12 things to do when your family visits NYC

New York City can feel a little overwhelming to people who aren’t used to the fast pace. Take your parents to Central Park for a break from the madness. There’s something for everyone: gorgeous gardens for mom, historic statues for dad and plenty of room for little ones to run and play. Rent bikes to explore the park from top to bottom, paddle around The Lake on a rowboat or just hit all the big sites on a guided walking tour.

No matter the season, it's always a good time to visit Central Park.

Talking first-time visitors out of a visit to the Statue of Liberty might be too time consuming. Instead of touring the statute itself, opt for a quick trip to Liberty Island and longer visit to Ellis Island. The immigration museum includes three floors of artifacts, fascinating photos, and historic records. You can even look up an ancestor in the database for a small fee.

It’s a win-win: Your family will still have plenty of opportunities to snap pictures of Lady Liberty, plus you’ll all learn some fascinating history.

It would be easy to spend an hour or two wandering through Eataly, the enormous Italian market and restaurant in the Flatiron District. Home cooks will want to buy up all the high-quality ingredients and cooking supplies, while the rest of the family will be busy sampling made-to-order cannolis, silky risotto, and fresh-baked focaccia bread.

You can also have dinner at one of Eataly’s six in-store restaurants or take a cooking class from the professional chefs at La Scuola. Toast to your family's visit with rooftop drinks at SERRA by Birreria.

If your family spends every summer vacation somewhere on a beach, you’ll want to take them to the city’s maritime district: The Seaport.

Visit moored historic ships like the Wavertree, stroll through the renowned Tin Building, and stop at the South Street Seaport Museum to learn about the area. The area also boasts George Washington’s first presidential mansion, Federalist buildings from the late 1700s and Greek Revival warehouses from the 1830s.

If you've got time for a walking tour, try Sinister Secrets of the Seaport, which is packed with true crime and creepy tales.

Families with kids will definitely want to visit to the American Museum of Natural History. Little explorers will be awed by the over-the-top displays: The grizzly bear in the Hall of North American Mammals, 94-foot blue whale model in the Hall of Ocean Life and the massive titanosaur fossil are all favorites. Don’t forget to take in a show in the planetarium or check out the immersive exhibit on the senses while you’re there.

Plus, the museum's new Gilder Center delights with a butterfly vivarium, an insectarium and a 360-degree immersive experience.

Open year round, the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx provides a welcome dose of nature’s beauty in all weather. On sunny days, you could spend hours exploring the 250 acres of outdoor fields, gardens, and paths. If the weather isn’t cooperating, hightail it to the Victorian-style Haupt Conservatory glasshouse, home to the Orchid Show in the spring and Holiday Train Show in the winter.

Green thumbs can also learn from the botanical garden’s caretakers in hands-on classes on everything from landscape design to horticultural therapy.

Every New Yorker has their preferred pizza joint, but some neighborhoods have a better reputation for crispy, thin-crust pies than others.

Sample the slices at three of the most popular Cobble Hill pizza restaurants on this food tour. In between bites, you’ll also get to meet the chefs of each slicery. You’ll end the tour with full bellies and a better understanding of authentic New York ‘za.

The world renowned collection of art and antiquities at the Met keeps it at the top of every must-see list. Whether your family wants to check out early American home decor, ancient Greek statues or gleaming suits of armor, there’s something to keep everyone happy. 

Visiting anytime makes for an incredible experience, but we recommend taking a guided tour to hear from an expert about the artwork. You'll come away with a new appreciation for art.

Let's face it: Family visits can be stressful. If your family is in need of a laugh — stat — then head to The Second City, the renowned comedy club that just opened a location in Brooklyn. 

The venue offers sketch shows and improv performances, along with a great restaurant and no drink minimums in a beautiful venue. Tickets start at $39. Plus, it's a balm for any frazzled nerves, and that's priceless.

The city’s only elevated park runs from Hudson Yards to the northern edge of Chelsea. As you stroll of the 1.45-mile-long strip with the family, pause to check out stunning views of the Hudson River, watch traffic from high above at the 10th Avenue Overlook and view constantly changing public art exhibitions. Explaining the High Line’s history as an elevated rail line only makes it seem cooler.