Travel
 
Things to do
 
Bring the Kids: Things to Do
Ball player: Polar bear Gus is ready for visitors.
Central Park
Think of Central Park as an 843-acre playground. Kids will love the park's famous rock outcroppings (great for climbing!), the wonderful Central Park Zoo, the Dana Discover Center (cool hands-on nature exhibits), the old-fashioned Carousel, and the lovable statues of Alice Wonderland and Balto the Dog. In winter, ice-skating on Wollman Rink is a must.
• For maps, directions, and details, s
ee www.centralpark.org.


Bronx Zoo
Lions, giraffes, tigers — and many fascinating lesser-known animals, like tapirs! Don't miss the Congo Gorilla Forest: One of the zoo's newest attractions, this 6.5-acre exhibit is the closest you'll get to a rain forest without going to Africa. It houses over 300 animals, including one of the nation's largest breeding groups of lowland gorillas.
• Fordham Rd. and the Bronx River Parkway, 718-367-1010; www.bronxzoo.com. Subway: 2 to Pelham Pkwy.

The Lion King
The best kids' show of a generation or more, Julie Taymor's production — now in its fourth year — also packs enough downtown wit, whimsy, and stunning stage play to please even the most jaded critics (which it certainly did in 1998, when it won eight Tonys). The theater is a landmark in itself: originally home to the Ziegfeld Follies, it has been restored to its original splendor. The downside? Tickets are extremely difficult to get.
• New Amsterdam Theatre, 214 W. 42nd St., between Seventh and Eighth Aves. Tickets: 212-307-4100 or ticketmaster.com. Subway: 1, 2, 3, 7, A, C, E, N, R, S to 42nd St.-Times Sq.

New Victory Theater
New York's oldest active theater, the New Victory specializes in productions geared toward kids and families.
• 229 W. 42nd St., between Seventh and Eighth Aves., 646-223-3020; www.newvictory.org. Subway: 1, 2, 3, 7, A, C, E, N, R, S to 42nd St.-Times Sq.

Big discoveries: Kids have fun while exploring cultural finds at the museum's annual "I.D. Day."
American Museum of Natural History
Even most native New Yorkers haven't exhausted the treasures contained within AMNH. The museum's newest addition, the architecturally stunning Rose Center for Earth and Space, will be the highlight for many kids — be sure to make reservations in advance for the extremely popular space show, The Search for Life, in the Hayden Planetarium. Other must-see exhibits include the Fossil Halls (which include Barosaurus, the world's tallest freestanding dinosaur exhibit); Gems and Minerals; and Ocean Life, with its beloved giant blue whale. The museum's temporary exhibits cover everything from diamonds to baseball.
• 79th St. and Central Park West; www.amnh.org. Subway: B, C to 81st St.

Times Square
In case you haven't heard, times have changed at "The Crossroads of the World." Disney and Toys 'R' Us now rule the area once notorious for its peep shows and dive bars. Below, a partial list of the area's many family-oriented places and events:
Subways: 1, 2, 3, 7, A, C, E, N, R, S to 42nd St.-Times Sq. For a complete listing of stores, restaurants, and other information, see www.timessquarebid.org.

Toys 'R' Us:
The toy chain's mammoth new store boasts a Ferris Wheel, a twenty-foot-high Tyrannosaurus rex, and "Barbie World." 1514 Broadway, at 44th St., 646-366-8800.
Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum: Like its counterparts in Vegas and London, this $50 million recent addition to Times Square is a kitschy shrine to celebrity. 234 W. 42nd St., between Seventh and Eighth Aves., 800-246-8872; www.madame-tussauds.com.
Bar Code: Offering 20,000 square feet of electronic entertainment, this glitzy mega-arcade/nightclub has practically every video game in the planet. 1540 Broadway, between 45th and 46th Sts., 212-869-9397.
Planet Hollywood: If they absolutely insist... 1540 Broadway, between 45th and 46th Sts., 212-333-7827.
42nd Street E-Walk: Recently constructed entertainment and retail complex featuring a 26-screen movie theater. 42nd St. between Broadway and Eighth Ave.


Ziegfeld Theater
If you kids think that IMAX theaters and stadium seating are as fancy as movie theaters get, take them to a film at this cinematic palace. One of New York's few remaining grand single-screen theaters, the Ziegfeld is the place in town to go for effects-packed blockbusters.
• 141 W. 54th St., between Sixth and Seventh Aves., 212-765-7600. Subway: F, N, Q, R to 57th St.


Sony Wonder Technology Lab
Part science museum and part high-tech playground, Sony's Wonder Tech Lab has super-cool exhibits on everything from moviemaking to video-game design to robotics. The Lab is absolutely free, but you'll likely part with a chunk of cash at the Sony Style store next door.
• 56th St. between Madison and Fifth Aves., 212.833.8100; www.sonywondertechlab.com. Subway: N, R to Fifth Ave.; E, V to Fifth Ave.


NYC Sports
For kids of all ages — and tickets aren't as hard to get as you might think. See the following official sites for season schedules and ticket information:
Yankees
Mets
Knicks
Rangers
Giants

 

Summer Fun in the City
Our guide to dozens of things to do with the kids in the hazy days of summer.
 
Event Listings (Updated Weekly)

Theater
Broadway
Off-Broadway
Off-Off-Broadway
All Listings

Movies
Reviews and Showtimes

Music & Nightlife
Concerts
Clubs
All Listings

Art
Museums
Galleries
All Listings

Classical & Dance
All Listings

Books & the Mix
All Listings

Kids
All Listings