we took all 5 kids to nyc last week for a family vacation. we didn’t carry any diapers and we opted out of bringing a stroller to have more mobility maneuvering through the city, restaurants, stores and then the ease of getting on and off the subway sans stroller. we went back and forth but the boys did so great and just enjoyed walking around everywhere. this was the first time all 7 of us have visited the city together and were able to experience so much of what New York has to offer. I’m listing out the best 17 kid-friendly things to do in NYC. nyc with my fab 5 made sightseeing so much more fun.

time square

the first thing we did after dropping our luggage off at the hotel was head to time square. the kids loved looking at all the lights and all the people walking around.

pier 25 (tribeca)

overlooking the hudson river, the kids loved playing here at the playground and splash pad. this is a great play area for kids of all ages. I would suggest bringing bathing suits for the splash pad. if you didn’t bring bathing suits, I would bring an extra set of clothes just in case your kids get soaked playing. this park also offers mini-golf, beach volleyball and also has a snack bar on site.

hook and ladder 8 fire station

aka ghostbusters firehouse. taking the kids here was so iconic. this is a fully functioning fire station and those of you who grew up in the 80s, you definitely want to stop by for a quick photo. since is a fully operating station, you aren’t able to go in but you can visit from the outside.

summit one vanderbilt

The views from the summit of the entire city are amazing. the kids had so much fun with the balloons in this area. children 5 and under are FREE.

color factory NYC

interactive Art Museum located in SoHo collaborates with a variety of artists, food vendors and non-profits in the area. Note, that this location is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

hudson yards

galleries, bars and restaurants, fashion. this new west side is redefining Manhattan. there are several events scheduled throughout each month that include: concerts, yoga, and art tours.

alice’s tea cup

great for all ages with a diverse menu. enjoy some afternoon tea with over 100 different flavors to pick from. they add fairy dust to all children who come in and give them fairy wings while dining.

staten island ferry

this ferry is a free service with approximately 25 minutes of travel time from Staten Island to Manhattan.

few york city fire museum

we cannot come to NYC and not take the kids to the fire museum. the museum is currently open Wednesday – sunday from 10:00 – 5:00.

ny aquarium

located in cooney island, this is a great place to go as a family to see sea lions take the stage in the aqua show. you can also explore one of the many exhibits offered.

brooklyn bridge park

this park is super family friendly and has so many options. with several playgrounds at the different piers including slide mountain at pier 6, jane’s carousel, and the environmental education center. 

central park

we spent several hours hanging out in central park. the kids climbed on rocks, ran around, and played tag. if you have time in your schedule, you could even head over to the zoo. here you can read about baylor’s first trip to NYC.

ground zero

we took the kids to ground zero to pay our respects to all of those fallen heroes on the 9/11 attack. if you have time and want to visit the museum, they do offer activities for children and I would plan to be there for 2-3 hours. here are some activities you can do at home with your kids.

subway

our kids loved riding on the subway. masks were required on the subway, not in the station but when you actually were on the train.

statue of liberty

we took the ferry to see the statue of liberty. it was a 45-minute tour so a perfect length for our crew.

other places to consider visiting while you are here:

Museum of Ice Cream

Muse Paint Bar

places we dined

new york offers a great culinary experience. here are the places we dined with the kids:

• black tap – the kids loved the world famous shakes
• bubby’s – kids went with pancakes and I went with the crab cake benedicts
• bona bona ice cream – so many good options. this was set up as part of the smorgasburg near the WTC along with several other food trucks
• eataly NYC downtown – we stopped by to get some Italian sodas and they did not disappoint
• sarabeth’s – so good! kids got pancakes and cinnamon rolls
• serafina tribeca – drinks + food + atmosphere, this place was a huge hit
• the meatball shop – this is one of my favorites and we come here anytime we visit nyc

nyc is really so family-friendly. we had such a great time and even baylor, at age 3, did such a great job walking all those miles. what are some of your family favorite things to do in NYC?