New York City

The World’s Largest Bounce House Lands in Brooklyn, Summer 2019

Submitted by Katie Nave Freeman on Fri, 02/15/2019 - 8:29am

As soon as school is out, don’t miss your opportunity to grab your socks and take your summer to new heights. The Big Bounce America, officially the world’s largest bounce house, is landing in Brooklyn, July 26-28, 2019 at Aviator Sports.

This touring bounce bonanza will put your block party to shame with the world's largest bounce house (Guinness certified!), a 900-foot-long inflatable obstacle course, a giant maze, ball pits, slides, climbing walls, and basketball hoops...all to be enjoyed while a DJ spins, confetti blasts, and beach balls fly through the air. Exhausted yet?

Night at the Museum: 5 NYC Museum and Zoo Sleepovers for Kids

Submitted by Allison on Thu, 02/14/2019 - 3:32pm

Sleepovers are all the rage (even Governors Island has gotten into the overnight game). And while a night chaperoning a group of small night-owls might not rank high on your to-do list, kids will get a big kick out of sleeping over at one of their favorite cultural institutions. From the Bronx Zoo to the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum to the new Sharks! exhibit at Coney Island, there's a museum sleepover to fit every kid's interests. And you'll earn some serious cool parent cred—some of these overnight adventures are so extravagant, they landed on our list of NYC splurges worth doing at least once.

The Frozen 2 Trailer Is Out and We Are So Here for It

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Thu, 02/14/2019 - 10:08am

Elsa and Anna are BACK! Disney just released a Frozen 2 trailer, the sequel to the Let It Go fever that swept up both parents and kids a few years ago.

When Frozen debuted back in 2013, I had an instantly obsessed 4-year-old Elsa wannabe. We knew, like so many other families with young kids, that this Disney musical franchise was going to be a mainstay in our home. Catchy songs and strong, independent princesses, what's not to love?

Fast-forward to 2019, and that obsessed 4-year-old's baby sister is now a kindergartner pining to see the Broadway iteration of Frozen.

All three of us were thrilled to watch the Frozen 2 teaser together. Take a peek to see what you think! My girls are already making me promise we'll see the flick this fall.

Presidents Day Weekend Fun: Lunar New Year Parade, Sesame Street, Kids Week Kickoff

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Wed, 02/13/2019 - 4:00pm

The holiday weekend leads right into midwinter break, so it's game on! From the Half Moon Sword Dance Fest, with performances in both Manhattan and Brooklyn, to the Great Backyard Bird Count at Wave Hill, to Sesame Street Live at the Garden, NYC is braced to entertain, educate, and dazzle kids of all ages.

Lunar New Year festivities continue with the big event on Sunday, the Parade through Chinatown. More celebrations rage at The Rubin Museum, Flushing's Chinese New Year Temple Bazaar, the New-York Historical Society and the Museum of Chinese in America. Go pig or go home!

Presidents get their due at Fraunces Tavern's Open House, where you can get a glimpse of George Washington's hair and tooth, and at Mount Vernon's Washington's Birthday Ball. Meanwhile, Kids Week at the Intrepid, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden's February Break Discovery Days, the new Bionic Me exhibit at the NY Hall of Science, Kids Week at Bryant Park, and Midwinter Recess fun at the Children's Museum of Manhattan all serve as excellent kickoffs for the February recess week ahead.

Remember, our Winter Fun Guide and February GoList are priceless heading into this week off, to say nothing of our list of FREE Things to Do Over Feburary Break. And our event calendar grows by the day...kind of like your kids.

Get Out and Drop In! Best Queens Play Spaces and Gyms for Kids

Submitted by Kelly O on Wed, 02/13/2019 - 9:15am

From Queens' formerly industrial waterfront to deep in the borough, family-friendly spots and amenities are on the upswing. There are wide-open spaces to run with abandon, playgrounds aplenty, and indoor play spaces with open play hours are strong in number: In fact, Queens has more indoor play zones than Manhattan and is gaining on Brooklyn.

We found 20+ indoor romping locations in the borough that offer drop-in sessions open to the public (no membership required). Bonus: All of these spots host birthday parties, too, and most are much more affordable than their Manhattan competitors.

Museum of the Dog Opens Near Grand Central

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Tue, 02/12/2019 - 4:00pm

Dog lovers rejoice: New York City has a brand new museum to visit and it's dedicated to man's fluffy, four-legged best friend. Opened last week, just steps away from Grand Central Terminal, the Museum of the Dog is the latest addition to the quirky museum scene in this city that loves its culture...and its dogs.

Best Broadway Shows for Kids and Families

Submitted by Raven Snook on Tue, 02/12/2019 - 8:25am

Whether you're visiting NYC or live here year-round, seeing a Broadway show is a special family experience. Kids are sure to remember it vividly, and chances are parents won't soon forget the credit card bill. That's why it's so important to pick a production wisely, especially when bringing young children to their first Broadway performance.

While Disney juggernauts The Lion King and Aladdin are popular options, there are other kid-friendly choices that aren't as obvious, as well as attractive newcomers like Harry Potter and King Kong. We've rounded up our top Broadway musicals for families and organized them by age appropriateness. As a bonus, we've also got the scoop on how to save big bucks on tickets to some of our picks.

Peruse our event calendar for additional family theater options in NYC, or read reviews of current productions to find one that best suits your children.

7 Cool Escape Rooms for NYC Kids to Conquer

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Mon, 02/11/2019 - 4:00pm

For parents, life in a tiny New York City apartment can feel like a constant escape game. The clutter is closing in on you and you've got to locate two toddler shoes, a missing must-have accessory for your tween, and your own MIA cell phone before you can unlock the door to take on the mean city streets.

If your clever kids don't see the game in that routine, they might be up for a different kind of challenge. Consider splurging on an afternoon in one of these kid-friendly escape rooms, where their puzzle skills (and yours!) will be put to the test. Most offer birthday party packages, too. Be aware that most spots require a reservation to get locked in, so plan your outing in advance.

Hunter Mountain Expansion Offers New Family Skiing in New York

Submitted by James Smith on Mon, 02/11/2019 - 11:30am

It’s expensive to expand a ski resort. The folks at Hunter Mountain invested $9 million to construct an 80-acre addition to New York’s second most-visited ski destination.

Did they get their money’s worth without compromising all that made Hunter one of the top ski destinations for families near New York City?

After visiting the now 320-acre Catskills resort that is 2½ hours north of the city, one is tempted to say, yes.

13 Family-Friendly Day Trips to Celebrate Your Kid's Next Birthday

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Sun, 02/10/2019 - 2:18pm

Birthdays are big business in New York City, but there comes a point where the last thing you want to do is throw another big blowout party, especially in a small city apartment. Perhaps, then, it's time to consider a new way to celebrate: the day trip.

From cool outdoor explorations to awesome animal adventures, water fun, and skiing, we've rounded up 13 spots within two hours of city limits—and some are even accessible by public transit—to celebrate your kid's next trip around the sun. Read on and start planning an epic birthday, no goodie bags required.