by AGW

Created on: March 13, 2008   Last Updated: December 05, 2008

New York City is teeming with great activities for kids, both fun and educational. Whether your child is interested in animals, architecture, toys, art, history or just playing outside in the sunshine, you are sure to find lots of activities that he/she will enjoy in the Big Apple.

The Bronx Zoo is home to over 4000 creatures including jungle animals, primates, and reptiles. Year-round the zoo offers activities specifically designed with kids in mind as well as a variety of indoor and outdoor rides. Check out http://www.bronxzoo.com for price lists, a schedule of current activities as well as an abundance of information to aid you in planning your visit.

Located at 79th Street Central Park West, The American Museum of Natural History has exhibits that range from astronomy to zoology and just about everything in between so it shouldn't be hard to find something to interest even the pickiest of children. The Discovery Room is a new addition to the museum and offers children between the ages of five and twelve a chance to participate in activities designed to spark their interest in natural history with a hands-on approach. This is a great stop if educational fun is what you are after although there is an awful lot of walking to do as this museum is huge so children under the age of five might not enjoy this one as much as older children will. Visit http://www.amnh.org for more information about this museum.

Regardless of the season, Central Park is a great place to take the kids. The skating season runs from October 15th to March 31 each year, and don't forget cross-country skiing and sledding. Summer in central Park is a blast with swimming, trails, places for picnics, and a large variety of food stands as well as fancier restaurants. Model-boat sailing is something that is sure to please the kids whatever their age. If you spend most of your trip in museums, zoos and stores it will be a nice change of pace to take some time to play together and find an exciting adventure in Central Park. There are tons of activities for the kids year-round so make sure to go to http://www.centralparknyc.org/kids before you go.

FAO Schwarz is a NYC landmark and is quite possibly "Toy Heaven", a great place to visit if your nerves and pocketbook can withstand the inevitable "I want that!" and "Mom, can I have this PLEASE!" The kids are sure to love this place and there are lots of hands-on activities for them to enjoy but make sure to find out the cost before agreeing to let your kids participate because in a place like this the bill can add up quickly. It's a good idea to discuss price range and behavior prior to going in the store as this activity has a high risk of bringing with it temper-tantrums and mommy-meltdowns if the rules are not carved in stone before going in.

For additional information and tips on planning your foray into NYC with the kids visit http://www.ny.com/kids before you set off. Good luck and Happy Trails!

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