23 Free Things To Do in NYC With Kids

Emily N:  Urban Park Rangers give free paddling lessons for all skill levels in parks throughout NYC. Learn the basics of canoeing and kayaking while exploring the gentle waters of protected lakes, as well as the challenging open waters of rivers and bays. Mandatory safety reviews, led by a trained Ranger, are required.

Nancy L.:  Some of the best things to do in NYC with kids are completely free! With all the hustle and bustle in New York City, it's easy to forget that Manhattan is an island. To see some of the best views of this unique island, take a free ride on the Staten Island Ferry. It's run by the City of New York for use by commuters and residents. This five-mile, 25-minute trip offers amazing views of New York Harbor, The Statue of Liberty, and Ellis Island. It leaves from Whitehall Terminal in lower Manhattan and goes to the St. George Terminal in Staten Island. To really enjoy this ride, avoid rush hour.

Amanda Banta:  Your little ones can imagine themselves on Stuart Little's sailing adventure when they guide model boats around the pond featured in E.B. White's classic chapter book for kids. The Conservatory Water offers model boat rentals, story time, and outdoor seating in the warm months and free public ice skating in the winter. Nearby are the famous literary sculptures Alice in Wonderland and Hans Christian Anderson, both erected in the 1950s. Take a break from the lightning fast pace of the city, pick up some light refreshments from the cafe and settle on a bench to watch the Saturday morning boat races.

Nancy L.:  Poet Edna St. Vincent Millay lived at 75 1/2 Bedford Street in Greenwich Village from 1923-1925. Millay, one of the most significant writers of 20th-century literature, was a central figure in Bohemian Greenwich Village. She was also a symbol of liberated woman of the 1920s. In addition, this building is considered the narrowest houses in Manhattan. You can't enter this private home, but it makes for a great photo-op while taking a stroll in this beautiful neighborhood.

Brooklyn Bridge Park's Pier 6 has several unique playgrounds that are all worth checking out. Swing Valley has 10 swing sets (for kids of all ages) and Tarzan ropes. Sandbox Village boasts an enormous sandbox. Slide Mountain area has jungle gyms and two-story slides and Water Lab is a kid favorite for its water jet design.

Kelly R:  Brooklyn Bridge Park Boathouse offers free 20 minute kayaking sessions at their protected embayment between Piers 1 and 2 in Brooklyn Bridge Park throughout the summer season. Participants are outfitted in a life vest and receive a kayaking primer before paddling out into a protected area. Kids age 14-17 can kayak on their own with an adult present, and kids under 14 can ride with an adult in a double kayak. They also offer a special Kids and Family Paddle program on Sundays over the summer. Reservations required.

Washington Square Park is home to three playgrounds that appeal to kids of all ages. Play Hills features rolling turf-covered hills with an elevated rope course for climbing. A Big Kid Playground features swings, sand play, slides, and more. There's also a separate Toddler Playground for the little ones.

Emily N:  The Old Stone House in Brooklyn allows visitors to see what life was like in Brooklyn during the colonial era and Brooklyn's role in the infamous Battle of Brooklyn during the Revolutionary War. Kids (and adults) are able to interact with the exhibits with a variety of ways to touch, hear and see the story. The Old Stone House also offers after school and vacation programs for children!

Lisa R:  There are many statues drawn from children's books in Central Park, however there is something particularly special about visiting a statue celebrating The Secret Garden in an actual secret garden. The Conservatory Garden, located at the northeast of Central Park includes formal French, Italian and English designs. The Frances Hodgson Burnett Memorial Fountain, depicting Mary and Dickon from the book, sits in the center.

Amanda Banta:  Book lovers of all ages fall in love with the New York Public Library's flagship location on 5th Avenue and it is easy to see why with a building as beautiful inside as it is outside. The building opened in 1911 and now welcomes millions of visitors every year. Take a docent-led tour or explore at your own pace with a self-guided audio tour. Children and those young at heart may even see the stuffed bear that inspired the beloved character Winnie the Pooh, who, along with Eeyore, Piglet, Kanga and Tigger, has been living at the library since 1987.

The American Folk Art Museum features beautiful pieces and interesting exhibits that can be tailored to excite the whole family. The museum offers tips for visiting with children as well as family guides in the museum that will help make for a smooth, meaningful visit. Be sure to check the website for upcoming Families and Folk Art Programs.

Amanda Banta:  Literary Walk sits at the south end of the Mall, which is the only intentionally straight line in Central Park and runs from 66th to 72nd Street. The walk features statues of four prominent writers, including William Shakespeare, Sir Walter Scott, Robert Burns, and Fitz-Greene Halleck. Readers, writers and visitors of all sorts stroll the park's widest pedestrian path, marveling in craftsmanship of the statues and the beauty of the elm trees lining the Mall.

Emily N:  Right in the middle of the city lies our famous Central Park with many opportunities for children to tap into nature. The Charles A. Dana Discovery Center is geared towards environmental education programming for children and even hosts free catch and release fishing for families to experience wildlife up close.

Emily N:  Situated in Prospect Park, the Audubon Center is dedicated to educating the public about all the nature in the park with exhibits and programming! Featuring hands-on displays and engaging events, families have the opportunity to better understand and appreciate Prospect Park's vast natural beauty.

Lisa R:  In A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Francie comes of age in a world that is often dirty, rough, and unfair, yet she finds solace in libraries and churches in her neighborhood. One church mentioned in the book was likely Most Holy Trinity Church, where author Betty Smith was baptized.

"Francie thought it was the most beautiful church in Brooklyn. It was made of old gray stone and had twin spires that rose cleanly into the sky, high above the tallest tenements."

Williamsburg today is a far cry from Francie's Brooklyn, but visitors can still see the church and peek down streets mentioned in the book.