A child looks at a bubble with glee.
Photograph: By Andrew Kelly / The New York Hall of Science in Queens
Photograph: By Andrew Kelly / The New York Hall of Science in Queens

The best things to do in NYC this week with kids

From a bubble exhibit to an ice cream museum, the best things to do in NYC this week with kids will keep them entertained.

Shaye Weaver
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There are so many things to do with kids in NYC that it can be hard to settle on just what to do to keep them entertained. No worries, we’ve narrowed down for you some amazing things to do in NYC this week with kids. The city is chock full of activities and options for full-day outings, from playgrounds and bike trails to family-friendly attractions and museums. Head outdoors for some fresh-air fun, or stick with an indoor activity when the weather doesn’t cooperate. The kids are guaranteed to stay active and occupied (and hopefully burn off some energy). We think it’s pretty difficult to be bored in NYC, and these things to do with kids this week are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to fun for the little ones. Even better, they’re fun for all ages so the whole family will be happy.

Things to do in NYC this week with kids

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The Color Factory covers a spectrum of hues, and it is guaranteed to be one of the most vibrant, educational and downright enjoyable Instagrammable moments you’ve encountered in New York. The interactive exhibition, located in Soho, was designed and launched by event planner Jordan Ferney of Oh Happy Day (a crafts and celebrations blog) to help visitors explore the fun and importance of color. There are 16 rooms to explore throughout the 20,000-square-foot space which showcase immersive artwork from local writers, poets and musicians.

  • Museums
  • Childhood

Speaking of the Intrepid, NYC has so many museums that are a perfect day out for kids. If you’re looking for exhibits that happen to be educational as well as fun, these kids museums in NYC are the place to be. You’ll find interactive exhibits where kids can run, play and learn, and you don’t have to worry about getting the stink-eye from gallery docents (or even worse, knocking over a priceless piece of art).

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  • Art
  • Art

The Big Bubble Experiment encourages kids of all ages to experiment and discover through the joy of playing with bubbles. That includes blowing, stretching, popping and looking closely to see what happens at each move. The exhibit features 10 stations, each one with different tools and methods for exploring bubble solution—and the museum's got plenty of it.

  • Attractions
  • Parks and gardens
  • Governors Island

A seven-minute ride on a free ferry takes you to this island sanctuary, a scant 800 yards from lower Manhattan. It provides a peaceful setting for cycling (bring a bike on the ferry, or rent from Bike and Roll once there). The island hosts a program of events, such as concert series and art exhibitions (see website for schedule), and where else can you have a picnic directly across from the Statue of Liberty?

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  • Art
  • Digital & interactive
  • Tribeca

As Manhattan’s newest art experience, this multi-sensory museum in Soho is worth a visit if you’re looking for a fun and memorable day out. From a sound bath and light installations to meditation and interactive digital art, it’s a feast for the senses. Other activities include a cavernous volcano-esque basement, a place to reflect on what you’re grateful for, a gong room where music plays while the floor vibrates and finally a bright white gallery space exploring the collective memory of the experience. There’s also a photo booth, so you can snap a few pictures to take the memories with you.

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  • Things to do
  • Events & Festivals

This New York Botanical Garden exhibit celebrates the magic of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland with a variety of botanical and artistic exhibitions throughout the Bronx garden’s 250 acres. See a massive white (well, actually green) rabbit made entirely of plants; explore an enchanting English garden with delightfully weird flora; climb through a rabbit hole; hang out in a house made of mycelium bricks; and much more at this sprawling exhibition. Wonderland: Curious Nature is now open and runs through October 27, 2024; installations will evolve with each season.

  • Art
  • Art

This year-long exhibition called The Insect World shows just how cool—and important—bugs actually are. You’ll get to walk through fields of 6-foot flowers, come face-to-face with Picasso bug artwork, and see a mantis partying under a disco ball. Larger-than-life ladybug sculptures dot the floor, and 200 faux monarch butterflies perch on a 12-foot cherry blossom tree. It all adds up to an important message of environmental stewardship. Tickets are on sale now for $36; the all-ages exhibition will be on view for one year.

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  • Attractions
  • Sightseeing
  • Midtown East

Summit One Vanderbilt sits atop the new 67-floor One Vanderbilt super-tall—a 1,401-foot-high—skyscraper. After a trip through a mirrored hallway with its own immersive elements, visitors take an elevator up to the 91st floor, where they’re 1,000 feet over the streets and sidewalks of NYC. Kenzo Digital has created a totally mirrored infinity room called “Air” that reflects the sky and city views over and over, making you feel like you’re walking in the sky or on another plane of existence. Looking above you and below you in this two-story space, you see your reflection repeating forever. It’s super cool!

  • Things to do
  • Events & Festivals

The Tenement Museum’s popular walking tour Foods of the Lower East Side is back, exploring 150 years of immigrant cuisine. The food tour covers 10 stops at historic neighborhood sites with five tastings from local Lower East Side vendors, offering diverse cuisines from Eastern Europe to Italy and Puerto Rico. All-age tours are available on Saturdays for $55/person. Expect a half-mile walk over the course of 90 minutes.

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  • Comedy
  • Hell's KitchenOpen run
  • 3 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended

 

Mischief Theatre’s The Play That Goes Wrong follows six amateur British actors (and two crew members who get pressed into service onstage) try to perform a hackneyed whodunnit amid challenges that escalate from minor mishaps (stuck doors, missed cues) to bona fide medical emergencies and massive structural calamities. There are many funny sequences, and we laughed a lot.

14. Take them to a game

Whether it’s The Mets, the Yankees, The Knicks or The Liberty, taking them to a game will create a lasting memory, whether it’s a major score, a super cute mascot or a really good hot dog.

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  • Things to do

Our guide to the best NYC parks for kids will help you make the most of your sunny autumn afternoon! Simply put, these parks amazing. Have a look at some of our favorites and their activity offerings. 

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  • Things to do
  • City Life

RISENY places thrill-seekers inside a 180-degree, 40-foot projection dome that plays 8K aerial footage to create the sensation of flight. (The ride is similar to Disneyland’s “Soarin’ Over California” experience.) The experience begins with a film by documentarians Ric Burns and James Sanders—narrated by everyone’s fave actor Jeff Goldblum—that touches on NYC’s history, specifically Times Square and its global impact. Then visitors are taken to a re-creation of the city’s first subway station at City Hall circa 1904, which transforms into a fully immersive theater with visual and special effects. Eventually, a present-day subway car virtually transports guests to the galleries.

  • Things to do

Just because you live in the Big Apple doesn't mean you can't spend time in the great outdoors. There are amazing family-friendly hikes close to NYC—in fact, the Bronx River Greenway and Inwood Hill Park are right in the middle of the city! So: Check the weather, grab a heavy coat and make plans to visit mother nature with the fam.

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