NYC With Kids

New York City is one of the most exciting places in the USA and one of our top Flytographer destinations for good reason! 🗽 Not only is NYC wildly photo-worthy, but it’s also a fantastic place to visit solo, with friends, for a romantic getaway, and especially with kids of all ages.

Here at Flytographer, we easily connect people with trusted photographers for fun photo shoots and have captured over four million memories worldwide. 🌎 The magic of Flytographer is both the experience and the photos. Explore the city with a fun, talented photographer and get wall-worthy photos to relive your trip forever. Are you looking for the best things to do in NYC with kids? Get ready, because you’re about to get the best tips from our local photographers (who also happen to be parents!) in the heart of New York City.

TLDR

1. Sightseeing for the whole family
2. Indoor activities
3. Outdoor activities
4. Kid-friendly parks
5. Best places to eat
6. Capture the magic of your NYC trip
7. FAQs

Photo: Amanda in New York City for Flytographer. Jenny and family capture memories in New York City with a family photoshoot in Times Square.

1. Sightseeing for the whole family

Family sightseeing is likely a top goal when visiting the city, otherwise, why come to NYC, right? We recommend collecting sightseeing wishes from the whole family to see what kind of exploring in the Big Apple will excite everyone. 🍎

Stunners such as the Empire State Building, Grand Central Terminal, and the Statue of Liberty can all be seen up close and personal, or from a distance if time is of the essence or itineraries are feeling too full. Seeing Lady Liberty from Battery Park on a ferry or boat without planning a specific trip to Liberty Island can be a huge time saver!

Many of the city’s amazing buildings have observation decks, including Top of the Rock, One World Observatory, the Empire State Building, SUMMIT One Vanderbilt, and Edge NYC. This is your friendly reminder that you don’t have to see them all! Each location has unique perspectives, and depending on the weather and season, you may prefer one over another with kids.

One of our favourite ways to see the city’s highlights is by tour bus. 🚐 We highly recommend an evening or night-time bus tour—it’s the perfect way to hop on and see the sights without any effort, and this typically includes a stunning sunset behind the most iconic backdrops in about an hour. 🌆

Photo: Kari in New York City for Flytographer. Ashly and family capture memories in New York City with a family photoshoot at Brooklyn Bridge & DUMBO.

Let’s talk briefly about transportation logistics with kids, knowing that for some or all of your party, this is their first time visiting. Prepare to walk a lot (even more than you’re imagining), and if you have kids under five, a travel stroller is highly recommended. Although taxis and rideshares don’t require car seats for infants and children, they’re not often the fastest mode of transport and can be quite costly. The subway is cheap and convenient (up to three kids under 44 inches tall ride free with an adult), and subway rides can be part if the fun things to do in NYC with kids! Many subway stations don’t have elevators, and even if they do, they’re not always reliable. So be prepared to have older kids hop out so you can carry strollers up and down stairs, or wait until everyone passes and ask for help— New Yorkers are always willing to lend a hand. If you’re riding the subway, there’s no need to buy MetroCards at machines anymore—just tap your phone or credit card and go! 🚍

In terms of getting everything done on your wishlist, prioritize your crew’s must-sees and try to plan a couple of those each day with backup options saved. Pro parent tip: Utilize Google Maps by saving all the things you want to eat, see, and do before you go so that no matter where you are in the city, you can check what’s close by in real-time.  

Photo: Sehee in New York City for Flytographer. Maude and family capture memories in New York City with a family photoshoot at Brooklyn Bridge & DUMBO.

2. Indoor activities

Indoor activities are great to keep on your list for things to do in NYC with kids, particularly for inclement weather days. For younger kids, the Children’s Museum of Manhattan is awesome (and across the street from West Side Kids, a fun, locally-owned toy store 🧸). Also nearby on the Upper West Side is the American Museum of Natural History, which is perfect for everyone in the family. MoMA is a fabulous art museum that’s not as overwhelming as some of the other larger museums, although the Met (Metropolitan Museum of Art) is kind of a requirement for anyone visiting the city (at least eating a hot dog on the steps outside!). The New York Transit Museum is another great indoor spot—located in an old Brooklyn subway station, it’s perfect for the whole family.

Photo: Sehee in New York City for Flytographer. Krystyn and family capture memories in New York City with a family photoshoot.

For older kids and teens, a Broadway show is a must-do. There are lots of amazing options, including The Lion King, Harry Potter, Wicked, SIX, and more! 🎭

NYC is known for pop-ups, which were the birth of amazing permanent spots such as the Museum of Ice Cream and the Color Factory, so be sure to check out what pop-ups might be around while you’re visiting with kids.

Photo: Jordan in New York City for Flytographer. Lindsay and family capture memories in New York City with a family photoshoot in Times Square.

3. Outdoor activities

In terms of outdoor activities, this is where NYC truly shines. So much of the best the city has to offer comes when you’re just exploring on foot! 🚶‍♀️ Times Square and Rockefeller Center can be found in Midtown; Greenwich Village and Washington Square Park can be found as you meander towards downtown Manhattan. The High Line is another popular destination that involves walking, located on the west side of Manhattan, stretching from Midtown to the Meatpacking District and Chelsea (be sure to check out Little Island, too!).

Photo: Amanda in New York City for Flytographer. Lindsay and family capture memories in New York City with a family photoshoot in Times Square.

A favourite activity during the summer is to experience some of NYC’s many amazing carousels! 🎠 We love Jane’s Carousel in DUMBO (the Manhattan skyline views from Brooklyn Bridge Park are unbeatable) and the SeaGlass Carousel in Battery Park (Lady Liberty views from here are top-notch, especially if you’re skipping a visit to the statue itself). Other honourable mentions are the Bryant Park and Central Park carousels. If you can, visit them all—a carousel checklist is such a fun way to incorporate both the kids + exploring the city into one.

The Intrepid Museum is another activity that’s indoor/outdoor, and a big favourite for kids. An old aircraft carrier in the Hudson River, the Intrepid has indoor sights as well as aircraft on the flight deck and a nuclear-missile submarine!

The New York Botanical Garden 🌷 and any of NYC’s four zoos are additional outdoor favourites for families.

Photo: Kari in New York City for Flytographer. Krystle and family capture memories in New York City with a birthday photoshoot at Brooklyn Bridge & DUMBO.

4. Kid-friendly parks

Despite being immensely urban, the parks in New York City are plentiful, kid-friendly, and pretty fantastic (they’re also one of the few free things to do!). Pro parent tip: differentiate between telling your kids you’re going to visit a “park” and a “playground”—because they’re very different!  😜

Playgrounds can be found inside and outside larger parks such as Central Park and Prospect Park—Central Park alone has 21 playgrounds! Some of Central Park’s best playgrounds include Heckscher, Billy Johnson, and Adventure. 🛝

Photo: Kari in New York City for Flytographer. Heather and family capture memories in New York City with a family photoshoot in Central Park.

Take note of where you’ll be visiting in the city, and plan pit stops at playgrounds while you’re nearby so kids can truly run free and get those wiggles out! Hudson River Park has some awesome splash pads and playgrounds, so if you’re staying on the west side of town, this may be a great area to explore with kids.

Fun fact: playgrounds are open year-round. Most have splash pads and water parks or water features to stay cool. 💦

Photo: Kari in New York City for Flytographer. Evyn and family capture memories in New York City with a birthday photoshoot in Central Park.

5. Best places to eat

When it comes to lists of food recommendations, there is no shortage of those for NYC eateries! One of the best parts about visiting NYC with kids is there are endless options for snacks and treats on every corner. From bagels to ice cream to fruit stands and, of course, pizza, foodies and mini-foodies would agree that casual food is easy, accessible, and delicious. 🥯 🍕 Take advantage of outdoor dining and casual eats instead of fancy sit-down meals—kids typically don’t have the patience for long waits and smaller, niche restaurants (which NYC is known for), so make it a point to enjoy bakeries, bodegas, and local joints where food can be enjoyed on the go and as often as you need! 😎

Need specific food recommendations? Be sure to check out our Top 10 Instagrammable Restaurants in NYC. 🌮

Photo: Evelyn in New York City for Flytographer. Katie and family capture memories in New York City with a family photoshoot at Brooklyn Bridge & DUMBO.

6. Capture the magic of your NYC trip

If you’ve managed to plan a trip to New York City with kids, we highly recommend adding in a photographer to capture your entire family together doing fun things…and that’s where we come in! Hiring one of our amazing NYC Flytographers makes for the perfect souvenir as well as a fun family activity while you’re exploring the city. 🙌

If you want inspo on NYC photo locations, or further convincing that a photo shoot is an absolutely perfect addition to your NYC trip, be sure to check out this post on all the best places to take photos in NYC. For more help on planning family photos with kids, we have lots of great tips! 🏙

Photo: Kari in New York City for Flytographer. Leigh Anne and family capture memories in New York City with a family photoshoot at Gapstow Bridge & Skyline.

Photo: Flytographer in New York City. Heather and family capture memories in New York City with a family photoshoot in Central Park.

FAQs

Is New York a child-friendly city? In many ways, NYC is incredibly child-friendly. There’s nothing quite as fun as wandering endlessly while your little one(s) take a stroller nap! Remember, less is more—visiting with kids means slowing down, lowering expectations, and embracing the enjoyment of the city. 

Is New York worth visiting with kids? Absolutely! If you love adventure, this city is totally worth visiting with kids. If your little ones get overwhelmed easily, maybe postpone the trip until they’re old enough to really enjoy all the fun NYC has to offer.

What is the best month to visit New York with kids? Winters can be bitterly cold, and summers can be very hot and humid, so spring and fall are ideal when it comes to visiting NYC with kids. Spring tends to be the quietest and hotel rates are often less than in the busy summer and/or holiday season.

What neighbourhood should I stay in with my kids? After narrowing down what you’d like to do, choose a neighbourhood that makes exploring easy. The most affordable hotels are in Midtown (near Times Square or Penn Station), but this area can be hectic, dirty, and have a lot of concrete, so moving uptown towards the Upper West or Upper East Side(s) means wider sidewalks and easier access to playgrounds and museums! Keep in mind that short-term rentals and Airbnb are illegal in NYC, so you’re likely going to be in a smaller hotel room compared to other vacation destinations.

Photo: Samantha in New York City for Flytographer. Jennifer and family capture memories in New York City with a family photoshoot in Times Square.

Photo: Kari in New York City for Flytographer. Mabel and family capture memories in New York City with a family photoshoot at Brooklyn Bridge & DUMBO.

NYC with kids is amazing!

No matter what x-year-old you have, NYC can be such a wonderland with kids! We hope we’ve excited you when it comes to visiting with your kiddos, and of course, inspired you to capture your time in New York City with photos! 💞

See you soon!