Central Park in New York City, is a top travel destination for both local and out of town families. It's one of my favorite places to visit around NYC with my kids, especially my youngest who love it for Pokemon hunting (Yes apparently that's still a thing, LOL). Among New York's most famous tourist spots, it draws thousands of families including my own, from around the country and world. Let's check out 12 of the best fun family stops in Central Park for traveling moms and their families.
Central Park Zoo
I can't tell you how many times I've been to this spot. You just never outgrow seeing exotic and wild animals. Children can interact with animals from tropical, temperate, and polar regions of the world at the Central Park Zoo. Get up close and personal with potbellied pigs, lambs, goats, and Manhattan's lone cow at the Tisch Children's Zoo. Check out more details and specifics from the official Central Park Zoo website.
The main zoo has traditional displays, such as the well-known polar bears and sea lions. Get your entry tickets for the Central Park Zoo in advance to avoid standing in line. I have to let you know that although balloon artists may be found close to the zoo entrance, balloons are not permitted inside, so you should wait to buy any.
I gave my children some good time to visit the Tisch Children's Zoo, which is an additional fee but part of the entrance price. A spider web net, cute photo chances, multiple animal feeding stations, and more can be found at Tisch Children's Zoo.
Loeb Boathouse Row Boats and Lakeside Restaurant
Get a row boat rental from the Loeb Boathouse and cruise around while admiring the water views of Central Park. Weather permitting, boats can be rented from April through November. The Lakeside Restaurant, which is also housed at the Loeb Boathouse, serves great dining both indoors and outdoors from April through late October. It's one of the few dining establishments in Central Park that serves food for kids as well. It is advised to make reservations.
Horse and Carriage Ride
Who doesn't love being ridden around in one of the most scenic and famous parks in the world. The Central Park Horse and Carriage rides are Ideal for groups, families, couples, and more. We've been on these as a family and the feeling is quite cozy and fun. If it's a fall or wintertime visit for you and family, the ride includes blankets and a well guided tour, and a scenic route with important landmarks in the park. Pick between our Park & City Ride and our Central Park Ride, both of which include photo stops. They do offer large group tours which I've tried with my family, and they'll work with you to setup all of the details so you can sit back, relax and enjoy the ride with your family.
Summer Concerts and Performances at Delacorte Theater in Central Park
Central Park presents a number of open-air summer concerts. There is music for every taste, including opera, classical, pop, rock, and more, so your family is likely to find something they enjoy. Shakespeare in the Park has been entertaining audiences at Central Park's Delacorte Theater since 1962. These large-scale classic productions are excellent options for families with teenagers and older children.
Central Park Pedicab Tour (Cycle Rickshaws)
As a travel mom who's frequented this park many times with my family on foot, I recommend you switch it up and let someone else do the footwork for you (bicycle footwork that is). Similar to the Horse and Carriage ride experience, the Pedicab tour is exactly as it sounds, a nice cycle rickshaw powered by a bike pedaling rider. With 840 acres of land, Central Park is too big to see everything in a single day. Take a pedicab tour to cover a lot of ground and hear from an expert about the largest park in New York City. While tours are offered all year round, springtime is a particularly favorite time to see many tourists and local New Yorkers enjoying this park service. You can reserve your Viator pedicab tour of Central Park whenever you're ready.
Victorian Gardens Amusement Park
Make time to visit Victorian Gardens if you're exploring Central Park with little children. This nice little theme park is where you'll find sweet old fashioned rides. With rides like the Mini Mouse Coaster and the Rainbowheel Ferris Wheel, this location is ideal for children between the ages of two and twelve. In addition, a few carnival games on site will attract your older children. Every year on Memorial Day, Victorian Gardens opens to the public. Enjoy the rides with the fam!!!!
Conservatory Water Miniature Boats
From April through October, you can rent a model sailboat at Conservatory Water, Most parents like myself are quite familiar with this area of Central Park. it's the setting for the beloved children's book and accompanying movie, Stuart Little. These wind-driven, remote-controlled sailboats offer an entertaining and engaging pastime. Kids and adults find this activity quite competitive and addicting. Go for it and let your kids' imagination travel and sail across these small waters.
Swedish Cottage (Marionette Theatre)
One of the few publicly traded marionette firms in the United States is based in the Central Park Swedish Cottage. A resident group of puppeteers has been performing classic tales like Cinderella and Peter Pan in this cozy park attraction since 1947. You can get tickets and get additional information at the City Parks Foundation website.
Central Park Carousel
Your family experienced watching real animals at the zoo, now let's try riding some cool artificial ones, hop on the next door Central Park Carousel. It's not like outdoor riding at a Montana dude ranch, but it's a great place to pretend you and family are riding magical unicorns going round your own little world. A ton of people get in line and ride this fun attraction every year, and fun fact, it's also one of the largest carousels in the United States, with 57 detailed and creatively carved wooden horses. Experience this favorite Carousel ride! Try to count them all, or capture your favorite in a drawing to mark this experience in the Big Apple that's Manhattan. You can get information on hours, costs of the rides for adults and kids. The contact number is 212.439.6900.
Bow Bridge and Turtle Pond
Overlooking Turtle Pond, the graceful Bow Bridge is built of cast iron. As you can see above, this is one of Central Park's most well-liked locations for photos and videos, and for good reason. A lot of people have traveled to make their marriage proposals a reality on this bridge. My husband and kids have personally shot quite a few pics and videos of our own here.
There are five different variety of turtles that live year-round in Turtle Pond earning it its name, so kids should keep a watch out for them. If you enjoy looking for wildlife not as confined as those in the zoo, this pond fill the need. Take a free Family Discovery Walk to learn more about this area. The cute turtles here enjoy sunbathing on smooth logs and the Vista Rocks base the favorite location for them. Stare and make sounds all you kids want, they're barely fazed by the visiting onlookers. get out your camera, smartphon, or sketch book, you'll see a lot of tourists capturing the moments in the pond.
Billy Johnson Playground
Searching for a trip with a rustic flair? Billy Johnson Playground is just the place in Central Park to get your kids a creative setting to explore and play it up. You and your younger children can use the playground's wooden constructions, tire swings, bucket swings, and other items to create your own obstacle course. Dive into the excitement of a 45-foot granite slide embedded in a mountainside. (If your kids are younger younger, get them on the smaller, more accessible slide, it's more ideal!) Have them aim to finish the obstacle course in less than a minute after they've gotten the hang of it. Personal records are set here everyday with a touch of awesome fun.
There's so much more to do in Central Park than listed here, it's pretty hard to cover all of it in a single day trip visit. But if you're traveling into and staying for a couple or few days in Manhattan, plan to make stops around the parks attractions, your family will experience some great memories in the process.
