It’s a chilly end of the year and all parents are thinking the same thing, what to do with keen minds across the cold winter months. So, we’ve collected a bunch of indoor and outdoor suggestions, some busier and more popular than others but hopefully this helps all the parents and carers out there get through the winter!
Museums
There are plenty of museums in the city, but I’m sure we have all taken our kids to the big ones eg MoMA, Natural History Museum, MET. Here a few places you may not have been to that are worth checking out:
For the little ones, (under 9 years) a good go-to during bad weather is CMOM (Children’s Museum of Manhattan) on the Upper West Side. It offers hours of entertainment with 4 floors of fun activities. Kids can see the Dora exhibition, drive the big fire truck and NYC bus, play in the sand and visit the ever-changing exhibits on the ground and first floors. Please note there is no food allowed and there is no restaurant on site, so plan to go either side of lunchtime. Tickets for children & adults are $16 per person. Children under 1 year are free. It’s closed on Mondays.
Have you been to the Museum of Mathematics aka MoMath? It is a great hands-on museum which is a fun, educational experience. It’s located in Flatiron close to Eataly so the kids can have a great time at the museum and you can have a nice lunch. There is also a Lego store next door to Eataly. MoMath admission is $25 for adults, $20 for kids. It’s open 7 days, 10am – 5pm.
If you are wanting a little trip across the Hudson, The Liberty Science Center in Jersey City gets excellent reviews with lots of special exhibitions including Doc McStuffins and Sherlock Holmes. Plus all the usual fun Science activities on offer. It’s closed Mondays. Admission is from $29.99 for adults, $24.99 for kids. Special Exhibitions are a small additional charge.
If you have a lover of trains, then you are in luck. In Brooklyn, you will find the New York Transit Museum. Travel back in time on old subway trains and learn about transport history over the past 100 years. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for kids. Open Thursdays through Sundays, 10am to 4pm.
Another transport inspired option is the Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum. There’s so much to see and it’s very kid friendly. There is a lot of space onboard the Intrepid so you can bring your stroller. Adult (13-64) $33 / Senior (65+) $31 / Child (5-12) $24. Children 4 and under receive free admission.
If you’re a member of the New York, Brooklyn or Queens Public Library, you can get free admission to Children’s Museum of Manhattan, the New York Transit Museum and the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum with Culture Pass NYC. You’ll need to reserve a ticket in advance of your visit. Also be sure to check out the perks through NYC ID.
Shopping Adventures and Sights
If you’re looking for something other than a museum, I sometimes take the kids to Rockefeller Center. There’s so much to do and see. Start with the Lego store, move on to American Girl and then finish at the Nintendo store. All three stores have lots of hands-on activities and you can find plenty of food options in the Rockefeller Center.
Ice Skating
Chances are you are familiar with the many different options for ice skating across the city but here is a collection of them for ease of reference.
Bryant Park ice skating rink is open until the 5th March 2023. It’s free for those who own a pair of stakes but for everyone else prices start at $15.
Governors Island is one of my favorites places in the whole city and probably deserves it’s own heading for entertaining children, but during winter they offer ice skating Thursday through to Sunday. More details available here. Governors Island Winter Village also offers fire pits & lawn games, Thursday-Sunday, and sled and bike rentals daily.
Perhaps the most famous of all is Wollman Rink in Central Park. Open 7 days tickets start at $35 for adults and $10 for children (ages 2-12). Smaller ice rinks are also at Brookfield Place, albeit limited availability, and the Rockefeller Center which provide better options if you are interested in watching the kids from a small distance.
If you have tips and tricks you’d like to share to keep the kids entertained this winter, share them with us in the comments below!
Stay warm my friends and enjoy these fun kids activities all over the city.
AWNY | Australian Women in New York 