New York City is an ideal place for a family vacation because it has something for everyone. It's an outstanding city with numerous incredible attractions and all kinds of entertainment for everyone. In addition, New York City has some of the best kid-friendly hotels and restaurants in the world.
Lesser-Known Family Attractions in NYC
While everyone is familiar with New York City’s most popular attractions, such as the Empire State Building, Central Park, Queen’s Zoo, Bronx Zoo, New York Aquarium, and Grand Central Station, there are some awesome family attractions that are not as well-known.
Prospect Park Zoo in Brooklyn consists of educational exhibits that encourage the exploration of wildlife. This is the perfect New York zoo for families with kids because everyone can observe baboons in their natural environment, and children can actually interact with barnyard animals. Admission: Adults $5 and children $1.
Queens Farm in Floral Park dates back to 1697. It’s a working farm with a corn maze, orchard, greenhouse, and herb garden, and is home to many goats, sheep, pigs, cows, and more. Visitors can tour the farmhouse that dates back to the eighteenth century. Admission is $5 for grown-ups, $3 for kids 12 and under.
The Children’s Garden is situated at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Here, kids can show off their green thumbs in weekly classes. For more than a century, kids have been growing all kinds of plant life here. The Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s Children’s Garden has a team of garden instructors who educate kids ages 2 to 17 about plants. Admission: Adults $5, students $3, and children under 16 free.
Free-Admission NYC Museums for Families with Children
Families who are visiting New York City on a budget can enjoy some awesome museums for free. The Brooklyn Children’s Museum has nearly 30,000 artifacts and objects, and they offer hands-on exhibits for everyone. For workshops and special events for kids, visit the Children's Museum of Manhattan on Fridays for free admission. Also free on Fridays, the Museum of the Moving Images houses America’s biggest collection of moving-image pieces.
Family Dining in New York City
New York City is a pizza lover’s paradise, as almost every corner has a pizza parlor that serves delicious pizzas. However, there are endless family-friendly places to eat in the cty. The Shun Lee Café serves some of New York’s best fried wontons, egg rolls, and dumplings.
For an average of $10 to $20 per person, families with young children will want to eat lunch at Alice's Tea Shop. The sandwiches and scones are yummy, and they also serve homemade baby food. The kids will have a great time at Alice’s Tea Shop and will want to go back again and again.
One of the most popular places to eat for the local families is Peanut Butter & Co., which is located in the Greenwich Village neighborhood. Everyone can eat for under $10 a person at this restaurant, which has over 20 different kinds of peanut butter food items, including the famous Elvis sandwich.
Family Lodging in NYC
New York City is full of kid-friendly hotels. The Beacon Hotel is a quiet family hotel with well-equipped kitchenettes and is tucked in the upper west side of the city. It’s positioned nearby the Natural History Museum and Central Park, and has a 24-hr coin operated laundry room for guests.
The Hilton Garden Inn Times Square is also a favorite of families. The hotel offers large rooms and Nintendo Game Cube video games, which are available to guests at a rate of $6.95 per hour. It’s situated near Times Square, Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum, and M&M's World. It’s also close to the largest Toys "R" Us in the world.
