NEW YORK CITY FAMILY ATTRACTIONS

New York, NY

Radio City Music Hall
DESCRIPTION: America’s music hall features three mezzanines over its orchestra seating and excellent views from each seat; staying hip with the times, they feature the latest Neo Soul and Hip-Hop stars; every winter holiday season there’s the Rockettes, who debuted at Radio City's opening night in December 1932, have given continuous performances ever since; in many ways the post modern architecture of the music hall is the real star, its $70 million restoration completed, a tour where you can absorb all of its the opulence and get the backstory on the events here will make your jaw drop

ADMISSION: tours $17 Adults, $14 Seniors & Students $10, Age 11 and under Free

DAYS & HOURS: Mon-Sun 11a–3p
ADDRESS: 1260 6th Avenue  MAP

TRANSIT: near B, D, F, V subway lines
PHONE: 212-247-4777
WEBSITE: http://www.radiocity.com

Rockefeller Center
DESCRIPTION: The center was the ambitious vision of a young John D. Rockefeller and hosts more than works of art.  It houses NBC Studio, Radio City Music Hall, Associated Press Building, TODAY Show and Christie's Auction House, the world-famous skating rink and gold-clad statues; take a guided tour of the TODAY Show Studio for details on the crew and history, descriptions of the marvelous artwork, and book time at the skating rink and Channel Gardens; you may be able to visit the immaculate Rainbow Room on weekends (ask one of the clerks for details); children under six are not admitted on the tour

ADMISSION: Adult $10, Ages 6-16 $8

DAYS & HOURS: Mon-Sat 10a-5p, Sun 10a-4p tours every 60 minutes; NBC Studio tours and views at the top also available; reservations recommended
ADDRESS: 1260 6th Avenue  MAP

TRANSIT: at or near B, D, F, N, R, V, 1, 6, 9 subway lines
PHONE: 212-664-7174
WEBSITE: http://www.rockefellercenter.com

Empire State Building
DESCRIPTION: Since its opening in 1931, nearly 110 million visitors have ascended to the top; this civil engineering marvel and National Historic Landmark can arguably claim to be the most famous structure by modern man; it was built on the site of the original Waldorf-Astoria Hotel; it was built in the height of the Great Depression and still it cost $41 million; though has its 102 stories and a height of 1250 feet, the foundation set in bedrock only descends to 55 feet; the lobby is another of New York’s art deco masterpieces; all bags are subject to search before traveling to the 86th Floor observatory; 102nd Floor Observatory tickets are only sold upon arrival at the Empire State Building for $15 in addition to regular admission tickets; Christmas is a favorite time to visit with the special lighting

ADMISSION: Express Pass $41.52, Audio Tour $7.38, Adults (18-61) $18.45, Age 12-17 $16.61, Age 6-11 $12.92, Age 62+ $16.61, Military & Age 5 or younger Free

DAYS & HOURS: daily 8a-2a; last elevators go up at 1:15a
ADDRESS: 350 Fifth Avenue  MAP

TRANSIT: near D, F, N, Q, R, V, W subway lines aand New Jersey Transit commuter trains

PHONE: 212-736-3100 or Toll Free 877-NYC-VIEW
WEBSITE: http://www.esbnyc.com/tourism

Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
DESCRIPTION: One of the most successful ships in US History and a national historic landmark; In 1943, the USS Intrepid aircraft carrier served in World War II through Vietnam; today the museum features a range of interactive exhibits that cover the heroism of our armed forces; since 1974, the decommissioned Intrepid became a memorial to honor our heroes and educate the public; in 1982, it opened as a museum in NYC waterfront; ride in the A-6 Cockpit Simulator, visit the Virtual Flight Zone, and dozens of planes that fought in wars; the most spectacular is the ability to tour the inside the world's fastest commercial jet, the Concorde which flew up to 1,350 mph at 60,000 feet - high enough to see the curvature of the earth

ADMISSION: Adult $20, Seniors, Veterans, College Students $16, Ages 6-17 $15, Ages 2-5 $8, everyone else Free

DAYS & HOURS: Tue-Sun 10a-5p
ADDRESS: Pier 86, West 46th Street & 12th Ave  MAP

TRANSIT: near Port Authority Bus Terminal and A, C, E subway lines
PHONE: 212-245-0072
WEBSITE: http://www.intrepidmuseum.org

 

Madame Tussauds Wax Museum
DESCRIPTION: Once you enter, curiosity takes over as you see the likenesses of Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Colin Powell, Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, Nelson Mandela, Will Smith, Biggie Smalls, Oprah, Usher, Samuel L. Jackson, Morgan Freeman, Tyra Banks, Daniel Craig and others – soon you’ll catch yourself wondering who looks most real and you’ll see next; the intricate detail in the figures ranges from good (when the representing historical figures for whom photos were the only basis available) to astounding, particularly Beyonce' and Johnny Depp who modeled for wax museum staff enabling them to capture over 200 personal measurements; a new wax figure these days costs $500,000 to make

ADMISSION: online (best) prices are Adult $28, Senior $25.60, Children $22.40

DAYS & HOURS: daily at 10a

ADDRESS: 234 West 42nd Street  MAP

TRANSIT: at 1, 2, 3, 7, A, C, E, N, Q, R, S, W subways lines

PHONE: 800-246-8872

WEBSITE: http://www.nycwax.com

American Museum of Natural History
DESCRIPTION: Opened in 1869, today it is one of America’s great museums; features five floor levels of permanent exhibits in Fossil Halls, Rose Center, Culture Halls, Mammals Halls, Biodiversity, and more in its; the visiting exhibits are also legend – like the Darwin exhibit; the museum is well-known for honoring all cultures with special exhibits, plus science programs for kids and the Discover Room for K-2 kids; admission fees vary depending on whether you include an IMAX show and take advantage of their SuperSaver package; better yet get a City Pass for the best deal; Discovery Tours conducts expeditions throughout the world
ADMISSION: there's a matrix of prices for a variety exhibits; see the website

DAYS & HOURS: daily 10a–5:45p; IMAX Space Show every half-hour 10:30a–4:30p
ADDRESS: Central Park West at 79th Street  MAP

TRANSIT: near B & C subway lines
PHONE: 212-769-5200 and 212-769-5700
WEBSITE: http://www.amnh.org

Madison Square Garden
DESCRIPTION: The modern world’s most famous arena; seats 19,500 for the NBA’s New York Knicks; the Garden has hosted annual family shows, concerts, theatricals, the NFL and NBA Drafts, CBS Television's Fall Premiere, product launches, college graduations, and religious conferences; also home to WaMu Theater which hosts concerts; the garden sits atop New York Penn Station for trains and a myriad of subway lines

ADMISSION: 18.50 Adults, $15 Seniors, $12 Children

DAYS & HOURS: Tours daily every half-hour 11a-3p; otherwise its event dependent
ADDRESS: 4 Pennsylvania Plaza  MAP

TRANSIT: near 1, 2, 3, A, C, E, N, Q, R, V, W subway lines aand New Jersey Transit commuter trains
PHONE: Ticketmaster 212-307-7171
WEBSITE: http://www.thegarden.com/about/all-access-tour.html

 

Toy R Us Times Square
DESCRIPTION: Located in the center of Times Square, flagship attractions include an indoor 60-foot tall Ferris Wheel, a 20-foot tall animatronic Jurassic Park T-Rex, Barbie's Dollhouse with all the latest fasions and accessories, Filled with Love plush toys with birth certificates and R Zone filled with 5,500 square feet of the latest video games on a huge plasma screen, CDs, DVDs; you can spend hours here

ADMISSION: Free
DAYS & HOURS: Mon-Fri 10a–9p, Sat 10a-9p, Sun 10a-7p
ADDRESS: 1514 Broadway  MAP

TRANSIT: near S, 1, 2, 3, 7, A, C, E, N, Q, R subway lines
PHONE: 646-366-8855
WEBSITE: http://www.cmom.org

 

Children’s Museum of Manhattan
DESCRIPTION: Located in the distinctive Tisch Building, 5 hearty floors of programs, exhibitions and games your kids will love such as Adventures with Dora and Diego; PlayWorks; Gods, Myths & Mortals: Discover Ancient Greece; Little West Side; Block Party; and City Splash; benefitting from substantial corporate sponsorship, all exhibits are first rate, imaginative and engaging; the museum also has tremendous community outreach & internship programs

ADMISSION: children and adults $10, seniors $7; children under 1 Free
DAYS & HOURS: Tue-Sat 10a–5p
ADDRESS: 212 West 83rd Street  MAP

TRANSIT: near the 1 subway line
PHONE: 212-721-1234
WEBSITE: http://www.cmom.org

Chuck E. Cheese's
DESCRIPTION: Harlem enjoys its own large version of this national franchise for family fun restaurant near 125th Street and the Magic Johnson Theatre

ADMISSION: free entry, but you purchase game tokens and special amenities

DAYS & HOURS: Sun-Thu 9a-10p, Fri-Sat 9a-11p
ADDRESS: 280 St. Nicholas Avenue, 2nd Floor  MAP

TRANSIT: at A, B, C, D subway lines
PHONE: 212-222-9522
WEBSITE: http://www.chuckecheese.com/locations

The Bronx, NY

Bronx Zoo
DESCRIPTION: Flagship of the largest network of metropolitan zoos in the country, the 265-acre Bronx Zoo is the heart of the Wildlife Conservation Society and its work to save wildlife around the globe; features award-winning, innovative exhibits with superb viewing for more than 4,000 animals; see Western lowland gorillas at Congo Gorilla Forest and an indoor Asian Rain Forest, just two of their our outstanding naturalistic habitats for some of the world's most amazing wildlife; every zoo admission fees supports conservation by more expert researchers in the field than any other zoo

ADMISSION: Thu-Tue $15 Adults, $9 Seniors $13, Ages 3-12 $11; Wednesday Pay-as-you-wish donation; extra fees for Children’s Zoo, Skyfari, Zoo Shuttle, Butterfly Garden, Monorail and Camel rides

DAYS & HOURS: Mon-Fri 10a-5p, Sat-Sun 10a-5:30p
ADDRESS: 2300 Southern Blvd  MAP

TRANSIT: near 2 & 5 subway lines
PHONE: 718-220-5100
WEBSITE: http://bronxzoo.com

Yankee Stadium
DESCRIPTION: The icon of American sports since 1923 when Babe Ruth played here, has been replaced with a new stadium in 2009; the old stadium was built to specifications  that ensured Babe Ruth would hit more home runs than any right-handed hitter; the new stadium has the same distances to right, center and left field fences, ~550 fewer seats (56,325), but has wider seats, more legroom between roows, cupholders, more concession stands and restrooms and a lot more lounges, cafes and restaurants; for affluent visitors, the stadium alsohas 56 luxury suites and 410 party suites

DAYS & HOURS: event dependent

ADDRESS: 161st Street and River Ave  MAP

TRANSIT: at 4, B & D subway lines
PHONE: 718-293-4300
WEBSITE: http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com

 

Queens, NY

Citi Field
DESCRIPTION: Completed in 2009, it is the bold new home New York Mets baseball team with many retro feeatures; Citi Field replaces Shea Stadium constructed in 1964; this $850 million baseball park has a seating capacity of 41,800, which is 15,000 fewer than Shea Stadium; seats are green in an homage to the Polo Grounds, longtime home of the baseball Giants and the original home of the Mets; the front entrance a rotunda is named after Brooklyn Dodgers legend Jackie Robinson and honors his life accomplishments;  engraved into the rotunda’s large floor and archways are words and images that defined Robinson’s nine values: Courage, Excellence, Persistence, Justice, Teamwork, Commitment, Citizenship, Determination and Integrity 

DAYS & HOURS: event dependent
ADDRESS: 126th Street at Roosevelt Ave  MAP

TRANSIT: 7 subway line

PHONE: 718-478-2921
WEBSITE: http://newyork.mets.mlb.com

Brooklyn, NY

Coney Island
DESCRIPTION: Although most of its grandeur has long faded, Coney Island is like a cherished institution with great ocean views; you can’t visit Brooklyn for any length of time and not stop by; among 35 seperate attractions are the Deno's Wonder Wheel Park, Aquarium, Coney Island Museum, Astroland - home of the Cyclone Rollercoaster, which is still one of the world’s best, Circus Sideshows by the Seashore, Nathan's Hot Dogs, Coney Island Surf and Turf, beach and boardwalk round out the visit; today the park includes KeySpan park for minor league baseball and has a multi-arts center offering museum and theater programming leading the cultural revival of a downtrodden but historic landmark neighborhood; Astroland and Deno's Wonder Wheel Park sponsor fireworks at 9:30p every Friday night between June and Labor Day

ADMISSION: free, but you pay per ride or attraction

DAYS & HOURS: Rides and attractions are open on weekends from Easter until Memorial Day, all week long from Memorial Day until Labor Day, and then weekends from Labor Day until the end of September; beach and boardwalk open year round
ADDRESS: Surf Ave between Ocean Parkway & 37th Streets  MAP

TRANSIT: near D, F, N & Q subway lines

PHONE: 718-372-5159
WEBSITE: http://www.coneyisland.com

New York Aquarium
DESCRIPTION: Featuring 8,000 animals, the Aquarium offers diversity and great viewing opportunities to learn about animals from the Southwest coast of Africa to the Arctic penquins, and those found locally in the Hudson River

ADMISSION: Adults $13, Seniors $10, Ages 3-12 $9, Ages 2 and under Free

DAYS & HOURS: daily 10-4:30p with longer Summer hours

ADDRESS: Surf Avenue & West 8th Street  MAP

TRANSIT: near D, F, N & Q subway lines
PHONE: 718-265-3474
WEBSITE: http://nyaquarium.com

Madd Funn Family Entertainment Center
DESCRIPTION: Brooklyn’s newest and biggest (41,000 square foot) urban family entertainment center and provides an entertainment and educational resource for children and their families; this state-of-the-art facility features Video Games, Laser Tag, Rock Climbing Wall, Ball Pit/Tunnels Arena, Bumper Cars, Mini Train, Computer Learning Forum, Arts & Crafts area, and Toddler Soft Play Area

ADMISSION:$6 for 24 game tokens with addtional prices for more Madd Fun

DAYS & HOURS: Mon-Fri 11a-6:45p, Sat 11a-8:45p, Sun 11a-7:45p
ADDRESS: 303 Stanley Avenue  MAP

TRANSIT: near L subway line

PHONE: 718-498-9002
WEBSITE: http://www.maddfun.com

East Rutherford, NJ

IZOD Center
DESCRIPTION: Opened in 1981 and formerly called Continental Airlines Center; seats 20,000 for basketball games with 29 suites; an award-winning home to the NBA New Jersey Nets, NHL's New Jersey Devils, Seton Hall Men's Basketball, Harlem Globetrotters, the circus and hundreds of events; the Nets advanced to the NBA Finals twice; known for surprisingly good concert acoustics

BOX OFFICE: Mon-Sat 11a-6p

DAYS & HOURS: event dependent
ADDRESS: 50 State Route 120 in Meadowlands Sports Complex  MAP

TRANSIT: Secaucus-Meadowlands Bus Link available from New York Penn Station
PHONE: Ticketmaster 201-507-8900 and 609-520-8383
WEBSITE: http://www.izodcenter.com

MetLife Stadium
DESCRIPTION: Located in the in Meadowlands Sports Complex and opened in 2010, this $1.6 billion football stadium seats 82,500 as home to the New York Giants and New York Jets; built as a green stadium with more entry points than the old stadium, 16 massive video screens in the entry plaza, 25,000 high definition monitors, and commuter rail access

BOX OFFICE: purchase you tickets online before arrival

DAYS & HOURS: event dependent
ADDRESS: 50 State Route 120  MAP

TRANSIT: Secaucus-Meadowlands Bus Link available from New York Penn Station
PHONE: 201-935-8500
WEBSITE: http://www.metlifestadium.com