New York family travel guide — top things to do with kids…

New York with kids is not the New York of romantic movies — it's better. It's the city where a five-year-old points at the Empire State Building and gets it, where the Museum of Natural History's dinosaur floor is a religious experience for third-graders, where Central Park is genuinely one of the world's great playgrounds, and where the subway makes the whole thing legible if you commit to it. Yes, it's expensive. Yes, it's loud. Also: it's the greatest city in the world for a certain kind of curious family. Base on the Upper West Side (near Central Park and the Natural History Museum) or Midtown East (walking distance to almost everything). Do the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island on a clear morning — book the Reserve With Pedestal ticket. Central Park needs a proper half-day: Bethesda Terrace, the Ramble, the Zoo, playgrounds galore. Add a Broadway matinée (Lion King, Aladdin, Wicked), a slice of pizza at Joe's on Bleecker, and a trip up to Top of the Rock for the sunset view that includes the Empire State.

What to do in New York

American Museum of Natural History

Dinosaurs, dioramas, the blue whale hall — timed entry recommended.

Central Park

Bethesda, the Ramble, playgrounds, boat pond, the Zoo — a whole day.

Statue of Liberty + Ellis Island

Book Reserve With Pedestal; go early — the queues are real.

Broadway matinée

Wednesday or Saturday. Lion King, Aladdin, Wicked for families.

Top of the Rock

Better than the Empire State because Empire State is in the view.

NYC pizza crawl

Joe's on Bleecker, L'industrie, and one $1 slice for education.

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What to do in New York

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