35 FREE Kids' Activities, Museums and Other Attractions in NYC

I'm cross-posting this article of mine here on my personal Substack, for easy reference for my fellow moms!

NYC is just a stone’s throw away from CT! Here is a list of free kids’ activities and indoor locations that are fun places for kids to play.

—-----------------------

CENTRAL PARK:

1. Belvedere Castle!

2. Dana Discovery Center - including fishing!

FREE BOATING:

Kayaking:

1. Out of the midtown Manhattan community Boathouse!

2. Out of the downtown Manhattan community boathouse (Governors’ Island)!

Rowboats:

1. Out of the West Village community boathouse (free boat-building sessions here too)!

Rowing & sailing:

1. Out of Hunts Point at Riverside Park, on the Bronx River!

FREE PLAY AREAS AT FLAGSHIP STORES:

1. Disney

2. Lego (Rockefeller center)

3. Lego (Flatiron)

4. Nintendo

5. Harry Potter

6. Toys ‘R Us at Macy’s

7. American Girl Place

8. FAO Schwarz

9. M&M

10. CAMP

11. Barnes & Noble (Union Square)

FREE MUSEUMS:

1. National Museum of the American Indian

2. Queens County Farm Museum

MUSEUMS WITH SUGGESTED DONATION ONLY (for NYC residents):

1. Natural History museum

2. Cloisters museum

3. The Metropolitan Museum of Art

OTHER:

1. Staten Island ferry

2. Adventure Playground on Governor’s Island

3. Free bikes from Blazing Saddles on Governor’s Island in Queens

4. Alley Pond ropes course1st St Studio at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

5. FDNY Fire Zone

6. Marcus Garvey Fire Watch Tower

FREE DAYS AT MUSEUMS & AND OTHER FAMILY ATTRACTIONS:

Wednesdays:

1. Bronx Zoo - free (but reservation is required)

2. Staten Island Zoo - free after 2 PM (timed-entry tickets are recommended)

3. New York Aquarium - pay-what-you-wish Wednesday afternoons start at 3 PM and end at “last entry", which varies by season (reservations are required, and Wednesday ticket store opens Mondays at 3 PM)

Thursdays:

1. Brooklyn Children's Museum - free from 2-5 PM (smart to make a reservation in advance)

Fridays:

1. New York Hall of Science - free from 2-5 PM (reserve tickets online in advance, beginning Thursdays at 9 AM)

2. New York Historical Society (including DiMenna Children's History Museum) - pay-what-you-wish Fridays are 6-8 PM

Any day:

1. Bronx Children's Museum - free admission during its “special opening period" (but you need to make a reservation in advance!)