8 Places To Take Kids In New York City
The largest metropolis in the United States, New York City is filled with endless opportunities for recreation and learning. Thanks to its fun museums, buzzy arts and entertainment scenes, and diverse dining options, it's a particularly exciting place to be a child. If you're taking your young ones to the Big Apple, consider checking out the venues listed here, which are sure to please the whole family. This video was made with Ezvid Wikimaker.
8 Great Destinations for Kids in the Big Apple
| Place | Description |
|---|---|
| The Sugar Hill Children's Museum of Art & Storytelling | Provides a space where children and their families grow and learn about Sugar Hill, and about the world at large, through intergenerational dialogue with artists, art, and storytelling |
| National Geographic Encounter: Ocean Odyssey | An immersive adventure in the heart of Times Square, using cutting-edge technology and photorealistic animation to transport participants to the ocean's depths |
| Gotham West Market | Hell's Kitchen-based food court offering a wide variety of dining options, from sushi to classic New York pizza |
| GallopNYC | Offers both horseback riding and therapeutic horsemanship programs to New Yorkers, particularly riders with disabilities, veterans, seniors, and at-risk youth, as well as recreational riding programs to the general public |
| Extreme Kids & Crew | Provides welcoming, accessible arts and play spaces where kids with disabilities and their families and friends can connect, create, and learn |
| Taste of Tribeca | Annual outdoor culinary festival benefiting arts and enrichment programs at local public elementary schools, and offering plenty of kids' activities |
| Gotham Girls Roller Derby | New York City's only skater-operated roller derby league for cisgender, transgender, and intersex women, and gender non-conforming participants |
| Carmine's | A family-style restaurant offering Southern Italian cuisine, including platters of homestyle antipasto, pasta, seafood or meat entrees, and homemade desserts |
Take a Virtual Deep Sea Dive With National Geographic
NY Groups Devoted to Helping Children
| Organization | Mission |
|---|---|
| Advocates for Children of New York | Promote access to the best education New York can provide for all students, especially students of color and students from low-income backgrounds |
| Girl Scouts of Greater New York | Build girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place |
| Camp Good Days and Special Times | Provide residential camping programs as well as year-round recreational and support activities for children with cancer and the entire family |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City | Help children reach their potential through professionally supported, one-to-one relationships with mentors that try to have a measurable impact on youth |
| The Fresh Air Fund | Provide free summer vacations in the country to New York City children from low-income communities |
Exceptional Museums in New York City
| Organization | Borough | Mission |
|---|---|---|
| Tenement Museum | Manhattan | Foster a society that embraces and values the role of immigration in the evolving American identity |
| The City Reliquary | Brooklyn | Connect visitors to the past and present of New York through permanent displays of artifacts, rotating exhibits of community collections, and annual cultural events |
| Museum of Jewish Heritage | Manhattan | Educate diverse visitors about Jewish life before, during, and after the Holocaust |
| Minus Space | Brooklyn | Present the past, present, and future of reductive art to the public |
| Museum of American Finance | Manhattan | Improve understanding of the influence of financial institutions and capital markets on the US and global economies, and on individuals’ lives |
Extreme Kids & Crew's Fun & Inclusive Space
In Depth
Whether you're a long-time resident of the Big Apple, or simply a visitor taking a trip with family to the city that never sleeps, the sheer number of choices for things to do and see can be overwhelming. In no particular order, here are several activities and events in New York City that children will particularly enjoy.
First off, #1 is the Sugar Hill Children's Museum of Art & Storytelling. The museum is a part of the Sugar Hill Project, a community revitalization project merging housing, education and art. Exhibitions, storytelling series, workshops, performances, and other interactive programs specifically designed to nurture the curiosity and creativity of children are offered year-round.
The artists and stories found at Sugar Hill Children's Museum of Art & Storytelling are rooted in the cultural heritage of Sugar Hill, and they reflect the diversity found in surrounding communities. The mission of this institution is to offer children the chance to engage with working artists, and to explore and experiment in well-equipped art-making facilities.
The mission of this institution is to offer children the chance to engage with working artists, and to explore and experiment in well-equipped art-making facilities.
Coming in at #2 is National Geographic Encounter: Ocean Odyssey, a virtual ocean in Times Square. Families can see, hear and feel what life is like underwater, thanks to photorealistic animation and technology. From escaping the jaws of a humpback whale to traveling through luminous coral reefs, this immersive experience provides a glimpse into the depths of the seas.
Children can take on a number of gaming challenges, such as navigating a kelp forest maze. Stories from National Geographic photographers and explorers help make this an educational experience. Additionally, a portion of the proceeds from ticket purchases support the National Geographic Society's non-profit work in conservation, exploration, research, and education.
Next up at #3 is the Gotham West Market, which sports a combination of diverse cuisine and energetic ambiance. Located in the neighborhood of Hell's Kitchen, this food court has a wide variety of dining options available, from sushi to Italian to classic New York pizza. There's also a location open at The Ashland, for those who reside closer to Brooklyn.
Located in the neighborhood of Hell's Kitchen, this food court has a wide variety of dining options available, from sushi to Italian to classic New York pizza.
Gotham West Market also hosts a number of events throughout the year. It offers a selection of children's music classes in the hall, making it simple for the whole family to grab a bite to eat while young ones play. Various performances, bartending classes, and themed celebrations are also on tap, so there's always a variety of affairs for parents and kids.
The #4 location is GallopNYC. This company offers both horseback riding and therapeutic horsemanship programs to New Yorkers, particularly riders with disabilities, veterans, seniors, and at-risk youth. Through weekly riding sessions, GallopNYC uses the benefits of therapeutic horsemanship to help riders learn new skills, motivating them to lead a more productive and independent life.
Recreational riding programs are also available to the general public. Lessons are provided at all levels, from beginner through advanced for children and adults. The revenues from recreational riding are put toward therapeutic tuition scholarships and other equine-assisted programs. GallopNYC is located at four different sites throughout New York.
GallopNYC is located at four different sites throughout New York.
#5 is Extreme Kids & Crew, a space where children with disabilities, their friends, and their families can socialize, create and play. Rather than branding itself as a therapy center, this organization provides a place where neurodivergent kids and their loved ones can play on sensory equipment, make and listen to music, and express themselves through the arts.
Extreme Kids & Crew hosts a plethora of events on weekends. Some events are targeted toward specific groups, like teen or girls-only play sessions, while others are for parents and caregivers of children with disabilities to come together as a community. An after-school program is also available to give children a safe space to blow off steam and make friends.
#6 on the list is Taste of Tribeca, an outdoor culinary festival that benefits arts and enrichment programs at two local public elementary schools. More than 60 of Tribeca's restaurants come together along Duane Street each year to present their signature dishes, wine tours, and family activities. Throughout the daylong festival, there are musical performances and meals to try, and the Kids' Zone has activities for both tots and parents.
Throughout the daylong festival, there are musical performances and meals to try, and the Kids' Zone has activities for both tots and parents.
Proceeds raised from Taste of Tribeca help to fund a wide range of curricula for over 800 children at public schools, including music and dance lessons, chess and technology workshops, museum collaborations, visits from well-known authors, and more. This festival allows patrons to celebrate all things food while contributing to a worthy cause.
Up next, #7 is the Gotham Girls Roller Derby. The league is comprised of strong and diverse skaters who represent New York City. The sport of roller derby has an unexpectedly rich culture, and its fans are often enthusiastic and raucous. Gotham's competitive season usually lasts from April to November, and there are teams for different boroughs of the city, as well as an All-Stars team.
Gotham Girls Roller Derby offers weekly classes for beginner-level children who want to learn how to skate, as well as classes for more experienced athletes. Additionally, the company offers spring and summer camps for cisgender, transgender, intersex girls, and gender nonconforming participants ages seven to seventeen, where they can sharpen their skating skills and learn what roller derby is all about.
Additionally, the company offers spring and summer camps for cisgender, transgender, intersex girls, and gender nonconforming participants ages seven to seventeen, where they can sharpen their skating skills and learn what roller derby is all about.
Last, but not least, #8 is Carmine's, a family-style Southern Italian eatery. Carmine's serves supersized platters of classic home-style dishes, with the restaurant likening the experience to "a Sunday afternoon at Grandma's." Locations are in Times Square and the Upper West Side, as well as in other states across the US.
The expansive menu has options for all kinds of dietary restrictions, so even those with gluten allergies or vegans can enjoy a meal. Offering pastas, meats, seafood, and a number of desserts, the restaurant has something for all types of diners, including the pickiest of eaters. As well as hosting private parties in the dining room, Carmine's also caters remote events.
