You'll have to usher kids past aisles of goodies to find the play space nestled against the back wall.ĭid you know The Met debuted a brand-new art-and-science play space last fall? Dubbed the 81st Street Studio, visiting the creative wonderland is completely FREE! Head to the seventh floor at Macy's Herald Square where Toys R Us has an on-site toy shop. This dedicated kids' space is currently offering pay-as-you-wish admission to all visitors, but be sure to book your tickets online in advance! The museum plans to begin charging admission in the first quarter of 2024, so visit soon to take advantage of this freebie! 22. Introduce kids to contemporary art at the always FREE Bronx Museum of the Arts. Programming includes family-friendly films, workshops, and other no-cost fun. Smithsonian National Museum of the American IndianĮxplore the always FREE National Museum of the American Indian, housed in the historic U.S. The National Museum of the American Indian is multicultural New York at its best. RELATED: NYC Winter Fun List: 40 Things To Do with Kids MCNY is always FREE for children under 20 and has rotating exhibits highlighting New York's development and history. Take Advantage of FREE Hoursĭon't forget: Many NYC museums, zoos, and the aquarium offer free hours on a weekly or monthly basis. Enjoy hands-on activities such as tours, crafts, and face time with animals. See what's going on at one of the NYC Parks Department's many nature centers. Nintendo NYCĪt the 10,000-square-foot Nintendo NY, kids can gawk at the giant Donkey Kong and test not-yet-released tech and video games. Try out new games or old favorites at Nintendo New York. RELATED : 50 Indoor Activities for a Rainy Day with the Kids Kids under age 9 are always FREE and adults enter for just $7. This Harlem children's museum is housed in a David Adjaye-designed building on 155th Street and offers plenty of room to create and explore, plus weekly performative storytelling events. Sugar Hill Children's Museum of Art and Storytelling Live farther south? Visit the Flatiron Lego Store. The Lego StoreĬheck out amazing re-creations of NYC landmarks at the Lego Store at Rockefeller Center. Kids can play for FREE at some of these Brooklyn and Queens play cafes-well, you'll need to spring for a coffee, but hey, you were going to do that anyway. This Lower East Side food hall and market pays homage to its neighborhood's multicultural roots with a diverse mix of eats, plus fun, FREE programming, and cooking classes. Take flight in the Wizarding World at Harry Potter New York, which brimming with wands, magical creatures, and plenty of nostalgia for fans of the series.

Pose for a magical photo-op in an authentic London phone booth at Harry Potter New York. Check out the toy demos, meet a soldier, and dance on the iconic piano! RELATED: 30 Days of Indoor Activities for Kids You don't have to spend a dime to have a blast at the mega toy wonderland FAO Schwarz. There are a handful of FREE indoor destinations in the 840-acre green space, including Belvedere Castle and the Dana Discovery Center at the lovely northeastern edge of the park. Kidding Around has outposts in Grand Central and the Flatiron District and is one of our favorite local toy stores. We love the magic mirrors and giant castles at the Disney Store Times Square, and the amazing, engaging Camp store, which has locations in the Flatiron District, Brooklyn, Hudson Yards, and Columbus Circle. If you've worked up an appetite, Hudson Eats is not to be missed. Our list of favorites includes the Winter Garden Atrium in Battery Park City. Play under the trees at the Brookfield Place Atrium. RELATED: 101 Free Things To Do in NYC with Kids More than 100 stores and eateries occupy the soaring, yet subterranean, space. Gawk at the architectural wonder of The Oculus-a commuter hub and shopping destination at the World Trade Center. Kids can learn about fire safety from a real firefighter at this Rockefeller Center spot. Pick up a new read and see what else is going on at one of our favorite independent bookshops, including author readings, craft activities, and even puppet shows. Train-watch, try out the whispering gallery, or take in one of the other kid-friendly activities at this commuter hub. Find even more options on our list of libraries with great kid-friendly play spaces, and discover what's going on at all the branches in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island. We're particularly impressed with the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library in Midtown the Adams Street Library and Greenpoint Public Library and Environmental Center in Brooklyn, plus Queens' Hunters Point Library. Not all branches are created equal, but there are plenty of cool, free indoor places to play throughout the city's library systems. Best Free Indoor Places to Play in NYC 1.

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