Things to do with kids in New York City

(Click on each listing for more information)

Central Park Zoo illustration from On the Loose in New York City by Sage Stossel

The Central Park Zoo
A small, picturesque zoo in Central Park with sea lions, bears, monkeys and more. Its Tisch Children's Zoo area features barnyard animals, opportunities to feed the animals, and daily educational performances. (Click here for a printable Central Park Zoo coloring page — or here for another printable view. Click here for a sea lion coloring page.)

The Bronx Zoo
The largest metropolitan zoo in the U.S., with more than 6,000 animals in naturalistic environments. Several of the zoo's architectural features are official city landmarks.

The American Museum of Natural History
The world's largest natural history museum, with artifacts from land, sea, and outer space. Highlights include a giant blue whale model and extensive displays of dinosaur bones. (Click here for a printable Natural History Museum hall of dinosaurs coloring page.)

Central Park
America's first public park, and one of the most visited. Go skating in the winter. Visit the Victorian Gardens amusement park in the summer. Sail model boats, visit the marionette theater, ride on a merry-go-round, or visit one of the park's many playgrounds. (Click here for a printable Central Park coloring page.)

The High Line
An elevated railway that became a parkway. Programming for children includes music and stories, nature sessions, and art projects. (Click here for a printable High Line coloring page.)

The New York Transit Museum
See artifacts of the city's subway, bus, and commuter rail systems.

The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
Tour the museum's collection of military ships, including the famous Intrepid aircraft carrier.

The Statue of Liberty
Take a Statue Cruises ferry to tour Liberty and Ellis Islands. (Click here for a printable Statue of Liberty coloring page.)

The Empire State Building
Visit the observation deck for vistas of the city. (Click here for a printable Empire State Building coloring page.)

Rockefeller Center
Take a tour, visit the Top of the Rock observation deck, or go ice skating in season. (Click here for a printable Rockefeller Center coloring page.)

Bryant Park Carousel
A merry-go-round in Bryant Park.

The Brooklyn Bridge
Walk across the East River on the pedestrian walkway.

The Dimenna Children's History Museum at the New York Historical Society
Exhibits offer a look at the city's past through the eyes of children. (Click here for a printable New York Historical Society coloring page.)

Children's Museum of Manhattan
Interactive exhibits, classes, workshops, and festivals.

Dylan's Candy Bar
A giant candy store inspired by Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.

Children's Museum of the Arts
Art activities and exhibits for kids.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art
The country's largest art museum, with some interactive programming for children.

The Museum of Modern Art
Collections of modern and contemporary art, with some interactive programming for children. (Click here for a printable MoMa coloring page.)

The Tenement Museum
A look at how immigrants to New York City lived on the Lower East side in the 19th and 20th centuries. (Read a review of a visit to the Tenement Museum with kids at MommyPoppins.com: "At the Tenement Museum, you don't just walk around passively gazing at artifacts behind glass; you really engage in the immigrant experience...")

The Cloisters
A museum overlooking the Hudson River, dedicated to the art, architecture, and gardens of medieval Europe. (Read a review of a visit to the Cloisters with kids at MommyPoppins.com: "I brought my children to the Cloisters museum to experience the magic of its medieval chapels, sculptures, tapestries, gardens, and paintings...")

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Starling | Sage Stossel