Staten Island is dotted with parks of varying sizes, but perhaps the most well-known is the Gateway National Recreation Area. Part of a national park that extends over two states and three New York City boroughs, the GNRA offers beach recreation, boating, and a variety of sports including baseball, football, cricket and soccer. An ever-updating calendar of kids' programs features nature detective hikes and beach bonfires.
Willowbrook Park is another well-known Staten Island park as it is home to the Carousel for All Children. This classic Victorian carousel boasts 51 carved wooden animals and opens annually from May through October.
Young history buffs find lots to learn about on Staten Island. Kids can explore historic aircraft at Hangar B before heading to Historic Richmond Town. This complex offers kids the opportunity to walk through a living history village and learn what life was like in New York during Colonial times. Full of original buildings, in 2011, the complex features one of the oldest homes in America, dating back over 350 years.
Located on the grounds of the Snug Harbor Cultural Center, the Staten Island Children's Museum has eight separate hands-on exhibits for children, focusing on topics such as bugs, pirates and firefighting. In the Big Game area, kids can play huge versions of classic board games including chess and checkers.
For parents eager to enjoy outdoor activities with their children, Staten Island features four miles of public beaches, three public golf courses, two public fishing piers and six public launch points for kayakers to explore the coastal regions of the island. Off-road hiking and bike trails abound, with varying difficulty levels for beginners or experienced athletes.
Though smaller than many zoos, the Staten Island Zoo offers a wide variety of animal exhibits, including prairie dogs, otters, reindeer, Clydesdale horses and reptiles. It also has a child-designed Children's Center featuring hands-on activities for small children.
The Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden also offers activities geared toward children, such as science classes for children in kindergarten through 8th grade. The center contains art galleries and hosts theatrical productions at the historic Music Hall, and vistors can take a peaceful journey into traditional Chinese design at the New York Chinese Scholar's garden.
