33 Spring Staycations and Spring Day Trips from NYC for Families

Hop the ferry to Governors Island to explore all the island has to offer. Photo by Diana Kim

These spring day trips from the NYC metro area are the perfect antidote to winter-induced stir-craziness. Whether you're looking for a fun way to fill the spring break holiday, or your family just needs a collective getaway, having this list of 28 spring day trips from NYC at your fingertips provides plenty of daycation inspiration.

From hiking to smelling the blooms and strolling amid sculpture gardens, there is something on this list of spring day trips from the NYC metro area for everyone. Since we have a low tolerance for driving, all of these spring day trips are an easy drive from New York City. Find more seasonal inspiration in our Guide to Spring Activities and travel ideas in our Guide to Weekend Getaways.

Park Slope Restaurants: Where to Eat With Kids

Terre is a Park Slope neighborhood gem that's a great place for a family meal or incredibly scrumptious gelato.

Brownstone-lined Park Slope has long been known for its family-friendly vibe, boasting plenty of fun indoor play spots, playgrounds, kid events—and great Brooklyn eats. We've pulled together this list of family-friendly Park Slope restaurants perfect for locals or those visiting the area after an energy-burning romp in Prospect Park.

Our curated list of Park Slope restaurants includes the best dining spots for kid staples like pizza, tacos, and gelato, but also more exotic fare for adventurous NYC eaters. Plus we tell you who has highchairs and where the baby changing tables are (and are not). Read on and you might just discover your new go-to Brooklyn eatery.

Dumbo With Kids: 50 Fun Things to Do for Families

Take a joy ride through history on the century-old Jane's Carousel Photo by Matt Nighswander

The Brooklyn waterfront neighborhood of Dumbo is a draw for both visiting tourists and locals eager to enjoy the water and city views, family-friendly restaurants, shops, and plenty of outdoor activities. Located between the famous Manhattan Bridge (which lends its moniker: Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass) and Brooklyn Bridge, this neighborhood offers stunning views of lower Manhattan, cobblestone streets, and experiences varied enough to keep the whole family entertained.

The neighborhood's crown jewel is Brooklyn Bridge Park—a stunning waterfront park that boasts lovely walking paths, playgrounds, roller skating, kayaking, and impressive sports facilities—but this eclectic area also offers an abundance of delicious eats, scores of beautiful shops, indoor play spaces for kids, and so much more. Read on for 50 things to see, do, and explore with kids in Dumbo.

25 Outdoor Adventures for NYC Kids to Enjoy

Explore the enchanted gardens at Wave HIll, which plans to reopen soon. Photo courtesy of Wave Hill

One of the main reasons we're willing to deal with the challenges of raising kids in NYC (the crazy rent, the stressful school searches, the closets for apartments) is our easy access to enriching cultural activities like world-class theater and spectacular museums. But, when it's time for some good old-fashioned outdoor fun, New York can be equally enriching. The city offers a range of bucolic parks and outdoor destinations where kids can get busy playing outside, all without leaving the five boroughs.

From fishing to hiking to exploring off-the-beaten-path parks, here are 25 outdoor activities for your summer 2020 staycation. Some are FREE, most are accessible by public transportation, and we guarantee that they are all tons of fun.

Kid-Approved Rockaway Beach Restaurants

Adults can sip drinks by the ocean while kids can get fancy "virgin" style drinks at Bungalow Bar.

Headed to the family-friendly beaches of the Rockaways this weekend? Be sure to pack an appetite along with your bathing suits. Queens' Rockaway dishes up plenty of options. You'll find typical beach fare of course, with hot dogs and burgers aplenty, but the area has also earned a reputation with foodies for its more adventurous eats. Whether you're looking for the best eats on the boardwalk or a delicious dinner to cap off a day of splashing in the waves, here are the best places to eat in the Rockaways with kids. 

Where to Eat With Kids in Dumbo

 The Margherita pizza at Juliana's is a winner. Photo courtesy of the restaurant

Cool and hip Dumbo is one of our favorite neighborhoods in Brooklyn, where international families and old-time New Yorkers come together. And one thing this eclectic population does well is eat.

While there is a vibrant late-night scene in this bustling enclave, it is also increasingly home to children and their families and restaurants that like serving them. Dining with kids in Dumbo means scrumptious food, often with breathtaking, one-of-a kind views of Manhattan. Our favorite eateries fall into three essential-to-life-with-children categories: pizza, lunch or brunch, and dessert. 

So whether you're visiting the nabe to check out all that Brooklyn Bridge Park has to offer (like a carousel, destination-worthy playgrounds, and wide-open green spaces), or you're a recent transplant to the hood, you'll want to try out these family-friendly places to eat in Dumbo.

Prospect Park in Brooklyn: 25 Best Things to Do with Kids

Cool off at the monumental splash pad at LeFrak Center in Prospect Park. Photo by Michael Moran for the Prospect Park Alliance

Prospect Park, a 585-acre oasis adjacent to Park Slope in Brooklyn, is home to the borough’s only forest, plus bird life galore, roller skating, biking, picnicking, sledding...You name it, Prospect Park's got it. When people ask if we have a backyard, my nature-loving son immediately exclaims, “Yes, it’s called Prospect Park!” For kids growing up in Brooklyn, it truly feels like an extension of home, a haven that satisfies our need for fresh air and fun, year-round.

Prospect Park was designed by Frederick Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, the same duo who designed Manhattan’s Central Park, and many consider Prospect Park their crowning achievement. Whether you want to hike, skate, boat, catch a concert, learn about nature, or just hit an awesome playground or splash pad for a few hours, Prospect Park welcomes you with green space aplenty.

Though the park offers countless activities and experiences all year long, this curated list of the top 25 things to do in Prospect Park with children showcases our true favorites.

25 Best Things to Do in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn with Kids

Prospect Heights is a small Brooklyn neighborhood that's in the middle of all the action. Nestled between Crown Heights, Boerum Hill, and Fort Greene, it's brownstone Brooklyn at its best, with tree-lined streets, eateries galore, and a mix of longtime residents and new transplants. Much like the rest of the borough, the community has seen its fair share of gentrification; however, it remains quite diverse, and is a wonderful place for families to live or visit.

An array of kid-friendly cafes, bars, restaurants and shops line Vanderbilt Avenue, and Washington Avenue is another thriving commercial strip. The southern periphery of Prospect Heights features some of Brooklyn’s most famous landmarks: the Brooklyn Museum and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden (also covered in our Crown Heights guide), along with the central branch of the Brooklyn Public Library and the northern edge of Prospect Park. Meanwhile, Barclays Center (also covered in our Fort Greene guide) is located in its northwestern corner.

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