Carousel For All Children

Tucked away in the Willowbrook Park section of the lush Staten Island preserve known as the Greenbelt stands the Carousel for All Children. The Victorian-style merry-go-round, which was built in 1999, is rarely crowded, so kids can take their time deciding whether to try a two-minute turn on a dolphin, panda, ostrich or another of the 51 hand-carved wooden animal figures. (One of our favorites is a reproduction of a large Saint Bernard dog from the borough’s former Tirelli Carousel, which did service from the early 1900s until 1957 in nearby Midland Beach.) This popular attraction, which sits behind a serene duck pond, also features vividly painted scenes of Staten Island landmarks. After viewing their likeness, your kids may want to make a trip to see the Conference House—a historic Revolutionary War–era home—or the Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art.