Like many people, visiting New York City was a bucket list item for me.

My husband and I traveled to NYC a few years ago for work, and I fell in love with the city.

I knew I wanted to bring the kids for our next trip, and we ended up planning a trip for August 2025, but when my mom got sick we had to cancel. We rescheduled for June 2026 and the weather was absolutely perfect!

Where to Stay in New York City with Kids

Because we travel on points and miles (get my free guide here), we knew we were going to stay in a hotel that we could book with points. There are hundreds of hotels that you could book in the city on points, but we booked the Thompson Central Park (a Hyatt hotel), because it was a good points value and in a great location! It’s actually a very popular hotel for points travelers. Read this post for more information on how we saved money on our New York City trip by booking with points and miles.

When we checked in, we were so surprised and excited to find this sweet amenity left by the staff! People rave about the black and white cookies and thankfully we were able to share this one on our first night!

>>>> Download my free guide to asking for complimentary upgrades and special welcome gifts like this!

The Thompson Central Park is walking distance to Central Park, Rockefeller Center, Times Square, and 5th Avenue. It’s also steps from several subway entrances, which is how we got around the city.

Although breakfast isn’t included as part of the rate, our Hyatt Globalist status covered room service breakfast for our family every day. This was such a treat and definitely added to the experience for my kids.

What to Do in New York City with Kids

We only visited New York City for 5 days and barely scratched the surface of all that it offers. I truly believe each visit can be a completely new trip. And since one of my bucket list items is to visit New York City for Christmas, we will be there in December for a few nights, and I can’t wait to experience how festive it is!

For this trip, though, we tried to take it slow and do some major touristy things, while taking into account our kids’ ages.

Here are some of the activities we loved for their ages.

FAO Schwarz

You absolutely don’t have to spend any money here if you don’t want to – although that may be hard with kids in tow! We did give the kids $30 each to buy something they wanted, and we walked out with a ZipString Luma for my son, and a Chelsea Barbie toy for my daughter.

They had so many demonstrations throughout the store, which was free entertainment for us, and the kids had fun trying the big piano upstairs!

You can even visit the Jellycat Diner right inside!

It does get crowded, so expect a few bumps while walking around. And don’t forget to get your iconic picture with a toy soldier before leaving!

Rockefeller Center

After visiting the toy store, we walked around Rockefeller Center for just a bit. At this point, you’re only a few minutes’ walk from the American Girl Store, Nintendo Store, and Lego Store if your kids are into those!

Ride the Subway in NYC

Okay, I know this isn’t exactly an activity, but it was definitely an experience.

It was my kids’ first time on a subway, and it was fun teaching them how to navigate it and having them notice how locals use the subway to get to school, work, and the grocery store. This was so different than how we live here in rural Texas.

We paid $2.50 for each fare (I think they may have just increased to $3) and kids under 44 inches are free. You can use tap to pay or buy a metro card. But either way, you won’t be charged more than $35 for a week!

American Museum of Natural History

If you have a dino-loving kid, you absolutely have to visit the American Museum of Natural History. There are 4(?) floors of exhibits, so we ended up spending a few hours here, but definitely could have stayed for more. My 8-year-old loved it, but I my 5-year-old was a little bored, so keep that in mind if you have younger kids. This definitely isn’t a super interactive museum.

We purchased these tickets through Viator on Rakuten so we could get some cash back.

Central Park

Central Park has so many free kid-friendly experiences, and there is an entrance fairly close to the AMNH. There are multiple playgrounds and areas to run off some energy.

Consider taking a pedicab tour through the park. We booked through Go Hybrid NYC through Facebook Messenger, but I hear really great things about Night Your NYC Guide. This was one of our big splurges for the trip.

There is a zoo in the park, but we skipped it this time around.

Magnolia Bakery

What’s New York City without dessert?

We decided on banana pudding from Magnolia Bakery! We had to stand in line for about 10 minutes before walking back to our hotel room and enjoying our banana pudding in bed.

There is a small seating area outside, as well as other desserts you can order.

Empire State Building Observatory

Booking an Observation Deck to view New York City from above is a must! There are so many to choose from and you really only have to do one.

Since my kid loves King Kong, we decided to do the Empire State Building Observatory!

We loved the experience on our way up, as well as learning about how it was built.

And other than the views, the best part was this King Kong area.

I brought a tripod for this photo, but they made me put it away when we got to the top.

This was also booked on Viator through Rakuten for cash back.

9/11 Memorial

My kids are still on the younger side, and we didn’t think they were ready for the museum yet, but we did walk around the Memorial, read names, and answered their questions.

I think this is worth a stop even if you have young kids.

Times Square

Times Square was on my son’s list just because he’d heard so much about it. We walked around for a bit and did some shopping at the M&M Store, which my kids loved.

We went during the day and at night, and I would recommend going at night. I’d heard it wasn’t a place for kids, but my kids are well-traveled so we felt comfortable taking them through. We didn’t end up seeing anything that made us turn around and walk the other way, though. I think it’s definitely worth at least walking through Times Square.

Grand Central Station Whispering Wall

Grand Central Station was a fun quick stop, especially since we were in the area.

You can enjoy the beautiful ceiling, find food here and obviously catch the subway to your next stop.

We wandered near the Oyster Bar and Restaurant and settled ourselves opposite each other. The kids loved whispering into the walls and hearing each other from far away.

New York City Playgrounds

We always try to build in time for the kids to just run around and play. New York City had so many fun playgrounds. I think we did 4 or 5 during our few days in the city. One of the kids’ favorite ones was a small playground, basketball court and splash pad we discovered on our walk from the One World Trade Center to the Staten Island Ferry.

Sea Glass Carousel

Just a few hundred feet from the Staten Island Ferry Terminal is the Sea Glass Carousel. This carousel was gorgeous and so unique. I think each ride was $6, and we were pleased to find no line, so my kids just walked up and got to ride right away.

There is also a small sandy playground right next door (you can’t miss it), where my kids met some local kids and played with them for hours while we snacked on food we purchased at the Ferry Terminal.

New York City Experiences We Will Do Next Time

We took it slow on our first trip to the city, so we didn’t get to everything we wanted to do. Here’s what we plan on doing next time:

The Statue of Liberty

We were able to see her from afar, but I really want to see her up close. Yes, it’s touristy but IDC. I feel like this is a can’t-miss activity and I’ve missed it twice. :/

Summit One Vanderbilt

Definitely booking this for our Christmas trip (it just feels so Christmas-y, right??) I think the kids are going to love the balls mirrored floors!

Liberty Bagels

Two trips to NYC and no bagels eaten. This is definitely happening the next time I’m in NYC. Maybe Liberty Bagels, maybe something else.

Broadway

My husband and I watched Wicked on Broadway when we visited for work, but I’d love to take the kids to a show when they get a bit older. Let me know if you have any suggestions for shows for their ages (5 and 8).

National Museum of Mathematics (MoMath)

The former Math teacher in me knows this interactive museum would be so fun for my kids. And it’s a member of the ASTC Passport Program, which means it will be free (win-win!).

Is New York City Good For Kids?

Absolutely!

So much so that we are headed back in December for a bucketlist Christmas trip!

I will admit that the walking was a big of a struggle, but we came prepared with a stroller for my 5-year-old which helped tremendously! But only because it was a compact one that was easy to carry up and down stairs for the subway.

Overall, New York City is a destination our family loved and plans to visit way too often. 😉