New York City Family Vacation Ideas

The perfect way to start your family vacation to NYC is with a trip to the top of one of her most legendary buildings. Head to the 86th floor of the Empire State Building where you’ll get amazing panoramic views of the cityscape around you from heights of over 1,000 feet in the air. It’s the perfect place for stunning Instagram photos. Don’t forget to get some snaps of the stunning Art Deco lobby on your way up!

You simply can’t visit NYC without paying your respects to Lady Liberty. Take the ferry out to Liberty Island to see this iconic statue, and explore the grounds. You can also opt to upgrade to see the pedestal and crown (only with advance ticket purchase directly from the National Park).

Then, continue on to Ellis Island to check out the fascinating and thought-provoking Immigration Museum.

One of the most expansive natural history museums in the world, the American Museum of Natural History in NYC is a must-visit for families. It’s a field trip favorite for local schools and offers an abundance of educational opportunities alongside awe-inspiring exhibits. They’re particularly known for their dinosaur fossils and the Milstein Hall of Ocean Life, although they also have an impressive collection of minerals and gemstones, animal dioramas, and more.

One of the world’s greatest art museums, period. The Met is an amazing place to take a family interested in art, architecture, design, and history. It’s filled with beautiful and inspiring pieces from across the globe and the millennia. Begin with their stellar collection of Ancient Egyptian art and artifacts. Scope out their medieval art. Marvel at their European sculpture and decorative arts. And don’t forget about the expansive collection of American paintings!

Another popular attraction with families is the Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum. This comprehensive institution focuses on a few things, but they do them extraordinarily well.

Learn all about the history of American travel by sea, by air, and in space at this amazing place. It’s both educational and entertaining and is perfect for visitors of all ages. Now, your Go City® New York pass also includes admission to the Space Shuttle Pavilion, which hosts the Enterprise, a vessel that pioneered NASA’s early space flight programs.

Even if you’re not a fan of the pinstripes, you have to admit that touring Yankee Stadium is a great opportunity for sports fans everywhere. Although it’s not the original historic stadium, this new construction is pretty impressive on the ballpark scene.

See behind the scenes and explore the most significant areas of the park, from the luxury suites to the Yankees Museum. Although the stadium is new it still contains some homages to past Yankee's greats and the heritage of the organization. Why not pick up tickets to a game? Keep an eye out for deals on resale sites for the best value.

While NYC’s not a beach town in the same way as, say, Santa Monica, she’s certainly more than qualified on the waterfront scene to offer you an amazing marine adventure. Board the historic Clipper City Tall Ship for a distinctive experience that’s sure to make memories of a lifetime.

This majestic schooner has been restored to replicate the design and feel of the 1854 original vessel, and today it’s a wonder to sail out onto New York waterways aboard this amazing ship.

Of course, you can’t visit New York without spending some time in her heart – Central Park. One of the world’s most famous parks, Central Park offers plenty of activities for visitors to enjoy, whether you want to lounge like a local, join up with a walking tour, or rent a bike to explore this massive expanse on two wheels. Whatever you opt to do, know that you’re truly experiencing NYC with some time spent in this popular urban greenspace.

It may be a cliché, but if you visit the city that never sleeps, you should see Times Square. There is always something going on in NYC, especially Times Square, you'll be overwhelmed at first but once you get your bearings you will fit right in. There's no shortage of shopping or dining options in Times Square and when you add in the people watching, you can spend tons of time here.