Here with Kids NYC
Where we eat, play and roam from Dumbo to the Central Park. Pick a neighborhood and go.
Each guide opens with a perfect three hours, then our picks for snacks, meals, breaks and ways to add glimmers of delight to your day.
Central Park West & Upper West Side
From world-class museums to playground hopping along the park’s winding paths, it’s Manhattan at its most effortlessly family-friendly neighborhood.
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WTC & Tribeca
Tribeca and the World Trade Center offer spacious, pedestrian-friendly plazas, world-class waterfront parks, and neighborhood bakeries that welcome the whole crew.
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Broadway & Times Square
Dramatic skyline views, historic brownstone streets, and riverside adventures. From iconic harbor carousels to the expansive green piers of Brooklyn Bridge Park, this corner delivers unhurried charm right on the water.
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NEIGHBORHOOD 1
OUR PERFECT OUTING
Start your afternoon at AMNH. We love the dinosaurs, the gemstones, and the Discovery Room, the hands-on science room tucked away on the first floor. After the museum, grab a pretzel from a street vendor, or on a Sunday stop by the Greenmarket on Columbus Avenue for a treat from She Wolf Bakery, Burn off energy at Diana Ross Playground, steps from the museum, and wrap up your day with pizza at Patsy’s or Parla.
Central Park West & Upper West Side
Wander the halls of the American Museum of Natural History, explore Central Park’s playgrounds and experience some of the best cookies and pizza in NYC.
IF YOU NEED A MEAL
Patsy’s Italian Restaurant | A classic NYC Italian American restaurant. You can always get a table, the pizza crust is crispy, the pasta is buttery and its perfectly family friendly, despite the white table cloths. Make sure to bring your stroller inside, you can park it by the hostess stand.
IF YOU NEED A BREAK
Diana Ross Playground | Our go-to after the museum, near the 81st Street entrance to Central Park and right below Summit Rock. There's a big wooden climbing structure with slides, firepoles and bridges, tire and toddler swings, a sand area and a water-spray feature. There are no restrooms here, so plan a stop before you cross the street.
IF YOU NEED A SNACK
Levain | Levain started on the Upper West Side, and the cookies are as iconic as they are huge. We split one between two kids. Our order: two chip chocolate chip. Strollers: stay on the sidewalk. This outpost is tiny and below ground level
BECAUSE WE LOVE IT
Discovery Room at AMNH | Don’t sleep on the Discovery Room. It isn’t on the museum maps so you’ll need to ask docent. Sign in and watch your children learn through play (ages 4 - 12).
OUR LOCAL WAYFINDERS
[First name]
Lives in [neighborhood] with a [age]- and [age]- year-old. [One line on why they know this area.] [Their site or Instagram]
[First name]
Lives in [neighborhood] with a [age]- and [age]- year-old. [One line on why they know this area.] [Their site or Instagram]
NEIGHBORHOOD 2
WTC & Tribeca
The Seaport is one of Boston’s “newer” neighborhoods with a mix of Colonial history, sweeping harbor views and modern museums, dining and shopping.
OUR PERFECT OUTING
Start your afternoon with lunch at Flour Fort Point, followed by a walk around the harbor to take in sites. If your child is interested in the American Revolution or US history, visit the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum. Take a break from tourist activities to play at Martin’s Playground, then walk along the Harbor Walk to the Institute of Contemporary Art. After viewing and making art, continue along to Legal Seafoods for dinner.
IF YOU NEED A MEAL
75 Chestnut | Cozy New England vibes, perfect for dinner or weekend brunch. It’s the kind of restaurant we’d love for an adults-only date night, but it’s welcoming for the whole family too. The kids menu is one of the best in town. We recommend a reservation, ideally on the early side.
IF YOU NEED A SNACK
Flour Fort Point | Our absolute favorite lunch anywhere in Boston, and just a 3-minute walk from the Boston Children’s Museum. Get the roast beef sandwich with crispy onions for yourself, a kids’ PB&J for your little one, and any of the sweet treats for dessert. Joanne Chang’s quirky signs give you permission to eat it first: “Make life sweeter . . . eat dessert first.” Strollers can be tough - there are a few steps to get up to the cafe, but there is plenty of space for “parking” before heading in.
IF YOU NEED A BREAK
The Harbor Walk | Stroll along the water and stop to take in the views.
Martin’s Park | A little playground just 2 minutes from the Children’s Museum, with a big pirate ship to climb.
BECAUSE WE LOVE IT
Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) | Not an obvious choice for children, but the massive deck overlooking the harbor is reason enough to stop by, and admission is free for kids. The Art Lab where visitors of any age can make their own artwork allows kids to create, in addition to viewing the art.
OUR LOCAL WAYFINDER
[First name]
Lives in [neighborhood] with a [age]- and [age]- year-old. [One line on why they know this area.] [Their site or Instagram]
NEIGHBORHOOD 3
Broadway & Times Square
The 2.5-mile red brick route through downtown Boston, Faneuil Hall, the North End and into Charlestown covers several neighborhoods. It’s an iconic walk through colonial history.
OUR PERFECT OUTING
Don’t try the whole trail with young kids. Start at Boston Common and point out the Golden Dome on the State House, stop for a snack at the Boston Public Market. After exploring the Paul Revere House and Old North Church, either end your day early with some gnocchi at Antico Forno or if you are feeling ambitious, head to Charlestown!
IF YOU NEED A MEAL
Antico Forno | Our North End go-to for over a decade, with a classic North End Italian American vibe. We love the gnocchi, and pizza and pasta are always a win with kids. Reservations recommended for dinner.
IF YOU NEED A SNACK
Boston Public Market | Near the start of your journey, a nice place to look around, grab a bite, or pick up farmers market goods like fruits and veggies and local cheese.
The Shops at Dovetail | If you make it to the end of the Freedom Trail in Charlestown, you deserve a snack. Get a sandwich and house-made potato chips, and eat outside on a bench by the piers if the weather is nice. Kids can play on the big anchors or marvel at the giant bronze octopus sculpture, “Arms of Friendship,” currently on Dry Dock 2 in the Charlestown Navy Yard, just seconds away.
IF YOU NEED A BREAK
Faneuil Hall | Watch street performers or just take in the scenery of Faneuil Hall. If its rainy, pop into Quincy Market to stay dry and grab a bite to eat.
BECAUSE WE LOVE IT
The Golden Dome | Don’t forget to point out the golden dome on the Massachusetts State House. Kids are shockingly impressed!
OUR LOCAL WAYFINDER
[First name]
Lives in [neighborhood] with a [age]- and [age]- year-old. [One line on why they know this area.] [Their site or Instagram]