Itineraries

Chelsea has changed a lot over the past few decades. Back in the '80s, its streets were run-down and desolate, but in the '90s an influx of artists and gay professionals helped kick-start the area's transformation. Today, Chelsea is a mix of the old and the new. Rows of charming historic townhouses and housing developments stand across from luxury high-rises, and veteran residents rub shoulders with families who've moved here for its fantastic amenities. You'll find megastores on the avenues and high-end children's boutiques on the side streets; a slew of kid-friendly restaurants and eclectic art galleries; massive athletics complex Chelsea Piers; NYC landmarks like Chelsea Market and The High Line; and popular indoor and outdoor romping spots like appleseeds play space, Chelsea Waterside Park and Seal Park.

Throughout May we'll be taking an in-depth look at all Chelsea has to offer local and visiting families. Although Chelsea's boundaries are difficult to define, for the purposes of our posts we'll be covering 14th to 30th Streets, Fifth Avenue to the Hudson River. Here are our top 50 things to do with kids in Chelsea, NYC.

Dumbo has long been one of our favorite areas to roam, and throughout April we'll be exploring the neighborhood's best places to eat, shop and play with kids.

Short for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass, Dumbo is a cool artsy area located mainly between the majestic Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges, and spilling a bit further East. This former industrial nabe is now a cultural hot spot filled with lots of family attractions, including the stunning waterfront Brooklyn Bridge Park, which is home to Jane's Carousel, treat spots like Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory and Dewey's Candy Store, adorable children's boutiques, family-friendly restaurants, and lots of opportunities for kids to enjoy movies, music and art, or get creative themselves. So many families have moved to the area over the past decade, it even has a very active Dumbo Parents Organization listserv.

Although you can get to Dumbo by subway (the A or C to High Street or the F to York Street are the closest stops), walking or biking across the Brooklyn Bridge, or taking a Water Taxi or the East River Ferry will get you closer and they are all more picturesque journeys. From Jay to Old Fulton Streets, Prospect Street to the East River, here are our top 40 things to do with kids in Dumbo.

The bankers and the artists may get all the press, but NYC is a great city for science too. There are many wondrous places in New York where kids can soak up, explore and create scientific knowledge for themselves. From Science Museums, Programs, Shops and more, we've rounded up the best places for kids to get scientific in New York City.

And we're not talking about Paris Hilton. We're talking about the real kind of princesses??”the little ones. Yes, I know some parents frown on encouraging little girls to overload on tulle and Disney, but in my experience this is a phase that should be enjoyed while it lasts, because around first or second grade the dressing up stops and there'll be no more pictures of those chubby little faces peeking out from crooked tiaras and sequined tutus. Whether your little princess hails from New York or you are visiting royalty, here's a list of activities for creating the Ultimate Princess Weekend in New York City for your little girl. (Warning this post could be dangerous to your wallet. Extreme caution is advised when planning on indulging your little girl's every fantasy. Do not attempt all of the following in one weekend. Mommy Poppins takes no responsibility for damages incurred by hysterically happy little girls or exhausted, broke parents.)

NYC is constantly changing, but one neighborhood that's undergone a particularly striking transformation is Harlem. Like most residents who have lived here for a while (or all their lives), I have mixed feelings about the influx of luxury condos, chain stores and high-priced restaurants. But one thing I don't feel conflicted about is raising my kid here. In many ways, Harlem reminds me of my youth on the Upper West Side: beautiful tree-lined brownstone blocks next to big apartment buildings, lots of parks to play in, and a multicultural community where neighbors stop and chat with you even if they don't know your name. Of course back in my day, we didn't have online groups like Harlem4Kids, where local families trade parenting info, kids' items and passionate messages. (Such is life on lively listservs.)

Throughout March, we'll be focusing on all that Harlem has to offer families, both residents and visitors. For the purposes of our posts, our geographical boundaries are 110th to 160th Streets from Manhattan to Fifth Avenues, and 125th to 160th Streets from Riverside Drive to Fifth Avenue. (Sorry East Harlem! We'll get you next time.) We have lots of posts about Harlem coming up that will go more in depth on specific topics, like places to play, family-friendly restaurants, cool kids' classes and other local fun. But we're kicking off our month-long focus on Harlem with the top 50 things to do with kids in the neighborhood.