School’s Out: Your Guide to Kid-Friendly Summer Fun Downtown
The school year is officially over this week, and while that might be a relief for worn-out kids (and teachers!), finding enough things to do to fill the lazy summer days can become a full time job for parents and caretakers. The good news is, when the typical rotation of parks and playdates turns rote, Lower Manhattan has plenty of summer options for entertaining young ones. Plus, when all else fails, you can always catch the ferry and head to the beach.
Island hop to the Statue of Liberty
She’s New York’s most iconic landmark, and summer is the perfect time to finally pay her a visit. Take the ferry to Liberty Island to get up-close-and-personal with Lady Liberty herself (and maybe snap some pics for the holiday card — it’s never too early!), then head over to Ellis Island to learn more about America’s history as a nation of immigrants.
Reminder: the Statue City Cruises is the only authorized Statue of Liberty tour provider, so don’t buy your tickets from anyone else. Reserve your tickets online ahead of time; tickets are $25.50 for adults and $16.50 for children. Statue City Cruises ferries depart from Battery Park. The Statue of Liberty is open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; the last entrance to the statue is at 3:30 p.m.
If you’d rather not make the full trip, you can always hop on the Staten Island Ferry and see the statue by boat for free.
Tinker and build
Hop on another boat to get yourself to Governors Island for a visit to the Yard adventure playground, a kids-only playspace full of loose parts materials designed for building, exploring, imagining and destroying. It’s staffed by trained playworkers and is open Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. While you’re there, make sure to visit Slide Hill, home of the tallest slide in New York City, for some wheee-lly good times. The Governors Island ferry leaves from the Battery Maritime Building.
Visit the largest indoor playground in the city
Complete Playground’s 40,000-square-foot facility at 30 Broad St. is designed for all children regardless of physical ability or neurodiversity. It features a massive area to climb around in, a soft maze to tumble around in, and a sensory room that offers a calming option for any child who needs it. The three-story obstacle course, bounce house, STEM-inspired interactive areas and little city playland are so enticing, parents might want to jump in too. Adults might want to save their energy for the Complete Cafe, where interactive tables let you browse the menu, customize your order and then play games. The menu isn’t just limited to kids stuff, with Mediterranean- and Ukrainian- inspired dishes available.
Give your kids something to look up to
The Skyscraper Museum (39 Battery Pl.) offers a great mix of educational and awe-inspiring activity that is sure to keep little ones occupied for a few hours. Kids can marvel at exhibits about the construction of the tallest buildings in the world as well as learn how concrete is used and how supertall skyscrapers came into being.
Grow their green thumbs
You don’t need to leave the city to experience agrarian life this summer. The Battery Urban Farm right here in Lower Manhattan has been helping city kids (and adults) learn about sustainable farming and organic foods for more than a decade. The farm is typically open to the public Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; when you’ve gotten your fill of farming, be sure to check out the many fun zones of Battery Park’s Playscape, too.
Hit the water, and then the waves
When it’s just too hot to stay in Lower Manhattan, you’ve got to hop on the NYC Ferry and head to the beach. The ferry picks up at Pier 11 Wall Street and will drop you at the beach in as little as 45 minutes. Once you’re there, you can encourage your little one to pick up a hobby that will keep them busy all summer: surfing. Surf schools like Locals offer kids’ surf lessons and camps almost every day of the summer; the Black Surfing Association offers free surf lessons to kids all season, too.
photo: iStock
