New York. It’s an enormous place, and if you ever have the opportunity it’s a wonderful place to visit. It’s also surprisingly child friendly, they’ve got a fantastic safety record and it’s no problem at all to come back after the sun has set.
One of the hardest parts is finding places to visit that are child friendly, which is why I’ve put this very quick guide together. It’s nice and simple, looking at 5 top places that the whole family can enjoy.
Brooklyn Children’s Museum
As the name implies, the Brooklyn Children’s Museum is a multi-purpose museum, aimed specifically at the little ones. The range of topics they cover is huge, from science through to culture and everything in between. It’s aimed at a younger audience, and they’ve got a whole host of really interactive exhibits, a sneaky way to get them learning! They also run themed weekends through the year, where they put on special events and workshops.
Price: $9 per person, free for under 1’s
Central Park
You can’t visit New York and not take a trip down to Central Park. Age isn’t an issue here, with so much to see and do you’ll find something for the whole family. Alongside the host of traditional parks (Adventure playground, Mariners Playground etc), they also have a Zoo, Castle and small Amusement park, you could literally spend your entire trip wandering round the different places! Belvedere Castle is especially cool, and it’s a great place to visit to wander round and grab some pictures. Oh, and it’s a great place to grab a family selfie in the tower!
Price: Free(ish)
Children’s Museum of Manhattan
Yup, this is another museum – but it’s another really cool place to take the little ones. It’s aimed at those that are 6 and under, so do bear that in mind when planning your visit. They’ve put together five separate floors of exhibits, and have a Dora the Explorer play area which is pretty cool. If you check this place out online, the reviews are very varied. Some love it, some don’t – on the whole, I’d still say it’s worth a visit but do have a quick look on TripAdvisor before visiting.
Price: $11 per person or free for those under 1.
Luna Park at Coney Island
Luna Park is a small amusement park which is oozing history. It’s one of the oldest in town (or anywhere actually), and they’ve packed in a whole host of attractions from the classic wooden coasters to the tea cup rides. It’s aimed at those that are slightly older and it’s worth checking out the height measurements online before visiting, that feeling of being slightly under height to go on the best ride in the park is not cool.. not cool at all.
Price: Varies, it’s on a pay-as-you-go basis and starts at $1.
Empire state building
It doesn’t matter how old they (or you!) are, the empire state building is an impressive piece of construction and the New York skyline wouldn’t be the same without it. Visiting is well worth it if you get the chance, for so many reasons. Firstly… it’s huge. The views from the top floor are incredible, and on a clear day you can see for a loooooong way, very cool. Next up and perhaps my favourite part is the elevators. That probably sounds a bit odd, but they’re SUPER fast. Like, really fast. In fact, I can’t think of an elevator (or lift for that matter, considering I’m European) that shoots you up so fast, that in itself is worth the visit!
Price: $29 for adults and $23 for children
I’ve put together a very small selection of places to visit, and these are just some ideas. As already mentioned, it’s a great place to visit and is super child friendly, if the opportunity arises – do it! If you’re looking for extra places to stay and things to do, check out this little New York Travel Guide. Oh, and don’t forget to comment with any other ideas or thoughts…