If you are visiting New York with young kids you’re going to need some respite from the sensory overload that is the world’s most famous city. With this in mind I’ve got some tips for family-friendly New York sights where kids can run free.
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We know from experience that city breaks with children can be crazy exhausting. But they’re also an amazing cultural experience if planned at the right pace and with the right activities.
Letting kids run off steam is a must if you’re also going to expect them to navigate city streets and marvel at bright lights. Planning in pit stops is even more important if you are short on time.
If you’re interested in seeing a fun selection of things that happen in New York in just 60 seconds then check out this fab tool from Netflights*.
Mr Tin Box and I visited New York as one stop during our honeymoon. We were there for three nights, which I would argue is nowhere near enough time to make the most of this incredible city.
We have a lot of unfinished business there!
When we return there’s places we would like to revisit and others that are high on our bucket list to see for the first time through the eyes of our girls.
With children in tow, these might not be the same places we had in mind 15 years ago, but we’d be just as excited to explore them now.
Here’s our top recommendations for sights in New York where kids can run free:
Central Park
Central Park is the green lung of New York and an ideal retreat from the busy city streets.
But it isn’t just somewhere to chill out with the kids.
Don’t miss the Alice in Wonderland Statue, a splash about (or ice skating, dependant on the season) in Laskar Pool, or the children’s petting zoo.
Central Park would also be a great spot to see the partial solar eclipse on 8 April in 2024. If you’re a fan of celestial events and you’ll be able to see the whole solar eclipse in Oklahoma.
The American Museum of Natural History
If your kids are dinosaur fans like ours then a visit to the American Museum of Natural History is obligatory.
We missed out on visiting any of the national museums during our honeymoon trip as we just didn’t have time, so we’d defiantly try to squeeze in a visit to this one.
Obviously the self-guided A Night At The Museum tour would be a must!
The State of Liberty
It may be a New York tourist cliche but having experienced the space at the Statue of Liberty during our last trip we think it is a great place to see with kids.
They’ll love the ride on the ferry and you can admire the iconic New York city skyline from the harbour.
When you arrive on the island there’s space for picnics, running around, and the compulsory snap with Lady Liberty in the background.
Top tip: book your ferry tickets before of your city break, especially if you’ve visiting in busy holiday periods, and take the first boat of the day to get ahead of the crowds.
The Battery
When you get back from Liberty Island you might notice the incredible open spaces and family-friendly activities at The Battery.
It’s home to the largest perennial gardens in North America with plenty of interesting plant beds to weave around and water jets for kids to dodge (bring their swim suits on hot days).
You can also spot the numerous national monuments dotted around the waterfront park. All of this is free entertainment but if you’ve want to treat the kids to an extra quirky experience the Seagrass Carousel looks like great fun.
Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum
This interactive military attraction on the River Hudson looks like a brilliant day out for the whole family.
Mr Tin Box is in the Royal Navy so I think he’d be most excited about looking around the museum centre-piece USS Intrepid.
Hot on the heels of their dad’s enthusiasm, the girls would have a ball pretending to be pilots on the flight deck, taking a look around a submarine, marvelling at the space shuttle Enterprise and stepping onboard Concorde.
As a history enthusiast I’d be in my element.
Fitting all of this into 48 hours in New York with kids would be a feat but it’s a good selection of activities to add to a city break bucket list if you’re heading to the Big Apple.
What would be top of your list or do you have any more recommendations on where kids can run free?
*Disclosure: this post is a collaboration with Netflights. All opinions and recommendations for New York family attractions are my own.
Why not save this post about family-friendly things to do in New York for later.
