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Family-friendly New York in 3 days

3 days
11 stops

Explore New York with the whole family over three fun-filled days. From panoramic city views to hands-on museums and playful boardwalk adventures, enjoy a perfect mix of education and entertainment with flexible access to top attractions.


Itinerary route map
  • 1

    Top of the Rock Observatory: panoramic city views

    Start your trip with panoramic views from the Top of the Rock Observatory at Rockefeller Plaza. The spacious decks offer clear 360-degree sights of NYC’s skyline, including landmarks like Central Park and the Empire State Building. It’s a relaxing start with plenty of photo opportunities for the whole family. Booking ahead ensures a smooth visit.

    Top of The Rock
    Booking required

    Top of the Rock Observation Deck

    Up to 2 hours
    $65.25Included with the The New York Pass®

    When it comes to New York City skyline views, Top of the Rock is consistently one of the standout experiences. Located at Rockefeller Center, this observation deck delivers panoramic city scenes with some of the most famous landmarks framed perfectly in front of you.Your visit begins with a ride in a glass Sky Shuttle elevator, which carries you up 70 floors in under a minute to the Top of the Rock Observatory. The observation area spans 55,000 square feet and is spread across three separate viewing levels, combining both indoor and outdoor spaces. From here, you’ll enjoy unobstructed 360-degree views across Manhattan – from Central Park and the Hudson River to distant views of Connecticut on a clear day.One major highlight? You can look straight out at the Empire State Building, something you can’t do from the Empire State itself.Before heading to the top, take time to explore the exhibits and short films that explain the story of Rockefeller Center’s 10-year construction, completed during the Great Depression of the 1930s. Your ticket also includes access to a multimedia exhibition focused on the building’s history and the vision of John D. Rockefeller, bringing added context to what you’re about to see from above.Once at the summit, keep an eye out for some of New York’s most recognisable sights, including the Chrysler Building, One World Trade Center, the George Washington and Brooklyn Bridges and even the Statue of Liberty on a clear day.Top of the Rock is impressive at any time, but the experience changes dramatically depending on when you visit. Come during the day for clear panoramic views, or visit after dark to see New York transformed into a glittering grid of lights.


  • 2

    Perfect Picnic: a family-friendly outdoor break

    Take a well-deserved break with a Perfect Picnic experience featuring fresh, wholesome meals. Enjoy your lovely outdoor meal in one of New York’s many parks nearby, giving everyone a chance to relax, refuel, and enjoy the lively city vibe in a comfortable setting.

    Picnic New York

    Perfect Picnic

    Up to an hour
    $19.00Included with the The New York Pass®

    Grab yourself a delicious and healthy lunch to enjoy on your sightseeing adventures.Made from fresh, local ingredients and located just around the corner from Central Park, this picnic is the perfect solution to lunch on the go.


  • 3

    Central Park TV & Movie Sites Walking Tour: explore filming locations

    Walk through Central Park on a guided tour highlighting famous TV and movie locations with the Central Park TV & Movie Sites Walking Tour. This family-friendly experience blends the park’s natural charm with scenes from popular films and shows, making it entertaining for kids and adults while enjoying local street performers and wildlife.

    Central Park TV & Movie Sites Walking Tour
    Booking required

    Central Park TV & Movie Sites Walking Tour

    Up to 2 hours
    $42.80Included with the The New York Pass®

    Central Park has starred in more on-screen moments than any other public park in the world, appearing in over 300 movies and TV shows. On this Central Park TV & Movie Sites Walking Tour, you’ll step straight into some of the most iconic scenes ever filmed in New York City.As you wander through the park’s famous paths and hidden corners, you’ll visit at least 40 recognisable filming locations from festive favourites, blockbuster action films, and classic romantic comedies. Think the ice rink from Serendipity, the bridge Kevin crosses in Home Alone 2, and the picturesque Conservatory Water featured in Breakfast at Tiffany’s.Your guide, a professional actor or actress, brings Hollywood magic to life with behind-the-scenes trivia, filming secrets, and fun facts, all mixed in with a little Central Park history. Expect plenty of photo stops along the way, plus the chance to recreate some of your favourite movie moments as you go.

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  • 4

    American Museum of Natural History: hands-on science fun

    Spend the afternoon exploring the American Museum of Natural History, packed with interactive exhibits that engage all ages. Discover dinosaur bones, global wildlife, the human body, and a planetarium for space lovers. This museum offers a dynamic, educational experience perfect for curious families.

    American Museum of Natural History

    American Museum of Natural History

    Up to 5 hours
    $43.00Included with the The New York Pass®

    The American Museum of Natural History in New York City is one of the largest and most celebrated museums in the world, welcoming over five million visitors each year. Spanning everything from dinosaurs and deep-sea creatures to space exploration and human history, it’s a must-visit for anyone curious about the natural world – and yes, you might recognise it from Night at the Museum.Inside, you’ll find some truly jaw-dropping highlights, including a 94-foot-long blue whale model, the 563-carat Star of India sapphire, and a towering giant sequoia nearly 2,000 years old. The museum is also home to one of the largest fossil and dinosaur collections on the planet, making it a favourite for science lovers of all ages.With your pass, you’ll get access to all permanent exhibition halls, plus entry to one ticketed exhibition of your choice, allowing you to tailor the experience to your interests.Our pass gives you access to all exhibition halls and one ticketed exhibition of your choice.Paid exhibitions you can choose from are: Invisible WorldsExplore nature’s hidden realms, from ocean depths to DNA strands, in this immersive family-friendly experience. Life at the Limits: Nature’s SuperheroesMeet the amazing species that survive and thrive on planet Earth. A spectacle of colors, textures, behaviors, specialized parts, and exacting skills. Encounters in the Milky Way A time-traveling journey about the cosmic movements that shape our galactic neighborhood, narrated by Pedro Pascal. The Giant-Screen FilmLupita Nyong’o narrates Worlds Beyond Earth, exploring our solar system’s dynamic worlds and Earth’s unique conditions for life. Butterfly VivariumEnjoy 80 species of free-flying butterflies in the year-round Davis Family Butterfly Vivarium. Impact: The End of the Age of Dinosaurs Impact: The End of the Age of Dinosaurs explores the before-and-after story of the cataclysmic asteroid collision that led to the mass extinction of the majority of life on the planet. Discover what happened sixty-six million years ago, and how it paved the way for new species.


  • 5

    RiseNY: cultural evolution meets panoramic views

    End the day at RiseNY for an immersive look into New York’s pop culture history. Explore interactive exhibits featuring music, art, and fashion, then enjoy sweeping views over the Hudson River from the observation deck. This vibrant experience offers families a fresh way to connect with the city’s creative spirit.

    RiseNY

    RiseNY

    1-2 hours
    $43.55Included with the The New York Pass®

    Located in Times Square, RiseNY’s immersive adventure takes you on an engaging journey through the evolution of NYC’s vibrant pop culture history, connecting you to some of the city’s most famous sights and historical moments!Your experience begins inside a replica of the original NYC City Hall Subway Station where you’ll enjoy a screening of Ric Burns and James Sanders’ documentary about the Big Apple’s evolution into a global cultural hub, narrated by Jeff Goldblum.A virtual subway car transports you to RiseNY’s seven galleries, which are themed around finance, film, fashion, music, the New York skyline, TV/radio and Broadway. Museum-quality exhibits showcase the city’s pop culture roots, with highlights including a hand-painted jacket made for Madonna by graffiti artist Keith Haring, the guitar Bruce Springsteen used to write Born To Run, Biggie Smalls’ red tracksuit, a check signed by Founding Father Alexander Hamilton and replica set designs from iconic New York TV shows including The Honeymooners.Your thrilling adventure climaxes in the state-of-the-art flying theater. Take your seat, strap in and get ready for an uplifting experience like no other. You’ll rise into the air before dipping, swooping and soaring across the New York skyline. Enjoy the best seats in the house for the Times Square New Year Ball Drop, soar over Central Park and see Brooklyn Bridge and the Yankee Stadium from dizzying heights. Amazing 8K aerial footage, realistic flight movement and wind and mist effects might even convince you that you’re experiencing the real thing!
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