10 New York Spots to Take Your Kids Before They’re Teenagers

The window of opportunity for parents to connect with their kids is barely open before their child transforms into an independent person who would rather be grounded than go on vacation with—horror of horrors—a parent. Here are suggestions for things to do and see in the city that I’ve done with my son, Alex, before I was on the outside of that window looking in.

1. Ellis Island and Statue of Liberty

Enrich the visit to the Statue of Liberty (a gift to the United States from France more than 100 years ago) by signing up your child (ages 7 to 12) for the self-guided Junior Ranger tour. They’ll get an educational Junior Ranger booklet with kid-friendly activities that they’ll do during their visit; the booklet takes about an hour to complete. Everyone loves the observation deck on top of the 16-foot pedestal for a panoramic view. A cool thing to do before you come: If your ancestors immigrated to the United States (through Ellis Island or elsewhere) consider inscribing their names on the Wall of Honor at the Ellis Island Immigration Museum. You can do this online or when you arrive at the museum; your kids will think their ancestors are famous. My son loves seeing his great-grandparents from Canada, Scotland and Italy inscribed on the wall.

Liberty Island, tel. 212-363-3200, www.nps.gov/stli.

2. Brooklyn Bridge

A favorite New York City memory is walking across this one-mile suspension bridge with Alex. We got up early one morning, grabbed breakfast-to-go from a gourmet shop on a cobblestone street near South Street Seaport and ambled the couple of blocks to the base of the Brooklyn Bridge. The bridge walk is euphoric with mouth-gaping views of the Statue of Liberty and Manhattan skyline. We stopped often along the way for photo ops and to relax on one of the many strategically placed benches. An unexpected highlight: The bridge crossing inspired “deep” conversations between us, like what’s the secret of life kind of talk, rather than banter about whose batting average is higher, Derek Jeter or Alex Rodriguez.

• The Brooklyn Bridge passes over the East River, connecting Manhattan and Brooklyn.
• Jeff Greenberg, NYC & Company

Take the 4, 5 or 6 subway train and get off at the Brooklyn Bridge stop or take the water taxi to the South Street Seaport stop.

3. Grand Central Terminal

The celestial ceiling is the main reason Alex and his sister love to visit this Beaux Arts landmark. Get a real rush during rush hour when commuters dash to and from their trains, or take the free tours given on Wednesdays and Fridays at 12:30 p.m. Grand Central also is a fun spot to eat: Slurp oysters at the venerable Oyster Bar downstairs (don’t worry, there are kid-friendly items on the menu, too), or sit at the balcony lounge at Michael Jordan’s The Steakhouse NYC to share a cheese fondue while enjoying the daily commuter performance below.

87 E. 42nd St. (at Park Avenue), tel. 212-340-2583, www.grandcentralterminal.com.

• Grand Central Station is a hub for transportation, as well as for shopping, dining and special events.
• ralphunden

4. Times Square

My daughter, Elizabeth, who lives in Tennessee, loves to go to Times Square when she comes to New York City to visit. Why? Because of all the souvenir shops! Times Square is also the place for young kids to take a spin on the indoor Ferris wheel at Toys “R” Us and, of course, to see Broadway shows. Times Square is a fantasy of lights, people, noise and music—a perfect kid attraction and distraction.

Times Square runs from 42nd to 47th Sts. at Broadway and Seventh Ave., and is easily reached by nearly all train lines. 

5. American Museum of Natural History

The American Museum of Natural History has always been the place for Alex and his grandmother to spend a rainy or wintry day. Favorite spots in the museum for them: the 94-foot blue whale that’s suspended from the ceiling in the Milstein Hall of Ocean Life; the dinosaur fossils in the Fossils Hall; and the Space Shows at the Rose Center for Earth and Space. Bonus: an IMAX Theater.

Central Park West and 79th St., tel. 212-769-5100, www.amnh.org.