Spring Break in Manhattan: Activities Your Kids Will Love
Great Spring Break in Manhattan: Activities Your Kids Will Love
With the weather turning warmer and the kids off from school, spring break presents a great opportunity to create fun family memories that will last a lifetime. For those who can take the time away from work, or those who already call New York City home, there’s no better time to take a vacation or staycation with your little ones and show them the best this dynamic city has to offer.
Enjoy a Walk Along the High Line
There are few places in New York where you can fully appreciate the city’s majesty like the High Line. This elevated park on Manhattan’s west side is perfect for families eager to stretch their legs after a long plane ride and for anyone eager to take in the sights of the city while enjoying a relaxing stroll. Not only can you enjoy some energizing exercise, family-friendly programming, like live music, storytelling, and craft workshops, make this an easy and inexpensive addition to any trip.
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Explore the Children’s Museum of Manhattan | 212 West 82rd Street
While the Met might not appreciate you touching the art, the Children’s Museum of Manhattan is a decidedly hands-on experience. This spring, little ones can enjoy exhibits on the exciting culture and art of Tokyo, Muslim culture and architecture around the world, and get their giggles out by feeding handwritten letters to the museum’s resident talking dragon.
Get tickets to Stomp | 126 2nd Avenue
After a day spent exploring the artsy East Village, end your evening with a bang by hitting up the Orpheum Theater for a showing of Stomp. This exciting show makes music out of the most mundane objects, from brooms to trash cans, and makes for a lively performance kids of all ages can appreciate.
Learn at The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum | Pier 86
Boats and planes and submarines, oh my! If your little ones are eager to learn about the vessels that carry our armed servicemen and women while exploring a real-live aircraft carrier, the Intrepid is sure to delight. In addition to checking out the aircrafts and seafaring vessels, little ones can also enjoy flight simulators, educational workshops, and explore hands-on exhibits at the Intrepid’s Exploreum Hall.
Get out some energy at Chelsea Piers | 62 Chelsea Piers
If the long trip to New York has left your kids with some excess energy, help them burn it off with a trip to Chelsea Piers. Activities like ice skating, soccer, gymnastics, bowling, and yoga are available for families eager to add some fun physical activity to their trip.
Celebrate nature at the American Museum of Natural History | 79th Street and Central Park West
Widely regarded as the best natural history museum in the world, the American Museum of Natural History is sure to delight children and adults in equal measure. From massive dinosaur skeletons positioned to pounce to taxidermied scenes of the world’s most magnificent beasts, from giraffes to giant squid, the Natural History Museum is a stunning tribute to the wonders of the natural world that parents and kids will be eager to visit time and time again.
Check out the Empire State Building’s Observation Deck | 350 Fifth Avenue
It’s no shock that New York is a massive place, but it’s hard to gauge the sheer size of the city until you’ve experienced it from the Empire State Building’s Observation Deck. Enjoy views of iconic sights, like the Chrysler Building, Statue of Liberty, and the Brooklyn Bridge from your perch over 1,000 feet in the air.
Catch a performance of Aladdin on Broadway | 214 West 42nd Street
Bring the magic of your children’s favorite Disney movie alive with tickets to the Aladdin musical. This energetic show combines song, dance, stunning costumes, and the classic characters and story your kids love in a single thrilling performance.
Dinner at Jekyll & Hyde Club | 91 7th Avenue South
Don’t make your kids suffer through another stuffy restaurant meal; instead, treat them to some scares with their snacks by taking them to dinner and a show at the Jekyll & Hyde Club in the Village. Spooky décor, dinner theatre, and horror-themed food make for an exciting meal your kids will gush to their friends at home about.
Visit the Animals at the Central Park Zoo | 64th Street and Fifth Avenue
Who says that the only wildlife in New York are the pigeons and squirrels? At the Central Park Zoo, your whole family can visit some of nature’s most majestic creatures, from snow leopards to red pandas, peacocks to penguins. Little ones can also explore the zoo’s exciting 4D theater, as well as catching regular animal feedings throughout the day.
Dylan’s Candy Bar | 1011 Third Avenue
What’s a vacation without a little junk food? Treat your kids to the ultimate sugar rush with a trip to Dylan’s Candy Bar. This sugar mecca is home to thousands of varieties of candies in all shapes and sizes, from itty-bitty packets of Nerds to oversized chocolate bars. Pick up some sweet treats and enjoy the shop’s equally sugary soundtrack — the store blasts hits like “Candy Girl” and “Sugar, Sugar” all day long.
Whether you’re in town for a few days or a few weeks, there’s never a lack of family-friendly activities to explore with your children in New York. Check out these exciting plays, museums, parks, and eateries and make this spring break a vacation you won’t soon forget.
