what to do with kids upper west side
Arts and Culture
Fossil digging action at the American Museum of Natural History's Discovery Room. Photograph past R. Mickens/courtesy of the museum.
ane. Most NYC families have taken their kids to the American Museum of Natural History at least once. But have you lot explored some of its lesser-known sections and activities? The Discovery Room encourages hands-on exploration of everything the institution covers, from anthropology to zoology. Kids tin build a life-size dinosaur skeleton, romp in an interactive tree house, play memory games with fossils, and much more. The forty-minute sessions fill up quick, so to ensure your spot, be certain to choice upwards your free pass at the Discovery Room archway every bit soon as yous arrive at the museum. Heart schoolers might likewise want to try i of the museum's sleepovers, a splurge, but perfect for a special altogether coming upwardly.
Kids can't get enough of the e'er-popular Adventures of Dora and Diego exhibit.
ii. In addition to the ever-popular Adventures of Dora and Diego exhibit, the Children'southward Museum of Manhattan continually offers new exhibitions, like Let'southward Trip the light fantastic toe, where children can groove along with professional person and student dancers. In improver, CMOM offers amazing programs and activities, especially on weekends. Catch concerts by local kids' bands or participate in hands-on workshops with arts professionals—all gratuitous with museum access.
RELATED: Complimentary Times for Kids at NYC's Museums, Gardens, and Zoos
The DiMenna Children'due south Museum has many interactive exhibits that spotlight the city's history. Photo courtesy of the museum.
3. The New-York Historical Social club is home to the family-friendly DiMenna Children's History Museum, a fun and interactive place for kids to explore New York City and its history. Families can enjoy always-changing exhibits—similar the Harry Potter: A History of Magic exhibit opening this autumn—every bit well as kid-friendly programs and events.
iv. For a meridian-notch lineup of bands and shows, plus film and book events aimed at children, check out the Just Kidding family unit performance series at Symphony Space. Shows include everything from bands to puppet theater to dance performances, and most events are interactive.
v. Vital Theatre Company mounts musicals that aim to please very immature theatergoers, usually based on popular motion-picture show books like Pinkalicious and Angelina Ballerina.
vi. While many offerings at Lincoln Eye are aimed at adults, the Fiddling Orchestra Gild presents classical concerts for young people, the Large Apple Circus mounts an annual show, the Metropolitan Opera always has a family unit-friendly holiday offering and, of form, at that place'south the annual Christmas production of The Nutcracker. Lincoln Center Kids offers year-round family-friendly entertainment and, in summer, the Lincoln Center Out of Doors Festival always features a family unit twenty-four hours. Plus, there'southward that awesome fountain year-round!
Parks and Playgrounds
seven. Central Park is a destination in its own right. Still, the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre is an Upper West Side jewel and the charming stringed puppets are the stars. Absolutely, information technology ain't a Broadway show, but with insanely cheap ticket prices, short shows, and postal service-performance sessions where kids tin come across a puppeteer, it's a great choice for commencement-time theatergoers.
8. As well in Central Park side by side to the Upper Westward Side: More than destination-worthy playgrounds than any stir-crazy kid could ask for, including the recently refurbished Tarr-Coyne Playground, the Heckscher Playground (the park's largest playground, and a family favorite), the Diana Ross Playground at 81st Street near the AMNH, and the toddler-friendly Mariner's Playground at 85th Street.
RELATED: See NYC'due south Best Destination Playgrounds
Build sand castles at the adorable frog sandbox at River Run Playground. Photo by Eden, Janine and Jim via Flickr.
9. Like Central Park, Riverside Park has many destination playgrounds including Hippo Playground, Elephant Playground, River Run Playground, and Dinosaur Playground. Several of the playgrounds offering seasonal concerts and festivals for kids. In warmer months, the Riverside Park South extension and Pier I host lots of family-friendly events like Mamapalooza in May and the Due west Side County Fair in September.
ten. It's fun to look at the houseboats docked at the Boat Basin at 79th Street in Riverside Park—yes, there are people in NYC who actually live on houseboats!
xi. There are also lots of smaller green spaces that interruption up the urban mural on the UWS. One of our favorites is the W Side Community Garden. Local families plant tiny plots that produce fresh veggies, fruit and flowers for their tables. Become a member and as well savor its annual events, similar an arts and crafts off-white, a Quaternary of July charcoal-broil and alfresco Shakespeare in the summer.
Must-Visit Shops
12. Zabar's is an old-school Upper Due west Side institution. Foodie families will be in sky browsing gourmet goodies from around the earth, both exotic (caviar, all kinds of cheeses) and familiar (bagel with a schmear.) Ask nicely at the smoked fish counter and your kid volition likely get a costless taste, and other gratis samples are oftentimes available.
13. Speaking of old-school shops, although the Upper West Side is constantly welcoming new businesses, a few stalwarts nonetheless survive, in addition to Zabar'south. There's a pair of veteran shoe stores—Harry's Shoes and Tip Pinnacle Kids— where your kids' feet volition be properly measured, and the salesperson will dole out a departing balloon.
14. Need more than a new pair of kicks? Upper West Side neighborhood standbys for kids' clothes and gear include Z' Babe, Albee Baby, and W Side Kids.
15. For more retro browsing, try Westsider Rare & Used Books, which is filled with 2nd-hand books, including child lit. A second location on 72nd Street sells LPs and more! You lot tin can finally prove your child what a tape looks like.
sixteen. We take to cheat a little now to send you just north of our boundaries to Bank Street Bookstore, which is located on the corner of Broadway and 108th Street. Not only volition you find rows and rows of kid-lit, along with knowledgeable staff to help you notice the proper text for whatever occasion, yous can savor its three-times-a-calendar week story hours, or Sunday afternoon boob shows.
17. The handful of practiced farmers' markets on the Upper West Side are a lot less mobbed than Fairway, Trader Joe's or Whole Foods. My family and I frequent the 97th Street Greenmarket, which is open Fridays yr-round, and oftentimes features entertainment and activities, similar alive music and cooking demos.
eighteen. Some other outdoor shopping destination: the GreenFlea in P.S. 334'due south schoolyard and building. Every Sunday from 10am-5:30pm, you lot can find a variety of vintage and new items—clothes, toys, jewelry, cool knickknacks—both outdoors and within. There are fifty-fifty seasonal refreshments, similar warm cider in winter and fresh produce in spring.
RELATED: Best NYC Bookstores for Kids
Magnolia dishes out its trademark confections from a bakery on the south end of the Upper West Side. Photo by Alexi Ueltzen via Flickr.
19. I accept to give a shout-out to my favorite cupcakeries: Magnolia and Broiled By Melissa.
xx. Alice's Tea Cup is a treasure for locals and visitors alike. This whimsical tea business firm inspired past Alice in Wonderland features a succulent menu (the scones and bootleg jam and cream are amazing!) and countless tea options, plus merchandise including fairy wings, wands and necklaces to add together a touch of magic for picayune ones.
Activities and Places to Play
21. 1 spot that surprised me when I first walked in is The Baseball Heart, located in the basement of the Apple Bank on 74th Street. The 15,000 square foot facility offers camps, later on-school programs, altogether parties and enough of batting cages where you can perfect your swing or work with a professional person charabanc i-on-one to enhance your game. The Baseball Centre also has its very own baseball league, as well every bit competitive travel teams for more experienced players.
22. We were very excited when the first Michaels opened in NYC. It's a mecca for crafters on the Upper West Side. Yous tin can find just near anything y'all need for whatever art project, plus there are free or cheap workshops for children of all ages and birthday party packages. Visit the website before you lot go to download current coupons. On Amsterdam at 95th, you'll also discover the tiny, homespun crafters' favorite Footling Shop of Crafts, which hosts kids' parties equally well equally driblet-in activities and crafting.
23. Engage in some educational fun at the Stem-centered The JCC in Manhattan is also a great resource and playspace. From November to March, the community hot spot hosts R&R: Shabbat on Saturdays. Families tin bank check out the facilities and programs, and kids tin can play games, practice craft, take hold of live entertainment and only chill. (And in instance yous're wondering, you don't need to be Jewish to enjoy.)
27. Libraries are wonderful spots for families to enjoy good reads and free programming for all ages. The Upper West Side is dwelling house to the St. Agnes, Bloomingdale, and Riverside branches.
28. Goddard Riverside's massive annual book fair that takes place in November is non to be missed. All proceeds go to the community center's many offerings, including a senior centre, afterward-school programs and camps. New books are l pct off, but wait until the fair is winding down on Sun afternoon and y'all'll observe even better bargains. An entire room is devoted to children'due south titles.
Central Park'due south Imagine memorial in laurels of John Lennon. Photo by John Wisniewski via Flickr.
29. Public art is always popping up all over the city, and the UWS is no exception. The Broadway Mall Association features an ever-changing display of art. Of grade, Riverside Park and Cardinal Park are besides home to many permanent statues, monuments and memorials, similar the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument and Strawberry Fields.
xxx. If you lot're looking for an indoor romping spot, the Upper W Side is home to many members-only identify places including NY Kids Society, Super Soccer Stars, and Kidville.
A version of this post was published in 2011 and 2016; it has since been updated. Allison Tibaldi contributed boosted reporting.
Source: https://mommypoppins.com/newyorkcitykids/upper-west-side-thing-to-do-kids-nyc-families
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