NYC Carousels: Get Merry and Go Around

[UPDATED: May 24, 2013] There's something wonderfully nostalgic about kids getting a thrill from a ride on a carousel. There are many merry-go-rounds in our great city, with two new ones slated to open soon, plus the reopening of the long closed Forest Park Carousel.

Carousels have a long and lovely history in NYC. (You can read all about it and see some wonderful vintage photographs on the Parks Department's website.) With spring in full swing, it's a great time to take your first spin of the season. There are merry-go-rounds in all five boroughs, which means there's probably one near you.

Manhattan

Le Carrousel – Midtown West
Bryant Park, 40th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues
Open year-round. Hours vary. $2.
This petite, European-style merry-go-round features a menagerie of animals in addition to horses. It spins very slowly to French cabaret music, making it ideal for younger children.

Central Park Carousel – Central Park
Mid-park at 64th Street
Open daily April-October, weekends November-March. Hours vary. $2.50.
All NYC families know about this famed merry-go-round. With nearly life-size horses, it's one of the biggest in the country. It goes surprisingly fast, so consider riding in one of the chariots if your kid's not a speed freak.

Pier 62 Carousel – Chelsea
Hudson River Park, Pier 62, 23rd Street at the Hudson River
Closed in winter. Hours vary. $2.
Kids can take a whirl alongside the Hudson on one of the beautifully carved animals, most indigenous to our area (Atlantic sturgeon, harbor seal, horseshoe crab—we're guessing the butterfly unicorn's not from around here). A green roof decorated with twinkling LED lights adds to the magic.

Totally Kid Carousel – Harlem
Riverbank State Park, enter at Riverside Drive and 145th Street
Open June-October. Hours vary. $1.
Local artist Milo Mottola built this funky carousel. The designs were all based on children's drawings of animals, making it truly one of a kind. It's a gorgeous merry-go-round, and offers stunning views of the Hudson River and the George Washington Bridge. Be warned: The hours are sporadic, even in the summer.

SeaGlass – Battery Park City
Scheduled to open in October 2013. Visit thebattery.org for updates.
This aquatic-themed carousel is shaping up to be absolutely stunning. Kids don't sit on fish; they ride inside gorgeous sea creatures. Definitely click through to see the photos!

Brooklyn

Prospect Park Carousel – Prospect Heights
Use Willink park entrance, at Ocean and Flatbush Avenues and Empire Boulevard
Open weekends March 23-Memorial Day weekend at which point it's open daily through October. Hours vary. $2.
Almost as famous as its Central Park counterpart, this classic carousel, featuring 53 carved animals, is open for its 100th season! It's also wheelchair accessible.

Jane's Carousel – Dumbo
Empire-Fulton Ferry Park in Brooklyn Bridge Park
Open year-round. Hours vary. $2.
It was a project that took years and millions of dollars. But as of September 16, 2011, Jane's Carousel—formerly on stationary display in a gallery at 56 Water Street—is installed and spinning at Brooklyn Bridge Park.

B&B Carousell – Coney Island
Steeplechase Plaza, the boardwalk between West 16th and West 19th Streets
Open daily Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend; weekends in September and October. $3.
Built in 1919, this historic relic from Coney Island's past was saved from the auction block by the Bloomberg administration in 2005. After a painstaking restoration process, the merry-go-round was installed in a pavilion with ocean views alongside the derelict Parachute Jump. It's the only ride on the west side of the boardwalk and a stone's throw from the Brooklyn Cyclones MCU Park.

Queens

Flushing Meadows Carousel – Flushing
Flushing Meadows Corona Park, enter at 111th Street and 55th Avenue
Open weekends March 23-Memorial Day weekend at which point it's open daily through October. Hours vary. $3.
This merry-go-round, which was cobbled together from two other carousels, debuted at the 1964 World's Fair. Some kids may enjoy the wind whipping through their hair, while others will be stoked to ride a giant lion. Bonus It's right by the Queens Zoo.

Forest Park Carousel – Forest Park
Woodhaven Boulevard and Forest Park Drive
Open weekends March 23-Memorial Day weekend at which point it's open daily through October. Hours vary. $3.
It's back! This merry-go-round closed back in 2008 when the operator and the city got into a disagreement over money, but thanks to a new operator, the carousel will be turning again beginning Memorial Day weekend. We look forward to checking it out!

Staten Island

Carousel for All Children – Staten Island
Willowbrook Park in the Greenbelt
Open Saturday, May 4-October. Weekly schedule varies. $1.50.
This gorgeous Victorian carousel really stands by its name by accommodating children with physical disabilities.

The Bronx

The Bug Carousel – The Bronx Zoo
Open year-round. Hours vary. $3. Included in Total Experience Ticket.
Don't get creeped out when your kids ride these giant insects. They're actually pretty cool.

Find out where else you can go round and round with our roundup of Long Island carousels.

Find more inexpensive or even free things to do this season in our Spring Fun Guide.