MUSEUMS & POP-UPS
While we've appreciated virtual culture and online family museum programs, we have so missed NYC's magnificent museums. More are opening each week for indoor family fun.
Masks, social distancing and advance timed tickets required. Capacity is capped at 25% which means no crowds. More flexibility for members so considering supporting your favorite spots.
We'll keep updating as more places open; sign up for our email list and follow our insta for the latest.
MUSEUMS
The Met
Upper East Side-80sExplore 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.
* Advance timed tickets required. On crowded days (or any day), enter through the accessible Uris Center for Education entrance on 81st Street to avoid longer lines.
* Walk like an Egyptian inside the Temple of Dendur…
The Met Cloisters
InwoodExplore 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…
Guggenheim
Upper East Side-80sSee exciting, well-designed exhibits in the striking Frank Lloyd Wright–designed rotunda of this landmark modern museum.
* So much to see – autonomous robots, oversized collages, hanging haybales, Kermit the frog, a wooly mammoth fossil, digital art and more – in the multimedia rotunda exhibition Countryside, The Future.
* Other highlights include bold works…
Museum of the City of New York
Upper East Side-90s+Explore 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
The Jewish Museum
Upper West Side-90sExplore 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 presented in thematic “scenes,” weaving together…
Whitney Museum of American Art
MeatpackingSee 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.
* Crafty kids can get inspiration from striking oversized works using weaving, sewing, textiles, thread,…
MoMA
Midtown-50sAlways exciting and decidedly kid-friendly, MoMA has spacious galleries and engaging exhibits.
* Feel the joy of the rainbow Sol Lewitt murals, relax in the lovely sculpture garden, see the very cool Donald Judd exhibit, explore the trippy world of Félix Fénéon in a new exhibit, see sparkly geometric sculptures from various angles and…
New Museum
Noho/NolitaAlways something interesting to see – or interact with – at Manhattan’s only dedicated contemporary art museum in a geometric building in a cool neighborhood.
* Exhibits are always changing – currently check our large scale portrait paintings in Jordan Casteel: Within Reach and immersive bio-art in Daiga Grantina: What Eats Around Itself.
…
Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM)
Upper West Side-80sExplore curated family experiences in one-hour-and-forty-five-minute session with limited capacity to allow increased space to safely explore, climb, move, and play.
Play, learn and imagine in Playworks and Adventures with Dora and Diego exhibits. Enjoy educator-led experiences such as storytime, singing and music.
Or explore Inside Art and Superpowered Metropolis exhibits with educator-led…
American Museum of Natural History
Upper West Side-70sLovers of dinosaurs, sea creatures, outer space and more can get their animal & nature fix at this giant (45 fascinating halls) treasure trove of wonders.
* Online advance timed ticket purchase required, even for members.
* Coat check, drinking fountains, IMAX Theater, Planetarium, Discovery Room and touchscreen/interactive elements all currently closed.
* Entrances at Central…
Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
Midtown-40sHistory/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 touch, climb and explore.
* The vast majority of the 350,000 square foot Intrepid Museum is available and accessible to visitors,…
American Kennel Club Museum of the Dog
Manhattan: MidtownDog-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. Current exhibit Presidential Dogs looks back on the different breeds of dogs that have lived at the White House from George Washington’s Foxhounds all the way to Bo and Sunny…
Brooklyn Children’s Museum
Brooklyn-WilliamsburgThis beloved children’s museum re-opens with two options.
In 90-minute Play Sessions, explore BCM’s signature exhibits including World Brooklyn, Neighborhood Nature, Totally Tots, Collections Central and The (outdoor) Nest. Space is limited to ensure that families can distance. Explore world cultures, visual arts, nature, animals and more in well-designed, interactive exhibits.
In ColorLab Sessions (10:30…
Wave Hill Family Art Project
BronxEnjoy nature-inspired art projects among gorgeous gardens and trees overlooking the Hudson River. Themes change weekly.
Takes place outside on a grassy hill so dress accordingly.
The number of families able to participate at any given time will be limited to about five. If you arrive and capacity is full, program staff will…
WESTCHESTER/HUDSON VALLEY MUSEUMS
Storm King Art Center
Hudson ValleyExperience large-scale sculpture and site-specific commissions under open sky at a gorgeous 500-acre outdoor museum in New York’s Hudson Valley (about a 1-hour drive from Manhattan).
* Currently an outdoor-only experience with limited amenities (bathrooms available).
* Prepare for lots of open air walking. Wear comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate layers. Go early to get the…
Hudson River Museum: Women to the Fore
Lower WestchesterSee paintings and drawings, prints and photographs, collage and sculpture from more than forty female-identifying artists, spanning one hundred and fifty years in Women to the Fore
* Also see Landscape Art and Virtual Travel, relax in the outdoor courtyard (bring your own mat or blanket if you’d like to lounge) and walk along a…
POP-UPS
Luminaries
FidiDance up on down giant stairs underneath a canopy of 650 ever changing rainbow hanging lanterns in the Winter Garden of a high end mall. Watch cool light shows to holiday music at the top of every hour.
Two touchless wishing stations allow visitors to send a motion-activated wish that will illuminate the canopy of…
Museum of Illusions
ChelseaWalk on walls, put your head on a platter and play with size and perspective in over a dozen interactive illusions. A small museum that can be explored in less than an hour. Blows most young minds.
Special $62 family ticket covers 2 adults & 2 children. Free kids under 2.
GIANT Open Studio
ChelseaBuild STEAM projects as a family. Play and make with creative tools including Rigamajig blocks and Clixo magnetic sets. Use fabrication machines including Laser Cut, 3D Printer, Sticker Maker, Button Maker, and Embroidery Machine with guidance from instructors.
Includes a complimentary pack of activities to take home and continue making.
The Greens
SeaportBook a socially distanced, heated rooftop cabin for seasonal food and signature cocktails on a rooftop overlooking the East River.
Cabins fit 2 to 10 and have classic winter cabin décor, virtual fireplaces, and floor-to-ceiling NYC views. Menu ($15-$30) features starters, artisanal comfort food, cheese fondue, dessert & a kids menu.
New reservation times released Monday mornings.
SHOWFIELDS
Noho/NolitaThe self-proclaimed “most interesting store in the world” features cool direct to consumer brands and rotating interactive art exhibits & brand-pop ups. Find a hidden slide to a floor with cool lighting and comfy seating. Hand sanitizer (in high-design dispensers) everywhere.
Attached coffee shop as hot chocolate with designer logos. More sweets at the nearby…
Edge
Midtown-30sLook 100 stories down from the highest outdoor sky deck in the Western Hemisphere with with 360-degree views of the Statue of Liberty, Central Park and beyond. Lean out over the city on angled glass walls and relax in a large lounge with food and drinks available for purchase.
Celestial
ChelseaSubmerge yourself in the sights, sounds and sensations of PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue in an immersive digital installation.
Inside Chelsea Market, also home to fun holiday decor and many delicious food options.
Get a $5 discount by signing up for their email list.
American Kennel Club Museum of the Dog
Manhattan: MidtownDog-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. Current exhibit Presidential Dogs looks back on the different breeds of dogs that have lived at the White House from George Washington’s Foxhounds all the way to Bo and Sunny…
The Winter Escape
QueensStroll through a series of immersive, multi-sensory floral filled installations. Pose for photo-ops in a Gingerbread Village, stop by smell a Candy Cane Rose Garden or snap an ‘elfie with Santa in his Jolly ‘olly, throne chair.
Also explore 47-acres of the longest continuously farmed site in New York State with a pumpkin patch, historic…
Museum of Ice Cream Pinkmas
SohoExplore an ice cream winter wonderland of holiday-themed spaces and installations. Enjoy special treats, festive surprises, and visit a whimsical shop for exclusive holiday merchandise. Dance, discover, and play in 13 interactive installations across 3 floors, a big sprinkle pool, a three-story slide plus eat lots of ice cream and other treats.
Purchase a $25…
NYBG Glow
BronxExplore a glowing world of color and light featuring the Haupt Conservatory as the centerpiece—its iconic exterior a glittering canvas.
* Washes of brilliant colors, thousands of dazzling lights installations fill the Reflecting Pool and enliven surrounding gardens and collections.
* Also enjoy artistic ice sculptures, music, roving dancers, plus more…
Color Factory
SohoTruly interactive colorful pop-up with fun activities and sweet treats in twelve unique rooms designed by different artists and a giant blue ball pit. An all-ages adventure for babies to grown-ups. Well designed, thoughtful and less crowded than many other pop-ups with activities, not just photo-ops (though plenty of those, and we love the strategically placed…
PUBLIC ART
Pumpkin Arch
SeaportTake a fall photo with a cool pumpkin arch framing a great river view. Frighteningly excellent drinks for grown-ups available at the Heineken Riverdeck Garden Bar and grab a bite to eat at Malibu Farm, The Fulton, or Cobble & Co. All restaurants…
King Nyani
Midtown-30sNestle in the hand of King Nyani, a 23 ft long bronze gorilla sculpture by world-renowned public artists Gillie and Marc Schattner. Nyani will lounge in Bella Abzug Park, already a colorful, engaging place to play, near Hudson Yards for 11 months to bring awareness and raise funds for the critically endangered gorilla species through…
Ruth Bader Ginsburg Mural
East VillageSee a colorful three-story-tall celebrating RBG’s life and achievements by New York-based street artist “Elle.” Look for the Statue of Liberty and the Brooklyn Bridge among symbols representing this born-in-Brooklyn hero.
Sam Moyer: Doors For Doris
Central ParkTry to open massive stone doors in a massive three-part sculpture on the southeastern edge of Central Park. Moyer’s hybrid sculpture unites imported stone with rock indigenous to the New York region with beautiful inlaid marble fragments. The title pays homage to Public Art Fund founder, Doris C. Freedman (1928-1981)
Peace, Love & Happiness/Ziggy
SeaportCome together and heal through art with this sculpture at the Seaport by Scott Gerber, artist and founder of Tube Dude. The “Peace Sign” is a signal to viewers to bring calm to one’s mind. By crafting the “Heart”, Gerber urges the viewer to be kind and spread love to those who are suffering. The…
Vessel
Midtown-30s* Climb 154 intricately interconnecting flights of stairs — almost 2,500 individual steps and 80 landings -to incredible views of the city, the river and beyond. Not for those averse to physical exertion or heights. Elevator available only for disabled visitors.
* Same day tickets available at onsite interactive kiosks on a first come, first…
Queens Botanical Garden
Queens-CoronaExplore lovely gardens in a 39-acre oasis in one of New York City’s most bustling and diverse neighborhoods. Look for site-specific art throughout the garden including ocean conservation-focused exhibition With Every Fiber of Our Being with hand-embroidered portraits of underwater life on upcycled canvases.
Dimensionism 2.0 2.0
SohoInteraCt with Yasuo Nomura’s large colorful cube uses optical phenomena to allow viewers to experience a new way of perceiving dimension. Super friendly staff with help you play with perception.