The top ‘must sees’ for families visiting New York

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New York is a great choice for families. Right from the food – which kid wouldn’t love to eat at a typical New York deli or one its perfect pizza parlours? – to the many attractions, there’s bound to be something to keep your littles ones entertained with a vacation in the Big Apple.

If you’re planning your family visit to the city, here are some ‘must sees’ to put on your list:

American Museum of Natural History

One of the biggest museums in the world, the AMNH is guaranteed to tap into the imagination of your children. The showstopping exhibits that they’ll enjoy most are probably the dinosaurs. Don’t miss the fairly new addition to the fold – the 122-foot long Titanosaur is so big that it doesn’t fit into one room and is the largest creature ever to walk the earth. The 94-foot long blue whale model is pretty impressive too – and the Discover Room is especially good as a hands-on area for intrepid 5-12 year olds.

Broadway

The theater really isn’t just for the adults. In fact, if we’re honest, the best Broadway shows offer a heady mix of fun for all the family. Aladdin, Wicked, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and The Lion King are among the many shows on offer – book yourself in and prepare to be blown away.

Central Park

There’s hours of fun to be had in Central Park – the picturesque heart of this otherwise fast- paced city. Kids will love the ice skating rink in the winter – which doubles as an amusement park – and Tisch Children’s Zoo has a cute collection of potbellied pigs, goats and sheep as well as the opportunity for your little ones to unleash their inner animal by crawling, jumping and climbing until their heart’s content.

Rockefeller Center

From the Lego Store and Nintendo NY through to the NBC Studios tour right up to the awesome views at the Top of the Rock – the Rockefeller Center is full of fun for all the family. In the winter, you can enjoy its world famous ice rink too.

Children’s Museum of Manhattan

If your kids like to get stuck into some creative fun, the Children’s Museum of Manhattan is the place to be. Primarily for younger kids, there are five floors to explore here – offering workshops, exhibits, performances and parties galore.

Coney Island

Coney Island is where it’s at if you’re young – or young at heart. There’s the beach, an amusement park featuring 50 rides and attractions and the New York Aquarium. Oh, and lots of hot dogs. Adults find it fun in a ‘hipster retro’ kinda way, kids just find it fun, period.

Bronx Zoo

With more than 5,000 animals in a 265-acre site, there’s plenty to keep your kids entertained at the Bronx Zoo. The gorillas are a constant favorite – and quite right too – while there’s a chance to feed the penguins and sea lions, see pandas and elephants on the Wild Asia Monorail and ride the bug carousel.

 

By Patrick Vernon.