there should be no issue running down to the restaurant for your morning cup of coffee!

When it comes to family-friendly hotels in Manhattan, the New Yorker is a great choice.  Spacious rooms, great location, so easily accessible to everything and the views are amazing!

Hotel Shocard

If you’re looking for family hotels in Times Square, so you’re in the thick of all the action, you can’t beat Hotel Shocard .  This hotel is located in the centre of Times Square, surrounded by all the top family attractions, world-class shopping and entertainment.  Plus, the Times Square Station is only 80 metres away, so you can easily visit attractions in other areas.

Apart from being in the heart of everything and surrounded by the bright lights and iconic sights, this boutique, retro hotel provides cozy, clean and superbly furnished rooms designed and inspired in the mood of Broadway Theatre. In addition, the hotel offers an onsite restaurant and bar which serves a huge daily breakfast, lunch and dinner, a rooftop terrace to take in the nighttime city lights, nearby parking facilities (at a cost) and a cocktail bar.

This is one of the best areas to stay in New York for families! Excellent location – just walk out the front door, and you’re ready to explore Times Square.  Plus, who doesn’t love staying in a Broadway retro-themed hotel?

The rooms are quite small but still nicely furnished and will just be used as a base to sleep, given you are so close to the action that NYC has to offer.

If you’re looking for family rooms New York City has in the heart of Times Square, you really can’t go wrong with Hotel Shocard.  From this hotel, you can easily walk to all the top family attractions and jump on the nearby subway for attractions further afield.

Hotel St James

While there really is no such thing as “cheap” accommodation in NYC, if you’re just after the best budget family hotels in Manhattan, NYC, then the Hotel St James is worth considering.  Located just 350m from the very centre of Times Square, you can’t get much more central than this hotel. Plus you’re just 550m from the Times Square Subway.

If you’re on a family trip to NYC on a budget and after affordable accommodation, this is one of the best places to stay in New York with family.   

There is no fancy amenities on site, but that just helps keep the overall price down – which helps, as you can see New York accommodation for families isn’t the cheapest!

The Hotel St James is the perfect place if you’re wondering where to stay in Manhattan with family on a budget.  With spacious rooms and within walking distance to all the major tourist attractions, you really can’t go wrong.

Empire Hotel

Well, there are not too many family hotels in NYC that are affordable and have a sw imming pool – but the Empire Hotel does just that!  Located on the Upper West Side in a lovely area of New York City, the Empire Hotel is just a short walk to Central Park, as well as being just 400m from the Columbus Circle Subway making it easy for sightseeing further afield.

The Empire Hotel is the only one featured in this guide that has a gorgeous rooftop swimming pool.  This is great for families visiting in the warmer months.  In addition, the hotel has two onsite restaurants.  

The rooms at the Empire Hotel are lovely and modern, coming with two double beds.  Each room features AC, TV and tea and coffee making facilities.

If you’re after the best place to stay in New York City with kids who love to swim, dive, water ‘bomb’ – this very well might be it!

It has a swimming pool and yet is still affordable – this is a real find in NYC!

This hotel is quite far away from the main attractions around Times Square, however with the subway station close by, for the price, you really can’t go wrong.

For families visiting in NYC in the warmer months and really want somewhere with a pool for the kids, without spending an absolute fortune, the Empire Hotel really is one of the best places to stay in NYC with family. It’s perfect for younger families wishing to spend plenty of time at Central Park and also happy to use public transport for sightseeing further afield.

Hotel Belleclaire

If you’re looking for family places to stay in New York City in the Upper West Side, the Hotel Belleclaire is a great choice.  Nestled in a quiet tree-lined street, this is a 4-star hotel just 200m from 79 Street Station and only a 1.3km walk to the American Museum of Natural History and Central Park – including the zoo!

Whilst not your typical family hotel, NYC has so many pockets to explore, why not have the whole family enjoy the Upper West Side at the luxurious Belleclaire.

Hotel Belleclaire has comfortable guest rooms and suites for families and impeccable services and amenities.  The facilities include a 24-hour fitness centre, valet parking (at cost) and an onsite coffee house partnered with Mille-Feuille (the best French pastries), which has the best coffee on the Upper West Side and New York’s finest patisseries.

If you’re after a hotel with some luxury but not necessarily the matching price tag, then this is one of the best places to stay in New York for families.

A little on the pricier side, but good value overall for this level of luxury in NYC.

The Hotel Belleclaire offers luxury family suites in Manhattan at an affordable rate (well, at least in NYC).  Located in a lovely Upper West Side area and within an easy walk to the subway, this is a great base for your family’s vacation in NYC.

Night Hotel Broadway 

Family rooms include two double beds and tea and coffee making facilities, a TV with cable channels, air-conditioning and heating and free WiFi. In addition, the hotel features an onsite fitness room and onsite parking.

If you’re on a family trip to New York on a budget, this is a reasonably priced hotel in the quieter area of the Upper West Side, close to Central Park and a subway station.

The location in the Upper West Side is away from all the main tourist attractions; however this may also be a plus for some families not wanting to be in the busy area of Times Square.

For families looking for affordable accommodation in a quieter area of NYC, but near a subway station, so they can easily visit all the popular tourist attractions, the Night Hotel is one of the best places for families to stay in New York City.

Heritage Hotel

The Heritage Hotel is another option to consider if you’re after great family hotels in NYC out of the busy tourist centre.  The Heritage Hotel is a 3-star hotel just minutes from the famous Flatiron Building, a 15-minute walk to the Empire State Building and Madison Square Gardens and 10 minutes via the subway to Times Square.

There is a range of room options for families to consider, with the most basic option being a petite quad.  These rooms have two double beds.  If you’re looking for some where to stay in New York with family of 5 or more, then there are also suites consisting of two connecting hotel rooms that can accommodate up to 6 people.  All room types include tea and coffee making facilities, flat-screen TV with cable channels, free WiFi and air-conditioning.

It’s not often budget family friendly hotels in NYC include breakfast, so that’s a nice perk.  Plus, for larger families, this hotel offers great value for money.

The rooms are nothing fancy but offer great value accommodation in a central location.

The Heritage Hotel offers families no-frills, good value accommodation in the Flatiron District.  When it comes to family-friendly places to stay in New York City, this is a good option to consider – particularly for larger families.

Holiday Inn Manhattan 6 th Ave

If you’re looking for where to stay in NYC with a family and prefer a well-known brand of hotels with great facilities, then consider the Holiday Inn Manhattan on 6 th Avenue .  This is a 4-star hotel in the trendy area of Chelsea that provides contemporary and stylish rooms and is one of the best hotels for kids in Manhattan.

The Holiday Inn chain of hotels is famous for providing a home-away-from-home, offering great facilities.  At this Holiday Inn, there is a 24-hour fitness centre, free WiFi, room service, onsite Prime Café serving traditional American cuisine with a full-service bar and daily housekeeping services. There is also a parking facility located nearby for all guests (with a charge).

Family rooms include two double beds, as well as a flat-screen TV with cable channels, free WiFi, air-conditioning and heating and ironing facilities.

Great family accommodation in New York, located in the gorgeous area of Chelsea, with easy access to public transport.  The views are amazing, from whichever corner you happen to land.

This is one of the more expensive family friendly hotels NYC has in these reviews, but you are paying for the location and the Holiday Inn name.

The Holiday Inn is a great choice for those wanting family lodging, New York City offers with a well-known hotel chain in the super trendy area of Chelsea.

Hilton Garden Inn New York / Manhattan Chelsea

Also located in Chelsea is the Hilton Garden Inn ; this hotel is surrounded by quaint flower shops and cafes to relax in.  Madison Square Gardens is only 500m away and the Empire State Building, 700m away.  If you’re up for the walk, Times Square is just a 25-minute walk, or if not, catch the Subway on 28 th Street for a short 10-minute journey right to the doorstep.

Family rooms include two double beds and cable TV, microwave and refrigerator, free WiFi, air-conditioning and heating, a coffee machine for your morning wake-up and ironing facilities.

The hotel features a fully-equipped fitness centre, an onsite restaurant and bar with kid-friendly meals, and a fantastic breakfast.  There is also on-site guest parking too.

Having the microwave and fridge in the room is great for family accommodation in New York.  You could prepare drinks and basic meals with these amenities, helping to save a few dollars.

This is one of the more expensive rooms in these reviews.  But just like the Holiday Inn above, you’re paying for the brand name and location.

The Hilton Garden Inn is well worth considering for families that want quality family accommodation in one of NYC’s trendiest districts.  It features great amenities and a great base for exploring everything that NYC has to offer.

____________________________________________________

I hope you found this guide on where to stay in New York City helpful – I recommend – if you’re going to travel to NYC, be sure to get immersed and pick up on some of the local slang !  You’ll also want to check out our guide on things to do with kids in NYC here .  If you’re also heading to the west coast, we have guides on things to do in Los Angeles and  where to stay in Los Angeles with kids.

And if you’re on Pinterest, save one of the images below for later

2 thoughts on “Where to Stay in New York City with Family”

This list is quite complete, I have traveled with my family and siblings, normally my father finds and reserves the house in which we stay in Airbnb, there are also some hotels that turn out to be inexpensive for us. Good guide.

Thank you so much for this informative list. We are planning a trip for our family. I have become a little overwhelmed while searching for places to stay. You have helped me out tremendously! Thank you!

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Best Tours + Experiences in NYC for Families (Using Tripadvisor)

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This article on the best tours and experiences in NYC for families with kids was done in partnership with + sponsored by  Tripadvisor .

Your search for the best NYC tours for families can stop here with these fantastic options from Tripadvisor! From walking tours of Little Italy and Chinatown to scooter tours of Central Park and even some options in Brooklyn, there are so many fun ways to explore the Big Apple as a family. Not only will you have a wonderful time exploring and bonding with your family, but you’ll also get to learn more about this iconic city and its history. Whether you’re visiting with history buffs, art lovers, teens, or young kids, Tripadvisor has you covered with these options throughout the city. On this list, we’ve put together our favorite options to help you plan your next New York City itinerary with kids.

Using Tripadvisor, we put together this list of the  Best Tours and Experiences in NYC for Families  with our favorite selections. Stay tuned to plan your next NYC adventure with kids! To top it off,  save 10% on any Tripadvisor tour with our code: FLT10 .

Unique Tours + Experiences in NYC for Families

Some of the best NYC tours for families have a unique twist! Whether you want to explore Central Park by horse-drawn carriage or cruise down the Hudson River on a boat, there are lots of ways to see the Big Apple in style. Check out these New York City vacation ideas to start planning your next trip! 

Discover our top picks for the Best Museums In NYC By Age For Families .

Official NYC Horse Carriage Rides in Central Park

Photo Courtesy: Tripadvisor

See Central Park on a special horse-drawn carriage ride with this Official NYC Horse Carriage Rides in Central Park since 1979 ™ ! Lasting around an hour, this experience lets kids of all ages explore NYC’s most iconic park in style from the comfort of a horse-drawn carriage!

It’s a classic, old-fashioned way to tour the park without tiring your little one’s legs, since it’s huge and easy to get lost in. During your tour, you’ll get to pass some of the park’s best highlights and learn more about them from your guide, including Wollman’s Rink, Sheep Meadow, the Central Park Carousel, and the Pond. Plus, you can stop for photos in front of Strawberry Fields and Cherry Hill. Kids will love the added experience of getting to interact with the horse and even feed them a treat! 

Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island Tour: All Options

Families who want the freedom of a customizable tour will love this Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island Tour: All Options ! Combine a visit to two of New York’s most famous attractions, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, on this three to five-hour tour for ages 4 and up .

With this flexible option, you can choose how long you want to spend at each attraction based on your kid’s interests. You may prefer spending more time at Ellis Island to learn more about the city’s immigration history throughout the centuries, for example. The tour will start in Battery Park, which you’ll see briefly before taking the ferry to the Statue of Liberty. It’ll end on Ellis Island, so you’ll have more time to visit the museum beyond the tour if you want. This is definitely one of the best New York City tours with kids! 

Click here to discover the 15 Best New York City Outdoor Activities For Kids ! 

NYC Central Park Electric Scooter Tour 

One of the best NYC tours for families with teens is this NYC Central Park Electric Scooter Tour ! Ideal for ages 14 and up , this two-hour tour lets families see Central Park and its highlights from the vantage point of an electric scooter, which is sure to be a blast for your teens!

With the electric scooter, you’ll cover more ground throughout the park with less strenuous exercise for you and your kids. With both morning and afternoon times, you’ll start at Columbus Circle before your guide takes you to famous spots in the park, like Bethesda Fountain and the Reservoir. You’ll learn more about the history of Central Park along the way. Plus, you’ll even get to see the oldest artifact in the park – Cleopatra’s Needle. You’ll end your tour by Museum Mile, so you can go museum-hopping after, too. 

All-Access 9/11: Ground Zero Tour, Memorial, and Museum, One World Observatory

Learn more about an event that changed NYC history on an All-Access 9/11: Ground Zero Tour, Memorial and Museum, One World Observatory . On this five-hour tour , you’ll get access to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, as well as the former World Trade Center site.

You’ll also get to see the FDNY Memorial Wall with all the names of the brave firefighters who lost their lives. Included in your tour is admission to One World Observatory, where you’ll get sweeping views over Lower Manhattan. Tripadvisor recommends this tour is for all ages , but you should use your judgment as to whether the subject matter is too somber for your children. 

Circle Line: Complete Manhattan Island Cruise 

Experience Manhattan by boat with this Circle Line: Complete Manhattan Island Cruise ! As one of the best NYC tours for families, this two-and-a-half-hour tour lets families take in Manhattan’s iconic skyline from a boat, where you’ll have unobstructed views!

Your tour will start on the Hudson River before circling Manhattan and giving you close views of the Statue of Liberty. You’ll also be able to spot the One World Trade Center’s Freedom Tower, the Empire State Building , and Ellis Island. When you turn up the East River, you’ll also get to pass Brooklyn and Manhattan’s Upper East Side. This tour is especially ideal for photos of NYC’s best landmarks without all the crowds. Tripadvisor recommends this tour for ages 3 and up . 

New York City Freedom Liberty Cruise

If you’re short on time while visiting NYC, don’t miss this New York City Freedom Liberty Cruise ! Sailing down the Hudson River, it only lasts around an hour and fifteen minutes , but still covers the basics when it comes to the city’s famous landmarks.

From the Freedom Tower to the Statue of Liberty, it’s a great opportunity for selfies and family photos without all the crowds. Plus, the vessel has a double-decker configuration, so you can take in the fresh breeze from the top deck or stay inside if you’d prefer. No wonder this is one of the best guided tours of New York City for families with kids of all ages !

Best NYC Bus Tours for Families

Looking for the best NYC bus tours for families? From Brooklyn to Manhattan, we’ve rounded up the best options for all ages for families who want the convenience and ease of a bus. Keep reading to find the best NYC tours for families! 

Want to take a day trip from the city? Consider one of our favorite 11 Best Cute Towns To Visit Near NYC With Kids .

NYC Must-See Highlights of Manhattan Bus Tour

See all the city’s most famous landmarks on this NYC Must-See Highlights of Manhattan Bus Tour ! Ideal for all ages , this six-hour tour combines a visit to some of the best landmarks in the city by bus with a river cruise.

First, you’ll start by Rockefeller Center before checking out the Empire State Building , Washington Square Park, Chinatown, etc. Then, you’ll have the chance to take a 1-hour boat ride and sail by destinations like Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. It’s a comfortable way to see the city, since you cover a lot of ground and still get good views from the bus without killing your feet. Plus, you have a chance to stretch your legs for a half hour and stroll through Central Park!

Boroughs of NYC: Harlem, Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn & Coney Island 

Explore NYC’s hidden gems on this Boroughs of NYC: Harlem, Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn & Coney Island Tour ! Though lots of city tours usually concentrate on Manhattan, there’s so much to see in boroughs like Brooklyn and Queens. This 7-hour tour lets kids of all ages see spots like Harlem, Yankee Stadium, Crown Heights, Dumbo, and Williamsburg.

You can even select a version that includes a trip down to Coney Island, where kids can see Luna Park, walk the boardwalk, and have more fun. Along the way, you’ll learn about the history of the city and how it became the incredible place it is today. This is undoubtedly one of the best NYC tours for families! 

New York City at Night Bus Tour 

There’s nothing like seeing NYC illuminated on a New York City at Night Bus Tour ! Lasting around 4 hours and offered for all ages , this combined walking and bus tour takes families through some of Manhattan’s most charming neighborhoods, all illuminated by the city lights!

You’ll start by Times Square before getting a guided tour of Grand Central Station, then continue to Lower Manhattan and neighborhoods like Greenwich Village, Soho, and Tribeca. Your guide will tell you some fun facts about each neighborhood, too, so you don’t miss anything. In the end, you’ll also get to stop and walk along the High Line with your guide, admiring the art and cool architecture. 

NYC TV & Movie Tour

Movie and television lovers can’t get enough of this NYC TV & Movie Tour ! Lasting around 3 hours , this tour offers kids of all ages a chance to go behind the scenes of iconic TV shows like Friends, Seinfeld, and Girls. You’ll meet your guide at Ellen’s Stardust Diner in Midtown before hopping aboard your bus and taking off.

During the tour, you’ll pass filming locations for famous shows like Friends and Seinfeld, as well as The Mindy Project, How I Met Your Mother, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and Glee. Plus, for the movie lovers in your group, you can also see where they filmed I Am Legend, When Harry Met Sally, and Spider-Man. Since your guide is also a professional actor, they’ll give you fun facts about each location, plus insider tips on the industry and what it takes to make it in New York!

NYC Bus Tour of Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens: Contrasts, Color, and Character

New York City is a melting pot of cultures, and there’s no better way to experience this than on a NYC Bus Tour Of Brooklyn, Bronx, and Queens: Contrasts, Color, and Character ! On this six-hour tour , kids of all ages can explore four of NYC’s boroughs from the comfort of a bus.

Along the way, you’ll learn more about what makes each borough unique from your guide, as well as a bit more about the city’s cultural history. You’ll start in Times Square before proceeding to Harlem, for example, where you can learn more about African American’s contributions to its music scene. Plus, you’ll also get to visit Yankee Stadium to learn more about the Yankees and Bushwick to see all the beautiful murals at the Bushwick Collective!  

Best Walking Tours in NYC for Families

NYC is a city of walkers, so a walking tour is only fit when trying to explore everything this place has to offer! Instead of trying to navigate the city by yourself with your kids, these best walking tours in NYC for families streamline the process and take you through some of the city’s most vibrant neighborhoods. Here are our favorite options for things to do in NYC with kids! 

Need somewhere to stay in NYC with kids? Check out these Best Family Hotels In New York City With A Pool (Including 1- to 3-bedroom Suites!) ! 

Chelsea Market and High Line Food Tour 

Foodie families will love this Chelsea Market and High Line Food Tour ! It’s recommended for ages 4 and up , and takes you through three of Lower Manhattan’s most popular spots: Chelsea Market, Hudson Yards, and The High Line. Lasting around three hours , you’ll start with a visit to Chelsea Market, where you can explore the stalls and taste pizza, doughnuts, pastries, and more.

Then, you can stroll along The High Line to appreciate the art, architecture, and ambiance. Finally, you’ll get to visit Hudson Yards, where you can browse the shops and take photos of the Vessel, a giant honeycomb-esque structure that towers over the area. It’s undoubtedly one of the NYC tours for families! 

New York Walking Food Tour with Secret Food Tours

Find out why NYC is considered one of the great food capitals on this New York Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours! Families can choose between Greenwich Village or Chinatown and Little Italy on this two-and-a-half to three-and-a-half-hour tour , which is recommended for ages 4 and up .

If you choose Greenwich Village, you’ll get to sample classic bagels, New York-style pizza, doughnuts, and more. Your guide will teach you more about Greenwich Village’s iconic history between bites as you pass the various sites. Meanwhile, if you choose Chinatown or Little Italy, you can indulge in dumplings, fresh mozzarella, and more mouth-watering delicacies. It’s one of the best NYC tours with kids, for sure! 

Gangsters and Ghosts Tour in NYC

Experience New York City’s darker side on this Gangsters and Ghosts Tour in NYC ! From the city’s mafia history to the haunted mansions of the West Village, this two-hour tour takes families through New York’s storied past in a fun and engaging way. You’ll get to walk through Little Italy, Chinatown, and the West Village while you listen to spooky tales and mob stories from your guide. Also, your tour ends at Washington Square Park, which you can explore at your own leisure.

Even though Tripadvisor recommends this tour for all ages , use your discretion to decide whether the subject matter is appropriate for your kids and their maturity level. 

Central Park Walking Tour

Why wander through Central Park alone when you can take a Central Park Walking Tour ? As one of the best NYC family tours, this small-group tour lasts around two hours . During the process, your guide will take you to some of the prettiest parts of the park, from Sheep Meadow to some lesser-known hidden gems. You’ll also get to learn more about the history of the park, its various structures, plants, animals, and more.

Recommended for kids ages 6 and up , it’s a great way to explore the park at a relaxed pace while still ensuring you see everything there is to see (without getting lost!) 

Soho, Little Italy, and Chinatown Walking Tour In New York

Explore Lower Manhattan with this Soho, Little Italy, and Chinatown Walking Tour! For ages 4 and up , this two-hour tour mixes ghost and mob tales with classic history and even some stops for food samples. You’ll meet in Spring Street Park before walking to Greene Street, where you can see the site of the Manhattan Well Murder, the first recorded homicide case in New York City.

Then, stroll through SoHo to learn more about the Cast Iron Historic District, which has over 500 buildings. In Little Italy, families can learn more about mobsters like John Gotti and the big wave of Italian immigration NYC saw in the 20th century. Finally, you’ll head to Chinatown, Columbus Park, and Five Points, which was notorious for being crime-ridden in the 1800s. 

The Best of Brooklyn Walking Tour: “The Brooklyn Revolution!”

Learn more about Brooklyn’s fascinating past on The Best of Brooklyn Walking Tour: “The Brooklyn Revolution! ” This three-hour tour invites families with kids of all ages to explore the iconic borough of Brooklyn, including DUMBO, the Brooklyn Bridge, and Brooklyn Bridge Park.

Walk over the Brooklyn Bridge from Manhattan to Brooklyn before seeing Brooklyn Bridge Park from above. You’ll also get to stroll the quaint, tree-lined streets of Brooklyn Heights while your guide tells you more about each place’s history. Some of the stories you’ll hear date back to the Revolutionary War, making this one of the best NYC tours for families who love history! 

Best Private Tours + Experiences in NYC for Families

A private tour is a wonderful way to experience NYC without all the crowds! If you want to skip the line for a museum visit or get a behind-the-scenes tour of Ellis Island, a private tour lets you customize your experience based on what your kids want to do. These are our favorite NYC private tours for families!

Visiting NYC for Thanksgiving? Read our Comprehensive Guide to Watching Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in NYC with Your Kids . 

Museum of Natural History – Exclusive Guided Tour 

Get an insider look at an iconic NYC institution on this Museum of Natural History Exclusive Guided Tour ! Even though this museum is famous for being huge, taking a two-and-a-half-hour tour lets you see the top highlights with a guide, saving you time and effort.

Ideal for kids of all ages , you can tailor this tour to your interests, so your guide will spend more or less time in certain parts of the museum that your kids are more interested in. This way, you can also breeze through the admission line! See the iconic giant whale as well as other well-known parts of the museum as you learn fun facts and behind-the-scenes stories on each installation. 

Met & Natural History Museum Skip-The-Line – Exclusive Combo Tour

What better way to see two of NYC’s finest museums than with a Met & Natural History Museum Skip-the-Line – Exclusive Combo Tour ? With this five-and-a-half-hour tour , families with kids of all ages can see two of the biggest museums in New York, the Natural History Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art .

Skip the hassle of waiting in line for a ticket and deciding which parts of the museums to see with your little ones, and let your guide do all the work for you. Your tour will start in the morning with a visit to the MET, where kids will see work from the Middle Ages all the way to Picasso and Matisse! After a break for lunch, head to the Museum of Natural History to see millions of prehistoric artifacts, including dinosaur exhibits! 

Skip the Line Kids and Families New York Metropolitan Museum Private Tour 

One of the best NYC tours for families is surely this Skip The Line Kids and Families New York Metropolitan Museum Private Tour ! On this two-and-a-half-hour tour , kids of all ages can explore the iconic Metropolitan Museum of Art with a guide who will make the experience all the more fun.

It’ll be an entertaining, interactive excursion, as your guide will tailor the visit to what your kids show the most interest in. Plus, they’ll also learn more about art history as you pass through the Egyptian, Roman, and Greek collections and more. Best of all, you’ll get to skip the line, making this one of the best fun tours in NYC for kids! 

NYC Kid & Families American Museum of Natural History Private Tour

Maximize your visit to one of New York’s most iconic museums with this NYC Kid & Families American Museum of Natural History Private Tour ! Kids of all ages will love this two-and-a-half-hour tour , which will take them through some of the best parts of the museum with an informed guide.

Expect to see dinosaurs, the giant blue whale suspended from the ceiling, and more displays that little ones will love. It’s a great chance for them to learn more about natural history in an intimate setting, since the guide is always happy to answer questions and give more background information. You’ll even get to learn about the museum’s famous Tyrannosaurus Rex fossil during the tour. This is surely one of the best NYC family tours! 

Private Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Tour 

Say hello to Lady Liberty on this Private Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Tour ! Ideal for kids of all ages , this private, half-day tour (around 4 hours) takes families to see two of NYC’s most legendary attractions: The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

Learn more about America’s immigration history and the special role NYC played in it. Not only will you get panoramic views from the ferry ride, but being in a smaller group means more personalized attention from your guide. Plus, entrance and ferry rides are included in the tour, making it one of the best guided tours of New York City! 

Happy Travels!

We hope you liked this list of the Best Tours + Experiences In NYC For Families With Kids! From the Statue of Liberty to Lower Manhattan or Brooklyn, there are so many things to do in New York City with kids. Enjoy your family vacation in the Big Apple! 

*This post may contain affiliate links that may earn us a small commission, at no additional cost to you. Affiliate links in no way inform the hotels, sights, products, or other recommendations included in our articles. All opinions and recommendations expressed here are compiled from submissions submitted by the generous members of our Families Who Love To Travel community.

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Vacations in New York

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Cheap New York package deals

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• There are loads of types of vacations in New York and the cost will depend on what type of trip you’re taking and for how long you’d like to stay. Here are the latest prices for a 3 night trip for 2 travelers: Top vacation $538; Family vacation $473; Romantic vacation $595; Luxury vacation $650; Budget vacation $309.

Why should you book a vacation package to New York City?

When should you book a vacation package to new york city.

The best time to visit New York City is in the fall, when the weather is cooler and there are several big American traditions which see floats and parades taking to the streets. Some of the most popular events include Thanksgiving Day Parade in June, ice skating at Rockefeller Plaza, and the infamous New Years Eve Countdown in Times Square.

Where should you stay in New York City during your vacation?

For any vacation type in new york city:.

The Knickerbocker Hotel is a NYC landmark in the heart of Times Square with bespoke furniture, sweeping midtown views, and an electric rooftop bar. Take the Jamaica Train and connect via NYC Subway for the most authentic transport between JFK Airport and the Knickerbocker Hotel.

Conrad New York is an unpretentious 5-star hotel near Battery Park which offers daily connections to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. A taxi ride to this east side NYC hotel will cost you approximately 60 dollars and take up to 30 minutes.

For family vacations in New York City:

Novotel New York Times Square is a great central choice to match your the high-paced energy of your kids. Consider pre-booking your airport shuttle through the hotel's reception for a smooth transition from JFK, La Guardia, or Newark airports.

Adjacent to Central Park, the Quin Hotel commissions local graffiti artists to decorate the interior of the building for a truly one-of-a-kind experience in the Big Apple. Take a combination of the Jamaica Train and NYC Subway to show the kids a more authentic angle on New Yorkers.

For romantic vacations in New York City:

Gramercy Park Hotel shoulders one of the most secluded parks in all New York City and also boasts famous iconic artworks from Andy Warhol and Keith Haring in an ever-changing selection. A taxi ride from JFK to Gramercy Park will cost you approximately $60.

The Langham New York on 5th Avenue encompasses all your needs with comfortably intimate rooms, a fitness center, and comprehensive spa treatments. For even more freedom while you travel, consider renting a car at JFK, La Guardia, or Newark airports.

For luxury vacations in New York City:

The London NYC will have you feeling like you've visited two cities in just one trip! It features all-suites accommodation. You can travel in comfort to your midtown hotel like the locals do in an iconic NYC taxi from JFK Airport.

Refinery Hotel puts other accommodation options to shame with a 360 degree rooftop lounge and minimalist modern décor. Just a few blocks from Grand Central Station, it boasts a swanky bar and stunning downtown views. Consider taking the train for a classic experience when traveling in and out of New York City.

For budget vacations in New York City:

The Redbury New York is a 4-star hotel in the NoMad district which features a café, bar, and restaurant onsite so you don't get overwhelmed with choices on your next trip to the Big Apple. The Jamaica Airtrain is the fastest and least expensive way to transfer from midtown to JFK Airport.

Ameritania Times Square's location sets you in the heart of New York City's famous district, also within easy walking distance of the spacious Central Park. The most straightforward way to Times Square is via taxi from JFK Airport, which will cost approximately $60.

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13 Best New York Family Vacations Beyond the Big Apple

From the adirondacks to the erie canal, new york family vacations have something for everyone..

Think of a New York family vacation and the Big Apple is usually the first thing that comes to mind. But there’s more to New York vacations than the bright lights of Broadway and hustle of Times Square. The Empire State is a vast and geographically diverse place that stretches from the beaches of Long Island to the thundering cascades of Niagara Falls .

Best New York Vacations for Families

Whether you’re the kind of family who wants to scale mountain peaks in the Adirondacks or explore a path through history along the Erie Canal, New York is big enough to capture the hearts of everyone in your crew no matter your interests. From west to east, here are the top New York family vacation destinations outside of New York City.

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Western New York Vacations

1. chautauqua, new york.

Chautauqua County in Western New York is well-known for the Chautauqua Institution , a nonprofit 750-acre camp dating back to the late 1800s that hosts week-long summer educational programs in art, music, dance, theater, writing, politics, science, and more. Families can stay in a neighborhood of Victorian cottages and walk down to the beach while listening to the Westminster Chimes of the Bell Tower.

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Just down the road from the venerable Chautauqua Institution is the National Comedy Center in Jamestown. This state-of-the-art museum opened in 2018 to celebrate the art of comedy, and it’s perfect for kids and families. The Center developed out of legendary comedienne Lucille Ball’s (a Jamestown native) vision for her hometown to become the destination for the celebration of comedy.

The center contains props, scripts, artifacts, and a hologram theater that presents comedy performances. However, the National Comedy Center is not a hall-of-fame or walk-through of famous and familiar artifacts, it’s one of the most high-tech museum experiences out there right now. Upon entering, every guest receives a wristband equipped with a chip that responds to your own comedy preference and style, perfectly customizing each experience for maximum laughs.

Where to Stay on Chautauqua Lake

The Chautauqua Harbor Hotel is a spectacular place to spread out and relax on the shore of Chautauqua Lake, only two-and-a-half miles from the National Comedy Center. The hotel features a variety of large guest rooms and suites, two restaurants, and an all-season outdoor entertainment space with an expansive patio, fire pits, and lakeside bar.

2. Buffalo, New York

The second largest city in New York state, Buffalo and has a booming waterfront worth a visit. The revitalized Canalside and Outer Harbor area entices families with a boardwalk, beach, playground, carousel , and more. Across the street is the Explore and More Children’s Museum with plenty of interactive exhibits such as a treehouse climbing structure and milkable cow. The Naval & Military Park offers tours of three World War II-era ships including a submarine.

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Buffalo RiverWorks is a family-friendly waterfront restaurant and entertainment complex. In addition to restaurants, RiverWorks has zip lining, a ropes course, kayaking, and paddle boards. There are also rinks for roller skating and roller derby in the summer that morph into ice skating, hockey, and curling venues in the wintertime.

Get out on the water with a Buffalo River History Tour. The 90-minute narrated tour teaches visitors about the importance of the Buffalo Harbor, Erie Canal, and what was once the largest grain port in the world (you can still smell the Cheerios).

Where to Stay in Buffalo

The Buffalo Marriott at LECOM Harborcenter is right in the heart of Canalside, and is within easy walking distance to all the family-friendly attractions in the area.

3. Niagara Falls, New York (American Side)

Niagara Falls straddles the U.S.-Canada border, and while there are plenty of reasons to visit both sides, New York’s offerings can easily keep a family busy for days. Established in 1885, Niagara Falls State Park holds the title as the oldest state park in the country. It’s open 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, and give families the chance to get up close to experience the visceral and emotional power of Niagara Falls.

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Attractions in Niagara Falls State Park include the free Observation Tower with spectacular views of the falls. Here, families can descend the elevator to an attraction almost as famous as the falls themselves—the Maid of the Mist boat tour, in operation since 1846. Cave of the Winds is another top attraction within the state park. This hike along wooden walkways and staircases leads to a Hurricane Deck buffeted by tropical-storm-force winds and water. The park also has hop-on, hop-off trolleys to explore Terrapin Point, Three Sisters Island, gardens, walking paths, and more.

Other attractions outside the state park include Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours , Aquarium of Niagara , Old Fort Niagara , and Niagara Power Vista .

Where to Stay in Niagara Falls, New York

The Sheraton Niagara Falls is adjacent to the Old Falls Street, USA entertainment district, and is walking distance to Niagara Falls State Park. The hotel includes the kid-friendly Rainforest Cafe, and the Reef Beach Club has a large indoor pool complete with coral reef aquarium.

Finger Lakes Vacations

4. rochester, new york.

Rochester is the gateway to New York’s Finger Lakes region and is brimming with family fun. The Strong National Museum of Play houses the world’s largest collection of toys, dolls, and games, and has multiple, hands-on, interactive exhibits, and place spaces. This premiere children’s museum is also home to the National Toy Hall of Fame and World Video Game Hall of Fame , which is sure to inspire tons of nostalgic memories for parents while the kids play.

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In addition to The Strong, families can step back in time at Genesee Country Village and Museum , the largest living history museum in New York State; take a ride on the Sam Patch canal boat down the Erie Canal; or explore the great outdoors at parks including Ontario Beach Park on the south shore of Lake Ontario.

Where to Stay in Rochester

In Rochester, The Strathallan is a DoubleTree by Hilton property close to the Neighborhood of the Arts, Rochester Museum and Science Center, and George Eastman Museum. Parents will love the restaurant and lounge, and kids will love the cookies at check-in and the rooftop view.

5. Seneca Lake, New York

The Finger Lakes are 11 deep, narrow, glacier-carved lakes in the middle of New York State. This region is known for wineries, colleges and universities, and plenty of family-friendly attractions and outdoor adventures. Seneca Lake is one of the largest Finger Lakes and reaches depths over 600 feet.

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At the southern end is the town of Watkins Glen, known for its road race Grand Prix that dates back to 1948. While the road race is no longer held, the Watkins Glen International speedway still hosts a number of events throughout the year. The best attraction in the area, though, is Watkins Glen State Park , where nearly 20 waterfalls cascade along a compact two-mile stretch of gorge. Not far from Watkins Glen is Corning and its Museum of Glass. The Corning Museum of Glass has hot glass blowing demonstrations (and opportunities for kids to make their own glass) each day.

Where to Stay on Seneca Lake

Situated at the southern end of Seneca Lake, the Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel provides easy access to the lake, town, and state park. The waterfront hotel has an outdoor patio with fire pits, and it’s adjacent to the marina and Captain Bill’s Seneca Lake Boat Tours .

Central New York Vacations

6. cooperstown, new york.

Located on the southern shore of Otsego Lake, Cooperstown packs a lot into its compact historic village. The town was founded a few years after the American Revolution by William Cooper, father of James Fenimore Cooper, famed author of Last of the Mohicans . Of course, the number one attraction in Cooperstown is the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum , which definitely worth a visit, even if you aren’t a huge fan of the game.

GRAB A BITE: 10 Family-Friendly Restaurants in New York City Close to All the Tourist Attractions  

The Farmer’s Museum is a small living history museum on land once owned by James Fenimore Cooper. There are also plenty of outdoor activities in, on, and around the lake. Glimmerglass State Park has a beach, hiking trails, Hyde Hall Mansion, and a covered bridge that’s the oldest in New York.

Where to Stay in Cooperstown

Welcoming guests since 1909, the historic Otesaga Resort Hotel has a little something for everyone. The grand, lakeside hotel overlooks the “Glimmerglass” waters made famous by James Fenimore Cooper. The hotel is complete with a large rocking-chair-covered porch perfect for quiet contemplation. Golf fans will appreciate the Leatherstocking Golf Course, designed in 1909 and considered to be one of the most challenging and scenic courses in the east.

Adirondacks Vacations

7. lake placid, new york.

Forever wild, the six million protected acres of New York’s Adirondacks region are a delightful mix of mountain peaks, pristine lakes, hiking trails, and plenty of space for outdoor recreation. Home to the 1932 and 1980 Olympic Winter Games, Lake Placid is an ideal home base for exploring the region. Here, you can take a Skyride, stand on the deck of the ski jumps, ride the Cloudsplitter Gondola to a mountain summit, and gaze out serenely from a lookout over the Adirondack High Peaks.

COASTAL GETAWAYS:   10 Best East Coast Vacations for Families

About 40 minutes west of Lake Placid in Tupper Lake is The Wild Center , a great way to introduce the family to the animals and natural history of this vast region. The Wild Center’s Wild Walk allows you to travel across the treetops 40 feet above the ground on a quarter-mile trek over bridges and platforms, up a four-story twig tree house, and onto a human-sized spider’s web suspended 24 feet above ground.

Where to Stay in Lake Placid

The lakeside Mirror Lake Inn anchors one end of Lake Placid’s Olympic Village, and has a great location just one block from Lake Placid’s Main Street shops, close to the Olympic skating, sliding, and skiing facilities. The hotel also offers a complimentary shuttle to Whiteface Mountain Ski Resort. Its Lake House sits across the street from the main inn building right on the shore of Mirror Lake and has a two-room suite that’s ideal for families.

Catskills Vacations

8. hunter, new york.

Looking for a Dirty Dancing camp or a Marvelous Mrs. Maisel vacation? Then head to the Catskills. This mountain region just two hours north of New York City is home to some of the best family resorts in the northeast and has welcomed family vacationers for generations. The town of Hunter has great outdoor adventures, include hiking to Kaaterskill Falls.

  CLOSE TO HOME:   21 Best All-Inclusive Resorts in the U.S. for Families

Other activities near Hunter include learning to fly fish at the Catskill Fly Fishing Center or taking in a concert at the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts . Bethel Woods is the site of 1969’s iconic Woodstock festival. Bethel Woods continues to host live music concerts and has a museum about Woodstock and the 60s. Fall is the time for an open-air train ride to check out the foliage on the Catskill Mountain Railroad , about 30 miles from Hunter.

Where to Stay in the Catskills

For nearly a century, families have made the pilgrimage to the all-inclusive Sunny Hill Resort and Golf Course . Sunny Hill Resort lies on 600 acres of prime Catskill Mountain farmland. Three meals a day of hearty comfort food are included, as well as plenty of activities like swimming, golf, fishing, kayaking, paddleboating, evening entertainment, and a 5.5-mile Viking Obstacle Course that’s not for the faint of heart.

Upstate New York Vacations

9. thousand islands, new york.

New York’s Thousand Islands harkens back to an era when the rich and elite of New York City’s high society would escape to a wilderness playground. These early 20th century barons constructed grand castles on individual islands, each attempting to outdo the others. Boldt Castle on Heart Island is one of the many mansions of Millionaires Row, and is only accessible by water.

TRAVEL WITH TEENS: 10 Best Family Vacations with Teenagers

Take advantage of the many cruises, boat tours, and water taxis to explore the waterways and islands of Thousand Islands. There are also more than a dozen state parks in the region, including Wellesley Island State Park (home to the largest campground in the state) and Sackets Harbor Battlefield State Historic Site (the Lake Ontario command center during the War of 1812).

Where to Stay in Thousand Islands

The 1000 Islands Harbor Hotel is an upscale AAA Four Diamond Hotel overlooking the St. Lawrence River in Clayton, and is a fantastic place to escape and relax on the water. Rooms come in many different configurations and styles, and there are multiple dining options on the property.

10. Saratoga Springs, New York

Saratoga Springs is a region rich in history that dates back to the Revolutionary War’s Battle of Saratoga. Families can see where the battles (there were two) were fought at the National Historic Site and visit the 150-foot-tall Saratoga Monument. Saratoga Springs became known as a health and spa destination due to its flowing mineral springs, and there are plenty of places in town to experience the healing waters, including Congress Park and Saratoga Spa State Park .

PACK YOUR PASSPORT:   15 Best All-Inclusive Family Resorts in the World

The Saratoga Race Course is not only one of the oldest horse racing tracks in America (it opened in 1864), it’s also the oldest sporting venue in the country. Horse races still take place each summer from July through Labor Day. The city is also known for its vibrant, thriving arts community anchored by the Saratoga Performing Arts Center and the National Museum of Dance and Hall of Fame .

Where to Stay in Saratoga Springs

Immerse the family in history at the Inn at Saratoga. This B&B dates back to 1843 and is the oldest lodging house in Saratoga Springs. Rooms are decorated with Victorian fashions, four-poster beds, and antiques. The inn is located on Broadway just a block and a half from Congress Park. Staying here is perfect for getting into the mid-1800s spirit before you visit the historic race track or mineral springs.

Hudson Valley Vacations

11. goshen, new york.

The first major amusement park for kids to open in the northeast in more than 40 years, LEGOLAND New York (located 60 miles northwest of New York City in Goshen), is the largest ever built with more than 50 different rides and attractions spread out over 150 acres, making it the ultimate destination for a New York family vacation.

HOLIDAY TRADITIONS: 10 Kid-Friendly Things to Do in New York City During the Holidays

In addition to the Dragon roller coaster, Imagination Celebration, NINJAGO: The Ride, LEGO Driving School, and more, families will find the LEGO Factory Adventure Ride. This first-ever ride uses on-ride tracking technology to identify guests attributes and transform them into LEGO Minifigures during The LEGO Factory Adventure. It wouldn’t be a LEGO park without plenty of models, and LEGOLAND New York has 15,000 models across the grounds, including will a Miniland panorama of LEGO-built landmarks from across New York state and the country.

Where to Stay in Goshen

If you’re bringing the family to LEGOAND New York, go all in with a stay at the  LEGOLAND New York Hotel . The official resort hotel has Pirate, Kingdom, LEGO Friends, and LEGO NINJAGO-themed guest rooms with separate kids sleeping areas. There’s also daily entertainment, LEGO character visits, a treasure hunt with LEGO prizes, and a massive castle play structure in the lobby.

12. Sleepy Hollow, New York

Yes, the town that immortalized in Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow really exists and it’s even a popular Halloween vacation destination . The village of Sleepy Hollow sits on the banks of Hudson River just 25 miles north of New York City. Of course, fall is the ideal time to visit Sleepy Hollow, and families flock to the Hudson Valley to soak in its spooky atmosphere.

FAMILY FUN:   19 Best Family Resorts and Hotels in the U.S.

Sleepy Hollow’s top attraction is The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze , with thousands of hand carved pumpkins arranged into jaw-dropping displays such as life-size dinosaurs, a macabre carousel, and the Headless Horseman himself. In addition to Blaze, there are plenty of historic sites to explore such as Washington Irving’s Sunnyside homestead (which often hosts activities on the 19th-Century estate), Rockefeller’s Kykuit estate, and the Colonial Era Philipsburg Manor that dates back to 1750.

The historic village of Sleepy Hollow also has parks along the river, a lighthouse, and great pubs and taverns. Be sure to try the family-friendly Bridge View Tavern on your New York family vacation to Sleepy Hollow.

Where to Stay in Sleepy Hollow

The Sleepy Hollow Hotel in Tarrytown is a big lodge-style hotel set on 11 acres conveniently located just off the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge. There’s plenty of space for kids to stretch their legs on the grounds or splash in the indoor pool. Patio rooms have walkout access to the grounds.  

Long Island Vacations

13. montauk, new york.

Long Island’s South Fork is a historic resort area known for its highly rated beaches and sights. Head all the way out to “The End” to see the Montauk Point Lighthouse , a National Historic Landmark authorized by President George Washington in 1792.

WATER WORLDS: 13 Best Indoor Water Park Resorts in the U.S.

Coopers Beach is consistently rated as one of the country’s best beaches, and families can get a glimpse of New York’s surf culture here. The Long Island Aquarium has a huge coral reef display and plenty of hands-on exhibits and shows. Other family-friendly Long Island attractions include Adventureland amusement park, Splish Splash Water Park , and The Adventure Park aerial ropes course.

Where to Stay in Montauk

Gurney’s Montauk Resort and Seawater Spa is located directly on the beach and has a 2,000 foot private stretch of sand. In addition to standard hotel rooms, Gurney’s has beachfront cottages for families to stretch out on their New York family vacation. Gurney’s is the only year-round resort in Montauk and has some of the best views in the area.

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Ideas for family weekend getaways from NYC

Make memories with a fun-filled adventure on these family weekend getaways from NYC

Going stir crazy? There are so many things to do with kids in NYC that you can keep the kids entertained all weekend, but sometimes you just have to get away and head outside the city. Fortunately NYC offers easy access to many destinations that offer kid-friendly attractions and activities as well as a change of scenery. Sure you can take a kid-friendly day trip to a nearby amusement park or take a hike to get some fresh air, but a full-on family weekend getaway from NYC is sure to shake things up with epic adventures and tons of fun. Whether the fam is into quaint coastal towns, historic landmarks, the great outdoors or resort life , these NYC weekend getaway ideas will satisfy the itch for something new and leave you with lasting memories of family fun.

Been there, done that? Think again, my friend.

Family weekend getaways from NYC

1.  cooperstown, new york.

Travel time: 4hrs and 45min by car

Few sports inspire the kind of devotion baseball does, which is why the bucolic village of Cooperstown, home to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum , is on the national map. Thanks to the museum’s artifacts collection, Hall of Plaques and the interactive Sandlot  section, youngsters will no doubt leave knowing more about the sport and its players than when they arrived. For a change of pace, head to the nearby Farmers’ Museum , a multifaceted paean to rural 19th-century America with a working farmstead and children’s barnyard. At some point, strike a deal with the kids: First you’re going to the  Ommegang Brewery  for a tour and tasting (or lunch at its café), and afterward you’ll stop by  Barnyard Swing Miniature Golf  for a round of summery fun.

STAY : The outdoor heated pool and fire pit make the August Lodge Cooperstown  an obvious choice for families.

2.  Mystic, Connecticut

Travel time: 3hrs and 40min by car

Awaiting the maritime-obsessed is the tremendous  Mystic Seaport , a 19-acre living history attraction where families can explore a re-created 19th-century village filled with “working” shops (an oyster house, a ship carver), an authentic whaling ship, and more. Luckily for kids, the town’s also home to the  Mystic Aquarium , home to thousands of species of marine animals (including the largest outdoor beluga whale exhibit in the country).   Don’t forget to check out the Mystic Bridge Historic district, where great architecture, shops, and ice cream parlors await. There's plenty of seafood options for older members of the brood, but the youngsters might prefer dinner at  Mango's Wood-Fired Pizza Co . STAY:  The lovely Whaler’s Inn is situated near all the town’s attractions and offers guests a $15 daily food credit to the hotel's restaurant.

3.  Bucks County, PA

Travel time: 2 hrs by car

Drive a mere two hours away from NYC and you'll feel like you're in another world. Located in Bucks County, New Hope boasts a quaint, country atmosphere with shops, attractions, restaurants and annual community festivals. You'll want to take in a show at Bucks County Playhouse and bring the kids to  Bucks County Children's Museum , which features a digging station, a hot air balloon VR experience and a mini town square that transports little visitors to the turn of the century with a cute general store, ice cream shop and other amenities. For the little locomotive fans in your life, hop aboard the  New Hope & Ivyland Railroad  for a glimpse at the bucolic scenery. Don't forget to visit during the holidays, as both Easter Bunny Tours and the North Pole Express are available for families. Venture to the historic  Peddler's Village  for shopping and dining. Seven full-service restaurants allow families to pick and choose selections that work for them (American classics, cafe brunches and more options are available). One thing's for certain, no trip to the sweet destination is complete without an equally sweet scoop of ice cream from Nina's! If you're looking for an amusement park environment, Sesame Place is certainly the way to go. Make sure to give Elmo, Big Bird and the rest of the crew our regards.   STAY: Outdoorsy types can pitch a tent at the  Colonial Woods Family Camping Resort .

4.  Washington, D.C.

Travel time: 4hrs and 20min by car

The country's capital has plenty to keep visitors entertained, whether they're curious about U.S. history, politics, exploration and so on. After catching a glimpse at all of the monuments, there are plenty of museums and attractions at visitors' disposal: the International Spy Museum , all the Smithsonian museums , the United States Botanic Garden ,   and much more (so bring comfortable walking shoes). Of course, no visit to Washington, D.C. would be complete without checking in on the characters at the National Zoo . After covering so much territory, the kids are bound to get hungry, so check out some of the city's best family-friendly restaurants , from locations at the National Mall to museum cafés, sit-down restaurants, and everything in between. Options abound at Union Market  where even the pickiest of eaters can find something to satisfy their taste buds. 

STAY:  The ideally-located  JW Marriott Washington D.C.   has an outdoor pool—perfect for the kids after a day of sightseeing.

5.  Montauk, New York

Travel time:   3hrs and 45min by car

Although millennials continue to flock to this Long Island destination, there are plenty of reasons for families to take notice, too. Parents and kids can keep busy with a variety of options: Climb to the top of the Montauk Lighthouse —a national landmark—stop by Puff 'N' Putt not only for a game of mini-golf, but boating and kayaking, pick up a nautical-themed souvenir at  Captain Kid Toys , hit the waves during fun  surfing lessons  and, of course, spend time getting sand between your toes at one of the town's great  beaches . Seafood options abound, naturally, and you'd be remiss not to have at least one meal at Gosman's —it's essentially an unwritten requirement. 

STAY:  The cozy Ocean Resort Inn ,  situated right on the Atlantic, is just a short walk from downtown

6.  Hershey, PA

Travel time: 3hrs by car

They say Hershey is the sweetest place on earth, and we're not here to argue with obvious facts. Let the kids pretend they're Willy Wonka for a few days with a short visit to this Pennsylvania family hotspot. Everyone in your brood with a sweet tooth (even the adults) will have a stellar time visiting Hershey's Chocolate World , which features tastings, tours, and even a "create your own candy bar" experience (a.k.a. every kid's dream). Make sure to stop by well before (or after) your visit to Hershey Park,  home to roller coasters and a water park (Mom and Dad: If you have some down time, you'll be pleased to know that there are  shopping, golfing and spa appointments waiting for you!). 

STAY: At the Hershey Lodge , kids get their own special check-in (offered seasonally), and can play a Hershey’s candy guessing game to receive a personalized lanyard and chocolatey treat—sounds like a no-brainer! 

7.  Finger Lakes, New York

Travel time: 4 to 5 hrs by car

Home to eleven iconic lakes, New York’s Finger Lakes region is the perfect escape for swimming, paddleboarding, chasing waterfalls, and pretty much every kid-friendly activity you can imagine. Think of the region as a destination of scenic road trips: Spread across 9,000 square miles, charming towns pop up around each lake, meaning that you can spend a whole weekend hopping from one to the next (tip: if you arrive in time for fall foliage, the drive alone will keep the little ones in awe). Head to Watkins Glen State Park , just south of Seneca Lake, where easy trails lead toward the dramatic Cavern Cascade. In the tiny town of Corning, the Corning Museum of Glass is surprisingly kid-friendly with live glass blowing demonstrations and even a Make Your Own Glass experience (fear not: it’s safe for all ages). Looking for a sweet pit-stop? Ithaca’s Purity Ice Cream is a no-brainer: it operates out of an ice cream shop that opened back in 1936, meaning you’ll get old-school scoops made with milk from upstate farms.

STAY: Set right along the shores of Seneca Lake, the  Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel  offers affordable rates with a view the kids will love. 

8.  Narragansett, Rhode Island

Travel time: 4 hrs by car

Rhode Island's popular seaside town is a go-to for all vacationers on the east coast looking to hit the beach—or three, to be exact. Bring surfboards and boogie boards to the well-known Scarborough State Beach (note that these waves are probably more suitable for the older kids in your clan) and venture to the less intense Roger Wheeler State Beach with tiny tots who will gravitate toward the playground and the calmer waters. Salty Brine State Beach has gentler waters, too. Naturally, no beach town would be complete without a lighthouse. Although Point Judith doesn't welcome visitors inside, families are able to head to the grounds and take scenic photos off the coast. When hunger strikes, adults will opt for seafood dishes (including amazing lobster rolls) and seaside views at Coast Guard House but those craving comfort food will find something desirable at Eddie's BBQ. Regardless of what's on the menu, all suppers should conclude with a visit to the nearby ice cream shop, Brickley's .

Stay: The family-run Anchor Motel , located right across from Scarborough Beach

9.  Annapolis, MD

Travel time: 4hrs by car

There’s plenty for all ages in Annapolis, where the historic downtown is gorgeous (cobblestone streets) and features a mix of traditional bed and breakfasts, shopping, and beautiful landmarks like the U.S. Naval Academy. Hit up the   Naval Academy Museum   and   Jean-Paul Jones’ Crypt   for a dose of history, then visit the   Annapolis Maritime Museum   to learn about aquatic life and Annapolis’ role in the oyster industry. There’s also a newly refurbished   downtown dock   that’s always filled with impressive boats.

STAY:   The   Holiday Inn Express & Suites   is close to downtown and sits at a little over $100 per night. There’s also a complimentary breakfast!  

10.  Long Beach, NY

Travel time: 2hrs and 10min by car

Those that spend these family weekend getaways at this “City by the Sea” won’t regret it. There are a ton of fun   parades and festivals   throughout the summer, plus plenty of local   parks and playgrounds  where kids can make the most out of the warm weather . Plus, the boardwalk is perfect for a few family photos! Be warned: The beach does have a $15 fee per person for non-pass holders. Kids will want to refuel with lunch and a rainbow-colored shake at the Diner by the Sea,  and we can't blame them! 

STAY:   To keep things cost-effective, the Best Western Mill River Manor  will run about $140 per room—luckily, there's an outdoor pool!

11.  Ocean City

Travel time: 4 hrs 30 min by car

This seashore town—located between the Atlantic Ocean and the Isle of Wight Bay— boasts white sand beaches and plenty of places to romp and play. Stroll along the boardwalk a long list of food options when your stomach starts to rumble. Pop into Ropewalk for a family-friendly seafood feast. For other kinds of fun, take a break with a ride on one of the 45 hand-carved animals on the historic Trimper’s carousel or cater to your inner thrill-seeker with a trip to Jolly Roger’s Splash Mountain Water Park .

Stay: Spend your nights at  Carousel Oceanfront Hotel & Condos , which features a kiddie pool, bounce house, game room and a pirate ship jungle gym.

12.  Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Travel time: 5hrs and 30min by car

If spectacular beaches, salty air, and delicious hole-in-the-wall seafood spots sound right up your alley, Cape Cod is one of those family getaways you can't miss. Its 22-mile path, the  Cape Cod Rail Trail , is perfect for those who love a scenic bike ride. Running along a former railroad track, it stretches from Dennis to the town of Wellfleet. Parking areas dot the paved railbed, so you can go as far as you'd like in either direction—and you'll even hit the beach along the way if you do a little advance planning. North of the Rail Trail, between Wellfleet and Provincetown, beach options expand. Families with young children might prefer sticking by the bayside where water is warmer and there’s no undertow, but oceanside strands like Head of the Meadow or Marconi—both part of the Cape Cod National Seashore —are breathtaking. So are the whales just beyond them, who arrive from warmer climes to feed in the area’s teeming waters from April through the end of October.  Whale Watch Dolphin Fleet ,   in Provincetown, offers great family excursions. Feast at Quicks Hole Taqueria , where youngsters under 10 get to make selections from the kids' menu.  STAY:  Situated right on the Rail Trail, Midway Motel   has a secluded feel and hard-to-beat rates (often below $100 per room).

13.  Rocking Horse Ranch, Highland, NY

Travel time: 2 hrs 30 min by car

Get ready for an all-inclusive resort like no other. Rocking Horse Ranch pays homage to summer camp days with horseback riding, water sports and other fun outdoor activities for the whole family. Looking for performances? You’ll have it made with magic acts, ventriloquists and other fun offerings. When activities become too overwhelming (for parents), make sure to take advantage of spa treatments such as facials and massages. 

14.  Wildwood, NJ

Phew: This Jersey Shore town is more family-friendly than MTV cameras led us to believe. Morey's Piers offers two parks for one price: Raging Waters and the Ocean Oasis Waterpark and Beach Club, a 10-minute walk or five-minute tram ride away. Those who want to remain on dry land can hit up carnival rides and other attractions at three amusement piers though combo tickets are available if your little ones can't decide. Indulge your seafood cravings at Crab & Seafood Shack , where kids 12 and under have their own menu with the typical fare: hot dogs, chicken fingers and more.

Stay: Book a room at El Coronado Resort and enjoy poolside barbecues, movies and live entertainment.

15.  Crystal Springs Resort, Hamburg, NJ

Travel time: 1 hr 30 min by car

Sure, you want the kids to have fun on vacation...but getting a little adult r&rwould be pretty sweet, too. For a getaway that will sate the offspring yet also allow you a little self-indulgence, Crystal Springs Resort should do the trick. The very kid-friendly place is 90 minutes from New York, so you'll be pulling up to the sprawling grounds in no time. Seven indoor and outdoor pools allow for splash time no matter the weather. You, meanwhile, can kick back on a lounge chair with a cocktail from the poolside bar, or take turns watching the kids while one of you sneaks away for a massage in the on-site spa or a round of golf on the adjacent course. In the evening, head to The Glenwood for burgers, wraps or pizza, then hit the Warwick Drive-In for a first-run double feature. After breakfast the next morning at Kites, the resort's restaurant, kids will no doubt want more pool time. That will leave them refreshed for a hike along the Canal Road section of the Appalachian Trail before you head back to the city.

16.  Bretton Woods, New Hampshire

Travel time: 7 hours by car

Okay, okay—this is one of those family weekend getaways that's a bit of a haul from NYC (but so worth it). Few venues compare to Omni Mount Washington Resort’s spectacular scenery. When it’s nice and warm, families can enjoy sweet activities such as horseback riding, hiking on local trails, rounds of tennis and other great offers like free scenic tours (via a ski lift!) and mountainside ATV tours. Come winter, a free shuttle will take visitors to the lauded Bretton Woods Ski Resort, just two minutes up the road. A boast-worthy bonus: Young visitors can experience the thrill of swimming outdoors amid a snow-covered landscape thanks to an outdoor pool that’s heated year-round. If the allure of Mt. Washington won’t let go, consider taking the Cog Railway  up rather than driving. You’ll have an hour to enjoy the stunning views, visit a museum and have a bite to eat before heading back down. STAY : The Omni Mount Washington Hotel is the crown jewel, but families can also choose the Lodge at  Bretton Woods .

17.  Lehigh Valley, PA

Travel time: 1 hr 40 mins by car

If the family can’t choose between thrilling amusement rides and swimming pools to beat the heat, then an itinerary centered on Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom will satisfy everyone. The older set will enjoy the twisting, turning dry and wet rollercoasters while little ones enjoy Peanuts-themed rides. Come nighttime, watch movies under the stars at Shankweiler's Drive-In Theatre .

Stay: Tuck in at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites for close access to the theme park.

18.  Amherst & Williamstown, Massachusetts

Travel time: 4hrs and 15min by car

The verdant Berkshires and neighboring Pioneer Valley in western Massachusetts are appealingly sleepy, but if you’ve got a gang of culture vultures, you’ll find it’s brimming with artistic gems, too. The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art  in Amherst, which opened in 2002, mounts regular shows spotlighting the art of picture books. The contemporary art scene is alive and well too thanks to the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art , a world-class museum in North Adams inhabiting a cluster of converted, 19th-century brick factory buildings. The stunning museum mounts eclectic shows, one of which is designed especially for kids in a gallery-studio hybrid called Kidspace; children can drop in and make art there free of charge on weekends, and every day of the summer. While you’re in the area, pay a visit to Old Sturbridge Village ,  New England’s answer to Virginia’s Williamsburg. The outdoor museum recreates an early 19th-century town with authentic shops like blacksmiths and bakeries, complete with costumed thespians—er, interpreters—glowing fires and baking bread. Grab a bite of some kid-friendly dishes (think mac n' cheese and chicken fingers) at Bullard Tavern Cafeteria . 

STAY:  Friendly owners and reasonable prices win at Maple Terrace Motel , right in Williamstown.

19.  Baltimore, Maryland

Travel time: 3hrs and 40min by car

Though often bypassed by travelers on their way to D.C., the city of Baltimore has come into its own, especially given the renaissance of its Inner Harbor. Foremost, there’s the top-notch National Aquarium , a must-see for kids and adults alike . The   ocean-obsessed will come closer than ever to majestic marine life such as stingrays, a giant sea turtle, and blacktip reef sharks. At the B&O Railroad Museum ,  about a mile due west, kids (and maybe their parents) will learn that Baltimore is where the first commercial mile of railroad track in the U.S. was laid; they’ll also get to explore it via a 20-minute ride on an actual train, the  Mile One Express . Maritime lore lovers won’t want to miss the hour-long Urban Pirates Family Adventure ,  a swashbuckler-themed cruise in Baltimore Inner Harbor, where they can dress up like pirates, learn sea chanteys, and spray water cannons. Lexington Market offers something for everyone when lunchtime strikes, while Broadway Market is the latest smorgasbord, which recently opened in a market that dates back to 1786.

STAY:  Located in the original B&O headquarters, the Monaco Baltimore has large rooms and an extremely pet-friendly policy. 

20.  Gillette Castle, East Haddam, CT

A mansion tour isn't at the top of most children's must-do lists, but this isn't just another rich family's house: Among other novelties, you take both an antique train and a ferry to get here. Kids used to jam-packed subway cars will love settling into their comfortable seats on the Essex Steam Train for an hour-long trip through the Connecticut River Valley. Disembark and, after a brief walk, hop aboard the Chester/Hadlyme Ferry. As you approach landfall, keep an eye out for the medieval-style stone structure atop a hill—that's Gillette Castle , and it's just a short hike from the shore (though keep in mind it is not stroller-friendly). Once you're there, tour guides will take your crew through two dozen wood-and-stone–clad rooms. Built in the early 20th century by the then-famous actor and Sherlock Holmes portrayer William Gillette, the mansion is like a mystery-movie tableau where ghosts and evildoers might lurk at any turn. Gillette was also a stage manager who invented many trick props, and a bit of a prankster: He devised a series of mirrors to allow him to spy on visitors, and a hidden staircase so that he could sneak up on guests—or escape from them. Before or after your ferry ride, fill up at the Trackside Cafe, a converted dining car at the steam train depot.

Stay: Relax at the outdoor pool at the former Sandpiper Inn in Old Saybrook, now an Econo Lodge Inn and Suites .

21.  Lake Placid, NY

Travel time: 5 hours by car from NYC

Lake Placid is one of those family weekend getaways that provides an opportunity for visitors to catch their breath with hiking trails, rock climbing, fishing, and paddle boating. Kids will get a kick out of Big Z's Lake Placid Lanes . While you’re in the area, be sure to make a stop at High Falls Gorge for an amazing walk around four waterfalls. Afterward, share a thin and crispy pizza pie at Lisa G’s or have the kids select from their own menu .

STAY: Once the kids are tuckered out, head to your room at Cobble Mountain , where the range of cozy rooms and cabins host families of all sizes.

More fun activities for kids

Outdoor activities for kids in new york city.

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There are plenty of outdoor activities for kids in New York City—many you'll even love doing as a family! When you're not busy cuddled up with our favorite family movies on Netflix and our list of the best kids movies (come on—it's time to head outside!), you'll love exploring the coolest family attractions and the other amazing outdoor activities this amazing city has to offer. 

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Wild Walk at The Wild Center

Things to Do in New York with Your Family

Whether you're an adult, a kid, or just a kid at heart, New York is the perfect place to find adventures and new experiences that the entire family will remember for a lifetime. With the wide variety of activities New York State offers to families, even the toughest critic in your crew is sure to crack a smile. Go beneath the earth's surface at Howe Caverns  or head up into the treetops on the Wild Walk at the Wild Center . Experience LEGOLAND 's signature rides or make a splash at Kartrite Resort & Indoor Waterpark  — the state's largest indoor waterpark . From stunning thrills on the mountain coaster at Holiday Valley  to sweet and scenic summertime Ice Cream Sunday rides on the Catskill Mountain Railroad to interactive museums like The Strong National Museum of Play , where kids won't even know they're learning, check out these fun things to do with the family across the Empire State. 

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New York schools staff accused of taking family on trips meant for homeless students

A new report says that staff members in charge of students in temporary housing for new york city public schools took advantage of their access and took spots on multiple trips for their own families..

This story has been updated with new information.

Multiple New York City Public Schools employees have been accused of taking their children and grandchildren on a Disney World trip meant for young people suffering from homelessness , according to a report released this month.

Anastasia Coleman, the special commissioner of investigations for the district, wrote the report on Jan. 26, addressing it to the chancellor of New York City Public Schools. It was released publicly on Sept. 9.

The report claims that Linda Wilson, Queens regional manager for Students in Temporary Housing (STH), took her own family members on a Disney World trip sponsored by her job. She is also accused of allowing other employees to bring their family members on trips, which included Washington D.C., and the Rocking Horse Ranch Resort in New York, the report read.

Wilson initially denied bringing family members on the trips, according to the report.

The NYC Department of Education said in a statement that the accusations in the report happened before the current administration took office.

“While this series of incidents precedes the current administration, this kind of behavior is unacceptable, and all staff identified in this report are no longer employed by New York City Public Schools," a spokesperson for the department said. "Our students in temporary housing deserve to have the supports they need, and when we were given the report from SCI, we acted immediately.” 

The department said the new Students in Temporary Housing leadership team has steps to ensure all centrally managed trips undergo a formal approval process. A new operational support leader will be assigned to review all internal trip protocols, the department said.

Here's what else we know.

More about the investigation

The investigation began in March 2019 when someone complained about Wilson, saying that she was supposed to plan multiple out-of-town field trips for students facing homelessness, according to the report.

The trips were supposed to be “enrichment opportunities” for improving attendance or other academic achievements for the students, the redacted report said. Several staff members said Wilson brought her own family members on the trips by forging permission slips.

“Wilson and the staff members would complete permission slips using the information of homeless students, then sign off on the paperwork as the parents of those students,” the report says. 

In addition to Wilson, the following were also named in the report:

• Queens Students in Temporary Housing program manager Shaquieta Boyd
• Queens Students in Temporary Housing family assistant Joanne Castro
• Queens Students in Temporary Housing family assistant Mishawn Jack
• Queens Students in Temporary Housing family assistant Virgen Ramos
• Queens Students in Temporary Housing community coordinator Maria Sylvester

It was not immediately clear whether anyone is representing the staff members. Like Wilson, Ramos and Sylvester initially denied bringing family members on the trips, the report said.

Boyd and Jack refused to speak with investigators, while Castro initially refused to speak to investigators and then resigned, according to the report.

Program rules state no staff family members may attend

Investigators spoke to someone who said Wilson supervised about 20 staff members overseeing students in temporary housing. Staff members attended most of the trips as chaperones with one or two buses with 30 students each.

Wilson organized the trips to Disney World in Florida, Washington, D.C., and New Orleans, according to the report. 

Wilson had payment requests for the trips processed and some of the stipulations stated that all trips must have some sort of educational component. Each student must also have a valid permission slip to attend and no staff family members could attend, according to a source who spoke with investigators.

Wilson also worked with Keys to Abundant Life, Inc. to book transportation, hotels and activities for the trips, the report read. According to an informant investigators spoke to, Wilson worked with Keys to Abundant Life, Inc. because “there is less oversight of community-based organizations” like the group than if she were to book directly through the Department of Education.

According to the report, Wilson’s two daughters were known to attend these trips and Wilson’s staff members also brought family members along. The investigation report said that not many homeless students who were listed on the trip paperwork actually went on the trips.

According to the report, Wilson decided which staff members could go on the trips, assigned students to each staff member to chaperone and then filled their spots with family members of the staff. Their plans were discussed in person so there would be no paper trail, one informant told investigators.

The trips were planned and paid for using grants meant to help students suffering from homelessness, according to the report. The trips were also supposed to allow students to visit college campuses, but when investigators contacted the colleges listed on Wilson’s plans, the schools said they never spoke to her.

Staff member had to beg to bring students on one trip

Other trips staff members took family on included on to the Rocking Horse Ranch Resort in New York, the report says.

During a trip in June 2018, Wilson planned a trip to Syracuse University, one informant said in the report. The group ate lunch at the university but did not tour the university and instead went to Niagara Falls, the report says.

When asked why they were eating at the university, someone overheard program manager Boyd say the school visit was a requirement to plan trips for the students, the report says.

Another person told investigators that some Department of Education students did attend the Disney World trip but multiple staff members, including Wilson, Jack, Ramos and Sylvester, brought family members.

“He had to beg Wilson to allow him to add two of his students to the trip,” the report said.

Staff members deny accusations

Investigators spoke with several of the employees named in the report, who initially denied bringing family members on the trips.

Wilson spoke with investigators with her attorney present and said she never brought any of her daughters on the trips. She said she did not know if any staff members had brought their children because she did not know their children.

When investigators showed Wilson photographs of herself on a 2016 Washington D.C. trip, she identified herself and two of her daughters in the photos. She said her daughters did not go to Washington D.C., on the bus and instead, they had something else to do nearby in Maryland that day. Her daughters later met the group in Washington, D.C., Wilson said.

The special commissioner of investigations recommended in its report that Wilson, Boyd, Jack, Ramos and Sylvester be fired and have information about the accusations attached to their personnel files so they cannot work with the Department of Education again.

Coleman encouraged the Department of Education to seek reimbursement from those accused.

Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Follow her on Twitter at @SaleenMartin or email her at [email protected] .

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The Ultimate NYC Packing List: What to Bring for Every Season

The comfort of a second home. The convenience of a hotel. The reliability of Rove.

If you’re planning a vacation in New York City , you’re guaranteed the holiday of a lifetime. You’ll have lots to do, fascinating places to visit, and a rich history to explore in the Big Apple.

The excitement builds before you leave. You'll start planning your trip, thinking about outfit ideas, and wondering how New Yorkers dress during the various New York seasons. You need your New York City packing list to include all the essentials but you can’t pack for every occasion. Plan and pack versatile garments that you can layer and double up for more than one occasion.

New York Fashion Week

Understanding NYC Weather and Climate

New York City has four clear seasons, and these should direct your NYC packing list.

Spring (March to May)

Expect moderate temperatures in spring, with the average settling between 50 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s best to dress in layers from March to May because mornings and evenings are often chilly while afternoons are comparatively warm. Choose T-shirts, button-up shirts, a lightweight jacket, sweaters, and light casual tops.

New York Street Fashion in the Summer

Summer (June to August)

Temperatures during the New York summer are warm to hot with temperatures ranging from 85°F to 95°F (29°C to 35°C). Dress in loose clothing made from light and airy fabrics. Choose t-shirts, shorts, and dresses with comfortable sandals or sneakers. Don’t forget your hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen to protect you from the sun.

Fall (September to November)

Fall is among the best seasons to be in NYC, thanks to the cool and sometimes warm weather with temperatures of 60°F to 75°F (15°C to 24°C). Layering works well in autumn. Take thin jackets, blazers, shirts, and T-shirts. Comfortable walking shoes are always best for travelers hoping to make the most of the tourist attractions.

New York Street Fashion in the Winter

Winter Packing List(December to February)

The New York winter is cold with temperatures sometimes dipping below freezing. You’ll need thick winter jackets, hats, scarves, and gloves. Thermal underwear, sweaters, and waterproof boots will help you stay warm and dry even in the coldest temperatures.check out the NYC Winter activities you can do by Rove Travel

Looking to Save on Your Next NYC Trip? If you're planning a trip to New York but want to keep costs down, timing is everything! Check out our detailed guide on the cheapest times to visit NYC and discover insider tips on how to experience the city without breaking the bank. From seasonal discounts to off-peak attractions, we’ve got everything covered to help you enjoy the Big Apple on a budget. Read more in our Budget Travel Guide .

Clothing Essentials

Comfortable walking shoes.

NYC is a pedestrian-friendly city. Bring a good pair of walking shoes and make the best of it. Sneakers or comfortable flat shoes will help prevent fatigue when you hit tourist spots, especially if you must stand in queues.

Casual and Dressy Outfits

NYC is traditionally associated with casual chic outerwear. Still, there may be occasions when you feel like dressing up. Pack formal clothes like collared shirts, dress pants, and jackets, or a party or black cocktail dress with your informal wear like T-shirts, jeans, and shorts.

Weather-Appropriate Outerwear

As for the outer clothing layer, you will need a jacket or coat to match the seasonal climatic conditions. A blazer for the spring/fall, an informal winter coat, and a rain jacket.

Accessories

Remember to bring scarves, hats, and gloves in winter and sunglasses, hats, and sunscreen for a summer NYC trip. Pack a small, multi-functional bag or backpack for daily items. A compact umbrella and rain jacket are also useful travel accessories for the uncertain New York weather.

Packing Advice

Travel Essentials for Your New York City Packing List

Your New York packing list should include the following travel essentials:

• Travel Documents Essential travel documents include your passport, official ID, proof of residence, flight tickets, and proof of payment for accommodation booked. Travel insurance documents should come in printed or electronic formats. Make sure to include your credit cards and some cash in your wallet.
• Map and Guidebook We all depend on Google Maps, but a map and guidebook can be useful if you lose reception or your smartphone battery lets you down.
• Tech Gadgets Take your phone, phone charger, portable charger, and any other gadget you will likely need. If you plan on working or checking email, a laptop or tablet is a handy smartphone alternative.
• Toiletries Pack small-sized toiletries to reduce your baggage bulk and weight. Include your toothpaste, toothbrush, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, razors, deodorant, and any other personal grooming products you regularly use. Don’t forget your prescribed medications. It’s also handy to include a general painkiller.
• Refillable Water Bottle Reusable water bottles are environmentally friendly and easy to carry. Pack your water bottle and save the environment.

Specialty Items for NYC

Metro Card NYC

The NYC subway is the best and most efficient transportation system. Buy a MetroCard at a subway station and charge it according to your travel needs.

A small daypack is a useful accessory for carrying your kit when hiking cycling or walking the city. Choose a light and durable pack that you can wear on your back leaving your hands free.

New York City is brimming with photo opportunities. A smartphone and professional camera will ensure you’re ready to take advantage of every opportunity. Pack a camera charger and an extra battery pack.

There are plenty of street foods and fast food joints in New York. If you pack a few snacks in your day pack, you can grab a snack on the run, even if you’re walking the furthest paths in Central Park, or moving from one subway station to the next.

Preparing for NYC Activities

Metropolitan Museum of Art

Cultural Sites

Include some formal wear if you plan to take advantage of the many museums, theatres, or art galleries. Some places have dress code requirements, so check the entry requirements when booking online tickets.

Discover hidden gems and local favorites with our guides to   non-touristy things to do in NYC   and   Brooklyn . Instead of hitting the usual crowded spots, explore charming neighborhoods, cultural hotspots, and unique dining spots for a true taste of the city. Uncover the best-kept secrets and experience the unique charm of New York City and Brooklyn just like a local.

Outdoor Adventures

You’ll need loose, comfortable clothes that protect you from the weather on nature walks, city tours, jogging, cycling, kayaking, or hiking.

Rooftop Party NYC

NYC’s nightlife is legendary. Bring appropriate formal clothing if you plan to spend time in clubs, bars, or formal restaurants.

Packing Tips for NYC

Plan your outfits.

Packing as little as possible makes moving from place to place much easier. Plan the outfits you’re likely to wear. Choose garments you can mix and match, and are easy to layer to make the most of your luggage space.

Secure Your Valuables

New York City is comparatively safe, but try not to flaunt your more expensive items. Carry your passport, money, and documents in a fanny pack or a secure crossbody bag.

Weather Check

Check the weather at your vacation destination. Knowing what to expect will help you to pack the most appropriate clothing for your trip.

What type of footwear is best for exploring NYC?

Choose comfortable shoes with a good rubber or polyurethane sole and waterproof uppers for walking the streets and footpaths in and around New York City.

How should I dress for dining out in NYC?

Dining in New York ranges from casualwear when eating in fast food chains to formal finer dining. Most less formal eating establishments are fine with jeans and a casual top. Pack formal wear for fine dining restaurants. As a man, you’ll need a collared shirt and dress pants. Ladies should also plan to wear something a little more formal. It’s always a good idea to inquire about the dress code before eating at a more formal restaurant.

Vanderbilt | Tribeca | Designer Loft By Rove Travel

Stressless NYC Packing

Don’t let packing for your New York vacation stress you out. Check the weather and plan your outfits. Mix and match and bring along the types of clothes that you can layer. A comfortable pair of shoes, a mix of casual and formal wear, and your day-to-day medication and grooming kit are all you need. And don’t forget your travel documents. Pack your bags, and prepare to explore the city that never sleeps!

Looking for the Perfect Place to Stay in NYC? Rove Travel Has You Covered When visiting New York City, comfortable and stylish accommodation is essential. Rove Travel offers luxury furnished rentals that make you feel right at home in the heart of the city. With properties in prime locations, you can explore everything NYC has to offer while enjoying the ultimate comfort.

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Suspected Gunman Said He Was Willing to Fight and Die in Ukraine

Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, told The New York Times in 2023 that he had traveled to Ukraine and wanted to recruit Afghan soldiers to fight there.

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By Adam Goldman Thomas Gibbons-Neff Glenn Thrush and Najim Rahim

• Published Sept. 15, 2024 Updated Sept. 17, 2024

Ryan Wesley Routh, the 58-year-old man who was arrested on Sunday in connection with what the F.B.I. described as an attempted assassination on former President Donald J. Trump , had expressed the desire to fight and die in Ukraine.

Mr. Routh’s posts on the social media site X revealed a penchant for violent rhetoric in the weeks after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. “I AM WILLING TO FLY TO KRAKOW AND GO TO THE BORDER OF UKRAINE TO VOLUNTEER AND FIGHT AND DIE,” he wrote.

On the messaging application Signal, Mr. Routh wrote that “Civilians must change this war and prevent future wars” as part of his profile bio. On WhatsApp, his bio read, “Each one of us must do our part daily in the smallest steps help support human rights, freedom and democracy; we each must help the chinese.”

Mr. Routh, a former roofing contractor from Greensboro, N.C., was interviewed by The New York Times in 2023 for an article about Americans volunteering to aid the war effort in Ukraine . Mr. Routh, who had no military experience, said he had traveled to the country after Russia’s invasion and wanted to recruit Afghan soldiers to fight there.

In a telephone interview with The New York Times in 2023, when Mr. Routh was in Washington, he spoke with the self-assuredness of a seasoned diplomat who thought his plans to support Ukraine’s war effort were sure to succeed. But he appeared to have little patience for anyone who got in his way. When an American foreign fighter seemed to talk down to him in a Facebook message he shared with The New York Times, Mr. Routh said, “he needs to be shot.”

In the interview, Mr. Routh said he was in Washington to meet with the U.S. Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, known as the Helsinki Commission “for two hours” to help push for more support for Ukraine. The commission is led by members of Congress and staffed by congressional aides . It is influential on matters of democracy and security and has been vocal in supporting Ukraine.

Mr. Routh also said he was seeking recruits for Ukraine from among Afghan soldiers who had fled the Taliban. He said he planned to move them, in some cases illegally, from Pakistan and Iran to Ukraine. He said dozens had expressed interest.

“We can probably purchase some passports through Pakistan, since it’s such a corrupt country,” he said.

It is not clear whether Mr. Routh followed through, but one former Afghan soldier said he had been contacted and was interested in fighting if it meant leaving Iran, where he was living illegally.

A man with the same name and similar age as Mr. Routh was arrested in 2002 in Greensboro, N.C., after barricading himself inside a building with a fully automatic weapon, according to the Greensboro News & Record newspaper.

The newspaper said the man was charged with carrying a concealed weapon and possession of a fully automatic machine gun. It is not clear how the charges were resolved.

It is not clear if Mr. Routh, a lean man with reddish-brown hair who wore American flag clothing in one of his profile pictures, fired any shots before leaving the scene on Sunday, according to the Secret Service.

In a series of posts on X in 2020, Mr. Routh expressed admiration for former Representative Tulsi Gabbard, then a Democratic presidential candidate, saying “she will tirelessly negotiate peace deals in Syria, Afghanistan, and all turmoil zones.”

At some point over the past several years, Mr. Routh moved to Hawaii, where a man with his name ran a small business.

In a May 2020 post, he invited Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader, to Hawaii for a vacation and offered to act as “ambassador and liaison” to resolve disputes between the two nations.

When deputies stopped him on Interstate 95 after the incident, Mr. Routh appeared calm, did not ask why he was being detained, and “was not armed when we took him out of the car,” Sheriff William D. Snyder of Martin County told a local station, WPTV .

Adam Goldman writes about the F.B.I. and national security. He has been a journalist for more than two decades. More about Adam Goldman

Thomas Gibbons-Neff is a Ukraine correspondent and a former Marine infantryman. More about Thomas Gibbons-Neff

Glenn Thrush covers the Department of Justice and has also written about gun violence, civil rights and conditions in the country’s jails and prisons. More about Glenn Thrush

Najim Rahim is a reporter in the Kabul, Afghanistan, bureau. More about Najim Rahim

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What happens in disney stays in disney: nyc educrats took own kids to magic kingdom on trips meant for homeless students.

Six Department of Education employees used “forged permission slips” to take their own kids and grandchildren to Disney World and on other city-funded trips meant for homeless students, investigators alleged.

The secret perks robbed some of the city’s most disadvantaged kids of a chance to enjoy the Magic Kingdom — a trip that cost $66,000 for 50 or so adults and kids, a staffer said — and other multiple-day trips between 2016 and 2019 to Washington, DC, New Orleans, Boston, upstate Rocking Horse Ranch Resort, and Frost Valley YMCA campground, according to a newly released report by the Special Commissioner of Investigation for city schools.

Linda M. Wilson, a Queens supervisor of DOE’s “Students in Temporary Housing,” took her own two daughters on trips, and encouraged colleagues to take their sons, daughters and grandkids, but tried to cover up the shady practice when SCI started asking questions, the SCI report said.

“What happens here stays with us,” Wilson allegedly told co-workers.

“She said everyone should stick to the same story that we did not take our children on the trip,” an employee told The Post.

“She told us to lie to the investigators.”

While some homeless students attended the trips, the staffers’ kids took up valuable spots.

One DOE educator “had to beg Wilson to allow him to add two of his students” on a trip to Disney World while Wilson and several staffers she supervised brought family members, the SCI said.

“Taking money meant for homeless students is extremely inappropriate,” said Naveed Hasan, a Manhattan public school parent and member of the city’s Panel for Educational Policy who advocates for students in need of housing. “I’m shocked.”

Family members are not allowed on field trips, even if the DOE is reimbursed for their expenses, chancellor’s rules state. 

Wilson and other staffers used the names of homeless students to fabricate permission slips, then forged parent signatures on the paperwork, witnesses told investigators. 

“Few of the homeless students listed on the paperwork actually attended the trips,” a whistleblower told the SCI.

At first, Wilson used a DOE contractor to book transportation, hotels, food and activities.

The city paid for the trips with a $300,000 federal grant from the National Center for Homeless Education meant to give kids enrichment and incentives to improve their attendance or academics.

Wilson supervised about 20 staffers who worked with students in temporary housing, defined as those living in a shelter, car, park or abandoned building. 

Last year, a record 119,320 NYC students — roughly one in nine kids enrolled in public schools — experienced homelessness, according to Advocates for Children of New York.

Most out-of-town trips included four to six staff members as chaperones, and one or two buses for about 30 kids each, the SCI report says.

The buses alone cost about $2,700 each per trip, a staffer said. Those who went to Disney took the train.

Wilson would decide which staff members could attend a trip, assign students to each staff member to chaperone, then replace spots assigned for those students with staff members’ kids, the SCI said.

Wilson planned trips to colleges, including Washington, DC’s Howard University i n 2019, purportedly so homeless kids could tour campuses.

But she didn’t contact the colleges to arrange visits, the SCI alleges.

On a three-day trip purportedly to see Syracuse University in June 2018, the DOE group only ate lunch on the upstate campus, the report says. Then they left for Niagara Falls, more than three hours away.

After planning numerous trips, Wilson abruptly canceled a visit to Philadelphia in 2018 when she was required to process the payments for trips directly through the DOE, instead of going through a contractor.

Wilson, whose last salary was $99,726, brought one or two of her daughters on trips, the SCI said.

Other staffers accused of bringing family members are Mishawn Jack, who took two daughters; Shaquieta Boyd, who took a daughter; Virgen Ramos, who took two granddaughters; Maria Sylvester, who took two daughters; and Joanne Castro, who took two sons.

Boyd was fired, but blamed Wilson: “The supervisor in charge not only gave me permission, she encouraged it, and I had no reason to believe that this was against the rules.”

After completing its probe in January 2023, the SCI recommended Chancellor David Banks terminate all six employees and require them to pay restitution, with the amounts to be determined by the DOE.

The DOE also fired attendance teacher Jack on Sept. 5, 2023, records show.

In a settlement last month with the city Conflicts of Interest Board , Jack admitted using slots intended for homeless kids to take her two daughters to see the Broadway show “Wicked” and on a trip to Washington, DC, in 2016 — excursions she was hired to chaperone.

Jack agreed to pay a $1,200 fine, which the COIB slashed from $3,000, the approximate cost of the trips, due to the “financial hardship” of losing her job.

She also blamed taking the perks on Wilson, saying she “told staff they could bring family members,” according to the COIB settlement.

Reached this week, Wilson flatly denied that her daughters attended trips and that she allowed staff to bring their own children. She insisted that DOE’s “checks and balances” would have prevented such abuses, and called the SCI probe “a witch hunt.” 

Wilson, 63, said she wasn’t terminated, but retired from the DOE.

The DOE would not say whether anyone was disciplined or paid restitution. “All staff identified in this report are no longer employed by New York City Public Schools,” said spokeswoman Jenna Lyle.

The SCI decided not to refer the cases for criminal prosecution, citing “the lack of available documentation,” a spokesperson said.

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The Best Places to Go Apple Picking Near New York City

As the dog days of summer ease into a mild—if not slightly chilly—fall, autumnal joys like pumpkin spice, cider donuts, Halloween decorations, and cozy farmers’ markets, flood our moodboards and imaginations. Arguably one of the most anticipated fall activities is apple picking, as the leaves start to fall and classic crowd-pleasers like Galas and Honeycrisps fully blush into their red-yellow skins.

While orchards and farms can feel like pastoral getaways from bustling cosmopolitan hubs like New York City , the Big Apple isn’t far from some of the year’s best harvests. On the contrary, between upstate pit stops and easy day trips to Jersey boltholes, there is a veritable bounty of options to explore, and more than enough fruit to fill your wicker basket.

Whether you’re looking for a two-for-one deal where you can pick up a couple of pumpkins to carve, a family-friendly visit with hayrides and petting zoos, or an orchard that brews its own cider label, here's where to find some of the best apple picking near New York City.

Alstede Farms

Location: 1 Alstede Farms Ln, Chester, NJ (About one hour and 15 minutes away from NYC by car)

Once you visit Alstede, it’s easy to find yourself craving their homemade ice cream, heirloom apple breeds, and fresh-churned Amish butter, but you’re in luck—the farm has an online store that can deliver right to your door or local farmers’ market. Beyond apples, your whole grocery run practically lives here whether you’re looking for eggplant, potatoes, blueberries, or more. But if it’s the ambience of the grounds that you find yourself missing, they also host regular tours, seasonal harvest moon nights, and weddings for those who are truly in love with the venue.

Fishkill Farms

Location: 9 Fishkill Farm Rd, Hopewell Junction, NY (About one hour and 45 minutes away from NYC by car)

Sample a glass of this farm’s tree-to-bottle Treasury Cider to uncover the Champagne of ciders. The family-run operation hand presses their own special breeds of dessert and bittersweet apple to achieve the label’s nuanced taste, and you can expect this level of effort throughout all their endeavors—not only does the farm grow organic Crimson Crisp and Spartan apples, but they also grow most of the produce according to eco-certified and ecologically grown standards, which both have rigorous requirements for what the fruit is exposed to from seed to sale. But the fun’s not just in the fruit—dine at the Fishkill Farms Grill with all the Catskills surrounding you, or catch an evening performance of live music by a visiting band.

Masker Orchards

Location: 45 Ball Rd, Warwick, NY (About one hour and 45 minutes away from NYC by car; three hours by train)

Sprawling orchard grounds have never been more accessible than at Masker—open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day of the week rather than being condition or seasonally dependent, the orchard is also designed for driving through, so you can take the car right up to the trees you want to pick from or picnic under. Beforehand, consult their website banner that clearly states which varieties are ready for picking, and download the map of the orchard so you’ll know ahead of time that Red Deliciouses can be found on the corner of ‘Strudel’ and ‘Pie’ lanes.

Minard's Family Farm

Location: 250 Hurds Rd, Clintondale, NY (About two hours away from NYC by car)

The name might’ve already clued you in, but this farm goes all out for the kids—there’s a busy bee train, chances to leave their mark on the Chalk Bus, a tire climbing wall, a giant bounce pillow, and that’s not even to mention the petting zoo or 2.5-acre corn maze. While there’s more than enough to keep the whole family engaged with those activities alone, the best time to visit is throughout October, when the lion’s share of the farm’s apples are ripe and the pumpkins are ready to pick too.

Battleview Orchards

Location: 91 Wemrock Rd, Freehold, NJ (About two hours away from NYC by car)

Owned and operated by the Applegate family for the past 116 years, Battleview is the oldest pick-your-own farm in New Jersey . This year, the orchard is offering 19 varieties of apples throughout the fall, and it also has year-round opportunities to pick sour cherries, strawberries, peaches, and pumpkins. And as kids explore some of the 130-acre grounds on the seasonal hayride, parents can walk the aisles of the on-site country store stocked with favorites like housemade cider and fresh-baked pies, and speciality items such as the customizable fruit baskets. Their website has Applegate family recipes for every variety of fruit the orchard cultivates.

Demarest Farms

Location: 244 Werimus Rd, Hillsdale, NJ (About one hour away from NYC by car; 90 minutes by train)

This farm puts its vast-spanning orchards to use as a canvas for some of the best light shows in the tri-state area. In the daytime throughout the summer and fall months, peaches and apples are the main attraction, but when the sun sets during the holiday seasons, new life is breathed into the orchards as they host a Halloween light show in October peppered with skeletons, jack-o-lanterns, and the rogue’s gallery of classic monsters, and the Orchard of Lights during the winter months with giant snowflakes, reindeer, and even Dr. Seuss’ Grinch.

Outhouse Orchards

Location: 139 Hardscrabble Rd, North Salem, NY (About 90 minutes away from NYC by car)

These orchards aren't just some of the best apple picking near New York City, they're a celebration of all things autumnal. The best time to come is throughout September and October when Outhouse puts on its Fall Festival . Every corner of the grounds offers something to entertain, whether it's racing rubber ducks or blowing bubbles for the little ones, hayrides for the whole family, or snacking on wood-fired pizza and washing it down with the in-house hard cider for food lovers. With 12 apple varieties that ripen during the pick-your-own season, there’s enough diversity to satisfy fans of tangy Mcintoshes and honey-sweet Jonamacs alike.

Sun High Orchards

Location: 19 Canfield Ave, Randolph, NJ (About 75 minutes away from NYC by car)

These orchards are no-frills and focus on quality fruit-picking. With their low-entry fees of $4 per person on the weekends and $2 on the weekdays, free-of-charge apple bags, and pay-by-weight system, Sun High allows visitors to expense only what they experience. Sun High grows dwarf trees in their orchards with a generous picking radius, another subtle attention to detail. With some friendly farm animals, picnic tables overlooking the grounds, and a pumpkin patch that opens later in the fall, this is one of the best under-the-radar apple picking venues around.

Dr Davies Farm

Location: 306 NY-304, Congers, NY (About 90 minutes away from NYC by car)

This is your classic apple and pumpkin picking experience. Having been around since 1891, the farm, now run by the practiced hands of fourth- and fifth-generation Davies, runs like a well-oiled machine. Admission is $17 cash per person, and if you don’t know where to start with the over 5,000 trees and 27 different apple varieties on the farm, the website has a “ Meet Our Apples ” page where each is identified with a well-lit picture, name, ripening timeline, and flavor profile. If you’d like to enjoy even more fruits from the farm but not your own labor, the brewery arm, Red Barn Cidery, produces a host of its own ciders, local beers, and nonalcoholic options.

Apple Dave's Orchard & Distillery

Location: 82 Four Corners Rd., Warwick, NY (About one hour and 45 minutes away from NYC by car)

If you’ve ever wanted to live inside a Bob Ross painting, this is the orchard for you. At Apple Dave’s, visitors are backgrounded by the farm’s own lake against sweeping views of the northern Appalachian Mountains. Meandering walking trails through the trees and the on-site store filled with fresh produce and charming Halloween decor provide casual yet engaging activities for a fun day out with the family. But for the 21+ crowd, the distillery offers Apple Jacks, Shawangunk wines, and cocktails enhanced with the farm’s produce amongst the usual suspects of local beers and ciders.

Stuart's Fruit Farm

Location: 62 Granite Springs Rd, Granite Springs, NY (About 90 minutes away from NYC by car)

Beyond their orchards, Stuart’s is also home to a Christmas tree farm and bakery which churns out irresistible cider donuts and fresh-baked pies. The farm also does not charge entrance and parking fees, meaning visitors are only charged for what they pick and purchase at the store. But this is definitely one of those trips where the journey getting there is just as worth it as the destination—driving through Granite Springs, visitors get to experience Westchester at its autumnal best as the mountains pass by in a montage of gold and orange.

Orchards of Concklin

Location: 2 S Mountain Rd, Pomona, NY (About 80 minutes away from NYC by car; two hours by train)

These orchards in the quaint town of Pomona are the ideal weekend day trip out of the city . In addition to sampling some of the newest and coolest apple varieties on the market (who wouldn’t want to take a bite out of a Ludacrisp?), the bakery offers everything from timeless apple pies to peanut butter custard pies that are begging to be your next holiday dinner centerpiece. While there’s enough to occupy your Saturday and Sunday afternoons, the farm also has a strong presence at local farmers’ markets such as Bronxville, Riverdale, and White Plains.

Twin Star Orchards

Location: 155 N Ohioville Rd, New Paltz, NY (About two hours away from NYC by car)

After you spend an afternoon plucking Fujis and Galas, Honeycrisps, and Cortlandts, take the load off at Twin Star’s on-site restaurant. Wood-fired pizzas are sumptuous and savory with options such as sweet sausage and broccoli rabe and Dragon’s Breath for the daring. Inclusive items like the vegan pizza and black bean burger also feature on the menu to accomodate for dietary preferences. And for those truly looking to indulge, be sure to visit on a Saturday and Sunday for the low-and-slow barbecue and stack your plate with fall-apart ribs and brisket. This is an orchard for the epicurean.

Harvest Moon Farm & Orchard

Location: 130 Hardscrabble Rd, North Salem, NY (About 90 minutes away from NYC)

There’s a little something for everyone at this North Salem farm and orchard—kids can learn from the property’s educational tours, cozy creatives can sip and paint or attend a bonsai grooming workshop, families can dig in to Sunday brunch at the onsite restaurant, and green thumbs can give back by contributing to the Community Supported Agriculture program (CSA). During the fall, Harvest Moon runs festivals every weekend featuring live country music performances, tractor hayrides, photo ops with scarecrows and fresh-picked pumpkins, and a rotation of local food vendors in addition to their scenic apple orchard.

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2025 Bermuda Cruises: Take a Vacation to This Island Paradise

With its beautiful pink beaches and crystal-clear turquoise waters, Bermuda offers an ideal island escape. In 2025, plan a cruise to Bermuda on an unforgettable vacation with Norwegian Cruise Line. Whether you want a quick weekend getaway or a relaxing week in the sun, there's a Norwegian cruise to Bermuda for you to enjoy.

Ready to start planning? Explore all Bermuda cruises .

Norwegian's Bermuda Cruises in 2025

In 2025, you can sail to the picturesque island of Bermuda from Boston or New York . Regardless of where you depart, you'll arrive at Bermuda's Royal Naval Dockyard. Located on the island's West End, the dockyard offers a breathtaking view of the harbor and the sparkling waters of the North Atlantic Ocean.

At the Royal Naval Dockyard , you can explore charming craft shops and local markets, picking up some souvenirs for your loved ones who weren't lucky enough to join you on your cruise vacation. The dockyard, built in the 19th century and later restored to its former splendor, also houses the National Museum. Perfect for history buffs, the museum explores the island's past and offers insights into its culture and heritage.

You'll also have the opportunity to leave the dockyard and take advantage of all the island has to offer. Whether you want to dive into the ocean waters, relax on the pink sand beaches, or get lost in the Bermuda Triangle, Norwegian offers the perfect shore excursion for you. Here are just a few of the experiences you can have on this slice of island paradise.

Shipwreck and Coral Reef Snorkel Combo

You'll have access to a variety of snorkeling excursions, but we suggest this unique shipwreck and coral reef snorkeling combo . As part of this experience, you'll set sail on a snorkel boat to visit the Constellation, a cargo ship that sank off the coast of Bermuda during World War II. You'll see the remains of the Constellation from the boat before getting in the water to snorkel, giving you an up-close view of the wreck. Later, you'll travel to a second location to snorkel in a secluded area, where you'll enjoy the underwater sights of the vibrant coral reef.

Bermuda Triangle Cruise

Come on, you're at least a little curious about the Bermuda Triangle, aren't you? According to urban legend, this ocean region has been the site of numerous mysterious disappearances. Whether or not you believe the myth, a cruise to the Bermuda Triangle will be an event to remember. On this evening cruise, you'll experience the darkness of the ocean on a glass-bottomed boat. As you sail beneath the twinkling stars, crew members will explain the notoriety of the Bermuda Triangle and give you a unique perspective on the coral and fish that call this part of the ocean home.

Prefer to spend your time on the green instead? There are plenty of idyllic golf courses in Bermuda for you to enjoy. The Belmont Hills Golf Course offers stunning views of Hamilton Harbour and the Great Sound. The course has over 6,100 yards of bunkers, various water hazards, and narrow fairways, making it a fun, challenging course for even the most experienced golfers.

RELATED CRUISES: 7-Day Bermuda Cruise from New York 7-Day Bermuda & Maine Cruise from Boston 7-Day Bermuda Cruise from Philadelphia

Crystal Caves

Did you know there are caves on the island? This family-friendly excursion will take you to Bermuda's northernmost point. Here, you'll find the Crystal Caves, which were discovered in 1907 by a teenager who lost a cricket ball in the caverns. On this excursion, you'll take a tour of the stunning caves, walking on a bridge over a clear lake surrounded by stalactites.

After your time at the caves, you'll travel to a nature reserve on another part of the island. You'll get some downtime to visit one of six beaches in the area. Lounge on the beach or take a dip in the ocean as the sun shines brightly overhead.

Sunset Rum Cruise

You can't leave Bermuda without trying a rum swizzle, widely known as the country's national drink. What better way to enjoy this delicious beverage than on a sunset cruise? On your rum cruise , you'll sail to the Great Sound, where you can view some island homes and learn more about the island's history. A rum expert — appropriately known as a rumologist — will guide the tour, allowing you to try different local rums. If you like what you taste, you can purchase some bottles to take home as gifts or keep for yourself.

If you want a unique experience while docked in Bermuda, plan to tour the island on an electric bike. You won't have to worry about pedaling up hills since the bike gives you a boost, allowing you to relax and enjoy the island sights. Starting on the island's Eastern End, you'll travel along different trails, exploring parts of the island many tourists never see. From seaside landscapes to shoreline beaches, the views on this e-bike tour will give you a new appreciation of this incredible island.

Island Drive

Do you have FOMO (fear of missing out)? If so, the Bermuda Island Drive tour is perfect for you. After docking, you'll depart the cruise ship and board a comfortable bus for a full tour of the island. As part of the drive, you'll see the island's Horseshoe Bay, famous for its charming pink sand beaches. Other notable highlights on this tour include the Gibbs Hill Lighthouse, Somerset Bridge, and the town of St. George's. You'll end the tour in the island's capital city, Hamilton, where you can shop or dine before returning to the dockyard.

Regardless of the excursion you choose, you'll have the time of your life on a Norwegian cruise to Bermuda. Want to be the first to know about special offers to this magical island? Sign up for emails to get the latest Norwegian cruise deals and book your Bermuda cruise for 2025 .