Governors Island with Kids: Vintage Carnival Rides and What Else is New for 2013

This Memorial Day weekend Governors Island reopens for the season. It's truly my favorite summer destination in NYC. Whenever I go I think to myself, if they built condos here, I would totally want to buy one. (Thankfully, the island is considered a national monument, so not even Trump can get his hands on this real estate!)

This 172-acre oasis was once home to the U.S. Army and Coast Guard, and is full of quaint 19th-century houses, grassy hills and traffic-free bike paths. It's just a seven-minute ferry ride from lower Manhattan, but if you stand in a spot where the city skyline is out of view, you feel as if you've been transported to 1800s New England. In addition to being a fantastic place for families to relax and explore, the isle hosts lots of cool festivals and activities throughout the season, most of which are FREE. The ferry ride there is FREE, too.

For 2013, all of the big kid attractions will be back, including the opening day family festival, the Figment arts fest when the mini-golf course and Interactive Sculpture Garden debut, and the Children's Museum of the Arts Free Island Outpost. But there are also some really exciting new additions, notably a French festival of vintage carnival rides and carousels in July! Read on for the scoop on the very best things to do on Governors Island with kids this season.

The southern half of Governors Island, including Picnic Point, will be closed this season due to a massive overhaul that includes the creation of 30 new acres of park and public spaces. So all events and activities take place in the isle's Historic District. That said, you will be able to take hard hat tours of the construction site with members of the design team on select dates. The schedule will be posted later this season on the Governors Island calendar.

Play mini golf
The creative folks at the Figment arts collective design this annual staple, the only FREE miniature golf course in the city. It changes every year and always features wildly innovative holes, all designed by artists and usually fashioned out of recycled materials. "State of the Art" is the theme of the 2013 course, which will debut at the Figment Festival the weekend of June 8-9 on the Parade Grounds. You can check out the designs online. Having hit Figment's courses in years past, I want to note that they're usually more like interactive art installations than traditional mini golf. The holes are visually striking but hard to play. Plus many young visitors wander around, doing holes out of order. There will be ten holes in total: nine official ones plus a bonus hole. Open June 8-September 29. FREE

Explore the Interactive Sculpture Garden and other ongoing art exhibits
Figment is also behind Governors Island's annual Sculpture Garden on the Parade Grounds. (That's my daughter and her pal, posing in one of last year's works, a gigantic TV set.) There will be 11 brand-new sculptures this year, most interactive in some way, plus the super-popular TreeHouse returns for its third year. The kids just go wild for that one—I've lost my daughter in there many times. Open June 8-September 29. Of course, there will be lots of other art installations on the island. The ones that sound particularly interesting for kids include Shipwrecked! featuring artifacts discovered in NYC's harbors, and Studio Klimoski Chang Architects’ Head in the Clouds, which gives visitors a chance to romp inside a cloud-like structure. All of these exhibits are FREE

Enjoy an old-fashioned carnival
The most exciting new addition for families is a French festival of vintage carnival rides and carousels, which opens in mid-July in Nolan Park. As of now, further info isn't available but you can bet we'll be on it the minute we hear more!

Go bike riding
Since the southern part of the island is closed for construction, you won't be able to cycle the perimeter of the island down to Picnic Point like in the past. However, there are still multiple miles of flat, car-free cycling, which makes it perfect for kids. You can bring your bike on the ferry or rent one on the island from Bike and Roll. The shop even has a neat four-seat bike for families. On Memorial Day and Labor Day, Bike and Roll offers free one-hour rentals. Plus Bike New York will offer learn-to-ride lessons on select dates and the Skate Truck NYC will be on hand with roller-skate rentals on Sundays in June, July and August.

Make art with the Children's Museum of the Arts
The Soho institution runs a Free Art Island Outpost from 11am-3pm every Saturday and Sunday in Nolan Park. In recent years, my kid did lots of outdoor art projects, including helping to paint a communal mural and fashioning finger puppets. CMA will also screen short films in Building 11 and showcase children's artwork in Building 14. FREE

Challenge your brain
Academic fun on the isle? Why not? This year, there will be a Pop Up Library with books, learning activities and children's programming throughout the summer. Plus Mü-Math: The Mobile Unit to Promote Mathematical Thinking returns for a second year with hands-on math challenges for ages 8 and up.

Go fishing
Catch-and-release fishing is allowed in designated areas along the harbor. Kids can fish without a license but adults ages 16 and up need a valid NY State fishing license. They're inexpensive but they're not sold on the island. Click here for info on obtaining one. FREE for kids

Check out the cool castle
Castle Williams, royal as it looks, actually served as a military prison. You can take guided tours of the interior courtesy of the National Park Service. FREE

Attend an awesome special event
There are so many cool happenings at Governors Island, we can't possibly list them all. (Happily, the Governors Island calendar does that.) However, we've highlighted some of our favorite annual celebrations as well as new events that sound promising.
 

• Opening Day Family Festival – Saturday, May 25 noon-4pm
  Enjoy arts and crafts, storytelling, live performances by the kindie folk bands Astrograss and The Maybelles, a puppet show by Arm-of-the-Sea Theater, face painting, a bike helmet give away and harbor-themed fun. Note: The Figment mini-golf course and sculpture garden won't yet be installed but there's still plenty to do. FREE
   
• Figment Festival – Saturday, June 8-Sunday June 9 10am-6pm
  This is one of our top 25 annual festivals for families and frankly, it's my personal favorite. Although this scrappy arts fest isn't aimed at families, it's kid-friendly and super-engaging. In years past, my child has danced in a G-rated outdoor rave, scored a free costume, participated in various art projects and spent about an hour frolicking in a tent filled with rose petals. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own art—of any kind! For an idea of just how fun and funky Figment is, check out our slide show from 2011. This is also the weekend the mini-golf course and the Interactive Sculpture Garden debut. Warning: Catch an early ferry! Last year, so many people tried to come in the afternoon they canceled the later ones. FREE
   
• Come Out & Play Field Day and Family Day – Saturday, July 13 Saturday, July 13
  Part of the River to River Festival, this annual interactive event is like a big collaborative all-ages playdate. Try new games or new takes on old standards. You can even submit your own game ideas. FREE
   
• The City of Water Day – Saturday, July 20 11am-5pm
  Celebrate our city's wonderful waterfront with boat tours, fishing, a fair and more. I went last year with my daughter and just loved it. We even got to hoist a sail on the Clearwater Sloop! Note: If you want to take any of the boat tours, you'll need to register online in advance. FREE
   
• New York Hall of Science presents Designing for Flight – Sunday, July 28 noon-4pm
  Kids can learn about the design and science involved in flight. Bring your own kites to fly, catch demos by NYSCI educators and create your own flying machines. FREE
   
• NYC Unicycle Festival – Saturday, August 31-Sunday September 1 noon-5pm
  The Bindlestiff Family Cirkus founded this offbeat fest, where kids can marvel at unicycle basketball and hockey, races, obstacle courses and even learn to ride one.

Just relax
Seriously. You don't always have to be doing something. Hang out in the hammocks, Adirondack chairs, oversize swings or at the tables (assuming you can snag one). Or bring your own food and a blanket and dine on the grass. It's a great place to picnic.

Governors Island is open every Saturday, Sunday and holiday Monday from May 25-September 29 10am-7pm. Free ferries regularly run to and from Governors Island from lower Manhattan and Brooklyn. Plus, the East River Ferry stops at Governors Island on weekends although it's not free.

Find more great seasonal activities in our Summer Fun Guide.