Some parents may shudder at the thought of taking their kids on a family vacation to the city that never sleeps; however, New York City offers a rich variety of fun activities that will keep the attention of the entire family. Whether your interests are educational, utterly frivolous, or somewhere in between, there's no shortage of ways to have fun and make memories together.
If you're tired of telling your kids, "Don't touch the art!", then head to the Upper West Side's Children's Museum of Manhattan. The exhibits here are highly interactive, encouraging hands-on activities such as painting on a wall, driving a fire truck, and taking a crawling course challenge. Special art-making workshops and author readings are offered periodically as part of the museum's public education programming.
212 West 83rd St.
New York, NY 10024
212-721-1234
cmom.org
Not to be confused with the Children's Museum of Manhattan, the downtown Children's Museum of the Arts, located in SoHo, features exhibitions of artwork by and about children. In addition, the CMA offers numerous interactive workshops where kids are inspired to tap into their own creativity.
182 Lafayette St.
New York, NY 10013
212-274-0986
cmany.org
New York City isn't all big buildings and hustle and bustle. Head over to Manhattan's West Side to enjoy the Hudson River Park, which runs the entire length of Manhattan. Outdoor activities abound during the spring, summer and fall. You can rent bikes, let your kids practice their swing in the batting cages, enjoy live musical performances or outdoor movies for free, or take a sailing or trapeze class.
Hudson River Park
hudsonriverpark.org
One of the most fun activities for tourists of any age is having a culinary adventure in New York City. Try a New York hot dog or pretzel from a street vendor in Central Park, or chase down one of the city's many specialty food trucks for ice cream, cupcakes, dumplings, and other sweet and savory treats. Stop by the Hershey store in Times Square if your kids have a sweet tooth; they can make their own specialty candy mix, personalize a giant Hershey's Kiss with their names, and even type their name for a special message to be broadcast on the Hershey's light board for all of Times Square to see.
Hershey's Store
1593 Broadway
New York, NY 10019
212-581-9100
hersheys.com
