10 Things to Do in NYC With Kids on Vacation

By Casey Makovich

Choosing just 10 activities and landmarks to see on your New York City vacation is a challenging proposition, but these 10 tourist venues in Manhattan and around its five boroughs are some of the best things to do in NYC with kids on vacation (that the adults will enjoy, too). From educational museums to amusement parks and one-of-a-kind attractions, your New York City vacation will inevitably include some of the most well-known landmarks in the entire world. Here are a few of the best and brightest attractions NYC has to offer your family.

Free Entry with The New York Pass®

Free entry to many of these popular New York attractions and activities are included on The New York Pass®. Used by over 3.5 million travelers, the New York Pass is the ultimate sightseeing pass, which includes admission to 90+ attractions, Fast Track Entry at select attractions, a free guidebook, & much more. Learn more about the New York Pass benefits & how to save up to 70% off attractions.

Get on the Big Bus New York: Hop-on Hop-off Tour

The fully-narrated Big Bus New York sightseeing tour lasts about 2.5 hours and will show your family many of the famous venues of New York City. The access and information it offers about all of NYC's tourist attractions are invaluable for getting the most out of your Manhattan vacation. The bus travels along 25 stops around its New York City loop, and your family may hop-on or hop-off as many times as you want, whenever you're close to one of the NYC attractions you'd like to experience. Some of the sights you'll see on your tour include Times Square, the Empire State Building, and Rockefeller Center. Getting in: Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tour tickets are included with The New York Pass.

Get Goosebumps at the Empire State Building

Each year, millions of adventurers travel to the top of the Empire State Building for an unparalleled view of New York City. Fun fact: Did you know that photographers point their cameras at the Empire State Building more often than any other building in the world? Not only is the Empire State Building an iconic part of the Manhattan skyline, but it's also a must-see part of your New York City vacation. The observation deck on the 86th floor will offer your family panoramic views of the city, as well as some of the best photo ops anywhere in town. Getting in: Empire State Building tickets are included on the New York Pass.

Visit the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Immigration Museum

If you only have a few days to spend in Manhattan, a trip across the water to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty is a must. Take the ferry from Battery Park to Ellis Island and learn about the 12 million immigrants who came to the United States to live the American Dream. The Statue of Liberty will offer your family memorable photo opportunities, and the Immigration Museum will provide them with a valuable lesson on the history of immigration to America. Adventurous families may wish to climb the 354 steps to reach the crown of the Statue of Liberty. Getting in: Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Immigration Museum and ferry tickets are included on The New York Pass. Please note: tickets for access to the pedestal and crown levels in the Statue of Liberty are sold separately and require advanced reservations. You will not be granted admission with The New York Pass.

Explore and Learn at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum

A visit to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum is an important trip for any visitor to New York City. Even though the museum might not be the first place you think of for kid-friendly venues in New York City, the 9/11 Memorial organization does offer age-appropriate activities for children. On Saturdays, the museum features drop-in activity stations to help children understand and discuss the events of 9/11. The museum also offers art activities and self-guided exploration for children in the form of stories and symbolism. The museum also hosts guided programs for children in the summer led by local educators. Getting in: 9/11 Memorial & Museum tickets are included with The New York Pass.

Discover the World at the American Museum of Natural History

Dinosaurs are a favorite for millions of children, and the American Museum of Natural History is one of the most expansive museums in the world for natural history and dinosaurs. The museum features rotating exhibits from all facets of the planet's history, from human history to the history of the oceans. The museum offers several self-guided tours like the Dino Tour, the Earth and Space Tour, and the Whales Tour. You and your family may choose to wander around the museum exploring, or you may choose to participate in one of the special events occurring at the museum on the day of your visit. Getting in: American Museum of Natural History tickets are included on The New York Pass.

Ride the Park with Central Park Bicycle Rentals & Tours

Central Park covers 843 acres in the middle of Manhattan, and exploring the park from the seat of a bicycle is an excellent way to leave the cement behind for a few hours and enjoy a tree-filled urban adventure. Available bicycles include those sized for adults and children, as well as tandem bikes made for two riders. If your visit to Manhattan occurs in the warm months, consider taking a ride around the park and then eating a picnic lunch on the grass beneath the nearby skyline of Manhattan's skyscrapers. Enjoy a few minutes of sun and relaxation before heading back to the city for more adventures. Getting in: Central Park Bike Tour tickets and rentals are included with The New York Pass.

Find Excitement at Luna Park at Coney Island

Featuring rides, games, dining, and shops, Luna Park at Coney Island is an excellent way to relive your childhood memories of amusement parks while helping your children make new memories--it's one of the most fun things to do in NYC with kids. Various amusement parks have called Coney Island home since the 1880s. In recent years, the famous Brooklyn neighborhood has also become home to a professional soccer club and a minor league baseball team. After having your fill of classic amusement rides, games of chance, and fair food, take a walk along the beach and put your feet in the water for a few minutes if weather permits. Getting in: Luna Park at Coney Island 4-hour Ride wristband tickets are included with The New York Pass.

Visit the First Museum for Kids: the Brooklyn Children's Museum

Widely regarded as the first museum offering exhibits meant for children, the Brooklyn Children's Museum offers a rotating selection of exhibits to enjoy, as well as permanent displays for education and adventure. The museum features three whole floors of activities covering topics like science, food, nature, and the senses. The popular neighborhood nature exhibit features dioramas, a greenhouse, and live animals throughout the display. You might consider spending the morning at the Brooklyn Children's Museum for its educational value and then heading over to Luna Park at Coney Island for an afternoon of adventures. Getting in: the Brooklyn Children's Museum is not included on The New York Pass. Tickets are available for purchase upon arrival.

Learn the History of New York City at the Rockefeller Center Tour

If your visit to New York City will coincide with the winter holidays, visiting Rockefeller Center is all but required. With its famous ice rink and its similarly amazing Christmas tree, Rockefeller Center is the best place to enjoy New York City in the wintertime. The building also features terraces on its upper stories for views rivaling those of the Empire State Building. On the Rockefeller Center Tour, you and your family will learn about the building's 80 years of history through personal headsets, and you can spend some extra time at "Rock Center" exploring the stores, restaurants, and art exhibits throughout the famous NYC landmark. Getting in: Rockefeller Center Tour tickets are included with The New York Pass.

Staten Island Zoo

Do your kids love snakes and reptiles? The Staten Island Zoo features one of the most comprehensive reptile collections in the world, and the zoo also offers special events each month and educational programs for kids. Habitats include the reptile wing, the leopard habitat, and the tropical forest wing. The zoo also features three enclosures housing magnificent birds of prey, a children's center, a "Kids Korral," and an Australia-themed exhibit of kangaroos. Getting in: Staten Island Zoo tickets are included with The New York Pass.

Remember To Save On Attraction Admission

Lots of the fun things to do in NYC with kids on vacation mentioned in this post are included on The New York Pass. Whether you’re interested in going on guided tours of the city, going museum hopping, or getting out on the water, an NYC sightseeing vacation that the whole family will enjoy is easy to plan with The New York Pass. If you plan on visiting multiple attractions, consider using the New York Pass which grants you free entry to over 90 attractions in New York City. That way you can do more when you sightsee and make the most of your time in New York City. For more information on the New York Pass, click here.

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New York Insider – Guide to the Best Jazz Clubs NYC

If you like jazz, New York does not disappoint – from big names to up-and-comers the Big Apple has it all The music scene in New York is second to none. Many of the biggest globally recognised acts grace this capital with their presence frequently and you’ll find world-class residencies in some of the smallest clubs – you just need to know where to find them... If you’re looking for jazz clubs NYC is the place to find them. Dizzy's Club Not many jazz clubs promise a vista overlooking Central Park and Columbus Circle which is only one of the reason’s why Dizzy’s Club in the Time Warner Centre is a must-visit. The venue will make you feel like you’ve walked onto a movie set with its modern clean lines, big windows and dark and tonal décor. While it may look overly prestigious, the atmosphere is warm and welcoming, and it’s been championed as the best audio experience of any jazz club New York. Historically, it has boasted all the big-names like Wynton Marsalis, Paquito d’Rivera, Mary Stallings, and Terry Waldo to name a few. Top tip: If you’re planning a visit for the holidays, book tickets for Christmas Eve with Barry Harris to get you in the spirit. Location: 10 Columbus Circle (Upper West Side)How to get there: Subway: A, C, B, D, 1 to 59th St–Columbus CircleOpening hours: Set times at 7.30pm & 9.30pm and late-night sessions Tues-Sat 11.30pm Iridium Famous for hosting Les Paul for almost 15 years, Iridium will always be a jazz club New York can be proud of. Forever a full house, this bustling Broadway club has been around since the early 90s and has undergone numerous expansions and renovations to allow for its growing audience. Its popularity has never waned and on its wall of fame are acts like Kenny Garrett, Jacky Terrasson and Kenny Barron. Nowadays you can catch names like Jimmy Scott and Mike Stern so make sure to get there early, this place is known far and wide. Location: 1650 Broadway (Midtown)How to get there: Subway: N, Q, R to 49th St; 1 to 50th StOpening hours: Weds-Mon 7pm – Midnight Nublu Classic If you’re looking for an ‘insiders’ only jazz New York experience, then Nublu is the one. Nestled in the hipster Alphabet City in East Village, it’s a blink-and-you-miss-it kind of place. Look out for a small blue light to indicate you’ve fount it and step inside to a vibrant scene of offbeat jazz and avant-garde names. If you plan your visit on a Wednesday, you’ll be in luck for some live Brazilian music. Due to its popularity, it has expanded over to its sister Nublu 151 a few blocks away, where you’ll also find a top line up of live acts. Tip: it’s cash only – so make sure you bring plenty, especially for the bar! Location: 62 Ave C (East Village)How to get there: Subway: F to Lower East Side–Second AveOpening hours: Mon–Thu & Sun 5pm–2am; Fri & Sat 5pm–3am Mezzrow Eponymously named after Milton “Mezz” Mezzrow, this is one of the most iconic basement jazz clubs NYC has to offer. Run by musicians for musicians, Mezzrow is a relaxed environment where jazz aficionados can enjoy some of the best jazz pianists in the city in an intimate atmosphere. Mezz himself was one of the most renowned musicians of the Chicago jazz scene in the 1920’s and played with the likes of Louis Armstrong, King Oliver and Jimmy Noone – to name a few. In his legacy, Mezzrow pays homage to this legendary musician with acts like Jon Davis, Spike Wilner and Pasquale Grasso. Location: 163 West 10th Street (Greenwich Village)How to get there: Subway: 1, 2 to Christopher StreetOpening hours: Sets at 8pm, 9.30pm, 11pm and Midnight (after-hours) Smalls When you think of New York jazz, an image of a dimly lit basement with tables packed knee-to-knee springs to mind. Well, that’s exactly what a night at Smalls promises. Here you’ll find rising talent in the New York jazz scene experimenting with a new flair and modern take on bebop and hard bop as well as more contemporary fusions. It’s a cosy space with only a 60-guest capacity, and it’s popular with the locals, too, so make sure to get there early. You won’t get dinner here, but you will find beer on tap, so settle in for the night – you’re always guaranteed a good time. To get a feel for the sets, check out their previously recorded live shows on their website. Tip: if you stay there long enough, chances are you’ll get a seat throughout the night even if it’s full! Location: 183 West 10th Street (Greenwich Village)How to get there: Subway: 1 to Christopher St–Sheridan SqOpening hours: 7.30pm – 10.pm; 10.30pm – 1am; 1am – 4am
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Things to Do in the Bronx for Tourists

When planning a trip to New York City, you probably envision popular attractions in Manhattan. Times Square, the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty draw millions of people to the Big Apple each year, but there's a ton of things to do in the Bronx for tourists worth considering for your sightseeing itinerary, too. Look north of Manhattan to the Bronx where you'll discover fantastic museums, delicious restaurants, unique cultural experiences and lots of green space. Here are a few of our favorites, including: The Bronx Zoo Yankee Stadium New York Botanical Garden City Island Little Italy Woodlawn Cemetery Wave Hill Pelham Bay Park Bronx Museum of the Arts Van Cortlandt Park Free Entry with The New York Pass® Free entry to many of these popular New York attractions and activities are included on The New York Pass®. Used by over 3.5 million travelers, the New York Pass is the ultimate sightseeing pass, which includes admission to 90+ attractions, Fast Track Entry at select attractions, a free guidebook, & much more. Learn more about the New York Pass benefits & how to save up to 70% off attractions. New York Botanical Garden Hailed as one of New York's crowning glories, the New York Botanical Garden is a feast for the senses. With more than a million tropical, temperate and desert flora houses on 250 acres, the New York Botanical Garden is among the world’s largest plant research and conservation programs. The garden is opened to visitors year round. Getting in: New York Botanical Garden tickets are included on The New York Pass. The Bronx Zoo Did you know the Bronx Zoo is the largest urban zoo in the country? With more than 5,000 animals housed on 265 acres, it's easy to spend the day here. The grizzly bears and Congo gorillas are fan favorites, but the Wild Asia Monorail and Treetop Adventure and Nature Trek are quite popular experiences, too. Getting in: The Bronx Zoo tickets are separately ticketed and available for purchase upon arrival. City Island A one-and-a-half-mile island that's reminiscent of a quaint New England fishing village, City Island is definitely worth a visit. Tons of seafood restaurants are packed onto the island. Grab some fried clams and enjoy your meal while looking at Long Island Sound. and get a better understanding of New York's maritime history by stopping in the City Island Historical Society and Nautical Museum. Getting in: City Island is free and open to the public. Woodlawn Cemetery Woodlawn Cemetery is the final resting place of hundreds of notable people from all walks of life. Author Herman Melville, cartoonist Thomas Nast, suffragette Elizabeth Cady Stanton, jazz musician Miles Davis and George E. Haynes, co-founder of the Urban League, are all buried here. The cemetery is open to the public, and also boasts an arboretum featuring 140 unique species of trees, including 11 that measure more than five feet in diameter. Getting in: Woodlawn cemetery is free and open to the public. Yankee Stadium The current Yankee Stadium opened in 2009, replacing the storied "house that Ruth built." An Indiana limestone exterior and gate-like frieze along the top pay homage to the original stadium, but interior improvements make watching a game much more comfortable. Tours are offered daily, and there's a museum on site with baseballs autographed by every living Yankees player. Getting in: Yankee Stadium Tour tickets are included on The New York Pass – all games and other events are separately ticketed. Little Italy Mulberry Street in Manhattan may draw most tourists, but Arthur Avenue in the Bronx is where New Yorkers go when they want authentic Italian food. Specialty shops, restaurants, fish markets and bakeries draw people from all boroughs of New York to the Bronx's Little Italy. If you want to delve deeper into the area's history, a guided tour will help you discover the pivotal role Little Italy played in the development of the Bronx. Getting in: Bronx's Little Italy & Arthur Avenue Walking Tour tickets are included on The New York Pass. Bronx Museum of the Arts One of the youngest museums in the city, the Bronx Museum of the Arts spotlights contemporary American artists, specifically those of African, Asian or Latino ancestry. Many exhibits address current social or political issues. If you can't devote an entire day to the museum, stop by the Bronx Museum Community Mural at Bronx Terminal Market. Getting in: Bronx Museum of the Arts tickets are FREE available upon arrival. Van Cortlandt Park If you're tired of the hustle and bustle of the city, Van Cortlandt Park offers a welcomed respite. With more than 1,000 acres of green space, you'll find the perfect place for a cross-country run, a picnic or a stroll around a freshwater lake. The Van Cortlandt House Museum is the oldest standing structure in the Bronx and features exhibits about the family that lived in the home in the 18th and 19th centuries. Getting in: the Van Cortlandt Park is free and open to the public - admission fees for self-guided tours of the Van Cortlandt House Museum are available for purchase upon arrival. Pelham Bay Park Three times larger than Central Park, Pelham Bay Park is the largest public park in NYC and offers 13 miles of shoreline, a golf course, and a museum. At 2,766 acres, the park takes hours to fully explore. Stop by Orchard Beach, the Bronx's only public beach, launch a canoe in the park's lagoon, take a horseback riding excursion or visit the Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum for a look at a beautiful Greek Revival dwelling. Getting in: Pelham Bay Park is free and open to the public. Activities and events may require purchase of admission separately. Wave Hill Public Garden and Cultural Center Wave Hill is comprised of an elegant, 19th-century mansion surrounded by lush gardens featuring shaded pergolas, wildflowers and a view of the Hudson River and Palisades. Cultural and educational programming is also offered throughout the year. Don't get caught up in the hustle and bustle of Manhattan and overlook the city's northernmost borough. Visitors to the Bronx are always impressed with the number of unique things to see and do here. From parks to museums to ethnic restaurants, the Bronx has something for everyone! Getting in: Wave Hill Public Garden and Cultural Center tickets are available for purchase upon arrival. (The park offers free admission occasionally on Saturdays, check their website in advance.) Remember to Save on Attraction Admission Some of the fun things to do in the Bronx for tourists mentioned in the article above are included on The New York Pass. Whether you’re interested in going on a guided tour, seeing where the Yankees play, or seeing what's in bloom at the famous botanical gardens, planning things to do in the Bronx for tourists is easy with The New York Pass. If you plan on visiting multiple attractions, consider using the New York Pass which grants you free entry to over 90 attractions in New York City. That way you can do more when you sightsee and make the most of your time in New York City. For more information on the New York Pass, click here.
Casey Makovich

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