Top 10 things to do in New York City with kids

The first time our daughter ever traveled to New York City, she was enamored by the bright lights and colorful sights of Times Square but never made it into a Broadway theater. She drooled longingly at the decadent desserts her older brothers devoured at Serendipity 3, but instead, was served a boring squeeze pouch of apple sauce. She rode the Subway, saw the Statue of Liberty, and spun round and round on the historic Central Park Carousel. But she doesn’t remember any of it.  

Writer Mauri Elbel and husband with their children, then ages 4, 7 and 7 months, in New York City in 2015.

To her credit, she was only 7 months old. While her older brothers, who had just turned 4 and 7, can still vaguely recall a few stand out New York moments –– riding the 60-foot indoor Ferris wheel inside Toys “R” Us (which closed permanently a few months after our visit), staring up at the gigantic dinosaurs inside the American Museum of Natural History, and meeting Batman and Darth Vader in Times Square –– she was too young to recollect anything about that first trip.  

Fast forward a decade, and she finally got to experience the captivating magic of New York City on her own two feet rather than from our arms or inside her stroller.  

Taking our kids on a solo 10th birthday trip (no siblings allowed) has become one of my favorite family traditions. It began with our oldest, who turned double digits while exploring Portland and Oregon’s Mt. Hood Territory. Our middle son turned 10 during the peak of the pandemic, so we set off on a socially distanced road trip adventure through New Mexico.  

When our youngest –– whose main passions revolve around dance, theatre, art and fashion –– reached her double-digit milestone just before the holidays, the destination of choice could not have been clearer. Now old enough to help plan out our itinerary, our daughter’s second time in the Big Apple will be a trip I know she’ll always remember.  

If you’re planning to visit New York City with kids, here are 10 top Manhattan musts recommended through the lens of a 10-year-old.   

Writer Mauri Elbel and her daughter and husband watch Wicked at the Gershwin Theatre on Broadway the same night the movie was released in theaters.

Book it to Broadway 

When I took our boys to see Matilda on Broadway almost 10 years ago, our daughter reported back to our Times Square hotel with her dad for a warm bottle and early bedtime. But the same night the long-awaited adaptation of the Broadway hit, Wicked, made its box office debut across the globe in late November, we saw it from the Orchestra section of the Gershwin Theatre.  

Watching the backstory of how green-skinned Elphaba transformed into the Wicked Witch while the bubbly, conventionally beautiful Glinda became the Good Witch unfold on a Broadway stage will forever defy gravity in our minds. On our last night in New York, we returned to Broadway once more to see the timeless, visually stunning and musically captivating Lion King –– the third longest running Broadway show ever. But no matter which show you choose to see, Broadway boasts an array of kid-friendly performances sure to capture all interests, from Harry Potter and Michael Jackson fans to Disney devotees.    

Ellen’s Stardust Diner is the most entertaining meal you’ll have in Manhattan. Photo by Mauri Elbel

Eat at Ellen’s Stardust Diner 

Craving more entertainment along with your next meal? Book it to Ellen’s Stardust Diner on 51st and Broadway –– it’s home of the world-famous singing waitstaff, The Stardusters, who sing all day from open to close. While the food is fine, the real draw are the talented servers who roam the multi-level diner while belting out famous tunes and taking orders. The retro 1950s-themed restaurant is a renowned breeding ground for singers on the brink of stardom, many who have gone on to star in almost every Broadway and major off-Broadway musical.  

Serendipity3’s new Times Square location is just steps from Broadway and serves up the same world-famous desserts. Photo by Mauri Elbel 

Dig into dessert 

I vividly recall taking our kids to the Serendipity 3 on the Upper East side almost a decade ago for a world-famous Frrrozen Hot Chocolate. Since our daughter wasn’t of age to partake in the supersized sugary delight, we made it our first sweet stop of this trip. Luckily, the 70-year-old New York hotspot opened a second location in the heart of Times Square just a few months before our trip. Here, bright and bold Andy Warhol-inspired décor is rivaled only by the restaurant’s colossal, over-the-top desserts. We brought along a 10th birthday candle to stick into the mountain of creamy deliciousness, which clearly received better reviews than the apple sauce. 

Inspired by the romance of the movie, “Casablanca” the Casablanca Hotel is an intimate “home away from home” style boutique hotel in New York City’s most popular location, Times Square Broadway Theatre District in Midtown Manhattan. Contributed by Library Hotel Collection

Sleep close, snack often 

When traveling with kids, having a convenient home base can make or break a trip. And, as many parents would agree, snacks are the essential fuel for jam-packed days. We stayed at the Casablanca Hotel, a hidden gem tucked in Midtown Manhattan just steps away from bustling Times Square and Broadway’s Theatre District, which checked both of these boxes. I loved the boutique hotel’s rich Moroccan-themed décor inspired by the film Casablanca. Our daughter took full advantage of the 24-hour access to Rick’s Café, the cozy club where she could grab hot cocoa and tea, pastries, fresh fruit and snacks at any time of the day or night. We all appreciated the spaciousness of our double queen room, being able to walk almost everywhere we wanted to go, and that we never had to set foot outside on one particularly cold and rainy night to enjoy an Italian feast at Tony’s Di Napoli just down the stairs from our room.  

The Radio City Rockettes will celebrate their 100th anniversary in 2025. Credit Radio City Rockettes

Radio City Rockets and Ice Skating at Rockefeller Center 

Before our trip to New York, our dance-loving daughter had only seen the Radio City Rockettes on a screen or in photos. But the timing of our trip just before Thanksgiving happened to align perfectly with the annual Christmas Spectacular starring the Radio City Rockettes, a long-standing New York City holiday tradition since 1933. The entire show –– from the Rockette’s world famous kick lines and glittery costumes to the high-tech holiday entertainment and festive music –– is a must if you happen to be in town during the holidays. The talented precision dance team, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2025, stars in the Christmas Spectacular seven days a week with up to five shows a day from early November to early January. Visiting after the show dates? You can still capture New York’s winter magic by taking a spin around The Rink at Rockefeller Center, which is open daily from mid-October until March.  

Little Island at Pier 55 is an artificial island and a public park within Hudson River Park designed by Heatherwick Studio. Photo by Mauri Elbel

Explore Manhattan’s Parks 

Walking through Manhattan’s greenspaces is one of the best ways to explore the city –– and unlike most things in New York, it won’t cost you a penny. Wandering through Central Park, it’s easy to forget you’re smack dab in the middle of the country’s biggest city. This urban oasis sets a picturesque scene for a family picnic –– and if time allows, don’t miss riding the historic Central Park Carousel and visiting the animals at the Central Park Zoo. H ead to the High Line –– an elevated public park built along the historic freight rail line hovering above Manhattan’s West Side –– to soak in nature, art, architecture and spectacular cityscapes from expansive viewing windows. Just steps from the High Line, explore Little Island, a lush and imaginative island rising up from the Hudson River that marries serene spaces with verdant landscaping and hosts free performances throughout the week.  

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Mood Fabrics, stacked floor to ceiling with designer fabrics, trims, and sewing supplies on three levels, is creative haven for designers and dreamers. Photo by Mauri Elbel

Get in the Mood for fashion 

Two years ago, our daughter took a sewing class that sparked a passion for fashion that’s only amplified. If you’re traveling to the Big Apple with fashionistas in tow, make a beeline to Mood Fabrics –– a multilevel fabric paradise for sewists and aspiring designers. Mood Fabric’s 40,000-square-foot flagship store, tucked in New York City’s Garment district, was launched into fame on “Project Runway” and now welcomes more than 1,200 customers each day. Our daughter was in heaven perusing three levels stacked with thousands of fabrics of every color and texture, and she brought several bring back home to sew into future outfits. About a half-mile walk away, you can step inside The Museum at FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology), home to a permanent collection of more than 50,000 garments and accessories dating from the 18th century (admission is free).  

The flagship location of FAO Schwartz, the oldest toy store retailer in the United States, lives on three levels next to the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. Photo by Mauri Elbel

Shop ‘til you drop 

At FAO Schwartz, the oldest toy retailer in the nation’s three-level flagship location, we made our own music on the iconic Dance on Piano before my daughter designed her own colorful custom bead bracelet at BaubleBar’s interactive minibar ($35) and built her own fully accessorized bobblehead figure ($25). Afterward, we ducked into M&M’s New York where you can create your own signature sweet tooth blend poured from 15 different colorful options –– a fun but potentially pricey experience when your kiddo has a heavy pour like ours (just saying, a bag of M&M’s should never cost $35). We spent another afternoon shopping along the streets of Soho where trendy boutiques and high-end shops are housed in the neighborhood’s cast-iron architectural buildings.    

Soho is NYC’s shopping enclave of high-end boutiques with a sprinkling of street vendors selling designer knockoffs. Photo by Mauri Elbel

See the Statue of Liberty on the Staten Island Ferry  

Want to get an up-close view of the Statue of Liberty for free in less than an hour? Ride the free Staten Island Ferry, which runs 24 hours a day seven days a week, to capture stellar cruise-by views of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, the Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan skyline. The easy, breezy 25-minute one-way commute requires passengers to exit the ferry upon arriving at the opposite terminal, but you can hop right back on the returning vessel.  

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Meander Manhattan’s Museums  

Manhattan is a museum mecca, and there’s one to suit every age and interest. My two favorites are The Museum of Modern Art and the Renzo Piano-designed The Whitney Museum of American Art, and I make a point to visit one of them on each trip. If you’re a dog-lover, like our daughter, roam through the American Kennel Club’s Museum of the Dog which boasts one of the world’s largest collections of dog-themed art and interactive exhibits like the one that uses visual recognition software to pair you with the dog breed you most resemble. Kids will also love the American Museum of Natural History, where they can explore the largest collection of dinosaur fossils in the world including a Tyrannosaurus rex and 122-food-long Titanosaur, get an interactive tour of the universe in the Hayden Planetarium, and mingle with free-flying butterflies.