Family Fun in the Big Apple

A trip to New York City with your children is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. They’ll be in awe from all the skyscraper buildings, dinosaur sightings, and to all the cool places you’re going to take them. The big city has lots of activities for families to experience.

The American Museum of Natural History

The American Museum of Natural History is one of the best places you can spend time with your children. The dinosaurs and other exhibits will amaze them. The dinosaur fossils are a kid favorite.

Besides the dinosaurs, they also have a planetarium, which features the space show “Cosmic Collections.” The show starts every half hour between 10:30am - 4:30pm daily. Tickets are $22 for Adults and $13 for children 2-12.

Other highlights of the museum are the Summer Camps, The Butterfly Conservator, which features over 500 live butterflies, Dinosaurs Alive, a 40-minute narrated movie about dinosaurs, and the sleepover in the museum, where kids ages 8-12 can spend the night at the museum, an experience they’ll never forget. The fee is $109 per person (members $99). Call 212.769.5200 for dates and availability. Space is limited and this one sells out fast. One adult is required for every 1-3 child attending.

The American Girl Store and Café

For every girl that owns an American Girl doll, this store is for you. You cans shop at the store and have lunch or tea at the café, or have your doll’s hair redone or styled while chatting with other girls in the shop.

Reservations are required in advanced for the café, if you don’t want to disappoint your little princess. Call 877.247.5223. Store is open Monday to Friday, 10am - 9pm, Saturday, 9am - 9pm and Sunday, 9am - 7pm.

Central Park

Here’s a little trivia for you, did you know that Central Park (pictured) is the first public park in America and it’s all man-made? Yes, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux designed this 843-acre park. It took 15 years to finish this project.

Today, the park features 51 sculptures, including the Bethesda Fountain, 36 bridges and arches, 21 playgrounds, two ice skating rinks, 26,000 trees, a carousel, 58 miles of pedestrian paths, nearly 9,000 benches, the Belvedere Castle, over 275 migratory birds, artificial lakes, and of course, the Great Lawn.

It also feature activities and programs for children all throughout the year. Central Park was declared National Historic Landmark in 1965 and a NYC Landmark in 1974. Central Park is open from 6am - 1am, daily.

Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum

Would you like to have your pictures taken with your favorite stars? Go to Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum and take as many pictures as you want. You’ll enjoy the wax figures of your favorite celebrities, rock stars, athletes, political figures, and movie characters among others.

They have over 200 popular figures to view. The wax museum is open daily, 10am - 5:45pm. It’s closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Fees are $20-$30. It takes about 1-2 hours to see everything.

Children’s Museum of Manhattan

The Children’s Museum of Manhattan is a unique environment of interactive exhibitions and programs for children to explore. It features school and outreach programs and exhibits including the Discover Ancient Greece, Playworks, Dora the Explorer, Little west Side and City Splash.

The museum is open Tuesday - Sunday, 10am-5pm. It’s closed on Mondays for school and outreach programs. They have free admissions on every first Friday of each month, from 5 - 8pm.

Admission for children and adults is $9 and seniors are $6. Children under 1, CMOM and Corporate members are free.