Central Park Zoo is free for kids under 3 who love animals, and not just the stuffed ones in their toy chest. The zoo is located in Central Park off the Fifth Avenue side, with an entrance just south of 65th Street. The zoo features snow monkeys, polar bears, two-toed sloths, tamanduas and poison frogs, among others. Daily events include feeding and presentation of the various animals such as penguins and sea lions.
Central Park Zoo
Fifth Avenue at East 64th Street
New York, NY 10021
212-439-6500
centralparkzoo.com
Admission is free for everyone from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the first Friday of every month, thanks to Target for sponsoring Free First Fridays. Ever-changing exhibits are both educational and interactive and are designed for different age groups. Activities facilitated by staff educators vary from arts and crafts to learning activities based on popular books and characters from film and television.
Children's Museum of Manhattan
The Tisch Building
212 West 83rd Street
New York, NY 10024
212-721-1223
cmom.org
The famous Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is a free event for kids to enjoy on Thanksgiving morning. Take youngsters to enjoy the balloons being inflated the night before along 77th and 81st Streets between Central Park and Columbus Avenue. The morning of the parade, be sure to get to the parade route early to secure a spot that gives smaller children good sight lines. The route runs along Seventh Avenue from Columbus Circle to Herald Square.
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
Midtown Manhattan
New York, NY
212-494-4495
nyctourist.com/macys_menu.htm
