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39 Free Things To Do Indoors in NYC: Free Places To Play Indoors on Cold and Rainy Days
Submitted by Yuliya Geikhman on
Fun, free indoor places to play in NYC are always a welcome diversion in our book, particularly when we're staring down another long northeastern winter. Entertaining the kids during this extended, chilly season isn't easy or cheap. We went hunting for free indoor places to play, fueled by our desire to escape our cramped New York City apartments. If your kids—like ours!—are bouncing off the walls and your wallet is screaming for a break after a holiday spending spree, we've got you covered. Check out our list of tried-and-tested free indoor places to play in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx for culture, fun, games, or just a much-needed change of scenery.
For more great, free indoor places to play, check out our NYC Kids' Guide to Free Fun, which is loaded with more ideas, outings, and parent-tested tips to save a buck.
Best Indoor Water Parks near NYC for a Warm Weather Getaway
Submitted by Stephanie Ogozalek on
Indoor water parks offer summertime-style family thrills year-round, and many are just a car ride away from the New York City metro area. With winter's chill upon us, many families look for ways to escape the city for a warmer locale, but jet-setting to a tropical island might not always be a possibility. Instead, stay a little closer to home and visit one of these indoor water parks in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and the Hudson Valley, which are sure to help beat the winter blues.
We've found 10 warm and wet indoor water parks nearby, perfect for kids and families, and all are less than 2½ hours from Midtown Manhattan. Most indoor water parks keep temperatures a hot and humid 85 degrees year-round, creating a perfect beach day in any season. So leave the sunscreen at home, dust off that bathing suit, and hit the water.
Check out our Guide to Day Trips and Weekend Getaways and Family Amusement Parks & Water Parks Guide for more destination inspiration.
New Year's Eve Weekend in New York City with Kids: Best Ways to Count Down to 2026
Submitted by Drew Kristofik on
Looking for the best things to do in New York City this New Year's Eve weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for this New Year's holiday weekend.
It's time to ring in 2026, and you don't have to stay up until midnight on Wednesday to get in on the fun. Teens can count down to the New Year by making origami fortune cookies at the NYPL, families can take a first-day hike in Central Park or Prospect Park to start the year on the right foot, or watch the Coney Island Polar Bear Club members take their annual frigid dip in the Atlantic.
We've got picks for fun lasting all through the long weekend below, plus more fun on our list of fun things to do between Christmas and New Year's. It's also the last chance to check out many of our favorite holiday happenings.
Free Kids Week Programming in NYC Parks
Submitted by Drew Kristofik on
If you need to stave off cabin fever during winter break, the New York City Parks Department has just the thing to get you out of the house. The Urban Park Rangers are hosting a slew of FREE “Kids Week” programs. Immerse your kids in the natural world.
28 Free and Fun Things To Do in NYC in January 2026 with Kids
Submitted by Drew Kristofik on
If your bank account needs a rest, fear not: We've found 28 FREE things to do in January to keep New York City families busy all month long.
Though most of the big holiday attractions in NYC are packing up the tinsel this month, January celebrations, including the Three Kings Day Parade in East Harlem and BAM's annual tribute to Martin Luther King Jr., are just around the corner. Plus, Battery Park City's KindieRock series kicks off at the end of January, so little ones have a warm spot to shake their sillies out, and skating fans (even beginners!) can help Wollman Rink break a World Record.
The Best Family-Friendly Openings of 2025—Plus What’s Coming in 2026 Across NYC, NJ & Beyond
Submitted by Jody Mercier on
The holiday hubub is mostly behind us—sugar cookie crumbs and piles of presents still waiting to be put away excepted—and that means it's time to look back at the year that was for families in New York City, Long Island, the Hudson Valley, and New Jersey. So, today, we're bringing you this list of our top family-friendly openings of 2025, plus offering a sneak peek at the fun on the horizon in 2026.
As always, thanks for joining us on all the adventures we've encountered, and cheers to a new year and new openings in the tri-state area.
Top Things To Do with Kids in NYC in January 2026, from MP Editors
Submitted by Drew Kristofik on
From New Year's Day to MLK weekend, January can be a great time for indoor and outdoor activities. Don't miss our favorite kid-friendly events and activities in New York City this month.
The new year gets off to a thrilling (and chilling) start when Coney Island Polar Bear Club members plunge into the freezing Atlantic on Wednesday, January 1, and families are welcome to join in (or just watch, which I recommend). Catch up with the Three Kings as they hand out gifts on the Lower East Side, and honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at BAM's always-moving tribute. Close down the first month of 2026 by helping Wollman Rink break a World Record!
New York City New Year’s Eve Guide 2025 for Families: Kid-Friendly Events, Fireworks & More
Submitted by Drew Kristofik on
New Year's Eve is just around the corner, and there are lots of ways to ring in 2026 in New York City with kids, even if staying up late is not on your family's agenda. We've rounded up the city's best family-friendly New Year's Eve celebrations, including Times Square's legendary ball drop. Our family-friendly picks include the fireworks over Prospect Park and a special Big Apple Circus performance. However you welcome the new year, we hope it's a blast.
You can find even more seasonal fun in our Holiday Guide for NYC Families, and be sure to check out our post on fun things to do over Christmas vacation.
