New York City

Massive New Indoor Play Space Complete Playground Opens in FiDi

There's plenty of action in the 40,000-square-foot Complete Playground.

Our list of Manhattan's best drop-in indoor play spaces keeps growing with the debut of Complete Playground in the Financial District.

The brand-new, sprawling play space is one of NYC's largest indoor playgrounds, where kids can run, swing, jump, climb, and twirl in a custom-designed, multi-floor obstacle maze. There’s also rock climbing, a gymnastics studio, interactive trampolines, age-appropriate play areas, and more.

Complete Playground describes itself as an inclusive play center, with activities, programming, and state-of-the-art spaces for neurodiverse and neurotypical kids. Get our need-to-know tips and full review of this enormous play space below, and find more fun places to play in our comprehensive NYC Kids' Guide to Indoor Play Spaces and Fun Zones.

Hit a Home Run at These NYC Batting Cages

Five Star has verything you need for a successful hitting session on your own. Photo courtesy of Five Star

If your family is anything like mine, these batting cages in NYC will come in handy, because no season is as sacred as baseball season in our house. My son, who is serious about baseball, is always itching to get some real reps in, but there's only so much that can be tackled within the four walls of a cramped New York City apartment.

Luckily, the city has a slew of batting cages that welcome kids. Some even include private instruction and facilities where players can work on their fielding skills. You'll find more resources for sporty city kids in our NYC Kids' Guide to Sports Centers and Gyms, plus we've rounded up six Little League baseball drills easy enough to do at home.

What Ages Get in Free to NYC Museums, Zoos, Amusement Parks

History roars to life at the American Museum of Natural History and kids under age 2 can see it for free. Photo by Marley White/courtesy AMNH

The best things in life may be free—but for families used to the high cost of living in NYC, that sounds like crazy talk. That's why we've pulled together this list of free times to visit NYC museums, gardens, and zoos with little ones in tow.

Bookmark this list of when your kids are eligible for freebies at New York City's best family destinations, from tourist hot spots like the Statue of Liberty to all of the New York City's top museums for kids and the best zoos and gardens, too. We've included a few of our favorite picks in nearby locales, too.

Note: Some places may ask for proof of age. Looking for a 100% FREE outing? Check out our roundup of no-cost admission hours for all-ages at NYC museums and our list of 101 free things to do in NYC with kids.

Best Indoor Playgrounds and Play Spaces in Brooklyn for Kids

Kids can climb the walls—and more—at the Play Lab, one of our top picks for the best indoor playgrounds in Brooklyn.

Brooklyn can't be beat for indoor playgrounds. From Play Kids in Greenpoint to Fairytale Island in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn kids have some prime indoor playgrounds to explore.

While we've included a couple of mellow tot spots with crafts or storytelling, this list of the best indoor play spaces in Brooklyn is focused on active indoor playgrounds, where toddlers, preschoolers, and even bigger kids can conquer multilevel mazes, swoosh down slides, climb rock walls, or just turn around in circles until they fall down exhausted and ready for a nap.

Read on for the best drop-in indoor play spaces in Brooklyn and find more indoor playgrounds citywide in our Guide to Indoor Play Spaces.

Level Up the Fun at These Action-Packed Paintball and Laser Tag Arenas in NYC

The Area 53 paintball arena offers plenty of real-life props and hiding places.

These laser tag and paintball arenas in NYC are perfect for teens and tweens craving an outing with a little more action than a visit to the local family-friendly bowling alley or NYC ropes course.

Both laser tag and paintball make for fun birthday party in NYC, too, and we've got the details on exactly where your kids can get in the game. Find more fun outings on this list of extreme sports in NYC for families.

NYC Car Services with Car Seats for Babies and Kids

Whether you need help getting around the city or being whisked to the airport, these car services with car seats are a godsend for NYC parents.

It can be hard to find NYC car services with car seats. Whether you're headed to the pediatrician, the airport, or just visiting New York City, the question of where to find car services with car seats in NYC is one we often hear from tourists and locals alike.

If you have a car seat of your own, taxi drivers are required to let you install it. I've had anxious drivers balk, but I've always made them wait. Pro tip: Keep your door open until everyone's buckled in to force the issue!

For those days when you don't feel like lugging your car seat to and from JFK or up and down the pediatrician's steps, call one of these local NYC car services with car seats. We've rounded up some of our staff favorites for service in all five boroughs. Just remember to specifically request an infant or a toddler seat depending on your child's needs. If you're looking for more parent-tested NYC tips, we've rounded up 25 good-to-know tips for NYC parents.

Family-Friendly Restaurants in NYC with Entertainment for Kids

You can't beat watching the amazing waitstaff at Ellen's Stardust Diner.

There's no shortage of family-friendly restaurants in NYC. Sometimes, though, it takes more than just a kid-friendly menu to get through a night out with your sanity intact. Food halls are one option, as are play cafes. But we've also rounded up 12 kid-friendly restaurants with entertainment in NYC. At these local restaurants, you can enjoy everything from video games to kitty cats alongside kid-friendly eats.

Read on for our picks for family-friendly restaurants in NYC with entertainment for kids, and find all our top options for dining out in our NYC Kids' Guide to Restaurants.

34 Best Things To Do on the Upper West Side with Kids

Visit the DiMenna Children's Museum, located within the New-York Historical Society.

Manhattan's Upper West Side is home to popular spots, including Lincoln Center with the Metropolitan Opera and the New York City Ballet, but it’s also one of the most famously family-friendly neighborhoods in NYC. Upper West Side families enjoy easily walkable access to tons of parks and playgrounds, plus kid-friendly museums ranging from the world-class AMNH to the tot-haven of CMOM. There are also plenty of kid-friendly stores, restaurants, and activities for little ones to enjoy on the Upper West Side.

Here are our top picks for the best things to do on the Upper West Side with kids, all guaranteed to keep your family busy year-round whether you live here or you're just visiting.

Pages