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New York can
be a wonderful city to visit with children . Obvious attractions include
museums, skyscrapers and ferry rides, as well as the simple pleasures of just
walking the streets, seeing the street entertainers and taking in the shopping
scene. Free events, especially common in the summer, range from puppet shows and
nature programs in the city's parks to storytelling hours at local libraries and
bookstores. In addition, many museums and theaters have specific children's
programs.
For
a further listing of what is available when you're in town, see
Friday's Daily News or New York Times , and "Activities
for Children" in the weekly New York magazine, as well as Time
Out and the Village Voice . An excellent automated directory
of family-oriented current events all around the city is available
through the New York Convention and Visitors Bureau, 810 7th Ave
(between 52nd and 53rd sts), NY 10019 tel 212/484-1222 (Mon-Fri
8.30am-6pm, Sat & Sun 9am-5pm;
www.nycvisit.com
).
Museums
One could spend an entire holiday just checking out the
city's many museums, which almost always contain something of interest
for the kids; the following is a brief overview of the ones that should
evoke more than just the usual enthusiasm.
American Museum of Natural History and the Rose Center for Earth and
Space
Central Park W at 79th St. Sun-Thurs 10am-5.45pm, Fri & Sat 10am-8.45pm;
$10, students $7.50, children $6; IMAX films, the Hayden Planetarium and
certain special exhibits cost extra; tel 212/769-5100,
www.amnh.org
The planetarium is sure to sate most kids intergalactic desires, and the
dinosaurs are also a sure-fire attraction.
Children's Museum of the Arts
182 Lafayette St (between Broome and Grand sts). Wed noon-7pm, Thurs-Sun
noon-5pm; $5, under 1 free; tel 212/274-0986.
Art gallery of works by or for children. Children are encouraged to look
at different types of art and then create their own, with paints, clay,
plaster of Paris and any other simple medium.
Children's Museum of Manhattan
212 W 83rd St (between Broadway and Amsterdam Ave). Tues-Sun 10am-5pm;
$6, under 1 free; tel 212/721-1234,
www.cmom.org .
A terrific participatory museum, with exhibit space over five floors;
not to be missed is "Seuss!" - a whimsical area with decor inspired by
the Dr. Seuss books, where kids can (literally) cook up some green eggs
and ham. For ages 1-12, and highly recommended.
Fire Museum
278 Spring St (between Hudson and Varick sts). Tues-Sun 10am-4pm; $4,
students $2, under 12 $1; tel 212/691-1303.
More popular than ever now, this unspectacular but pleasing homage to
New York City's firefighters, and indeed firepeople everywhere, has fire
engines from yesteryear, helmets, dog-eared photos and a host of other
motley objects.
Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum
W 46th St and 12th Ave at Pier 86. April-Sept Mon-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat-Sun
10am-7pm; Oct -March Tues-Sun 10am-5pm, last admission 1 hour prior to
closing; $12, children 12-17 $9, children 6-11 $6, children 3-5 $2,
under 2 free; tel 212/245-0072,
www.intrepidmuseum.org .
The world's fastest spy plane, a guided missile submarine, and other
modern and vintage air and sea craft are all here; not recommended for
kids under five years.
Museum of the City of New York
1220 5th Ave (103rd St). Wed-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun noon-5pm, Tues 10am-2pm
for pre-registered tour groups only; suggested donation $7, students $4,
families $12; tel 212/534-1672,
www.mcny.org .
The New York Toy Stories is a super way to bring young ones back to
simpler times, before video games, when wooden toys, rubber balls, and
board games were just about the only options in the late 1800s. For
girls (and grownups) there is a worthwhile and surprising group of
dollhouses.
National Museum of the American Indian (Smithsonian Institution)
1 Bowling Green (at Battery Park). Daily 10am-5pm, Thurs until 8pm;
free; tel 212/514-3700,
www.si.edu/nmai
.
Kids will enjoy looking at the ancient dolls and feathered headdresses
and the replicas of a reservation home and schoolroom. Programs often
include theater troupes, performance artists, dancers and films.
Central Park
Year-round, Central Park provides sure-fire entertainment for children.
In the summer it becomes one giant playground, with activities ranging
from storytelling to rollerblading to rowboating. The following are
merely a few of the highlights.
The Carousel
64th St mid-park.
For just $1, children can take a spin on the country's largest
hand-carved horses.
Central Park Wildlife Conservation Center
(Zoo), 5th Ave at 64th St.
A small but enjoyable zoo, with sea lions, polar bears, monkeys and the
Tisch Children's zoo.
Hans Christian Andersen statue
72nd St on the East Side (next to the Boat Pond).
A forty-or-so-year tradition of storytelling sessions; Wed & Sat
11am-noon, June to Sept.
Loeb Boathouse
72nd St mid-park.
Rent a rowboat on the Central Park lake and enjoy the views or take a
gondola ride in the evening. Bike rentals available too.
Wollman Rink
62nd St mid-park tel 212/396-1010.
Roller/in-line skating during the summer and ice-skating during the
winter. Skate rental and instruction available.
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