Bound to be at the top of any kid tourist’s must-see list is the iconic American Museum of Natural History, made famous for a new generation by the 2006 adventure comedy Night at the Museum and now getting much attention once again for the October unveiling of its massive redo of the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial, including the famous rotunda. The AMNH’s two dinosaur halls, filled with astonishing fossil specimens; Milstein Hall of Ocean Life, with its mammoth blue whale; Hall of Biodiversity, exploring the incredible range of creatures and plants evolution has wrought; ethereal Rose Center for Earth and Space; and extraordinary natural history dioramas, broken into regions, are legendary. But the place draws just as many oohs and aahs from local children, who are known to spend countless rainy weekends revisiting their favorite natural treasures as if they owned them. Come to think of it, they kind of do. • 212-769-5100, amnh.org.—Lee Magill
From top notch museums to kid-friendly restaurants and playspaces, we present our annual don't miss list of New York's best things to do with the family. This year, new spots like J&R Jr. and Field Station Dinosuars made our list, as well as old-time favorites like the New Victory Theater, Chelsea Piers and the Tisch Children's Zoo in Central Park. Read on for picks from our editors and writers and then schedule a day out with the family.