Hello, we are spending a weekend in NYC in late June and trying to prioritize the "must do" activities. What are some of your favorite things in NYC for kids? I know that our short weekend will be packed with options, so what is really worth the time? Our son is a pro traveler and will love subways, the Staten Island Ferry, taxis, etc.

By the way we're from TX, so we can handle the heat. That said - since it is going to be hot - are there suggestions for beating the heat (wading pools, etc)?

The playground in Madison Square park has a really cool jungle gym with a sprinkler system built in that the kids go nuts over. Just be sure to bring a change of clothing and a towel and stuff. There is really no changing area or bathroom close by though, unless you can go to the McDonalds on Park Avenue, or someone else has knowledge of one in the area.

We took our sons to NYC when they were 2.5 and 4.5 years old. They liked the subway and taxi rides the best by far. We could have just ridden around the city and they would have been perfectly content. They did enjoy the knights and armor, and other sections of the Museum of Natural History. They also enjoyed wandering around Central Park, and eating hot dogs and ice cream from the vendors. FAO Schwartz was naturally a hit.

The knights and armor are at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. You son might also like the Oceanic peoples wing at the Met - huge wonderful Totem poles and scary masks - my son loved those at 3.

At the Museum of Natural History is the great dinosaur exhibit - always popular.

Downtown are two the great water playgrounds - right on the Hudson River. On the Hudson at 12th Street is a new one and in Battery Park city area is a great big playground in the area called Rockefeller Park. You can also take a very scenic ferry ride from right near the playground.

here's a link to a recent article about NYV playgrounds:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/06/arts/06play.html

Madison Square also has a kid's concert series during the summer; that playground is really cool too that bugswife mentions. I was at a BBQ festival this past weekend and was very jealous of the kids staying cool in the playground.

Here's info on the music series:
https://www.madisonsquarepark.org/pr...madsqkids.aspx

Wow! What great suggestions! So we are covered on waterpark / playground ideas... LOVE the idea of the ferry from the playground in Battery Park.

What about other things - Empire State Building, Ellis Island? Did kids seem interested?

Dinosaurs are also of great interest at this age so we will probably stop by there as well.

Ellis Island is great, for adults and teens, or anyone with an understanding of the history of the place. There is nothing there that would interest a 3-year old.

When we took my boys they were 3 and 6. The top of any tall building made them sooo happy. Empire State and Top of the Rock were a big hit. They also enjoyed the Intrepid www.intrepidmuseum.org

They also liked FAO, running through Central Park, Natural History Mus, Times Square stores, and walking through Chinatown.

The three year old is almost 5 and he still remembers a lot from that trip. We had a blast.

Museum of Natural History

Central Park (a smallish zoo plus a kid's zoo), a carousel, lake with boats you can rent (There is a full size zoo in the Bronx but I think it would be too much for a 3 year old)

The Met is the museum with the arms & Armour section, as well as an Egyptian department and the Temple of Dendur

There are also playgrounds in Central Park (check the website for details)

He would probably like a horse and a carriage ride - but if the weather is to hot the horses aren;t allowed to work

Having lunch in an outdoor cafe in one of the residential areas (upper west side, the village, lower east side

If he's interested in ships he might like the old sailing one at South St . Seaport

Hi!
Toys R Us in Times Square is FANTASTIC! There is a huge, 3 story, ferris wheel - safe and adorable! If you are going to be in the village area, on Sullivan Street, there is a nondescript, casual restaurant that only serves varieties of peanut butter sandwiches. Your son will be enthralled with the cabs and fountain at Linclon Center. You can always take a boat on the Central Park lake. Have a fun time!

Thanks for all the great suggestions! Friends have said we're crazy to take the kiddo along - but it seems like NYC will be such an easy place to entertain him. Every trip to NYC doesn't have to be about Tavern on the Green and Broadway. I'm really excited, I know we will all have lots of fun! Thanks so much!!

3 year olds are usually fun on trips. Still need naps, though I'm sure you know that 4sammy.

I'm sorry I typed the wrong place for the knights and armor. They are at the Met. Dinosaurs are at the Museum of Natural History.

My sons loved going to the top of the Empire State Building.

Don't go to Ellis Island. There are too many other places to go that are much more interesting for a 3 year old.

Take photos because he won't be able to remember it all in a few years.

We are also taking a 3 and 5 year old to NYC this summer - does anyone know the rules about car seats in taxis?

kellyrow, car seats are allowed in NYC taxis, but not required. see official info here http://home2.nyc.gov/html/tlc/html/p...q_pass.shtml#9

I don't know any McD's on Park Ave, but the city's new pioneer public bathroom is on the Park and 23rd perimeter of the Madison Square Park (on the sidewalk.) It's big enough to go in and change him. You get like 15 minutes for 50 cents or something.

It's self-cleaning.