This is the third post in a four-part series on our ultimate go-to spot for an L.A. play date. Check out our first post on why these dads came to LA and our second post on kid-friendly places to eat. And come back next week for the next in the series on the author’s most “L.A.” parenting experience.

Where is your ultimate go-to spot for am L.A. play date (weekday or weekend)?

My go to spot for a play date is the Japanese Garden in Van Nuys. There is so much to see there, and yet you think you’re no longer in LA! There is also an adjacent park area to picnic and allow the children to play.

-JOËL LËOJ, L.A. Dads Group Co-Organizer; blogger @Joël Lëoj

So many places! We love everything that the City of LA has to offer from the Zoo to Griffith Observatory to any City park, public library, or pony rides in the park. The Central Library in Downtown LA is an incredible building with a huge children’s book section, story time, and lots of places to play. You can also go to the 100+ year-old Angel’s Flight and ride up and down on the world’s shortest rail and then get lunch at either Grand Central Market for a smorgasbord of food or Clifton’s Republic – a blast-from-the-past playground for kids (and adults – they have a bar, too!). Most of them have free parking but check open times first because I have definitely shown up too early or on days when they aren’t open.

– Eli Lipmen, LA Dads Group Blog Editor; Blogger @Badassparenting

My kids are older now (tween and teen, respectively), so play dates have been replaced with extracurricular activities and the occasional “hanging out.” That said, the overwhelming majority of play dates over the years were held at outdoor areas: parks, beaches, hiking trails, etc. In fact, those are still our go-to spots for family fun and fun with other families.

– Whit Honea, Author of The Parents’ Phrase Book; founder of @dads4change.

Soccer of course!

– Juan Pablo Delgado Gomez, LA Dad Group Co-Organizer

This is probably the most predictable answer, the beach! You have the most options: swimming/surfing, building sand castles and so much more!

– Trevor Mulligan, LA Dad Group Co-Organizer; Blogger @OneSAHD

He soars through Central Park, his flight path twisting and turning to the delight of passersby, his satin cape shimmering and  red hair ablaze in the early afternoon sun.

My son, Liam, and I sometimes get cooped up at home for far too long. Liam is on the spectrum for autism, and although he’ll have a typical childhood and go to typical schools, it will be because he was diagnosed early and received the care and therapy he needs. Four weekdays out of five, he either has therapists visit in the afternoon or must be taken to an appointment. Another therapist spends time with him at his pre-school every morning.

In short, my son puts in a lot of work every week. His only afternoon off is Wednesday so we always try to make the most of it. Liam’s favorite thing to do is to run, to fly, and Central Park is the best place in the world for that.

His magical world in Central Park

Our route through the park is long and winding. We usually enter at Columbus Circle, head east to the Central Park Zoo, and then turn north. We will go past the sailboats of Kerbs Boathouse, the Alice in Wonderland sculpture, all the way up to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Then we cut across the park to Belvedere Castle, and wind our way through the wooded pathways to the Bethesda Fountain. From there, we go to the bandshell, down the promenade, and hook right past the Carousel and baseball diamonds, to Heckscher Playground. There, Liam will run and play for an hour or so before we head back home.

Liam runs ahead of me the entire time, through his magical world of Central Park.

There’s a man who regularly plays the fiddle by the Heckscher Playground. He knows Liam by name, although he always calls him Batman, or Flash, or whichever identity he has chosen that day. Liam squeals in response, and the fiddler plays music for him to dance to.

My son’s imagination saves the day

Autism has not affected my son’s mental or cognitive faculties. He is as sharp as a tack, remembers everything and misses nothing. But one issue he had was with imaginative play. He was prone to lying on the floor, simply rolling a car or train back and forth in front of his eyes, fixated on its wheels, unwilling to expand his world out from his toy vehicle.

One of Liam’s therapists, Diane, found the key to coaxing him away from this laser focus on toy cars and trains. He would always get very excited when he heard a garbage truck outside, and would run to the window to see it. One morning, Diane pointed out the sanitation workers loading the truck. Liam simply had not registered them. He would only see the vehicles, not the people inside them.

This was partly our fault. His favorite television program was Thomas the Tank Engine, and he would watch some of Disney’s Cars every day. Both shows featured anthropomorphic vehicles and little to no human interaction. My wife and I had been unintentionally reinforcing his tendency to lock in on vehicles and ignore the humans operating them.

I’d been buying superhero toys and clothes for Liam since he first arrived. I make no apologies for being an unabashed nerd. It’s a big part of who I am. But when faced with the question of how to help Liam incorporate people into his play routines, and to help him branch out into role-playing and other types of imaginative play, I found the answer in superheroes.

Superheroes are big and bold, bursting with color, and impossible to ignore. Many of the toys come as vehicles and playsets. Now he would be required to deal with human characters when he played with vehicles. Capes, masks, accessories and clothing were easy to find, and encouraged imaginative roleplay.

Superheroes drew my son into more typical and varied realms of play. Once he saw how a cape flew out behind him when he ran, he became hooked. Now he would not only run, he would fly. His imagination would kick into overdrive.

He was no longer Liam, he was a superhero.

Watching people react to Liam as he dashes by has become one of my greatest pleasures. He actually lights people up. They smile. They laugh. They will try to take a picture of him, but he’s too fast. Their cameras only catch a brightly colored blur streaking away from them, but his picture stays in their mind, like the image of the sun does after you glance at it.

Walking next to my son is like walking next to the sun.

A dynamic duo

Liam isn’t the only one to dress up, of course. I’m all too eager to don a super suit as I follow him through Central Park. Liam chooses which superhero he wants to be, and then picks one for me. The end result is I add an extra kick to the sunny impact he has on people. Those folks already smiling about the pint-sized Batman who just ran past tend to break into even wider grins when they see an enormous Robin bringing up the rear with the stroller.

Dressing up as a superhero with my son has unintentionally practical benefits, too. Liam is more difficult to lose in a crowd, being an easily spotted explosion of color and energy in playgrounds swarming with kids. Conversely, my costume makes it easy for him to find me. Without planning it, our superhero outfits have become safety features, ensuring that we will never lose each other.

The superhero outfits, surprisingly, have also made me more approachable. Like a lot of dads on a playground full of moms, I’ve felt out of place at times, like an intruder. Granted, this feeling subsides (mostly because it isn’t really true) but that sense that I’m unwelcome, that I’m viewed with suspicion because I’m a man, comes back from time to time.

That all goes away when you’re wearing a Green Lantern outfit and your little Superman is directing you where to go to stop the next fiendish threat to the planet. It’s difficult to be perceived as a threat to anyone when you’re saving the world. You are immediately considered a safe space by all, and parents and children alike will come over and talk to you.

Making friends as a grown-up can be unnecessarily difficult, and a superhero shirt can circumvent that.When you’re focusing on what’s fun for your kid, you’re not worried about how others might be seeing you, and that’s the key to improving playground time for your child and you.

It’s seems weirdly ironic to not worry about how others see you when you’re wearing a Batman mask, but there it is. Superhero outfits can make you less self conscious while simultaneously making you more conspicuous. Funny, that.

So while I originally intended for superheroes to help Liam work through his issues, they’ve also ended up helping me with mine. But the secret here is not the costume but the time we’re spending together. Superheroes may be the conduit for that, and they can be switched out for anything else. Use whatever you are into — sports, music, bottle caps — as a starting point to find what your child really likes and how you can encourage him or her. That’s kind of a big part of what parenting is all about.

The point is, you don’t need to use superheroes, and you don’t need to be in Central Park. You can do this anywhere, with anything.

From Dynamic Duo to Justice League

It’s time for the play-date now. Liam’s preschool friends frequent Central Park as well, and we meet either on the Great Lawn or one of the playgrounds most every Wednesday. It’s a recent development, but a welcome one. The other kids all make sure to let me know they want capes, too. No problem. We have enough.

So we’ve gone from a Dynamic Duo to a full-on Justice League. Batman and Captain America team up with Wonder Woman and Paw Patrol Boy, or whomever else the children dream up. Now, whenever you visit Central Park on Wednesdays, you must keep an eye out for lots of low flying superheroes.

A little over a year ago, Liam was still barely speaking. He still had a tendency to withdraw into himself, and was slow to socialize with other children. To see him now, leading the Avengers in a charge across the Great Lawn seems nothing short of miraculous. Which is the kind of thing superheroes do, I suppose.

He soars through Central Park, his flight path twisting and turning to the delight of passersby, his satin cape shimmering, and the golden late afternoon sun setting his red hair ablaze, like a joyful fire.

My heart burns there, too.

“You will travel far, my little Kal-El, but we will never leave you, even in the face of our death. The richness of our lives shall be yours. All that I have, all that I’ve learned, everything I feel, all this and more, I bequeath you, my son. You will carry me inside you, all the days of your life.

You will make my strength your own, and see my life through your eyes, as your life will be seen through mine.” ~ Marlon Brando/Jor-El in Superman: the Movie

EDITOR’S NOTE: NYC kids’ winter activities recommendations updated for Winter 2022-23!!

These are the times that try a parent’s soul — the cold, barren doldrums of winter between the New Year’s holiday and the start of spring (yeah – that’s pretty much all of winter, people). How can you keep your child entertained?

We compiled a list of several kids’ winter activities you can find around the boroughs to help you exercise your child’s body and brain.

You can also check out our friends at New York Family magazine for updated lists of seasonal events and great suggestions for other things for you and your little ones to do in the city.

Best kids’ winter activities in NYC: Skating

Let the tourists take over Rockefeller Center. Instead, start your quest for ice time by checking out NYC’s public skating rinks. Then, see what our friends at Tiny Beans recommend for skating in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens. Personally, we like:

Lakeside Prospect Park. This recently renovated Brooklyn skating rink features an outdoor and an indoor rink so you can have fun no matter the weather. Don’t forget to stop in at the cafe for hot chocolate.

The Rink at Winter Village in Bryant Park. This great Manhattan location always has fun going on in its Winter Village setting. Skating is free if you bring your own skates, but you do need to reserve a time. Features to rent include special penguin “Skate Aids” to rent that will help beginners under age 10 navigate, ice “bumper cars,” curling lanes and even dining igloos.

City Ice Pavilion. Hop over to Queens for this huge skating facility in Long Island City that features two NHL-size rinks. Note: helmets for novice skaters are no longer available for rental.

Best kids’ winter activities in NYC: Learning

Not all kids’ winter activities have to involve the cold. Winter is the best time to take your children to any of the scores of great historic places or museums New York City has to offer because … fewer tourists! Time Out New York Kids offers a great list of permanent kids’ exhibits at local museums. Here are some of our faves:

MOMA: The Museum of Modern Art. The “Art Card” program is part scavenger hunt and part-art history lesson that will teach and entertain your children. Also features story-time events, art classes and more for the wee ones.

The Queens Museum. Home for the most amazing scale model ever built (of New York City, of course, this recently renovated museum in Flushing is also a showcase for many contemporary and modern artists. It also holds many family workshops on Sundays.

National Museum of the American Indian. Located in lower Manhattan inside the Alexander Hamilton Customs House, which is a beautiful feat of turn-of-the-20th-century architecture, this museum teaches about Native American history and culture while also featuring special activities just for kids.

The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum’s Exploreum Hall. This 13,000 square feet of interactive exhibits is just part of this awesome complex. It offers family-friendly workshops and storytelling activities year-round. You can even sleep onboard overnight through its “Operation Slumber.”

Best kids’ winter activities in NYC: Sledding

The city’s Parks Department website actually lists popular sledding spots in all five NYC boroughs (yes, Staten Island, too). Here are some of our faves:

Central Park: Pilgrim Hill and Cedar Hill. Pilgrim Hill, accessible at 72nd Street and Fifth Avenue, has steeper hills and tends to get more crowded. Cedar Hill, between 76th and 79th streets on the east side, has two hills, one of which is less steep and thus more popular with the youngest sledders.

Inwood Hill Park. Its location at the tip of Upper Manhattan means it’s less crowded than most NYC sledding spots, but man — it’s worth the trip there with lots of space and slopes to hit.

Fort Greene Park in Brooklyn. Features four hills of varying difficulty so there’s something for all riders.

You can find other sledding recommendations from Time Out New York Kids and our friends at Mommy Poppins.

Indoor play in NYC

Let the kids burn off some energy at one of these NYC indoor play spaces recommended by Tiny Beans. 

Bonus: Hit the ski, tubing slopes

New York City may not have mountains but the city is closer to the ski and tubing action than you may think.

We wrote a whole separate post about the best family-friendly skiing and tubing near NYC. Check it out!

Top photo by cottonbro via Pexels

We are proud to share a guest post from Miguel Salamanca (pictured with his son Jeremy), a newer member of the NYC Dads Group who joins us from the Bronx.  Salamanca has agreed to become our new event organizer in the Bronx area planning meet up events for active and nurturing dads in his local borough of the Bronx.  Additionally, Salamanca is unique in creating a new resource for dads and other parents – a website called “A Dad’s Guide To NYC Parks & Playgrounds.”   The site is billed as a “Blog for all dads and parents alike that are clueless of what New York City parks and playgrounds have to offer based on Salamancas’ and his childrens’ recommendations and ratings.”  Please check out his site & check out this cross post he recently did on one of my all-time favorite playgrounds (or should I say my son’s)- Carl Schurz Park on the Upper East Side.

Hello. My name is Miguel Salamanca, and I am a member of the New York City (NYC) Dads Meetup Group. With this membership, I receive updates to great events all over NYC and beyond to take my children to. Today, my son and I chose to visit Carl Schurz Park & Playground located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan were dads from the NYC Dads Group community would be meeting up.

My first impression upon entering the park was that it was beautiful and well maintained. Jeremy (my son) and I walked by an outstanding dog park filled with large dogs playing in the sand with their owners. We loved that very much. We could see opposite from where we were standing that there was a water hose flowing with water to quench the thirst of the big dogs. Next, we found a basketball court and finally, just a little bit up the hill, we found the playground. As we entered the playground, my first thoughts were “wow there is a lot going on here.” For the most part, I have found many playgrounds have the same straight-line view from play area to play area. Not this time, this was different! Whoever designed this park mapped it out perfectly. As we walked in, the first thing to see was a toddler swing area complete with 12 swings, an infant climbing area followed by a few benches to sit, and a sand lot for children to play. For the bigger kids there was a separate enclosed park, taller more advanced climbing places to swing and slide down. Continuing around the circle, we can see a large spiral slide where my son and I took turns sliding down and climbing up. He had the better deal with the slide because he sat on my lap while I took the bruises on the way down. I hit a bump every time! Next, could be found a bouncing bridge and set of chain monkey bars and two more slides. One was made of individual rollers and the other was a shorter metal slide. I was very impressed by the built in seats that could be found in the slide towers. My son kept asking me to sit with him. Of course, I did. After the slide towers, we could see the four swings for bigger kids. Lastly, were the Men and Women’s bathrooms. In the center of the playground was a very large sprayground play area where children can get wet in the sprinklers that are built into the ground.

We arrived and settled in right where I wanted to be at the Sand Lot. This is where our host from the NYC Dads Group, Bryan Grossbauer said he would be. I was only one of four men in the park so one of these men had to be him. I was not sure what he looked like so I just let things play out. Not long after, Bryan approached me. I have to say, I have never been happier to meet a perfect stranger then today. He was very friendly and caring for his little boy named Finn. I listened to his story and he listened to mine. That was really something that I am always looking for when I go to visit any playground (another parent to listen and talk to).  I was also able to meet two other caring dads who were spending time with their children. Each of them were also very friendly. One shared a very funny story about his baby girl who one day so innocently hit a golden retriever so hard in the face that dad could do nothing but high tail it out of the way of the dog and hope that the owner did not see what had happened. (I hope I got the dog description correct). Fun times and many laughs.

We enjoyed this playground immensely. Dads and parents- you will not find a baby changing station in the bathroom. I recommend you bring some kind of mat to change the baby. The bathrooms where clean and well stocked. I walked the entire perimeter of the playground and found only one entrance open. I thought that could present a fire hazard in the event of some kind of emergency. Nevertheless, I could see it clearly marked that the only other entry way is open at other times of the day. So not too big a deal. This playground was very active with over 20 nannies and mothers with their children playing before 1:30pm. Bryan tells me the park gets crowded when the kids get out of school in the late afternoon. Most everyone was friendly and engaged with their kids. I was impressed by this. I will rate this park a best five out of five. I love this park. A must visit place for you and yours.

The nicer weather motivates me to venture out for new playground experiences.  We have combed the entire Upper East Side the past few weeks, and stumbled upon some favorites:

1. The newly remodeled Ancient Playground (85th & 5th) near the MET has some great pyramid-like climbing structures and a cool water area to get wet. 

2. The new Asphalt Green playground (91st & York) has a modern sand pit, a child-sized house for the kids to play in, swings, and more. 

3. The Lab School Playground (96th & Lexington) is a learning experience – themed around the longest rivers of the world, this sprayground has water shooting up through a large-scale map of the world, sending the water down a river that navigates the entire length of the playground.  Of course, I am biased toward the playgrounds in my hood.

That said, for those of you adventurous enough to take a playground tour of NYC or take a staycation this holiday weekend, check out New York Magazine‘s special feature on Playgrounds Gone Wild.  The article provides a menu of options of 19 different playgrounds, for kids with all tastes.  Interestingly, the theme of most playgrounds these days is that they have “rediscovered the joys of risk.” They have become “less predictable, more imaginative, and more complex” resulting in more thrills for the kids! 

Of course, the article highlights the overhyped, Union Square Playground.  However, the one that captured my attention most is the brand-new, Pier 6-Brooklyn Bridge Park Playground. It’s Good To Be A Kid makes it sound like a paradise:

Short of the actual beach, you won’t find another sand-and-water-scape this big and enticing in New York. The newest park on the Brooklyn waterfront features a 6,000-square-foot plot of gust-resistant sand interspersed with climbable tortoises, frogs, and chickens, child-size houses, a “town well,” and a water-spitting boulder. There are also some fantastic swings — 21 of them, in fact, including planks, tires, and circular-spinning Tarzan fliers.

Reading an article like this and enjoying the current weather in New York City, gives me the itch to get more creative in planning my playground destinations.  I have no doubt that the NYC Dads Group will have to heed the call and venture over to experience Pier 6, Hechscher Playground, Teardrop Park, and more in the coming weeks.

Sometimes it’s nice to be a tourist in your own city. Sometimes it’s nice to drop your child off with family so you and your wife can have some alone time. This past Saturday, I was fortunate to have both.

We live close to Central Park, and as an at home dad, it becomes my oasis several times a week – for it’s plentiful playgrounds, fields of grass for my son & I to run around or play ball on, serene landscapes, and the like. My working wife only knows Central Park for it’s overcrowded hot spots: The Great Lawn, Sheep’s Meadow, and the Zoo. I asked her how she wanted to spend our beautiful, private afternoon together without our son. She excitedly replied, “take me for a tour of Central Park.” Fortunately, I was armed with a useful tool because my buddy Matt sent me this article a few weeks ago: Hidden NY: 19 Fun Things to Do in Central Park Beyond the Zoo from family-friendly Mommy Poppins.

We started on the North East corner of Central Park. We strolled through the tranquil and symmetrical Conservatory Gardens, meandered around the Harlem Meer (where they rent free fishing equipment), and traversed through the North Woods filled with streams and waterfalls. One thing was for sure – it did not feel like New York City. After navigating The Great Hill and parking ourselves on the banks of the boathouse lagoon listening to the folk tunes of That Guitar Man from Central Park, we had the makings of a perfect date.

I share this (not to sound corny, but I know it does anyway) because sometimes the most simple and least expensive way is the best way to have the perfect date! And to hype up what an amazing and diverse place Central Park truly is. Although, I know so many other treasures exist throughout the five boroughs of New York City.

Speaking of Central Park, our friends at the Baby Buggy charity are hosting their fourth annual fundraising event TODAY: Baby Buggy Bedtime Bash in Central Park…

This is a family fundraiser that they do once a year at Victorian Gardens in Central Park. If you are ever going to experience the amusement park over the summer come to this private, fun event where there are NO lines and everyone wins a prize!

Who: Baby Buggy
What: A Family Fun Party For Kids of All Ages
When: Thursday, June 3, 4:30 – 7:30pm – rain or shine
Where: Victorian Gardens (Amusement Park) at Wollman Rink in Central Park
Cost: This is a charitable donation and different packages are available, but site states single adult tickets are $175 & individual children are $75.
For more information, visit their website or call 212-736-1772

Read about our group’s volunteer experience with this fantastic charity.

I enjoy taking parent & me classes with my son because it keeps us active as well as provides structure to our day. Our regular weekly classes are on summer break so it has given us a chance to check out some new and innovative activities.

Last week, we set out early in the morning & rocked at Moey’s Music Party in Big Daddy’s Diner on the UES. Moey is an engaging musician who performs songs with the kids, dances, jokes around, and makes for a fun experience. When the music party is over, you can stick around and eat some waffles or pancakes at the diner. The negative: this class takes place in a restaurant…so my son was crawling around on a dirty floor. Check out Moey’s Music Party & sign up for a FREE trial Class.

Later that afternoon, we also participated in a magical musical experience at a new kids hotspot on the Upper East Side: Three Little Birds Music. They are offering FREE trial classes, and would highly recommend parents to give it a shot. In this rapidly paced class, my son was shaking maracas, strumming the strings of a Cello, assisted with pushing the buttons on an Oboe, crawled under the Xylophone, and danced to the live piano. Both of us enjoyed the sensory overload & educational experience. This location also has an indoor playspace!

Outdoor yoga anyone? We hit the yoga mats last Monday morning & joined Elahi Yoga in St. Catherine’s Park (1st Ave. btwn 67th & 68th) for a FREE children’s yoga class and some story time.

Finally, on Thursday morning, we ventured over to Carl Schurz Park to participate in a FREE outdoor class with Gymboree Play & Music. They had the balls, bubbles, and parachutes for some instructional gym-time fun outdoors in this cool playground location. There are a few more weeks left so don’t miss out.

What is up next for this active dad? Some well-deserved rest…

Please feel free to share some upcoming fun outdoor activities for parents & kids.

This “guest blog” entry was completed by NYC Dads Group member Robert J. I have a challenging time juggling all of the responsibilities that comes with being the primary caregiver to one child. Robert is fortunate to be an at-home dad with twins.

Today we “Jammed with Joanie Leeds” in Central Park. Eighteen dads and their kids came to the Great Lawn to meet our guest musician. Joanie was a great guest for the group because she was so personable and talented. She made a point to introduce herself to all the dads and kids before the event started and kept us engaged for forty-five minutes. After a welcome song to introduce the kids, she combined some classic songs we all knew with some of her original songs. We sang songs like Old MacDonald, the Hokey Pokey, and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star among others. She also sang some of her original songs including Ice Cream and Blast Off. I am sure it was fun to be a passerby and see eighteen dads throwing their babies into the air with the Blast Off song! She concluded her jam session with bubbles, parachute time, and a few extra tunes.

Her never-ending bags of goodies and high energy kept the kids and dads entertained. Her props included maracas as ice cream cones, farm animal puppets for Old MacDonald, scarves for the Hokey Pokey, and bubbles. My kids preferred to eat and gnaw on the props, but some of the older kids had a better idea of what to do with them. Joanie had a knack for getting the dads up and moving too!

I don’t think we can beat live music under the trees in Central Park to start off the week. Overall, it was clear to me that Joanie knew what she was doing, was well-prepared, flexible, and talented; all things that are very much appreciated by a dad like me! There were lots of onlookers & tourists gawking at us with big smiles & taking multiple photos as they passed by watching us have a good ol’ time. One dad joked, that the only thing missing was the sign saying, “Please don’t feed the Dads, and don’t tap on the glass.”

And what would a Central Park visit be without someone from the media checking in? Another producer asked a few questions and will hopefully do some research to learn what we are all about. Finally, this location was a great place to feed kids and hang out once the music ended.

We need to thank member Joe B. who introduced us to Joanie; we were sorry you couldn’t join us today, Joe. It was the biggest turnout for our NYC Dads Group that I have seen. As Lance said, the best ideas for Meet-Ups come from us — keep the ideas coming, guys.

During the summer, some families are fortunate to take a vacation out of the city and some take a staycation in the city. As we head into the summer months, I thought it was a good time to share a few ideas for stay at home dads & all parents in New York City. I am inspired by my parent discussion yesterday at the 92nd Street Y Parenting Center on summer activities to do with your baby in NYC. If you are heading outdoors, grab a blanket, sunscreen, bubbles, and find a shady spot in Central Park or any local park in your hood. There are mini-playgrounds all over the place that have swings and slides which my son has really taken a liking to. Here are just a few more ideas:

• Rooftop at MET Museum – see one of the nicest views of central park & admission is included in general museum admission (strollers not allowed with latest exhibit so bring your carrier)
• Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum – New exhibit – Doodle 4 Google: What I Wish for the World presents thirty-nine designs selected among tens of thousands of entries submitted by K–12 students from all fifty states + hang out in their gardens with lawn, chairs, and umbrellas
• NY Public Library Children’s Center at 42nd street – Go indoors to read some stories with your kids on comfy bean bag chairs OR sit outside in Bryant Park (they have an outdoor reading section in the shade where you can borrow children’s books, newspapers, magazines, etc)

Outdoors:

• Find an outdoor cafe to chill or grab a drink like the Boat Basin along the West Side River promenade, the Central Park Boathouse outdoor garden, the many cafe’s at South Street Seaport, well you get the idea…
• Hit the Zoo – remember if you plan on using them often, the zoo family pass will be most economical and allow you access to all of them including Bronx Zoo & Coney Island Aquarium
• Catch a day baseball game – check out one of the new stadiums or hit the ballpark in Coney Island to see the Cyclones.
• Hit the Beach – take the ferry to Watertaxi Beach where they ship in sand and create a man-made paradise.
• Check out Governors Island – open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from May 30th through October 11th
• Carl Shurz Park – checkout his nice esplanade on the upper East Side to find some peace or enjoy their summer activities like movie nights and live music throughout the summer

New York City has a ton of options for family fun summer activities. Do not get caught up sitting at home all day with your AC, and be a tourist in your own city. Please share some of your favorite things to do in NYC during the summer.

Baseball photo courtesy of N.Y. Mets.