Welcome to the city that never sleeps, New York City!

It’s the one and the only. The most fantastic city in the world.

That’s what movies and people who live in the Big Apple say.

Even Frank Sinatra made a song about it.

But if you still doubt that New York is one of the best places to be, check out this list of things to do in N.Y.C.

Even if you don’t believe it is the best city, it is nothing short of being a great holiday destination for the family.

And to help you plan your family vacation to N.Y.C., here are some of the best things you should enjoy with your kids in the city that never sleeps.

1. Staten Island Ferry

Wherever you go, the Staten Island Ferry appears as one of the top tourist must-do in New York.

Well, there’s a good reason for it.

The 25-minute ride allows you to appreciate the Statue of Liberty and the New York Harbor like no other.

The kids are also guaranteed to enjoy the ferry ride.

On your way back, make sure to visit the St. George neighborhood for you to take photos of its historic architecture.

And on your way back, you should also check out the St. George neighborhood for some more picturesque frames.

1. Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island

One of the first things that come to mind when mentioning New York is the Statue of Liberty.

The iconic statue is one of the most visited spots in N.Y.C.

At the pedestal, kids can enjoy an audio tour.

Learn about the history of the Statue of Liberty and the island.

There are also interactive exhibits that anyone can enjoy.

Anyone taller than four feet may climb up to the statue’s crown.

A trip to Ellis Island is necessary when visiting the Statue of Liberty.

On Ellis Island, the immigration museum is one of the top destinations for kids to explore.

The museum offers entertaining and educational insights into the history of immigrating to the land of opportunities.

1. One World Observatory

If you want a place for kids to have fun in N.Y.C., never go wrong with One World Observatory.

It is not just one of the tallest buildings but also home to one of the fastest elevators in the world.

On the 100th floor, H.D. video screens give you a bird’s eye view of N.Y.C. and the Sky Portal.

The trip to the Empire State is an experience not only kids but grown-ups will surely love.

1. South Street Seaport Museum

After being severely damaged by Hurricane Sandy, the museum survived and reopened.

It features various exhibits about ships and boats and U.S. maritime history.

There are five historic ships anchored in the museum that you can learn about.

If you want a family-friendly activity, try learning how to do letterpress with your kids.

There are other interactive activities as well for your whole family to enjoy.

After that, feel like a seafarer in an excursion boat as you take the Harbor tour.

1. Children’s Museum of the Arts

What’s more suited for kids to enjoy than a museum designed for them?

The Children’s Museum of the arts spans 10,000 square feet.

It offers many activities such as art workshops for kids.

The museum also features thousands of paintings and portraits done by other kids.

1. New York City Fire Museum

Visit N.Y.C. Fire Museum for another educational and fun tour for your kids.

The museum is in the Beaux Arts Building in Soho, a historical place from the 1900s.

The museum displays vintage equipment of the fire department as an art installation.

But more than that, the museum also advocates for fire safety and conducts fire drills for the young ones to learn.

You can also learn about New York City firefighters and their history.

1. Chelsea Piers Sports and Entertainment Complex

If you are in the mood for some sport, this one’s for you.

Located on three piers of the Hudson River, the sports complex covers 28 acres in total.

It also contains an 80,000-square-foot field house, a bowling alley, a pool, a driving range, and a skating rink!

The complex is open throughout the year.

There is also a 52,000-square feet outpost right behind Chelsea Piers.

1. National Museum of Mathematics

Want your child to grow up not afraid of maths? This museum is the answer.

It is one of the underrated tourist destinations that packs excellent stuff to explore.

The museum exhibits how math, science, and technology are applied daily.

There is the quirky square-wheeled tricycle and brainteasers that will make you love math.

If you are not a math person, you can still enjoy the art in this museum.

They also offer a digital canvas painting you can experience.

1. Empire State Building

If you are in New York, you should visit the Empire State.

It is non-negotiable.

It is a must-see and must-try when visiting N.Y.C. with your kids.

There is the observatory on the 102nd floor, which is aesthetically superb.

Savor the panoramic view of N.Y.C. at some 1,200 feet above.

You can also enjoy the Manhattan skyline without going there.

1. New York Public Library

Books. Building. The Best.

Nothing could go wrong if you visit New York Public Library.

You should check out the Rose Main Reading Room on Fifth Avenue and be prepared to be captivated.

The architecture is a feast for the eyes. And the interior design is superb.

You also get to meet Patience and Fortitude.

Who are they?

The two are the well-known marble lions at the entrance of the library.

The kids can also enjoy the luxury of a children’s book in a separate room dedicated to them.

Plus: They can also meet Winnie the Pooh!

1. Bryant Park

If you plan to visit N.Y.C. during the winter, this is one of the best places to experience.

The park’s ice-skating rink is open from 8:00 am to 10:00 pm.

You can block a spot for your kids and let them enjoy skating.

And the best part is, you can enjoy the family bonding with a hot cup of cocoa.

1. The New Victory Theater

Performing arts dedicated to entertaining the kids? It’s New York Victory Theater.

By visiting this non-profit theatre, you give back and enjoy it simultaneously.

It has a touch of a circus that kids will surely enjoy.

They also have an autism-friendly show that alerts the audience before low lighting and loud noises occur on stage.

The theatre is a treat in theatre, dance, and music that everyone has to experience.

1. Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum

The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum is best for aviation and naval enthusiasts – kids and grown-ups alike.

The museum is in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood.

As the name suggests, it carries many stories about American history, whether about sea, air, or space.

And it is home to the historic aircraft carrier Intrepid that survived World War II.

Imagine that!

The trip is like time-traveling back into history.

It will fill you with pride, nostalgia, and a fair amount of patriotism.

The museum also houses many aircraft, submarines, and other national treasures relevant to everyone.

1. SPYSCAPE

Your kids indeed loved the 2001 blockbuster Spy Kids.

That is why they will also love SPYSCAPE.

The experiential museum opened in 2018 in midtown New York.

It has galleries on espionage and child-friendly activities that they can do for hours.

Let them channel their inner James Bond and Kim Possible in solving their way through spy-themed puzzles and laser mazes.

Your kids will surely love to overcome their Mission Impossible.

1. Roosevelt Island and Tram

Go vintage with the Roosevelt Island Tramway.

It is a rare mode of transportation that you can take when visiting the island.

About two miles long, the tramway runs over the East River towards Roosevelt Island.

Once on the island, you can go to Southpoint Park or the North Point Lighthouse. (There’s no wrong option!)

You can also visit the Franklin D Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park, designed by Louis Kahn and gives you a scenic view of Manhattan.

1. Central Park

Central Park is a must when discussing visiting N.Y.C. with kids.

Central Park, designed by Fredrick Law Olmsted, is the most-visited urban park in the U.S.

The park got it all if you want to relax, explore, or take some pics.

Your kids can enjoy the historic carousel near the Dairy or the recently renovated Belvedere Castle.

There are statues, animals, gardens, and a lot more to stroll around the park.

Enjoy a ride through the park’s entire loop and take many pictures.

1. DiMenna Children’s History Museum

Another museum on this list, the DiMenna Children’s History Museum, is located inside the New York Historical Society.

The museum contains a fair share of lessons on history even in its smaller space.

The area is ideal for young people as it covers topics on icons such as Alexander Hamilton.

There are shows and actors too.

DiMenna is an excellent way for young teens to understand the history of N.Y.C.

1. American Museum of Natural History

For your little Indiana Jones, this place is a paradise for tourists to explore.

Get the Kids’ Guide and fill your day with extraordinary exploration.

See your tots’ thrill as you walk through the world’s most extensive collection of dinosaurs.

Bring your kids aged 5-12 to the Discovery Room and enjoy the scientific process of looking at the specimens and artifacts.

And for a trip to outer space, visit the famous Hayden planetarium.

1. Children’s Museum of Manhattan

The Children’s Museum of Manhattan is to the rescue if you are near Central Park and in the mood for something indoors.

The museum brims with child-appropriate interactive exhibits.

The Children’s Museum advocates teaching children the value of education, creativity, and culture.

Your toddlers can participate in dancing and performing, among other activities they can enjoy.

1. Sugar Hill Children’s Museum of Art & Storytelling

When in Harlem, this unique museum is a must-see.

The Sugar Hill Children’s Museum of Art & Storytelling, designed by architect David Adjaye, stretches to some 17,000 square feet on two stories.

Pique your child’s interests in art and literature with workshops and other activities they can immerse into.

There are storytelling series and art exhibitions annually dedicated to teaching kids three to eight.

1. New York Botanical Garden

For nature lovers, New York Botanical Garden is a haven.

It showcases displays that are good for everyone.

Children should make their way through the twists and turns of the maze in the Everett Children’s Adventure.

And while they are busy, you can take a stroll and enjoy the view and might spot some birds too.

Don’t forget to visit Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden for its world-famous sustainable roses.

During winter, don’t miss the annual Holiday Train show for a memorable family experience.

1. Museum of the Moving Image

Your kids (and you) will love it here!

Check out Behind The Screen, a display showcasing artifacts from movies you grew up watching.

Yoda, Chewbacca, Big Bird, and many characters your kids love.

Children can participate in the interactive exhibits where they create their flipbooks and explore the art of sound effects.

There are also exhibits where they can make stop-motion animations.

Don’t miss out on Jim Henson’s original puppet exhibit too!

Fun fact: as fitting, the PBS Special Sesame Street filming was at the Kaufman Astoria Studios, which is very near the museum.

1. Queens Museum

Let’s go for Legos!

Treat your kids to a trip to The Panorama of the City of New York in the Queens Museum.

The display is a scaled model of the five boroughs of N.Y.C. made in 1964 for the World’s Fair.

There are also workshops for the whole family.

Build something together and rouse the artists within you.

1. New York Hall Of Science

Another gem from the 1964 World’s Fair.

The New York Hall of Science is for everyone, especially those who love Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.

It’s like a science playground for pre-schoolers and those who are S.T.E.M. subject enthusiasts.

If you want to see how math and physics come together, try their Sports Challenge, and see basketball from a new perspective.

In summer, there is also a water amenity in the indoor playground.

1. Brooklyn Bridge Park

The bridge park is over 1.3 miles long along the East River.

It occupies about 85 acres of exciting amenities for parents and their children.

Brooklyn Bridge Park has sections with six refurbished piers, each with its playground and activities.

One of the sought-after is the tour of Slide Mountain, roller skating at Pier 2, and the Empire Fulton Ferry’s vintage carousel.

To top it all off, visitors always admire the view of the Manhattan skyline from there.

1. New York Transit Museum

Busy traveling around the city, maybe it’s time to learn about the history of New York’s transit system.

This decommissioned subway station turned museum showcases interactive exhibits to teach tourists about the history of the subways.

Kids can learn about the operation and construction of the subway and transit systems in N.Y.C.

There are a collection of vintage subway cars and buses on display too.

It has a satellite location near the Grand Central Terminal and in Brooklyn.

1. LeFrak Center at Lakeside Prospect Park Brooklyn

For a fun skating day with the whole family, go to LeFrak Center.

The center offers winter ice skating and summer roller skating activities.

It has a variety of recreational activities you can do with your kids within its 75,000 square feet span.

Splash pads and over 40 sprinklers augment the hot summer days.

You are also free to bring your skating shoes or rent a pair.

1. Brooklyn Children’s Museum

The last museum on the list, but not the least.

Brooklyn Children’s Museum, founded on 1899, is the first museum created exclusively for toddlers and middle schoolers.

The award-winning museum holds a lot of lessons on history and the environment in which your kids should learn.

There are cute pint-sized shops at World Brooklyn where tots can act as shopkeepers and builders.

Be an environmentalist with diorama habitats and the greenhouse as you explore Neighborhood Nature.

The list goes on and on, and it’s best to find it out yourself.

1. New York Aquarium

When you think of fun, think of Coney Island.

Check out their New York Aquarium, which is open every day.

Gawp at the countless marine creatures featured there.

They also feature a new addition, the Ocean Wonders: Sharks that occupy over 57,000 square feet.

The exhibit is located on the boardwalk and highlights the saw-toothed predators and other underwater creatures.

1. Governors Island

We can’t fit everything on this list, but for the cherry on top, you mustn’t miss Governors Island.

The former military base turned into a 172-acre park full of playgrounds and winding paths.

It is 800 yards from Manhattan, and you can get through the island by ferry.

And as your Big Apple adventure ends, spoil your taste buds with some of the best food trucks in the city.

Sit back, relax, and enjoy the ocean breeze as the sun sets in the city that never sleeps.