The Best Things To Do With Kids In NYC
New York City is returning to normalcy as some of our favorite restaurants and playgrounds are opening their doors after being closed for nearly a year due to the pandemic. The island girl in me is excited about this and can’t wait to enjoy outdoor activities with the boys safely. As Aiden and Tyler’s school comes to an early closed, we can finally enjoy this summer a little more than last year.
I’ve compiled a list of some places to venture out during the summer break. While places like the Museum of Natural History, my boys love it there, The Statue of Liberty, The Vessel, Time Square, Coney Island, and the Bronx zoo would be the obvious choice for families to experience and enjoy with their kids. This list is my favorite thing to do with my kids every summer that I know they’d always enjoy.
Governors Island
Governor’s Island might be our favorite summer tradition and is on top of my list every summer. My boys love the idea of grabbing a ferry to head out to the Island. There’s plenty to see, do and enjoy as a family.
To visit the island, you can grab a ferry at 10 South Street in Manhattan. The Ferry from the city is convenient for most people because it goes to Governor’s Island on weekdays and weekends. If you are in the Brooklyn area like me, there is no ferry available during the week; however, you can grab one from pier 6 Brooklyn Bridge Park or Red Hook to head over to the island on the weekends. We are morning people, so we usually catch the 10 am ride and score free fare. A small fee of $3 is charged for adults after 11:15 am while kids are free.
My kids love the experience from start to finish, we usually take our bikes because they’re more than five miles of bike lanes, and bike rentals are easily found at Blazing Saddles. One other fun thing to do is have a picnic on the lawns. There are also food trucks located on the Island if you don’t want to go through the hassle of walking with picnic baskets.
I love the Hammock Grove Play area because I get to kick back and relax while my kids enjoy the nearby play structure where they get to climb around and live their best lives. There are also four giant slides, including the longest slide in NYC. My oldest and I also had the best time ziplining on Governor’s Island.
Whether you’re heading to enjoy entertainment or relax, Governor’s Island is perfect for families to have a fun, safe summer. I love it there; you can check out their website to buy tickets and see any additional activities for kids. I’m not aware of any new protocols as it relates to Covid other than social distancing. I will update you in a couple of weeks as we make our yearly summer visit.
Shirley Chisholm State Park
Last year we wanted to do something fun outdoors but remain safe since it was the height of the pandemic. We decided to visit Shirley Chisholm State Park, located here in Brooklyn. I am ashamed to say my 4th grader had to school me on Ms. Chisholm. Given the history of the Black Lives Movement last year, it was an honor to visit the park named after the first African American congresswoman and the first woman and African American to run for President.
Shirley Chisholm State Park is gorgeous, and every scenery is breathtaking. There are no playgrounds for the little ones to hang around, but if you’re looking for somewhere to explore with the kids, this place is perfect.
There are 10 miles off biking and incredible hiking trails. No bike, no problem. There is a Bike Library with loaner bikes when you visit the park for all ages. My husband and I enjoyed the beautiful waterfront as the kids rode their bikes. Picnic areas are set up along the paths as you explore the sites. This park has become our favorite, and I cannot wait to visit again. It is so peaceful. My boys had the most fantastic time, and they didn’t complain about the long walks. I‘d recommend going late evenings or before mid-day, as it becomes hot when the temperature rises.
Industry City
We were fortunate to visit Industry city last year before New York City went on complete lockdown. The boys had a great time at a free movie screening, “The missing link.” The setup was beautiful with pillows, blankets, and popcorns. It was truly amazing. Industry City occupies six large warehouses on the Sunset Park waterfront Brooklyn.
It is one of those places where there is a little bit of everything, beautiful shops, for shoppers, yummiest foods for food lovers, arts and kids friendly activities. Industry City Food Hall has many food options, like burgers, Thai, tacos pizza. While I always opt for Thai, my husband and kids love pizza and tacos. If you are a parent like me whose kids love to read, you must stop by powerhouse at Industry City. The whole experience is fun for both kids and adults.
Domino Park
Domino Park is beautiful; if you are in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, you have to visit this park. The playground's look is inspired by an actual sugar factory, making the area fun to explore. I cannot get enough of the park's unique structure. There’s beauty all around, and you can also get a great view of Manhattan from the other side.
My boys always have a good time at Domino Park. They eat ice cream, slide, and on hot days cool down in the sprinkler. Tacocino is located right there at the park in case you want to head for some delicious Tacos.
Brooklyn Park pier 6
I love Brooklyn, bridge park pier 6, hubby and I have to been going there with the boys since they were toddlers. We haven’t visited in a while (not entirely because of the pandemic). We explored newer places around the city. Brooklyn bridge park made this list because it is dear to our hearts, and I have many fond memories of the boys there.
Piers 1 to 6 run along the waterfront of Brooklyn Heights. There are fantastic playgrounds at pier 6, one with a massive rocket ship to climb on and the other with some swings, which are perfect for older kids. The water lab is a welcome favorite to splash around in on hot days.
If I am not in the mood to pack a picnic basket and relax at liberty lawn, the kids and I will grab lunch at Fornino restaurant. The salad is good, the pizza is terrific, and the kids love the Italian ice and ice cream. My boys would not leave Brooklyn bridge park without walking a bit further north to ride Jane Carousel. It’s a beautiful glass-enclosed carousel right on the water, with amazing views of NYC. Whether you live in NYC or visiting for the summer, we all deserve to have the best time outside this year.
Let me know in the comment some of your favorite places in NYC.
Have a safe summer, everyone. As I give my opinion on activities that occur with social distancing in place, please make the best decision to keep your family safe if you arrived at an event that appears too crowded.