Visiting NY City
Kids of all ages love New York - it's a city full of dinosaurs, parks, ships, the world's greatest toy stores, ballerinas, space shows, tigers, speedboat rides, circuses, great stuff to eat, hands-on museums, and so much more. Check out the Family Fun itinerary for specific suggestions or simply type in "kids" in any search box on any page. If your kids are teens, get some ideas for what they might be interested in at The Teen Scene. Read about a parent's experience exploring NYC with a 7, 9, and 12 year old. Take a NYC video tour of famous sights and exciting places to visit during your stay. See tips for planning a family trip from the author of The Grownup's Guide. If you're visiting during the winter holidays, see tips from this author on visiting NYC with kids during the holidays.
NYC is family-friendly. If you haven't been here in awhile, you'll be
surprised by how many children are visiting and having the time of their
lives. New York is safer (the safest large city in the U.S., according
to the latest F.B.I. crime statistics) and friendlier than ever. We have
several children's museums, zoos, an aquarium, and parks in all five boroughs.
You can rent bikes, rowboats, and kayaks, go ice-skating and swimming
- yes, NYC has beaches and pools!
Taking the Kids
You’re headed for the Big Apple - now what? Grab The Kid’s
Guide to New York City and turn your family vacation into a mega-fun adventure.
Be prepared for new experiences, different cultures, good food, and great
shopping. You might even learn something.
Getting Around
New York is a great city to explore on foot - a real walker's paradise,
so make sure everyone's wearing comfortable shoes. Our public transportation
system is safe, easy to use, and inexpensive: only $2 per ride, no matter
how far you travel, and kids under 6 ride free. You can hop on and off
subways and buses as many times as you'd like with Unlimited MetroCards:
A 1-Day Fun Pass is $7; a 7-Day MetroCard is $21. Our bright yellow taxis
are another way to go - the fare is per cab, not per person, an excellent
deal for a family (four passengers allowed per taxi). Other fun options
for getting around include double decker hop-on hop-off sightseeing buses
and harbor sightseeing cruises or speedboat rides.
Fun in Midtown
ESPN Zone has lots of sports-themed video and participant games; LaZer
Park features laser tag and the exciting Battletech® virtual reality
ride simulator; Madame Tussaud's New York has more than 200 wax figures
of everyone from Madonna to Muhammad Ali. Mementos of your visit are essential.
The gifts shops in museums are excellent, and all kids will insist on
exploring the legendary FAO Schwarz on Fifth Avenue and Toys 'R' Us in
Times Square, where there's an indoor Ferris wheel and both a life-size
Barbie townhouse and model T-Rex that hisses and sways. For a food break,
the Times Square area has tons of options including Planet Hollywood and
Mars 2112. World-famous Broadway has great options for kids, including
Disney's Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, Stomp, and anything at the
New Victory Theater, our town's first performing arts theater exclusively
for youth and family audiences.