MUSEUMS
Most of NYC's museums are incredibly welcoming to kids of all ages, with spacious, stroller-friendly galleries and friendly staff.
* Remind your kids that most art is to look at, not touch. See our guides to hands-on museums and interactive pop-ups for full body engagement. Note that kids under 10 aren't allowed at the Frick Museum or Neue Galerie.
* Consider a membership at your local favorite - usually around $100 and totally tax-deductible - for a climate-controlled spot to roam all year long plus perks like discounts at the fabulous gift shops and cafes.
* See upcoming hands-on museum programs for kids and current must-see-exhibits (plus public art and free museum hours free, low-pressure exploration).
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Upper West Side
Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM)
212 West 83rd Street between Broadway & AmsterdamExplore interactive, educational, well-designed exhibits for babies to pre-teens.
Assemble, create, peek into, crawl under, and walk through one of a kind sculptures and installations in Inside Art. Cool off at splashy (outdoor) water exhibit Dynamic H2O with 800 sq. ft. of of hands-on interactives and colorful graphics. Cross a rainbow bridge, learn Spanish, dance in Dora’s bedroom and imaginative play in the spacious Adventures with Dora and Diego. Sit on your own presidential desk and learn what voting is and why it matters and the role of the president of the United States in Right to Vote. Step into a playful, comic book version of New York City with a lively team of pigeons, Zip, Zap, and Zoom in Superpowered Metropolis.
Enjoy educator-led experiences and special guest artist including weekly themed art projects, art scavenger hunts, storytime, dance-time & music.
Daily 10 am – 5 pm
See our complete guide to CMOM.
American Museum of Natural History
West 81st Street & Central Park WestLovers of dinosaurs, sea creatures, outer space and more can get their animal & nature fix at this giant (45 fascinating halls) treasure trove of wonders. It can get very crowded on weekends and holidays, but there is always a quiet nook to explore.
* Learn about moon rocks and meteorites in the stunning Rose Center for Earth and Space. A 94-foot-long blue whale hangs over an assortment of sea creatures in the Hall of Ocean Life. Be dazzled at the sparkly Halls of Gems and Minerals. Zebras, giraffes and other jungle animals surround a family of elephants in the Hall of African Mammals on the second floor. The famous dinosaur bones fill most of the fourth floor.
* Add on special exhibits for $3.50-$5. Go inside the jaw of an megalodon, see fossils, touch models of teeth and hunt like a hammerhead interactive Sharks . Experience advanced planetarium projections in Lupita Nyong’o-narrated, Worlds Beyond Earth. See the stunning Wings over Water in giant IMAX.
* In warm weather, frolic in large fountains on the second floor terrace outside the planetarium – don’t forget a bathing suit & towel.
See our complete guide to the Natural History Museum.
Daily 10 am – 5:45 pm
New-York Historical Society
70 Central Park West at 77th StreetLearn about the layered, diverse history of NYC at this fascinating museum. In the Children’s History Museum on the bottom floor, explore 350 years of history through interactive exhibits, digital games and a charming library. Try cross-stitch, see historic baseball gear, ride an Orphan Train, play a newsies video game and much more. Join weekly history-themed storytimes and other family programming.
Look for kid-friendly objects throughout the galleries like a Noah’s Ark toy and historical fire fighting equipment. Design-your-own Tiffany lamp in the gorgeous fourth floor galleries. Explore a detailed re-creation of the White House Oval Office and hear audio recordings of presidential musing in the Meet the Presidents. More exhibits include Title IX: Activism On and Off the Field and Confronting Hate 1937–1952. Immersive multi-media films New York Story and We Rise screen alternating on the hour from 12 to 3 pm.
Wednesday–Thursday 11 am – 5 pm
Friday 11 am–8 pm (pay-what-you-wish 6-8 pm)
Saturday–Sunday 11 am – 5 pm
Upper East Side
Museum of the City of New York
1220 Fifth Avenue at 105th StreetExplore the greatest city in the world at this small museum with a big collection of theater artifacts, furniture, toys, paintings, sculpture and photos arranged into exhibits that entertain and educate all ages. Favorite spots include an extravagant Gilded Age dollhouse, a dangling light installation above the stunning spiral staircase and the fascinating multimedia New York at Its Core exhibition. Explore the drama of social activism in New York City from the 17th century right up to the present inActivist New York. Introduce kids to ancient artifacts like pneumatic tubes and telephone directories in Analog City: NYC B.C. (Before Computers).
Learn about NYC’s restaurants, street carts and other tasty delights in Food in New York: Bigger Than the Plate. Explore diverse 1980s musical artists—from Run DMC to the Talking Heads, from Madonna to John Zorn—and the broader music and cultural scene in New York, New Music: 1980-1986. Lots of awesome videos to watch and great music to discover. Watch the history of New York City unfold in the 28-minute film Timescapes.
Save 50%+ on admission at this link. See our complete guide to the Museum of the City of New York.
Thursday 10 am–9 pm
Friday–Monday 10 am–5 pm
The Met
1000 Fifth Avenue at 82nd StreetExplore a vast collection that spans millennia and continents. You might get lost searching for iconic favorites in the grand halls, and you’ll definitely discover fascinating art that appeals all ages.
From the less-crowded education center entrance at 81st Street, go through the lovely Greek and Roman Galleries. The must-see Van Goghs, Monets and Degas ballerinas in 19th- And Early 20th-Century European Paintings And Sculptures are on the second floor, along with intricate textiles and architecture in Art of the Arab Lands and a striking Ellsworth Kelly rainbow mural and giant Pollock paintings in Modern and Contemporary Art.
* Take the elevator (and some stairs) to stunning views of Central Park and the Manhattan skyline plus get fresh air and a snack at the spacious Roof Garden.
* See fascinating artworks in all sorts of media in Before Yesterday We Could Fly: An Afrofuturist Period Room, an imagining of what might have been if a Seneca Village survived among ornate Period Rooms. See a Chinese garden, Eqyptian temples, knights on horseback and so much more…wander around and be surprised and delighted as your kid finds his or her own favorites. Ask friendly information desk workers (or search online) for whatever kids are into- we’ve discovered works with turtles, trains, chess, princesses and other obsessions.
See our complete guide to the Met.
Sunday-Tuesday & Thursday 10 am–5 pm
Friday & Saturday 10 am–9 pm
Closed Wednesday
Cooper Hewitt
2 East 91st StreetExplore innovative design through the centuries, play designer on high resolution touchscreen tables with very cool electronic ‘pens,’ and rock around in the Spun chairs in the basement in a stunning 19th-century mansion turned into a high-tech, interactive dream for all ages.
Go inside your design in the kid-favorite Wallpaper Immersion Room. Create digital wallpaper – or chose from an amazing assortment in the museum’s collection – and project them onto the walls at full scale. Designing Peace features design projects from around the world that look at ways to create and sustain more durable peaceful interactions
No tickets needed to lounge on high-design, kid-friendly furniture (including super-fun spinning chairs) in the tranquil garden & terrace
Wednesday–Monday 10 am – 6:00 pm
Pay What You Wish 5 – 6 pm
The Jewish Museum
1109 Fifth Avenue at 92nd StreetExplore the global Jewish experience through works of fine art, Judaica, antiquities, folk art, ceremonial objects, and broadcast media intelligently organized in gorgeous galleries.
The ongoing Scenes From the Collection features nearly 600 works from antiquities to contemporary art, a unique mix of artworks and ceremonial objects, including hundreds of stunning menorahs, presented in thematic “scenes” weaving together centuries. Find vibrant pop-art, groovy fashion, giant sculptures out of unexpected material and more delightful surprises in New York: 1962-1964.
Pick up Kids Gallery Guides for interactive exploration. See our complete guide to the Jewish Museum.
Thursday 11 am – 8 pm
Friday-Monday 11 am – 6 pm
Free admission on Saturdays – the shop and parts of some exhibits are closed for the Sabbath
Guggenheim
1071 5th Avenue at 89th StreetSee exciting, well-designed exhibits in the striking Frank Lloyd Wright–designed landmark modern museum.
Admission is reduced through October 16 during exhibition installation. Certain galleries, including the iconic spiral ramp, are currently closed – though visitors can watch the next exhibition take shape in the rotunda.
In the meantime, explore Impressionist, post-Impressionist, and modern masterpieces including works by Degas, Gauguin, Picasso and Kandinsky plus smaller exhibits.
See our complete guide to the Guggenheim.
Wednesday–Monday 11 am–6 pm
Pay-what-you-wish Saturday 6 pm–8 pm
Midtown
American Kennel Club Museum of the Dog
101 Park Ave at West 41st StreetDog-lovers can explore canine-related artwork with cutting-edge technology and interpretation, plus items from the library, archives and collection of the American Kennel Club headquarters.
Interactive experiences include Find Your Match – take an image of yourself and, through visual recognition software, see which dog breed looks most like you. Special exhibition The AKC Museum of the Dog at 40: And the Collectors Who Made It honors the 40th anniversary of the Museum’s opening.
See our complete guide to AKC MoD.
Wednesday-Sunday 10 am–6 pm
Pets welcome Friday 6–8 pm ($5)
Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
4 West 53rd StreetExplore spacious galleries and engaging exhibits in a modern, kid-friendly building.
No tickets needed for the first floor and Sculpture Garden. Feel the joy of the rainbow Sol Lewitt murals, see Pac-Man in Never Alone: Video Games and Other Interactive Design, lounge on Eames chairs, and make wishes from the fountain bridge
Van Gogh’s Starry Night, Henri Rousseau’s The Dream and Matisse’s Dance are just a few of the blockbuster masterpieces on the must-see fifth floor featuring collection highlights from the 1880s to 1840s. Head downstairs and forward in time for more exciting art from modern and contemporary artists such as Andy Warhol, Jackson Pollock, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Faith Ringgold. Look out for an actual helicopter in the stairwell.
Work with wire, design emoji, work with light-boxes, play with gorgeous blocks, read picture books and try more creative activities in interactive, all-ages Family Art Lab: Line, Shape, Color. Walk into and above immersive, text-based Barbara Kruger Thinking of You. I Mean Me. I Mean You, viewable from multiple floors.
See our complete guide to MoMA.
Daily 10 am-5:30 pm
Saturday 10:30 am–7:00 pm
Members only Monday 10:30 am- 1:00pm
Free admission Friday 4:00 –8:00 pm
Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
Pier 86, West 46th Street & Twelfth AvenueHistory/military buffs and plane lovers can examine original artifacts, view historic video footage and explore interactive exhibits aboard an actual 1943 aircraft carrier. Lots of indoor and outdoor space to roam with tons to explore.
Climb in a Bell 47 helicopter, navigate through an interactive submarine and steer the wings of an airplane in fully interactive, kid-friendly Exploreum. See a space shuttle and explore life aboard the submarine Growler.
Walk among military and commercial planes and helicopters from the last 100 years aboard the Intrepid’s upper deck (with great NYC & NJ views). Experience flight with 4D technology in three exciting Simulators: Stories of Intrepid, G-Force Encounter and Transporter: Blue Angels ($10 each/3-Ride Combo Pass $27, min height 40″).
Get 20% off admission with code SUMMER22.
Daily 10 am – 5 pm
PaleyWKND
25 West 52 StreetEnjoy interactive experiences and immersive attractions from the worlds of media, sports, gaming, and entertainment. See screenings Peppa Pig, Barbie: It Takes Two Screenings and My Little Pony: Make Your Mark screenings, enter in special giveaways, meet Marvel characters like Captain America, Black Panther, and Queens’s own Spider-Man, try Signature Slime and other interactive experience with Nickelodeon and more media fun for all ages.
Join Innovation Nation Live with Mo Rocca and young inventors and see recipe demos made for young chefs by Food Network Magazine Editor in Chief Maile Carpenter with tastings and prizes.
See our guide to nearby Rockefeller Center.
The Morgan Library & Museum
225 Madison Avenue at 36th StreetExplore the stunning former private library of Gilded Age financier Pierpont Morgan, joined with other historic buildings and modern steel-and-glass pavilions.
* See illuminated, literary, and historical manuscripts, early printed books (including some children’s favorites), and old master drawings and prints.
* Three magnificent rooms straight out of of the Beast’s castle with wall-to-ceiling books, objets d’art and a high-security vault epitomize America’s Age of Elegance.
* Download the Family Guide and meet Belle da Costa Greene, a pioneering Black female librarian who helped build the collection in the early 1900s, for info and activities. Look for a secret vault and hidden passages.
* Admire the oversize Sol LeWitt’s Wall Drawing 552D in the light filled Gilbert Court.
* On Saturdays, explore the newly restored Morgan Garden. Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday tickets holders can only experience the Morgan Garden and view the exterior of J. Pierpont Morgan’s Library as part of the tour that takes place at 12:30 pm.
* Engaging rotating exhibits explore art and popular culture.
* There is a lot kids will want to be touch but won’t be able to, so make sure yours is prepared to keep his or her hands in pockets and off the old stuff.
⏱ Beverages and snacks available in the Morgan Café (open 11 am to 4 pm, Friday 11am to 6:30 pm). Dining Room, Café and coat check are currently closed.
Tuesday-Saturday & Sunday 10:30 am – 5 pm
Friday 10:30 am – 7 pm
Free admission Friday 5 – 7 pm
CHELSEA/FLATIRON
Poster House
119 W 23rd StreetExplore the impact, culture, and design of posters, both as historical documents and methods of contemporary visual communication through temporary exhibitions, a growing permanent collection, and educational events. Small but packed with lots of color and great design.
Current exhibitions include Air-India’s Maharaja: Advertising Gone Rogue and Masked Vigilantes On Silent Motorbikes featuring art made from found, re-configured, and shredded posters.
Pick up a scavenger hunt and find interesting items throughout the museum to get a cool prize in the Shop. Each exhibition is accompanied by an Activity Card, developed with visitors ages 4–10 in mind, available at the Info Desk or inside each exhibition free of charge. Help color in a detailed wall poster of an NYC neighborhood.
Thursday-Sunday 10 am–6 pm
Free Admission on Fridays
National Museum of Mathematics (MoMath)
11 East 26th StreetDynamic exhibits and programs stimulate inquiry, spark curiosity and reveal the wonders of mathematics. Learn about the math in patterns and structures all around us while interacting with hands-on displays.
Play with light, arrange shapes, try to ride a bike with square wheels and more educational entertainment. Discover the stunning hidden patterns of moving objects in special exhibit Traces.
See our guide to Flatiron for nearby fun & food.
Fun for all ages, though many of the concepts will go over younger kids’ heads. Proof of COVID vaccination for ages 5+ and masks required.
Daily 10 am-5 pm
Whitney Museum of American Art
99 Gansevoort StreetSee bold modern and contemporary American art in a very cool building.
* Find works by American icons Georgia O’Keeffe, Jacob Lawrence, Edward Hopper and the charming Calder’s Circus in The Whitney’s Collection: Selections from 1900 to 1965. Discover works by women and artists of color in At the Dawn of a New Age: Early Twentieth-Century American Modernism, showcasing art produced between 1900 and 1930 by well-known American modernists and their now largely forgotten, but equally groundbreaking peers
* The galleries are spacious and stroller-friendly; the elevators are slow but have fun art inside.
* Advanced timed tickets encouraged. Annual memberships start at $81 and include perks like member-only hours Mon & Thurs 6 pm–7 pm and Sat & Sun 10:30 am–1 pm.
🍽 Pick up sandwiches, salads, snacks, pastries, coffee, wine and excellent chocolate chip cookies at grab-and-go cafe in the ground floor with some outdoor seating. Eat from a sit-down menu of refreshing drinks and summer snacks new indoor/outdoor Studio Bar on the eighth floor.
🍽 More eating options and outdoor tables at nearby Chelsea Market or dine (and play ping pong) at The Standard Biergarten down the block.
🌳 The southern entrance to the High Line is next door or head west to Hudson River Park and Little Island.
🛍 Find well-designed books and toys at the small gift shop.
Monday–Thursday 10:30 am–6 pm
Friday 10:30 am–10 pm (pay-what-you-wish 7-10 pm)
Saturday & Sunday 11 am–6 pm
Rubin Museum
150 West 17 StreetThis serene museum connects the arts and cultures of the Himalayas to contemporary life, exploring universal themes like happiness, consciousness, and the cosmos.
* Lots of vivid paintings and statues of animals and interesting demons – and maybe your kid will pick up some zen vibes.
* Don’t miss the interactive, multi-sensory Mandala Lab.
* Museum admission is free every Friday night from 6 to 10 pm and and during the wonderful weekly Family Sundays.
🌳 Head a few blocks west to play on the High Line and Little Island.
🍽 Café Serai is currently closed, but there are lots of great food options in the neighborhood including giant cookies at Citycakes Bakery.
Thursday 11 am–5 pm
Friday 11 am –10 pm
Saturday-Sunday 11 am–5 pm
Shoes: Anatomy, Identity, Magic
Seventh Avenue at 27 StreetExplore our physical, social, and psychological relationship with shoes through more than 300 pairs of shoes, boots, sandals, and sneakers.
The exhibition begins with a pair of baby shoes, indicating how shoes accompany us on the journey of life and explores themes like anatomy, identity and magic.
Wednesday–Friday 12 pm–8 pm
Saturday–Sunday 10 am–5 pm
UPTOWN
The Met Cloisters
99 Margaret Corbin DriveExplore a castle-like museum overlooking the Hudson River in northern Manhattan’s Fort Tyron Park. This branch of the Met dedicated to the art, architecture, and gardens of medieval Europe has secret passages, peaceful gardens, stunning terraces with river views, golden treasure and lots of depictions of animals including intricate unicorn tapestries (warning, the unicorn gets…
Sugar Hill Children’s Museum
898 St. Nicholas Ave at 155th StreetExplore a range of accessible and thought-provoking art, from historically significant to important contemporary works at this community-driven children’s museum inspired by the rich cultural history of Sugar Hill and the artists of the Harlem Renaissance. See a selection of sculptures From Melvin Van Peebles’ “Blue Room” and thought-provoking juxtaposition of artistic works by contemporary…
Downtown
National Museum of the American Indian–New York
One Bowling GreenAll ages can learn about the culture and contributions of Native Americans at the engaging New York branch of this DC museum.
Solve puzzles, perform experiments, play state-of-the-art computer simulations and find out how corn is like a dog in the interactive, family-friendly imagiNATIONS Activity Center. Pick up a fantastic family guide and find featured items among the galleries including wood and stone carvings, exquisite clothing, feather bonnets and lots of animal representations plus works by contemporary Indigenous artists.
Explore immersive exhibits featuring historic and Native art. Follow an epic battle between Marvel characters and aliens invading the streets of New York City in site-specific Jeffrey Veregge: Of Gods and Heroes. Located in the grand Alexander Hamilton US Custom House, with its own commerce-based art.
See our complete guide to National Museum of the American Indian – New York.
Daily 10 am – 5 pm
The Museum at Eldridge Street
12 Eldridge StreetStep inside history and explore an icon of New York City resilience. Learn the story of the grand 19th-century Eldridge Street Synagogue and the Jewish immigrants who built it. Look for elements from different eras in the building’s storied history, such as Kiki Smith’s monumental stained glass window replacing an earlier intervention from the mid-19th century.
In self-guided tours, experience life through the eyes of a newly arrived immigrant to New York’s Lower East Side. Sunday – Friday at 11 am and 2 pm and Sunday and Monday at 1 pm, join free public guided tours are available. Knowledgeable docents guide you through the sweeping history of the Eldridge Street Synagogue – from its time as a cultural hotspot in the bustling Jewish Lower East Side, to its decades of decay, to its miraculous rebirth as a 21st-century museum.
See witty cartoons about hot dogs and the neighborhood in Steve Marcus: Top Dog of Kosher Pop Art.
Sunday-Friday 10 am – 5 pm
Pay What You Wish Mondays & Fridays
Fraunces Tavern
54 Pearl Street Lower ManhattanGet a pot pie (one of George Washington’s favorite meals) and other traditional and modern American dishes at New York’s oldest and most historic bar and restaurant. Established in 1763, this favorite drinking spot of Alexander Hamilton and the site of Washington’s famous farewell address to soldiers after the Revolutionary War now is part restaurant, part museum. Outdoor seating available.
Period rooms host an extensive collection of Colonial America, Revolutionary War, and Early Republic artifacts including portraits of Washington, a lock of his hair, early American flags and other mementos.
Restaurant:
Sunday – Wednesday 11:30 am – Late
Thursday, Friday & Saturday 11:30 am – Late
Museum
Wednesday-Sunday 12 – 5 pm
The Skyscraper Museum
39 Battery PlaceCelebrate NYC’s rich vertical architectural heritage in a small but very cool stainless-steel space. See mini-Manhattan models, dramatic photographs, scale models of the tallest buildings throughout world and history and rotating exhibits. Explore tall buildings as objects of design, products of technology, sites of construction, investments in real estate, and places of work and residence.
Thursday–Sunday 12 pm–6 pm
Tall Ship Wavertree
Fulton & South StreetVisit the 130-year-old tall ship Wavertree with self-guided tours along a set route include access to the main deck and quarter deck. Learn how people worked and lived aboard a 19th century cargo sailing vessel, from the captain to the ship’s officers, cooks, and crew. Then visit the cargo hold and stand atop the viewing platform where you can take in the massive main cargo area. Pose for a photo at the ship’s wheel, and enjoy the view across New York Harbor. Some parts of the boat are only accessible via stairs.
Stop by Pier 16 anytime to explore a free outdoor exhibition with historic photographs, prints, lithographs, and paintings celebrating the people of all backgrounds who lived and worked in the South Street Seaport Historic District. See our guide to the Seaport.
Wednesday-Sunday 11 am – 5 pm
Tenement Museum
103 Orchard StreetJoin educator-led apartment tours inside two historic tenement buildings and walking tours within the Lower East Side neighborhood to learn about immigrant experience in the United States.
Explore historically restored apartments and discover how immigrants and migrants lived on the Lower East Side in the 19th and 20th centuries. Glean insights from educators who offer historical perspectives that relate to current conversations about immigration. Choose from themes like ‘Parlors and Saloons: 1870s’ and ‘Day in the Life: 1911’ featuring families from Russia, Italy, Puerto Rico, China and elsewhere.
Outdoor walking tours focus on different themes like ‘Building on the Lower East Side’ and’Reclaiming Black Spaces.’
Live virtual experiences and online educational resources also available.
Fire Museum
278 Spring StreetLearn all about fire fighting at the official FDNY museum, located in a renovated 1904 firehouse.
* Two floors trace the development of firefighting in New York from the early bucket brigades to the present day. See objects that document the history of the volunteer and paid departments, from painted leather buckets to early motorized apparatus.
* See a horse-drawn ladder wagon, early rescue gear and breathing equipment, alarm boxes from various eras, and motorized vehicles, such as a 1921 American La France engine, all of which give a sense of what firefighting was like at different times in the city’s paid department era.
* Tools and clothing used by modern firefighters are also on display (plus some bunker gear and helmets in adult and kid sizes to try on). The transition from turnout coats to all-encompassing bunker gear is shown on a series of mannequins.
* “Firefighting on Parade” features striking examples of elaborate hand-drawn and hand-pumped engines, including a piano box style engine, a goose neck pumper, and a double-decker Philadelphia style engine.
* Learn life-saving lessons about fire prevention, home fire safety devices, fire risks in the home, and how to escape a fire in the interactive Fire Safety Learning Center. Note that touching artifacts is not allowed in the rest of the museum.
* A separate memorial exhibit honors the 343 members of FDNY-EMS who made the supreme sacrifice on September 11, 2001.
* Retired firefighter docents are available during the morning and early afternoon to answer questions and provide colorful and personal insight into the FNYD.
* Strollers allowed, with elevator access to second floor and third floor bathrooms.
🛍 The museum gift shop sells a large variety of FDNY memorabilia and museum exclusive items.
BROOKLYN
J.J. Byrne Playground & Old Stone House
Enjoy lots of modern climbing equipment juxtaposed with colonial themes inspired by the adjacent Old Stone House, site of the 1776 Battle of Brooklyn. Explore a submarine periscope and interactive panels depicting the historic battle among natural stone and rustic pavement, then attack your enemies with water cannons.
A gated toddler area features bucket swings, farm animal cutouts, and a tot size climbing structure. The park also hosts a multipurpose synthetic turf field, a skate park, two new basketball courts, eight handball courts, and a dog run.
See a beautiful, interactive exhibit about the largest battle of the American Revolutionary War and what it was like to live in Brooklyn from 1776 – 1783 as well as contemporary exhibits featuring work by emerging artists at the historic Old Stone House (open by appointment Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays from Noon-3 pm). Discover gardens vibrant with native and useful plants and shop at Farmers’ Market (Sunday 10 am – 4 pm year round). Any day, get quality fresh frozen yogurt combined with artisanal toppings as well as hot chocolate, coffee and baked goods from nearby Culture NY.
New York Transit Museum
Housed underground in an authentic 1936 subway station in Downtown Brooklyn, this train-lover’s dream hosts a working platform level spanning a full city block and a rotating selection of twenty vintage subway and elevated cars dating back to 1907.
Board vintage cars, sit at the wheel of a city bus, step through a time tunnel of turnstiles, and explore changing exhibits that highlight the cultural, social and technological history – and future – of mass transit.
Be warned that this historic site has no elevators, heat/AC or cell service underground.
Thursday – Sunday 10 am – 4 pm
Brooklyn Children’s Museum
Inspired by Brooklyn’s energy and diversity, this beloved children’s museum (the first in the world when in opened in 1899) creates experiences that ignite curiosity, celebrate identity and cultivate joyful learning.
Learn about world cultures, visual arts, nature, animals and more in well-designed, interactive exhibits including World Brooklyn, Neighborhood Nature, Totally Tots, Collections Central and The (outdoor) Nest.
Explore the twisting tunnels and abstract architecture of TapeScape, a world of tubes and lights made of tape.
In the ColorLab, try print-making, collage and sculpture projects inspired by artists such as Elizabeth Catlett, Richard Hunt, Faith Ringgold and Kehinde Wiley, among others.
Play Jurassic Mini-Golf on the covered rooftop among large animatronic dinosaurs (+$5).
Wednesday- Sunday, 10 am–5 pm
Pay-What-You-Wish Thursdays 2pm-5pm
Brooklyn Museum
This encyclopedic, community focused museum on the edge of Prospect Park hosts a huge, diverse permanent collection categorized by culture, as well as thoughtful visiting exhibitions from all over the world. Explore African Art, Indigenous Americas Art, American Art, Ancient Egyptian Art, Decorative Arts and much more in spacious galleries over five floors of a gorgeous Beaux-Arts building.
Admire the multidisciplinary work of a visionary artist and designer in Virgil Abloh: “Figures of Speech‘ including collaborations with artist Takashi Murakami, musician Kanye West, and architect Rem Koolhaas, among others; material from his fashion label Off-White; and items from Louis Vuitton, where he served as the first Black menswear artistic director. Separate timed ticket required (additional $9/adults, $6/students & seniors, $10/ages 4-12).
Se our complete guide to Brooklyn Museum.
Wednesday, Thursday & Sunday 11 am–6 pm
Friday-Saturday 11 am–8 pm
Closed Mondays & Tuesdays
QUEENS
Noguchi Museum
See the work of internationally-renowned American artist Isamu Noguchi in a lovely space he designed. The serene museum, built around a 1920s industrial building, features indoor-outdoor galleries and an outdoor sculpture garden.
See our complete guide to the Noguchi Museum
Wednesday–Sunday 11 am–6 pm
Queens Museum
An expansive open light-filled space (formerly home to two world fairs) on the edge of Flushing Meadows Corona Park hosts ambitious exhibitions, educational initiatives, and community-minded programming,
* Look for favorite NYC spots in miniature at the famous Panorama of the City of New York, created by urban mastermind and World’s Fair President Robert Moses and more than 100 architectural model makers for the 1964 Fair.
* Admire a collection of gorgeous Tiffany Glass, be inspired by works by local activists, add to a community art project and see other permanent and temporary exhibitions related to Queens. Also catch a great view of the iconic Unisphere from second floor gallery.
🛍 The small gift shop has a fantastic selection of kids books and a few tots.
🍽 The cafe is currently closed, but fresh healthy food available from a ‘Farmer’s Fridge’ vending machine (plus non-healthy snacks & drinks from traditional vending machines).
🌳 Lots to explore in surrounding Flushing Meadows Corona Park
Wednesday-Friday 12 pm – 5 pm
Saturday-Sunday 11 am – 5 pm
MoMA PS1
This Queens outpost of MoMA, built in a former school building, is devoted to today’s most experimental, thought-provoking contemporary art.
* See Deana Lawson’s photographs of Black life in living rooms, kitchens, and backyards from Brooklyn to New Orleans, Haiti to Ethiopia, and Brazil to the Democratic Republic of Congo. The artist meticulously poses her subjects in highly staged photographs that weave together narratives of family, love, and desire, creating what she describes as “a mirror of everyday life.”
* Find other work throughout the former public school including a soundscape in the courtyard, activist posters in the ‘Homeroom’ and silhouettes in the stairwell.
* Admission fees are suggested; free for all NYC residents and MoMA members.
🍽 Counter-service available at Mediterranean-inspired Mina’s in the front courtyard of the museum with Spanakopita, Greek cheese plates, soups and a delicious vegan chocolate chip cookie (Friday & Sunday 12-6 pm, Saturday 12-8 pm) or visit neon-lit, retro Court Square Diner for American classics. Pick up sandwiches, soups and beverages including lattes, smoothies and blue lemonade from nearby Beanstalk Cafe with some indoor seating.
🛍 The Artbook bookstore is treasure trove of art books and magazines with a whole wall of gorgeous board and picture books, cute cards and some puzzles and toys.
🌳 Take a walk to the waterfront to play and relax at Gantry Plaza State Park & Hunter’s Point Playground.
Thursday–Monday 12 – 6 pm
Saturday 12 – 8 pm
🚊 Close to the 7 train and other subways.
🚙 Lots of free street parking available.
BRONX
Dinosaur Safari
2300 Southern Blvd BronxTravel back in time and get up close with 52 life-sized animatronic dinosaurs and pterosaurs in the Bronx Zoo’s a ¼ mile-long walk-through Dinosaur Safari.
Look for the new-this-year 110-foot Argentinosaurus, the 40 foot long Tyrannosaurus rex and the largest known pterosaur Quetzalcoatlus.
At the ADA-accessible dig site, dig up ancient fossils, compare them to moving dinosaurs, and hear from the dino guides about the important lessons fossils can tell us.
Spot the connections between live animals at the zoo and ancient dinosaurs. See our guide to the Bronx Zoo.
Beyond NYC
Stamford Museum & Nature Center
StamfordTry a variety of seasonal indoor and outdoor activities at this large museum & nature center.
* Walk over 80 acres of walking nature trails – including a universally accessible Wheels in the Woods Trail. Follow a brook with pretty waterfalls, look for abundant wildlife (including an otter pond), and learn with interpretive educational signs.…
Stepping Stones
NorwalkThis recently re-opened award-winning children’s museum features exciting interactive exhibits and STEAM-infused programming in beautifully-renovated spaces.
* Play with giant games, make noise with household objects, test your balance and get fresh air in a giant open-air tent in Celebration Courtyard.
* Be mesmerized by ColorCoaster is a 27-foot kinetic sculpture and a non-stop giant…
Westchester Children’s Museum
RyeVisit a vibrant, interactive learning and play space for kids toddler to teen. Creative, energizing, unique STEAM programs and exhibits, wide open, sunny space, and a welcoming environment enable kids to make connections with ideas and each other; take risks and problem solve, and have fun.
Exhibits include Toddler Beach, Wind Tunnel Design Challenge, Build…
Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum
BronxThe Greek Revival period rooms of this splendid 19th century home close to the bay are currently only open 12 – 3 pm Saturdays & Sundays ($15/adults, $10/seniors & students), but the gorgeous grounds including specular formal, terraced gardens can be explored any day. Situated within a 60-acre New York City Landmark Historic District and is surrounded by a “forever wild” zoned forest. Look for a circa 1840 Carriage House, a Children’s Organic Garden, climbable sculptures, a colonial graveyard, an authentically fabricated Lenape wigwam and lots of nature.
Enjoy outdoor music the first Friday evening of each month and other interesting programming for all ages.
Liberty Science Center
Jersey CityLots to explore throughout this large, interactive museum. Step inside a giant microscope lens, create your own engineering challenge using foam blocks and wooden shapes, get creative with a giant wall installation made of 952 pixel dials and try more hands-on science.
Explore multiple routes in the massive suspended Infinity Climber (surrounded by 19 miles…
Hudson River Museum
YonkersLearn about the connections between arts, sciences, and history on a family-friendly museum situated on the banks of the Hudson River. See a Planetarium show, check out rotating exhibits, go inside Red Grooms’ The Bookstore, a sculpto-pictorama with amusing details, riotous color, and exploding perspectives.
Experience what life was like in 1877 on a 45-minute…
Katonah Museum of Art
KatonahA distinctly modernist building in the scenic hamlet of Katonah hosts three to four exhibitions annually, covering a broad range of art and humanities topics. Explore the peaceful sculpture garden and surrounding Norway spruce trees.
Current exhibitions include ARRIVALS, featuring some 50 works spanning the 16th century to the present, exploring arrivals to America –…