Parties

While there are a ton of family-friendly NYC boat tours, there are, surprisingly, only a handful of companies that have cruises that cater specifically to kids. Both the Circle Line, which launched its Kids' Cruise series in 2012, and Kiddie Cruises offer regularly scheduled seasonal boat trips in New York Harbor that feature kids' entertainment and activities in addition to stunning views. And a few other companies offer boats for charter, in case you're in the market for a private party on the high seas (a.k.a. the Hudson River).

The pay-per-kid party packages include all of the usual fun like face painting, live music and magicians, plus a couple of extra bells and whistles. All you need to do is book in advance, climb the gangplank with your crew and bring along a cake.

Back in 2010, we posted our first roundup of cool Queens party places, including favorites like Astoria Sports Complex and the Queens Zoo. But there are so many other awesome birthday spots in the borough—including a few that recently opened like Astoria's Kids Playhouse and Oliloli Studio in Forest Hills—that we decided to do a second post with 10 more options.

These Queens birthday party places cater to all kinds of kids, from active to artsy to animal lovers. And as a Queens mom with two children myself, I've been to many of these spots personally. You can find additional birthday inspiration in our Party Guide.