The best things to do in NYC this week with kids

Ice cream is at the center of this 20,000-square-foot museum that'll make the cold treat even more fun (who knew it'd even be possible?). Across 13 multi-sensory installations visitors to the museum will be able to interact with fun elements like a sprinkles pool and photo ops like an ice cream truck you can "drive" and a rainbow tunnel. Better yet, you can purchase the museum's signature flavors at its cafe in cups or waffle cones, milkshakes (regular and spiked), sweet specialty sundaes, craft cocktails and boozy shakes after the fact.

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. 

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.

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.

This is a golden age of playgrounds. In recent years NYC has completely transformed what playtime is like for a city kid, introducing creative playgrounds to every corner of the Big Apple. There are so many gorgeous playgrounds to visit in NYC, and this list will help you set off on a fabulous adventure.

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.

Classic adult-oriented museums like the Museum of Natural History, MOMA and the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum have kid-specific programs that can be fun for the whole family, but you’ll get more bang for your buck (in the form of “wow!” and “cool!” rather than “I’m bored”) at these museums designed specifically for the little ones.