Madison Square Park. A good playground, public art, and the original Shake Shack. Grab burgers and let the kids run, or settle in for a picnic on the lawn (weather permitting). Map

The Flatiron Building. The best photo is from the south end of the park. Map

Union Square Greenmarket. Saturday morning is the busiest and best day. Map

Eataly. Italian market with gelato and pastries. Take them to a bench in the park. Map

Gramercy Park. A private, key-only park. You can't go in, but the walk around it is worth it. Map

Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace. Free ranger tours of the house on East 20th Street. Short and rarely crowded. Map

Pete's Tavern. Old tavern on Irving Place. O. Henry supposedly wrote The Gift of the Magi here. Map

Fishs Eddy. New York-themed dishes and mugs. Good souvenirs. Map

Books of Wonder. Iconic children's bookstore with plenty of author- or illustrator-signed books (great for gifting) and original art on the walls. A studio favorite. Map

The Strand. The famous used bookstore at Broadway and 12th. Map

Barnes & Noble, Union Square. Four floors overlooking the square. Map

Harry Potter New York. Wands, robes, and butterbeer. Go on a weekday morning. Map

The Lego Store. With special products and releases exclusive to the store. Map

The Camp Store. Rotating interactive play exhibits for children. Map

Rizzoli Bookstore. Art books in NoMad, with a children's section in the back. Map

Lower Fifth Avenue. Theory, Zara, Alo, Lululemon, Bandier, and more.

Broadway for the home. ABC Carpet & Home, Fishs Eddy, and Crate & Barrel.

Gramercy Tavern. Ask for the front Tavern, not the dining room. It's more relaxed with kids. Map

Union Square Cafe. Danny Meyer's original. Good for all ages. Map

Rezdora. Excellent pasta. Book early. Map

Massara. Southern Italian cooking from the team behind Rezdora. Map

Casa Mono. Tapas on Irving Place, around the corner from the studio. If you are bringing your child, you can request an outside table. Map

Cosme. Modern Mexican from Enrique Olvera. Map

Coqodaq. Korean fried chicken and Champagne from the team behind Cote. Map

Passerine. A newer favorite of ours. Map

Eleven Madison Park. For a special parents-only dinner. Map

Clemente Bar. After-dinner drinks upstairs from Eleven Madison Park. Map

Daily Provisions. Breakfast and lunch from the Union Square Cafe team. Sandwiches and salads to go. Map

Devoción and Irving Farm Coffee Roasters. Our two go-to coffee shops. Map

Cha Cha Matcha. The draft matcha latte is my favorite. Map

Somedays or Dominique Ansel Workshop for a sweet treat. Map

Caffè Panna or Mythos Greek Yogurt for a frozen treat. Map

Grand Central Terminal. If you take the train up or downtown, stop by Cipriani Dolci on the west balcony for a Bellini or a snack while you take in the architecture and people watch. Map

The Whispering Gallery. Outside the Oyster Bar in Grand Central, stand in opposite corners of the archway and whisper. You can hear each other clearly. Kids love it. Map

Eloise Tea Time at The Plaza. Great for Eloise fans. Book well ahead. Map

FAO Schwarz. The toy store at Rockefeller Plaza, with the giant floor piano. Map

Rockefeller Center. Radio City and the skating rink in winter. Top of the Rock has a better view than the Empire State Building, because you can see the Empire State Building. Map

Summit One Vanderbilt and RiseNY. An observation deck and a flight-simulator ride. Map

Long-running family favorites. The Lion King, Wicked, Aladdin, and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Matinees are easier with younger kids.

The Lego Store, Nintendo New York, and American Girl Place, all within a few blocks of one another. Map

Serendipity 3. Known for its frozen hot chocolate. Map

There are a million things to do in the park. I personally love a pedicab ride; just be sure to agree on your rate with the driver before you set off, depending on where you are going.

Central Park Zoo and the Tisch Children's Zoo. You can see it all in about an hour. Map

Bethesda Terrace and Bow Bridge. The prettiest part of the park, often with musicians. Map

The Carousel, Wollman Rink, and Heckscher Playground, one of the park's biggest. Map

Tavern on the Green. Lunch or dinner inside the park. Map

MoMA. Starry Night, plus a sculpture garden for a break. Map

Saks Fifth Avenue and Bergdorf Goodman. Worth seeing when the holiday windows are up. Map

The Grill. One of my favorite date night spots. Map

Michael's. Dinner here has become a family tradition after viewing the holiday lights. Map

Bryant Park Winter Village. Holiday shopping and food stalls. Map

The holidays. George Balanchine's The Nutcracker at New York City Ballet, the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, the tree at Rockefeller Center, the Fifth Avenue windows, and skating at Bryant Park's Winter Village.

The Met. Don't try to see it all. Kids like the Temple of Dendur and Arms and Armor, but you know your family best. Map

The Guggenheim. Kids love walking the spiral from the top down. Map

The Frick Collection. Old Master portraits in a Fifth Avenue mansion. Reopened in 2025 after a renovation. A must if you love portraits, but they are strict. Map

Neue Galerie. Klimt and Viennese design, with Café Sabarsky's pastries downstairs. Map

Ancient Playground. Next to the Met at 85th Street, with pyramids and obelisks to climb. Good for after the museum. Map

Billy Johnson Playground. A lively park for a break while shopping uptown. Map

Madison Avenue above 59th. Designer flagships and children's boutiques.

Bemelmans Bar. For a date without children. Map

Sant Ambroeus. A Milanese café for espresso, pastries, and gelato between museums. Map

Via Quadronno. A small Milanese café off Madison. Known for its panini. Map

Ladurée. Macarons and tea on Madison Avenue. Map

JG Melon. A no-frills neighborhood classic for burgers and cottage fries. Map

American Museum of Natural History. A must! Dinosaurs, the blue whale, and the butterfly room in the Gilder Center. Buy tickets online ahead. Map

Children's Museum of Manhattan. Hands-on floors made for younger children. Map

New-York Historical. Has a children's history museum inside. Map

Hippo Playground. In Riverside Park at 91st Street, with hippo statues to climb. Mostly locals. Map

Riverside Park. Playgrounds and river views. Map

Intrepid Museum. On the far west side of Midtown, a perfect stop with kids if you're heading downtown toward Hudson Yards. Map

La Pecora Bianca. Our go-to lunch within walking distance of the museum. Map

Levain Bakery. The original shop on West 74th Street. Get the chocolate chip walnut cookie. Map

Zabar's. Bagels and picnic supplies for the park. Map

The High Line. An elevated park that runs north to Hudson Yards. In summer, kids can put their feet in the water at the 14th Street sundeck. Map

Chelsea Market. Food stalls and shops, including an artists' flea. Map

The Whitney Museum. American art, with outdoor terraces. Map

Little Island. A park built on the river, with free shows in warmer months. Map

Artechouse. Digital art exhibits under Chelsea Market. Good for all ages. Map

The Galleries. Gagosian, Hauser & Wirth, Pace, Dia, and many more, between 14th and 25th Streets from Tenth to Eleventh Avenues. Free and quiet. Kids like them more than you'd expect.

Luxury boutiques and home. Hermès, RH, the Apple Store, and more in the Meatpacking District.

Pastis. French brasserie in the Meatpacking District. Brunch with kids. Map

RH Rooftop. Lunch under a glass roof. Map

Hotel Chelsea. Café Chelsea and El Quijote, both inside the hotel. Map

Los Tacos No. 1. In Chelsea Market. The line moves fast. Map

Crane Club. Date night, dinner without the kids. Map

Edge. Outdoor observation deck with a glass floor, 100 stories up. Map

The Vessel. A climbable sculpture made of staircases. Map

The Shed. Art exhibits and performances. Map

The High Line. Walk south to Chelsea and the Meatpacking District. Map

The Shops at Hudson Yards. A mall with lots of restaurants, easy restrooms, and elevators for strollers. Map

Mercado Little Spain. José Andrés's Spanish food hall. Get the churros. Map

Peak. Dinner on the 101st floor, just above Edge. Map

Washington Square Park. The fountain, the arch, and street performers. Map

Magnolia Bakery. The original Bleecker Street location! Get the banana pudding. Map

Bleecker Street Pizza. The classic New York slice. Map

Hudson River Park, Piers 45 and 46. A walk along the water. In summer, Pier 51 has a water playground. Map

Three Lives & Company. A small independent bookstore on West 10th Street. Map

McNulty's Tea & Coffee. Selling tea and coffee on Christopher Street since 1895. Map

Bleecker Street and surrounding blocks. Lots of boutiques: Trove for fine jewelry and jewelry boxes, La Ligne, ba&sh, Bookmarc, LoveShackFancy, Dôen, Ganni, and more.

C.O. Bigelow. America's oldest apothecary, open since 1838. Great for beauty finds. Map

Via Carota. Italian, and one of our favorites in the city. Go early and expect a wait. Map

Buvette. A small French café for breakfast or an early dinner. Map

I Sodi. Tuscan food in a small room. Map

L'Artusi. Modern Italian with an open kitchen. Map

Café Cluny. A corner bistro, good for brunch. Map

Minetta Tavern. A classic Village tavern, known for its burger. Map

American Bar. A bistro on Greenwich Avenue. Kids love filling out the order card for the Tower Bar Sundae. Map

Sloomoo Institute. A hands-on slime museum. A favorite of ours. Map

The Color Factory. Interactive color installations. Great fun. Map

Museum of Ice Cream. Themed rooms, a sprinkle pool, and ice cream along the way. Map

Broadway between Houston and Canal. Department stores and familiar names: Bloomingdale's, Zara, Uniqlo, and more.

West of Broadway, Houston to Canal. Luxury boutiques on quieter streets.

Nolita. goop, Ulla Johnson, John Derian, and Roman and Williams.

Balthazar or Sadelle's for brunch. No table? Balthazar's bakery next door has pastries to go. Map

Le Coucou. French, for a nicer night out. Map

Ladurée SoHo. Macarons and tea, with a garden in back. Map

Dominique Ansel Bakery. Home of the Cronut. Map

Jack's Wife Freda. An easy all-day café. Map

Lafayette. Easy brunch with kids in NoHo, or stop by the café for a croissant. Map

Raoul's. A French bistro in SoHo since 1975, known for its steak au poivre. Map

One World Observatory. The view from the top of One World Trade Center. Map

9/11 Memorial & Museum. Best for families with older children. Map

South Street Seaport. Shops and restaurants on the water, with views of the bridges. Map

Pier 17. Waterside dining and year-round activities. Map

Battery Park. Views of the Statue of Liberty, and ferries to Liberty and Ellis Islands. Map

SeaGlass Carousel. In Battery Park. Kids ride inside light-up fish. Map

The Oculus. A transit hub and mall. The building is worth seeing. Map

Brookfield Place. A waterfront mall with restaurants and a path to Battery Park. Map

Locanda Verde. Italian in Tribeca, good for breakfast or dinner. Map

Frenchette. A French brasserie in Tribeca. Map

Bubby's. Pancakes and pie. Very kid-friendly. Map