Cool Indoor Fun

Craft Together
Moomah is a unique "creative arts cafe" that offers organic, kid-friendly foods and great coffee, plus beautiful, nature-inspired art projects for families to do together. The back room hosts fun classes by the Story Pirates plus "The Funky Forest," an interactive digital forest for kids to romp in. This summer in addition to Moomah's usual crafts, there will be weekly themed projects. Moms and Dads can even get in on the art action with block-printing evenings for adults. Check the website for a calendar of events.

Believe It... or Not!
Weird, wacky or just plain unbelievable. There really are no words that adequately describe the oddness that is Ripley's Believe it or Not! This summer, the Times Square spot is hosting scavenger hunts, birthday parties and even sleepovers, or you can just pop in to ogle anytime.

Drop In on Fun
If your schedule or your child aren't ready to commit to a full session of camp or classes, New York Kids Club's Fun Pack offers children ages 3 to 10 the opportunity to drop in on selected classes throughout the summer. Classes include Gym Juniors, Sports Time, Hip Hop, Art & Science, Preschool Musical, Paint n' Glue Crew, Cooking, Executive Chefs, Ultimate Fitness, Break-dance and more. This is a great way for kids to try a wide range of activities.

Play in the Treehouse
Voted best play space in NYC by New York Magazine, City Treehouse lets kids splash around at the gigantic water table, explore the star cave or play with friends in the two-story tree house hideout. The award-winning indoor play area was designed for children ages 18 months to 8 years. A soft play area is exclusively available for children under 3-years-old. Check the website for special summer events, including concerts, puppet shows, theater and storytimes.

Visit a Museum
In addition to being able to bask in blissful air-conditioning, you can explore some great exhibits at various NYC museums this summer. We always love the Sony Wonder Technology Lab, and the high-tech spot's just opened a new section called the Music Mixer, where kids can play DJ and remix songs using touch-screen technology. The Brooklyn Museum recently unveiled Vishnu: Hinduism's Blue-Skinned Savior, which is surprisingly kid-friendly. Kiosks throughout the exhibition bring centuries-old artwork to life by highlighting Vishnu's "avatars"—a term kids know from comics and video games. Find out about other current kid-friendly exhibits on our Museums page.

Active Outdoor Fun

Jump for Joy
BounceU is a stadium-sized explosion of bouncy fun. Kids can bounce, slide and tumble to their hearts' content—exercise has never been this cool. BounceU also offers giant inflatable games, party packages, summer camps and family bounce nights. Check the website for a calendar of events.

Rock Your Summer!
Brooklyn Boulders is like no other rock climbing place in NYC. With 18,000 square feet of climbing walls at different levels, there's lots of fun for beginners to experts. This summer, families can learn to climb together during Family Hours, or kids can hang out all week with BKB Summer Adventures, during which they climb, do yoga, zipline and more.

Enjoy a Fun Workout
Exerblast is the brand-new family gym that turns exercise into an adventure. Walk in and you'll be transported to the planet Botania, where an interactive adventure will get you running, jumping, climbing and having a ball. Check out the Mind, Health & Body Summer Program, food adventures, sensory activities, yoga, learning adventures and more. There are even programs for infants and toddlers.

Go Bike Riding
NYC gets more bike-friendly every year. There are tons of bike paths and lots of bike rental places all over town.

Play Miniature Golf
In addition to having a great water playground, Tribeca's Pier 25 also has an awesome mini-golf course, with 18 fun holes. You can also take aim at other putt-putt courses around the city.

Water Fun

Float Your Boat
Since NYC is made up of islands, there are lots of opportunities to get out on the water. We recently took the ferry to Liberty Island, enjoyed dinner on the waterfront and then rode home as the sun set behind the statue. From splashing speed boats to kayaks to gondolas, there's a boat ride for every mood.

Take the Subway to the Beach
We love lots of beaches near NYC, but we also enjoy beaches we can visit without taking a car. This summer, we're planning to check out Jacob Riis Park, which is easily accessible via subway and bus, or by taking a ferry from Lower Manhattan.

Play in the (Super) Sprinklers
New and renovated NYC parks don't just have sprinklers; they're more like mini water parks with fountains, rivers, geysers and pumps. Tribeca's Pier 25 is the city's newest fancy water spot, but there are many other exceptional water playgrounds worth visiting.

Split Rock
Split Rock is a vacation destination that offers something for everyone in your family. The indoor water park keeps kids of all ages entertained for hours. But the fun doesn't stop there: Split Rock also has a brand-new, state-of-the-art bowling alley, featuring Cosmic Bowling with black lights and disco effects, automated bumper bowling for kids and a great sound system. Right next store you'll find the Split Rock Game Zone, with the latest video and redemption games for all ages. There's also a golf course with 28 holes.

Join the Club
Beach clubs offer members massive swimming pools, organized kids' activities, spas and, of course, access to pristine private beaches. At Catalina Beach Club, you can also sign up for Nursery Day Camp for kids ages 3 to 7, Mommy & Me classes, yoga, tennis and special events throughout season, like costumed character visits, carnivals and bouncy castles.

Fun with Nature

Feed the Bunnies
Where can you begin your day on the farm in NYC? At The Art Farm in the City, that's where. With a basketful of hay and goodies, you and your children can spend the morning feeding and snuggling animals right on the Upper East Side.


Dig, Plant, Grow!
Families can learn about plants and the natural world through hands-on gardening at the New York Botanical Garden's Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden. Every afternoon from 1:30-5:30pm, children are encouraged to dig, weed, compost, plant, tend and harvest with help from volunteers, staff and parents. In July, the theme is Sweet and Stinky. Savor the scents and tickle your taste buds with cooking demonstrations, and green your thumb by potting an herb to take home. In August, it's Pickle Me! time. Learn which plants can be pickled and make your own fresh pickles. Before you leave, stop by the Everett Children's Adventure Garden for additional kids' activities.

Go on a Zoofari
Even if you don’t have big travel plans, you can still enjoy a wildlife expedition this summer at the Bronx Zoo. Marvel at life-size animal sculptures built entirely of Legos, roam freely with a Zoofari passport, and enjoy special Lego building activities and displays, with guidance from Lego Master Builders on select weekends. Additional fun includes Wildlife Theater shows, crafts activities with the Museum for African Art and conservation learning stations. Check the website for more information and a complete schedule of events.

Summer Foods

Farm to Table
Unlike traditional CSAs, Holton Farms offers online ordering, delivery to 60 locations throughout NYC and customization—order only when you want and pick what you want! Choose from about 100 varieties of vegetables and maple syrup, all produced on this organic family-owned farm. Holton also offers limited fruit, chicken and beef shares.

Destination Ice Cream
Gourmet ice cream shops are popping up all over NYC. Sample the scoops by planning an outing to a nearby playground, and then treating your family to a sweet ending.

Eat Outdoors
Dining outdoors is lovely, and with kids in tow it's also sensible—especially if they're young and fussy. We've picked many great outdoor eating spots that are perfect for families.

Getaways

Milk a Cow
A family vacation at Hull-O Farms is an unforgettable experience that helps kids understand where their food comes from. Learn how to milk the cows with farmer Frank, bottle-feed baby calves, collect eggs for breakfast, fish in the pond, and enjoy lots of fun like country hay rides and toasting marshmallows for the s'mores at the post-dinner bonfire.

Make a Splash
In addition to boasting more than 60,000 square feet of water features, New Jersey's Sahara Sam's invites guests to climb on the world's tallest ropes course,  Samazon, for an extreme adventure. Can't fit all the water fun into one day? Try the Stay and Play overnight packages.

Hit Governors Island
There are more reasons than ever to visit Governors Island this summer: multiple festivals, miniature golf, bike riding, fishing and much more. A visit really feels like a mini vacation. Check out our picks for the best things to do on Governors Island this summer.

Visit City Island
Another isle in NYC that feels like a mini vacation is City Island. The City Island Seaside Trolley, which runs on the first Friday of every month, makes it even easier to access this seaside village that seems worlds away.

Enjoy Coney Island
There's more to Coney Island than the beach. Two amusement parks, minor league baseball, the Aquarium, and lots of festivals and food make Coney Island a must-visit destination during summer.

Additional Outings

Music Festivals
Outdoor music festivals are one of the rewards of staying in the city during the summer. Catch Dan Zanes or Selena Gomez, swing at Lincoln Center or sing along with Broadway in Bryant Park. Read about our favorite music festivals for families.

Kids' Music Series
While many of NYC's music series are family-friendly, kids will really delight in concerts that are aimed at them. You'll find Baby Loves Disco, The Jimmies, David Weinstone and the Music for Aardvarks Band, AudraRox, Rolie Polie Guacamole and many other kiddie music favorites playing in city parks this summer. See our roundup of kids' music series.

Outdoor Storytimes
Parks and playgrounds are great, but a free story hour sweetens the deal. Take a break from the slides and swings, and sit for one of many storytimes in the parks.

Ride a Carousel
While we await the opening of Jane's Carousel in Brooklyn Bridge Park and the SeaGlass carousel in Battery Park, there are eight other merry-go-rounds that will delight children.

Destination Playgrounds
Your local play spot is always fun, but the city has been stepping up its game and adding some fabulous playgrounds that are worth trekking to. Imagination Playground is a super summer spot, as is Pier 6 in Brooklyn and we love Gantry Plaza State Park in Queens. See all of our Destination Playgrounds.

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Need more ideas? Check out our list of 100 Free Things to Do This Summer.