Family Attractions Guide

New York City is an exceptional vacation destination for families. Parents and children of all ages flock to the city to experience its world-class museums, restaurants, and cultural landmarks.

There are so many child-appropriate activities here that it’s easy for visiting families to feel spoiled for choice.  The Director of Marketing for The Setai Fifth Avenue Hotel in Midtown Manhattan has prepared a comprehensive list of the top kid-friendly attractions in the city, to help you plan your visit.

Family Attractions

  • Central Park. Discover this famous park, located in the center of Manhattan and designated as a National Historic Landmark in the early 1960s. There are countless activities for families to enjoy here; take your younger children to one of the Park’s many playgrounds, visit the Central Park Zoo, or enjoy a puppet show at the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre.  Older children will enjoy renting bicycles and touring the park, ice-skating at Wollman Rink, and even rock-climbing at some of the aforementioned playgrounds. After exploring, settle in with a picnic on the Great Lawn.
  • Times Square. Experience the vibrant atmosphere of this famed district – a true New York City landmark. Located at the intersection of Broadway and Seventh Avenue, and stretching into the Theater District, Times Square boasts several family-friendly stores, restaurants, and tourist attractions. Stop by the TKTS booth to purchase half-price tickets to Broadway shows, gaze at the famous MTV and ABC studios, and delight your children with a visit to the Disney Store or Madame Tussauds Wax Museum.
  • The Bronx Zoo. Journey north to the Bronx to tour the largest metropolitan zoo in the United States, with over 265 acres of parkland and animal habitats. This celebrated zoo hosts over 4,000 animals – from Asian elephants to sea lions, anacondas to polar bears. The Zoo’s Congo Gorilla Forest is home to two families of lowland primates and is sure to be popular with your children. Be sure to visit the Butterfly Garden and gaze at its beautiful inhabitants to the backdrop of classical music; while you’re there, stop by the Pollination Hall of Fame photo-op station, where children (and the young at heart) can have their photos taken as midge flies and other insects.
  • Rockefeller Center. Make some quintessential New York memories in and around this landmark, located in Midtown Manhattan. You and your family will enjoy amazing views of the city from the Top of the Rock (the Center’s observation deck; consider taking a tour of the NBC studios, where The Today Show and Saturday Night Live are filmed.  If you’re visiting New York during the holiday season, visit the famous Christmas tree in Rockefeller Plaza, and ice skate in the rink below.
  • The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Witness the most enduring symbol of American freedom, and learn more about the millions of men, women and children who traveled to this country to experience that freedom, at these two important historical sites. Take the “Statue Cruises” ferry from downtown Manhattan to Liberty Island to view the iconic Statue of Liberty, which was dedicated as a gift to the United States from France in 1886. Children under the age of four can travel on the ferry for free. If you’re planning to access the Statue’s interior, make sure to check in advance that there aren’t planned improvements that might preclude entrance.
  • Ferry tickets include access to Ellis Island as well; here you and your family can explore the Immigration Museum and its several exhibitions, and search passenger records of the millions of immigrants who traveled here over a roughly 25-year period.

Kid-Friendly Museums

  • The American Museum of Natural History. This immense, world-renowned museum on the city’s Upper East Side is a treasured destination for families, with innumerable sights and sounds for children to experience and appreciate.  The American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) is composed of 25 interconnected buildings; it houses millions of specimens (in addition to separate laboratories and a famous library). Spend the day visiting the world’s largest dinosaur exhibit, wander through The Rose Center for Earth and Space, and gaze inside the Hayden Planetarium.  Your children will enjoy watching educational films at the AMNH’s IMAX theater, or walking amid the butterflies in the Butterfly Conservatory.
  • Children’s Museum of Manhattan. Nurture your child’s creativity, curiosity and sense of adventure at this extraordinary museum on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. The interactive, educational exhibits and activities at CMOM make it a popular destination for young children.  Kids will enjoy the exhibits including “Adventures with Dora and Diego,” featuring characters from the popular Nickelodeon program “Dora the Explorer.”  Check the museum’s calendar for a listing of engaging, family-friendly performances and workshops – including singing, dancing, art and theater.
  • The Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum. If your children like ships, submarines and spacecraft, they will absolutely love this innovative military/maritime museum. Located at Pier 86 on the city's West Side, The Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum features a superb collection of aircraft vessels, housed aboard the World War II-era USS Intrepid. Experience a first-hand look at life aboard a submarine, view a once “top secret” missile command center, and walk through the sophisticated cockpit of the world’s fastest commercial airplane, the Concorde.
  • The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Spend a day at “The Met” and you'll only scratch the surface of everything it has to offer.  There is something for everyone at this incredible museum, with exhibition pieces spanning from antiquity to the present day; plan your visit in advance so that you and your family are able to see the exhibits that appeal most to you. Of particular note are the Egyptian Art collection, the Arms and Armor Gallery, and the Arts of Africa. The museum's famous store is a wonderful place to buy gifts for both children and adults.

Toy Stores

  • FAO Schwarz. Step into this celebrated toy store, which is a paradise for children and a must-see on any family's itinerary when visiting New York. In addition to an immense selection of toys, games and books, FAO Schwarz includes several “mini-stores” where children can create their own dolls and pottery. Kids will adore the store's elevator, which is shaped like a giant robot.
  • Toys “R” Us. Take a trip to the flagship store of this bright, popular chain, located in the aforementioned Times Square.  As befitting the largest toy store in the world, this Toys “R” Us is filled with delights on a truly grand scale. Upon entering, you're greeted by a massive ferris wheel in the center of the store. There's also a life-sized Barbie dollhouse, an interactive life-sized dinosaur, and more.
  • American Girl Place. Make your little girl happy with a visit to this popular store, located at Fifth Avenue and 49th Street. Here, girls can buy dolls that look like them; clothes, hairstyling and even salon services are available for your child's special friend. Book a table in the American Girl Cafe for lunch or afternoon tea at the conclusion of your visit.

Candy Stores

  • Dylan’s Candy Bar. Satisfy your sweet tooth at this super-sized store, reminiscent of Willy Wonka's fictional chocolate factory. Dylan's is the brainchild of designer Ralph Lauren's daughter, Dylan; it offers a staggering selection of candy and chocolate from around the world.

Family-Friendly Broadway Shows

  • Wicked. Thrill your family with this smash-hit production, which narrates the legend of The Wizard of Oz from a completely different standpoint – namely, that of the Wicked Witch. Children over the age of eight will love the vivid costumes, energetic score and entertaining effects of this award-winning show.
  • The Lion King. Your family will be enthralled by this visually stunning stage adaptation of the wildly successful 1994 Disney film. Revisit the story of Simba, the lion prince, on his journey from carefree cub to brave king in the making. The production's famous score, including the Elton John/Tim Rice classic “Can You Feel the Love Tonight,” will have you and your family swaying in your seats.
  • Spiderman, Turn Off The Dark. Treat the superhero fans in your family, both young and old, to a viewing of one of the most talked-about Broadway productions in recent years. Spider-Man, Turn Off the Dark tells the story of teenager Peter Parker's transformation from shy student to superhuman. Marvel at the show's technically complex aerial stunts, and enjoy the score, written by Bono and The Edge of rock band U2. Those with younger children will be comforted to know that much of the fighting within the show is choreographed to look more like dancing, which limits the implication of violence.
  • Mary Poppins. Experience London from your seat in Midtown Manhattan with a viewing of this iconic show. One of Broadway’s most popular children’s musicals, Mary Poppins is the tale of the Banks family, their children Jane and Michael, and their extraordinary nanny. Children will be laughing at the production’s many clever jokes and singing along to its classic songs long after the show has ended.
  • Billy Elliott. This poignant stage adaptation of the 2000 film, transferred to Broadway from London’s West End, is a bit grittier than other family-friendly shows. It chronicles the life of a young boy in a working-class northern town in England, discovering his talent for dance and facing the many challenges that this gift presents. The bittersweet rendering of Billy Elliott and its beautiful dance numbers will truly touch your older children.

Restaurants

  • Carmine’s. This boisterous, family-style restaurant is the perfect venue for a pre-theater dinner. Share large plates of simple Southern Italian cooking (including ravioli and shrimp scampi) in an old-fashioned, wood paneled atmosphere, surrounded by black and white photos of famous Italian Americans.
  • Rock Center Café. Visit this modern, well-lit restaurant during the holidays and gaze upon the famous Rockefeller Center ice-skating rink while you dine, or reserve a spot for your family to enjoy Breakfast with Santa. Rock Center Café offers a tempting children’s menu, including grilled cheese sandwiches, chicken tenders, and even petit filet mignon for more adventurous palates.
  • Serendipity 3. This delightfully quirky, whimsically decorated eatery has a huge menu, heavy on hamburgers and pasta, but the real reason people flock to Serendipity 3 is for its world-famous Frrrozen Hot Chocolate. No family vacation in New York is complete without sampling this sinful creation. Bear in mind that reservations are limited, and are not taken for those only having dessert. You may need to wait in line.
  • Shake Shack. For the best burgers in the city, head to an outpost of this restaurant chain, which has been a New York institution since 2004. Conceived by famous restaurateur Danny Meyer, Shake Shack bills itself as a modern-day roadside burger stand; its casual atmosphere makes it an ideal setting for families with young children.  The milkshakes after which the chain is handspun with premium ice cream. In the summertime, lines can be long; if you have access to a computer, you can view the line in real time on the website’s “Shack Cam,” and plan accordingly.
  • Central Park Boathouse. This picturesque restaurant is one of the jewels of Central Park, and a wonderful spot for lunch or brunch with your family. During the warmer months, sit out on the deck and watch the rowboats pass, while dining on roasted salmon, crab cakes and risotto. Save room for the Boathouse’s delicious desserts.

 

The Setai Fifth Avenue, located in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, offers 157 elegant guest rooms and 57 apartment suites. The Setai’s Avenue Apartment Suites in particular are ideal for families; at 1,100 square feet, they are among the largest in the city.

The suites boast a spacious living area, a fully equipped kitchen, and a washer/dryer, providing maximum convenience for those traveling with young children. In addition, The Setai offers a flexible check-in and check-out policy, making it the perfect choice for families vacationing in New York City.

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