ROPES COURSES
Daredevils can explore nature from on high. Most have height/age restrictions.
Also climb on public art and see what else in open in NY and beyond the city (including museums & pop-ups for when the weather's not so nice). Sign up for our email list and follow our insta for the latest.
NYC
Adventures at Governors Island
Take a 300 foot-long, Zipline with soaring views of the city and Statue of Liberty ($14), find your way out of a 3,600 square feet Amazen’ Maze ($8), pick your level from three colorful, 25-foot high Climbing Challenge walls with a self-guiding belay system ($7) and/or play 18 nautical themed holes of mini-golf ($8).
Bronx Zoo Treetop Adventure
2300 Southern Blvd BronxHangout in the treetops at the Bronx Zoo’s sustainably created aerial ropes course. Ride a 400-foot-long zipline over the Bronx River and/or swing from rope to rope, skateboard high above the ground, and navigate your way through the trees i seven courses of varying difficulties.
Make of it with a visit to the many animals at the rest of the Bronx Zoo.
Must be 7 years or older, between 50 and 275 pounds and able to reach 5 ft 6 in with feet flat on the ground.
Unlimited yearly passes available for $$129.95, $79.95 for Zoo members.
Beyond NYC
Boundless Adventures
35 Anderson Hill RoadSwing, climb, balance, traverse and zip-line at this aerial adventure park in Westchester.
* Combines a variety of high ropes courses with zip lining.
* With 110 platforms in the trees, 15-20 feet apart, and limited capacity, great sop for social distancing (and safe, birthday parties).
* Nine courses for all skill levels – low to the ground and high in the trees, with age limits for each level. 7 to 9 year olds can try three yellow level courses, but need an accompanying adult for the three green level courses (if you bring a group, you’ll ned one adult for every three kids).
* Spectators of all ages are welcome to watch for free in a gorgeous forest setting with picnic tables.
* Pick up or order for delivery delicious brick oven pizza and other Italian food from nearby Trattoria 632.
Dads Climb Free at The Adventure Park at Long Island
75 Colonial Springs Rd, Gate 3Treat dad to an adventure on Father’s Day with BOGO tickets. Climb and swing in trees with 11 trails, 22 ziplines & 148 treetop platforms.
* Ages 3+ can play in the a miniature course set up right above the ground (24 inches) with balance beams, a slide, nets to climb through, and a suspended house that sways.
* Ages 7+ can try self-guided climbing adventures after a safety briefing followed by a quick practice session. Trails are color-coded by difficulty just like ski slopes.
* Masks required on the ground and any time social distancing cannot be maintained.
* Protective gloves recommended, bring your own or limited supply available for purchase.
* Snacks and drinks available for purchase.
* Zip and climb to lights and music during Saturday night Glow in the Park.
Essex County TreeTop Adventure Course
560 Northfield AveClimb through 15 unique challenge elements on aerial junior course 10 feet above the ground (average run time 30 to 45 minutes). Adult course also available. Swing across the length of a football field on a 40-feet-high zip Line.
For ages 6+. Advanced online reservations recommended.
Near the Essex County Turtle Back Zoo and paddle boats.
The Adventure Park at Long Island
75 Colonial Springs Rd, Gate 3Climb and swing in trees with 11 trails, 22 ziplines & 148 treetop platforms.
* Ages 3+ can play in the a miniature course set up right above the ground (24 inches) with balance beams, a slide, nets to climb through, and a suspended house that sways.
* Ages 7+ can try self-guided climbing adventures after a safety briefing followed by a quick practice session. Trails are color-coded by difficulty just like ski slopes.
* Masks required on the ground and any time social distancing cannot be maintained.
* Protective gloves recommended, bring your own or limited supply available for purchase.
* Snacks and drinks available for purchase.
* Zip and climb to lights and music during Saturday night Glow in the Park.
Events Search and Views Navigation
List of Events
Friday, November 1
Joe’s Pizza
Get a classic NY slice to go at this Greenwich Village institution (established in 1975 ), still owned and operated by 75-year-old Neapolitan native Joe Pozzuoli.
TheaterWorksUSA TV
Rent videos of TheaterWorksUSA family-friendly musicals including Pete The Cat, We The People, Dog Man The Musical (our favorite) and many more. Also see behind-the-scenes with the artists, and try theater activities and crafts to make and share online.
Storyline Online
Watch videos of celebrated actors reading children’s books alongside creative footage of the illustrations. Readers include Oprah Winfrey Viola Davis, Lily Tomlin, Kevin Costner, Annette Bening, James Earl Jones, Betty White and dozens more.
Wow in the World
Join hosts Guy Raz and the hilarious Mindy Thomas on a journey into the wonders of the world. Go inside brains, out into space and deep into the coolest new stories in science and technology - with lots of wacky fun along the way. One of our family's faves.
Circle Round
Hear sound- and music-rich radio plays based on folktales from around the world. Explore important issues like kindness, persistence and generosity with guest stage and screen stars. Each episode ends with an activity that inspires a deeper conversation between children and grown-ups. My daughter's favorite at bedtime.
Here Wee Read
Find great books recommendations for all ages in all sorts of diverse & inclusive categories, from Harlem Renaissance picture books to graphic novels talking about race. Includes themed collections like Halloween, Weddings,, Kids with Disabilities and RBG. Find links to buy at bookshop.org, an alternative to amazon that supports independent bookstores.
Billy Johnson Playground
This rustic playground hosts an amazing 45-foot granite slide nestled into a rocky hill, bucket and tire swings, and an amphitheater and miniature stone bridge made of natural materials like plants, stone, and wood at a child’s scale.
Gotham West Market
Sample some of the best eats in the city including Ample Hills Creamery ice cream, Ivan Ramen Slurp Shop noodles, Jianbing Company's Chinese seasoned pancake/omelet, Corner Slice’s square pizza, Choza’s vegetarian tacos and more in an indoor, weather-proof hall.
Bella Abzug Park
Climb on rope webs in a colorful structure surrounded by undulating soft surfaces. Communicate through underground pipes, relax on tables and chairs, splash int he fountain and admire the Hudson River view.
New York at Its Core
Follow the story of NYC’s rise from a striving Dutch village to today’s “Capital of the World,” and consider its future in a changing world through more than 400 objects as well as interactive digital experiences. Framed around the key themes of money, density, diversity, and creativity, New York City’s history comes alive through the…
DiMenna Children’s History Museum
Ride an orphan train, play a newsies video game nd explore lots of other interactive exhibits on a entire floor devoted to kids. Pick up a printed scavenger hunt or just explore the many installations covering centuries of New York history. Lots to learn for older kids and lots to touch including a train table…
Time Out Market New York
Sample some of the best NYC food: fluffy pancakes from the venerable Clinton Street Baking Co., thin-crust pizza from Patsy Grimaldi’s Juliana’s, Middle Eastern bites from Miss Ada, fried chicken from Jacob’s Pickles, Japanese comfort food from Bessou, cookie dough scoops from DŌ and more amazing eateries—all cherry-picked by Time Out New York. 21,000 delicious…
Garden Court Café at Asia Society
Lunch on brunch on seasonal dishes that reflect elements of the diverse cultures of Asia in the modern, glass-enclosed space filled with light, flowering vines, trees, and art. Gorgeous bento boxes. Tuesday—Sunday, 11:30 am—3 pm
Kefi
Dine on reasonably priced tradtional Greek cuisine including tasty mezes, fried meatballs, slouvaki, house-made Greek yogurt and more among cheerful, rustic decor in chef Michael Psilakis' friendly cafe.
Sebastian Brecht’s Obsessive Chocolate Disorder
Try unique, small batch, handmade chocolates and pastries, made fresh every week in a small, quirky East Village shop with rotating art on the wall. The constantly evolving menu featuring unusual and delicious combinations of flavors and textures with fun names like bob’s dark passion, the pucker and looky cookie snookie was created by the…
Thursday, January 2
BRAINPOP
Watch short, well-written animated films on a variety of topics including antiracism & Black history, STEM, arts, math and much more starring a very funny robot. Take quizzes and play games to test what you learned. Two editions, for ages K-3 or 4th -12th Grade (which can thoughtfully address some weighty topics, so monitor…
Wednesday, April 1
Treehouse Shakers
This local family-friendly theater/dance company offers its charming shows online: Hatched (designed for babies through preschoolers) the story of a newborn chick who emerges from her shell to a strange, busy world told through movement, music, and puppets and Under the Tangle (ages 8+), the story of a young orphaned girl lost in a mysterious…
Art For Kids Hub
Follow along step by step as a professional artist and his kid draw animals, emojis, people, vehicles and more. Clear, simple steps turn anyone into an illustrator.
Children’s Museum of the Arts
Children's Museum of the Arts' blog features how-to videos and detailed instructions for art projects like Paper Chains of Kindness and Collaborative Drawing Games. Projects can be adapted for different ages and made with materials around the house.
Tuesday, April 28
EduHam at Home
Explore the world of the Broadway phenomenon Hamilton and America's founding era. Access free materials to create songs or scenes inspired by history. Follow in Lin-Manuel Miranda's footsteps, learning how he incorporated primary sources into the songs he wrote for the show. Includes video clips of the show; interviews with Miranda, Alexander Hamilton biographer Ron…
Friday, May 1
Cards For Seniors
Make cheerful cards for isolated seniors. Use big print (not cursive) so the card is easy to read. Provide stickers and stencils to help the younger kids. Adults can make cards too. A great use for all the artwork kids bring home. Join the NYC-based Caring By Card Nursing Home Project, donate through
Audible Kids
Find hundreds of free audio books handpicked by Audible editors. Choose from a mix of stories to entertain, engage, and inform young people, ages 0–18. Spanish, German, French, Japanese and Italian selections also available.
BUSY TODDLER
Find a trove of educational, easy-to-set up creative and sensory activities from a K-1 teacher turned SAHM. So many great ideas, quick & easy to messy messy, babies to tweens plus links to useful art supplies. Follow their great instagram account for daily inspiration.
DAYS WITH GREY
An educator and mom to 3 shares daily 'Breakfast Invitations,' easy-to-set-up sensory and art activities for preschoolers and toddlers.
NEW YORK CITY CHILDREN’S THEATER
Lovely local kids theater company provides entertaining and enriching activities for little ones inspired by past productions including art projects, theater games, storytimes, downloadable activity books and video sing-alongs.
VIRTUAL MUSEUM TOURS
Take virtual journeys to over 1,200 museums around the world via Google Arts & Culture. See collections and gallery views of Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum, Florence’s Uffizi Gallery, Mexico City's Museum of Anthropology, Paris's Musée d'Orsay and more (plus NYC faves like the Whitney, Guggenheim and MoMA).
New-York Historical Society Online
This fascinating historic museum (now partially open for visits) hosts engaging live educational programs for all ages, audio and video resources (including the inspirational We Rise) and interactive 360 degree tours drawing on its world-renowned collections. Excellent educator resources including videos, remote lesson plans, and media-rich curriculum website Women…
Mission US
Learn American history with a choose-your-adventure interactive, online game. Take the role of printer’s apprentice in 1770 Boston deciding whether to join the revolutionary movement, a Cheyenne teen in 1866, an enslaved 14-year-old girl escaping to freedom in Ohio, teenage farmers in the Great Depression and more young people. Explore rich, historical settings, make choices…
MoMA Families At Home
MoMA provides resources and ideas—from art-making activities to books and films—to spark creativity and fun at home. Explore artworks in MoMA’s collection through activities (available in English and Spanish), watch favorite kid-friendly short films with prompts to spark discussion, dig deeper into Dorothea Lange: Words & Pictures, find favorite Children’s Books about Art, listen…
Ailey All Access
The acclaimed Alvin Ailey dance company shares full length videos of past performances. Also see videos of company members dancing the landmark Revelations and other pieces together from home, join free online dance classes and check out the great Resource Guide for Educators. Find free live and on-demand classes for all ages in a variety of dance…
Carnegie Hall Music Explorers
Learn about musical culture and tradition around the world - African-American Freedom Songs, South African Zulu songs and many more - with lessons plans, music and video featuring global artists. The well-designed site features a world map to explore. Also Learn about symphony orchestras in an animated adventure in Carnegie Hall Listening Adventures.
Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Jazz Academy
Watch curated educated videos on the from Jazz at Lincoln Center's educational programs and learn about it's roots in African-American traditions and communities. WeBop instructors demonstrate fun activities to get families swinging and singing, members of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra share performance secrets, and Middle School Jazz Academy instructors break down jazz techniques.…
Black Art Picture Books
Learn about African American art history with curated lists from Culture Type, a website exploring art by and about people of African descent. Find gorgeous books about Jean-Michel Basquiat, fashion designer Ann Cole Lowe, Jacob Lawrence and other great black artists on posts Black Art History: 10 Children’s Books Illuminate the…
Starfall
Learn letters, reading and math with untimed, sometimes silly interactive games for preschool through second grade. Includes letter recognition, games, stories, and animations that showcase letter sounds, short reading selections that emphasize vocabulary, and online books that provide fluency and comprehension practice. A favorite of our kids from an early age.
FLOCABULARY
Learn about a range of subjects for grades K-12 though catchy, educational hip-hop songs. Watch videos about math, history, science and more, learn new words, take quizzes then (this is the coolest part) write short raps/songs using your new words and knowledge.
ArtsPower Theatre On Demand
Watch ArtsPower’s acclaimed, full-length literature-based musicals and dramas online. Includes fun activities that families can complete together. School Editions with a multiple-lesson, academic course also available. Currently showing Chicken Dance, Anne of Green Gables, The Monster Who Ate My Peas and From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.
KHAN ACADEMY
Watch short videos taught by excellent instructors with an electronic whiteboard in just about any subject for preschool through college. The free Khan Academy Kids app (for ages 2-7) teaches reading, language, writing, math, social-emotional development, and more through open-ended activities and games like drawing, storytelling, and coloring guided by adorable animal characters. Also…
SCHOLASTIC LEARN AT HOME
Find online courses for pre-K to sixth grade+ with four separate learning experiences, each built around a meaningful story or video. Subjects include social studies; English language arts; STEM; science; and social-emotional learning.
MYSTERY SCIENCE
Science mysteries like 'What is the most dangerous animal in the world?' and the topical 'How does hand sanitizer kill germs?' are explored with images, entertaining videos and opportunities for discussion. Ends with simple hands-on activities designed with easy-to-find supplies.
Black-Owned Chocolate
Treat yourself while supporting local black-owned business buy ordering delicious chocolate treats from Sol Cacao (Bronx artisan “bean to bar” chocolate manufacturer), Dalloway Chocolate (vegan, gluten-free, bars & truffles with no refined sugar made in Brooklyn), and Harlem Chocolate Factory (bars, bon-bons, bark, cookies & more inspired by Harlem). We suggest eating…