Sure, you’ll find the Staten Island Ferry on almost every New York City tourist guide, but there’s a reason. This free ferry provides great views of the Statue of Liberty and the New York Harbor, and the 25-minute, one-way trip is just long enough to hold your child’s attention. Once across, check out the St. George neighborhood or head back on another ferry for more great views.

It may seem cliche, but a visit to the Statue of Liberty and the Ellis Island Immigration Museum is something every child should do at least once. Ask for the children’s audio tour (created for ages six to ten) in the lobby of the Statue of Liberty’s pedestal, and then kids four feet or taller can climb to the top of the statue’s crown. Don’t miss the free Statue of Liberty Museum, which opened in 2019 and has interactive exhibits about Lady Liberty. In the Immigration Museum, head to Ellis Kid for an interactive exhibit that helps little ones imagine what it was like to immigrate to the U.S.

While the Empire State Building is always a good choice to check out the city view, we like the experience at One World Observatory. Kids get a kick out of riding some of the fastest elevators in the world and love knowing they are on top of the tallest building in the country. Don’t miss the 100th floor for HD videos of New York and the Sky Portal, where high-tech screens give you a bird’s eye view of the street 1,776 feet below.

The world is full of stunning art museums, but most aren’t designed for little ones. Check out the 10,000-square-foot Children’s Museum of the Arts for kid-centered activities, plenty of hands-on art workshops, and 2,000 brightly colored paintings and drawings, most of them created by kids.

Set in a historic 1904 Beaux Arts firehouse in Soho, the New York City Fire Museum is a paradise for kids obsessed with firetrucks. You’ll see vintage fire equipment, art, and learn about fire safety and the history of firefighters in New York.

This 28-acre sports complex on three Hudson River piers includes an 80,000-square-foot field house, a pool, a driving range, bowling alley, and an indoor ice-skating rink that’s available year round. And get ready for more: The company behind Chelsea Piers recently opened a 52,000-square-foot Brooklyn outpost.

Take adventurous kiddos to the new 102nd-floor observatory at the Art Deco icon, which whisks visitors more than 1,200 feet above the city. The panoramic views are spectacular (and a great way to introduce little ones to the buildings of Manhattan), and after you’ve taken it all in, you can explore exhibits that detail the skyscraper’s history and place in pop culture.

Design-minded adults will love the New York Public Library’s gorgeous Rose Main Reading Room in its iconic Fifth Avenue building, but kids can also have a great time here. Say hello to the marble lions (named Patience and Fortitude) on the way in, and then head to the children’s center to check out the original Winnie the Pooh and plenty of books perfect for story time.

Bryant Park comes alive in winter with the arrival of the ice skating rink, which is open every day from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. To make the experience more fun for kids, reserve a spot to skate ahead of time, and use the time beforehand to grab a warming cup of cocoa.

Aviation fans, this one’s for you. Located in Hell’s Kitchen, the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum documents the history of American aviation in an educational and interesting way. You’ll see giant fighter jets, submarines, a space shuttle, and the iconic aircraft carrier Intrepid. Ever-changing rotating exhibits also impress.

Those with Spy Kids aspirations will love Spyscape, which opened in Midtown in 2018. The immersive experience lets kids test their mettle in a variety of espionage-themed activities, including solving puzzles and dodging through lasers, a la Mission Impossible. At the end, your child will find out what kind of spy they are—intelligence analyst, agent handler, and more.

Take the famed Roosevelt Island Tramway over the East River to the two-mile long Roosevelt Island. Stay for a while to explore Southpoint Park, the pleasant paths next to the river, or the late-1800s era North Point Lighthouse. Don’t miss the Louis Kahn-designed Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park, which has top-notch views of Manhattan.

Nestled within the New-York Historical Society is this smaller institution devoted to kiddos, with exhibits designed to help youngsters understand the history of NYC. They’ll learn about major historical figures (like Alexander Hamilton) and important points in the evolution of the city; they can also meet re-enactors who help bring those moments to life.

Pick up the Kids Guide to the American Museum of Natural History and get ready for a museum-wide scavenger hunt through the world’s largest collection of dinosaurs, an impressive array of towering totem poles, and much more. Don’t miss the Discovery Room, where children ages five to 12 can get a behind-the-scenes look at artifacts, specimens, and scientific research; and the Hayden Planetarium, one of the best planetariums in the country.

There’s lots to do at this children’s museum located near Central Park, so it’s a good bet if you need an indoor activity. Interactive exhibits like “Let’s Dance!” get kids moving and performing, and there’s also story time and more low-key options for the toddler crowd.

The New York Botanical Garden is an oasis in the city, known for its top-notch exhibitions. But it’s also a great place for children any time of the year. Check out the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden where kids can climb boulders, run through a maze, and examine lily pads. In the winter, the garden’s annual Holiday Train Show is a must-see attraction.

Not far from Kaufman Astoria Studios, the home of Sesame Street, sits the Museum of the Moving Image, a stopover for kids of any age. The main attraction is “Behind the Screen,” an exhibition that showcases 1,400 artifacts (like a real Chewbacca mask from Star Wars) and interactive exhibits that let kids make their own stop-motion animations, sound effects, and flipbooks. Another hit is the permanent Jim Henson exhibit that displays original puppets and behind the scenes footage from his pop-culture contributions.

Budding building nerds will get a kick of out The Panorama of the City of New York, a scale model of the five boroughs that was constructed for the 1964 World’s Fair and has been updated sporadically since then. The museum also hosts regular family-focused workshops that let kids channel their inner artist.

Traveling 1.3 miles along the East River, Brooklyn Bridge Park contains 85 acres of enjoyment for the whole family with a gorgeous view of the Manhattan skyline to boot. The park is broken down into sections and includes six refurbished piers full of different playgrounds and amenities. Must-dos include the Slide Mountain playground at Pier 6, the restored vintage carousel at Empire Fulton Ferry, and roller skating at Pier 2.

Head to the New York Transit Museum in Brooklyn—there’s also a small satellite location in Grand Central Terminal—to explore a decommissioned subway station full of interactive exhibits. Kids can learn about the history of fare collection, see how subways are built, and even get up close and personal with vintage subway cars and buses.

This 75,000-square-foot, year-round recreational facility includes winter ice skating, summer roller skating, and a warm-weather splash pad with 41 different sprinklers. Kids and adults can bring their own skates or rent them on site. It’s one of many things to do in Prospect Park, which has plenty of playgrounds, a zoo, and an under-the-radar carousel.

The New York Aquarium is a year-round destination in Coney Island that helps kids learn about all of the creatures that live in (and under) the sea. Last year, its major new exhibit, “Ocean Wonder: Sharks!,” debuted in a swanky 57,500-square-foot pavilion situated right on the boardwalk. It houses marine animals, including some of the exhibit’s titular saw-toothed predators.