New York Public Library

Paddle out onto the Hudson River for free at this beloved Greenwich Village waterfront hub. The all-volunteer nonprofit offers walk-up kayaking every weekend and holiday (9am–6pm, last boat at 5:30pm), plus Thursday evenings (5–7pm, last boat at 6:30pm). It's an easy, no-experience-necessary way to explore NYC's harbor and connect with the water.

Build-A-Bear Workshop is a popular chain of retail stores that offers customers the opportunity to create their own stuffed animals. The company was founded in 1997 and has since grown to include over 400 stores worldwide. The stores are typically located in shopping malls, but you can also find a store in New York.<br/> At Build-A-Bear Workshop, customers can choose from a variety of stuffed animals, including bears, dogs, cats, and even licensed characters like Disney, Marvel and Harry Potter. Once they have chosen their animal, customers can then stuff it themselves using a special machine, and add a heart-shaped "wish to make it special. After that, they can add a variety of accessories such as clothing, shoes, and even sound chips that play pre-recorded phrases.<br/> The stores also offer special events and workshops for children, including "bear-making" birthday parties and school field trips.<br/> Build-A-Bear Workshop has become a popular destination for families and children, as well as adults looking for a fun and unique shopping experience. With a store in New York, it's a great place to create a special, one-of-a-kind stuffed animal as a souvenir of your trip to the city.

Picture yourself stepping into a space where hands-on discovery meets cutting-edge innovation—a place that transforms how you think about technology and imagination. This midtown Manhattan destination pulls together interactive exhibits that let you jump right into learning rather than just observe it from behind glass. The winter months bring a particularly cozy energy to exploring these galleries, with plenty to captivate visitors seeking indoor adventure during the colder season. The facility prioritizes creating that rare sweet spot where families actually want to linger, where curiosity drives the experience, and where playfulness sits alongside serious technological exploration. Whether you're tinkering with exhibits or watching demonstrations, the environment invites you to get your hands involved and test ideas in real time.

Stepping through these grand bronze doors, you're entering a structure that took decades to fully realize. The main sanctuary welcomed its first visitors in 1879, though the ambition didn't stop there—Archbishop Michael Corrigan returned in 1888 to crown the West Front with its iconic twin towers, and by 1901 had added the Lady Chapel to the east side, expanding the vision further still. Winter transforms the interior into something particularly serene, with pale light filtering through the renowned stained-glass windows and casting colored patterns across the stone floors. The towering nave feels both more intimate and more majestic during the quieter months. Today, this National Historic Landmark draws visitors from around the world who come to experience the soaring Gothic Revival architecture, intricate mosaic work, and that unmistakable sense of reverence that echoes through the space. Beyond its role as a working parish church, the cathedral stands as a tangible connection to New York's Catholic heritage and continues to inspire those who pass through its doors.

Chat with Mario - live at Nintendo World! Take a break from your holiday shopping to stop by and chat with Mario until January 6th. Ask Mario what his life is like in the Mushroom Kingdom. Check the calendar for dates and times of Mario's appearance in the store.<br/> In the heart of Manhattan, right in Rockefeller Plaza, people flock from all over the globe to visit, play, and shop at this one of a kind Nintendo World Store, a 10,000 square foot gaming paradise. Guests have a compelling in-store experience when they take a tour conducted by one of their Ambassadors, who are very enthusiastic Nintendo fans, always happy to share their knowledge with the visitors. The store staff can guide you through each of the interactive gaming areas, provide hands-on gaming demonstrations, show you their selection of Pokémon merchandise, help you find the right sized Nintendo-themed t-shirts and provide a bit of history by explaining the items in the store, absolutely free of charge. Come talk to Mario about Life in the Mushroom Kingdom; ask an Ambassador to demonstrate how AR Cards work; meet Sean, the resident Pokémon Trainer; bring your Nintendo 3DS and join up to six players in local or online multi-player battles when you participate in the Kid Icarus Tournament; take a picture with a life-sized Mario; take a look at the store selection of exclusive youth, ladies and men’s apparel, featuring your favorite Nintendo characters. Check out their schedule in advance to participate in the activities listed above to experience endless entertainment. By Ruth Cohen.

This non-profit center encourages environmental and educational awareness. A Long Island oasis, it advocates sustainable environmental policies and practices. Entrance and parking are free! The nature trails have many environments to be explored. Some of these include ponds and salt marshes where one can see shore birds and many small animals. Alley Pond Park, in which this New York attraction is located, also features a children’s adventure course; New York City's largest ropes course, a zip-line, a rock-climbing wall, and balance platforms in a beautiful woodland setting. There are many places to BBQ, run, bike and watch birds. The park itself sits on a beautiful 657 acres. Easily accessible from virtually any neighborhood in the city by car, bicycle or public transportation, there is every reason to come and spend a day relaxing, learning and exploring in this sublimely serene setting. A slice of paradise right here in Queens, it is home to the tallest tree in New York City, known as the “Queens Giant”, a tulip poplar approximately 350-450 years old and a stunning 133 feet tall. You can also dip your toes in Oakland Lake, 15,000 year old glacial pond fed by underground springs. It’s easy to lose the cares of the day in the beauty of this vast, colorful and unique Queens natural attraction.

Step into a world of interactive discovery at this iconic science museum, where hands-on exhibits turn big ideas into unforgettable experiences. From exploring the laws of physics in the Science Playground to uncovering mysteries of space and life, you'll find over 450 ways to experiment, tinker, and learn. Perfect for curious minds of all ages looking to spend a summer day filled with wonder and discovery.

Stepping onto these grounds means walking through decades of filmmaking history, where massive soundstages anchor the entire operation. Seven column-free stages span across the property, with the centerpiece hitting 26,000 square feet—the biggest facility of its kind anywhere east of the Hollywood sign. The recently added Stage K pushes past 18,000 square feet, while a pair of additional stages each exceed 12,000. For smaller productions, there's flexibility with spaces running 8,000, 4,000, and 3,000 square feet. Everything's positioned so that crews and equipment move seamlessly between stages, with support facilities tucked in close by. Winter visits carry a particular charm here, as the quiet between productions settles over the sprawling complex and the industrial architecture feels especially atmospheric against gray New York skies.

Visit Astoria Park this Spring YYYY ##000630 ##000000 Astoria Park has more than only aquatic delights, despite being well-known for its exquisite pool—which is the oldest and biggest in the city. Attractions such as baseball diamonds, basketball courts, playgrounds, a track, a bandstand, and several pathways draw people from the five boroughs and beyond. And the vistas! The park, which is situated between the Triborough Bridge and the Hell Gate Bridge and borders the East River, provides year-round views and sounds of the waterfront, making the benches around the park a popular gathering place.

Aqueduct Race Track, also known as Aqueduct Racetrack or simply Aqueduct, is a horse racing track located in Queens, New York. The track is part of the New York Racing Association (NYRA) and is open for live racing throughout the year. The track has three separate tracks: a main dirt track, an inner turf course and an outer turf course. Aqueduct is home to several major horse racing events throughout the year, including the Wood Memorial Stakes, the Gotham Stakes, and the Cigar Mile Handicap. These events attract some of the top horses and jockeys in the sport and offer significant purse money to the winners. The track also hosts the New York Racing Festival, which features several graded stakes races.<br/> The track was originally opened in 1894, and has undergone several renovations and expansions over the years. In 2011, Aqueduct opened the Resorts World Casino New York City, which is now the largest casino in New York City and the only one in the five boroughs of New York City. The casino offers electronic slot machines and table games, and has a wide variety of dining and entertainment options.<br/> Aqueduct Race Track is easily accessible by public transportation, with the A train subway line stopping at the Aqueduct-North Conduit Avenue station, which is a short walk from the track. The track also has a large parking lot for those who choose to drive.

Prospect Park is a public park located in Brooklyn, New York. The park was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, who also designed Central Park in Manhattan. Prospect Park covers 526 acres and offers a wide range of recreational opportunities for visitors. The park features several notable attractions, including the Long Meadow, a 90-acre meadow that is popular for picnics and sunbathing; the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, a 52-acre garden that features a variety of plants, flowers, and trees; and the Prospect Park Zoo, which is home to over 300 species of animals. The park also has several lakes and ponds, including the Lullwater, which is popular for boating and fishing. Prospect Park also offers a variety of recreational activities for visitors, including bike and boat rentals, horse-drawn carriage rides, and ice skating in the winter. The park is also home to several playgrounds, sports fields, and courts for basketball, soccer, and handball. The park is also home to several cultural institutions such as the Lefferts Historic House, the Prospect Park Carousel and the Brooklyn Museum, which is one of the oldest and largest art museums in the country. The park also hosts various events throughout the year, including concerts, festivals, and outdoor movie screenings.<br/> Prospect Park is easily accessible by public transportation, with several subway and bus lines stopping at the Prospect Park station, which is located at the park's main entrance. The park also has several parking lots for those who choose to drive.<br/> Prospect Park is a great place to spend a day with family and friends, with something for everyone to enjoy, and is considered as one of Brooklyn's most popular and important public spaces.

From its inception over 50 years ago, a cornerstone of Brooklyn Center's mission has been a proactive community out-reach, bringing the Brooklyn Community into the Brooklyn College environment....letting the public experience a part of our campus. What better way than to open the Center's doors to the public with a standing invitation to experience the many hundreds of performances offered every season, but also, as a good neighbor, making the facilities of a great Performing Arts Center available to the Brooklyn community at large.

ConstructionKids introduces new builders to a broad range of materials and tools. Kids here study the natural and man-made world around us, while learning to work individually as well as part of a team. ConstructionKids' goal is to share the joy of building, revising, and repairing. Your child will love to explore everything ConstructionKids has to offer - sign up for a class or summer camp today!

Watch Peter Brook's electrifying staging of The Suit unfold on stage—a haunting adaptation rooted in Can Themba's South African narrative about betrayal, punishment, and a marriage fractured beyond repair. A wife's infidelity. A suit left as evidence. A husband's cruel demand that she carry it everywhere, a wearable shadow of her transgression. Brook's direction weaves live musicians directly into the drama, letting hummed spirituals, African rhythms, and classical German lieder seep into every tense moment. The production captures an apartheid-era summer where wounds refused to close, and during winter months, its claustrophobic intensity hits even harder against the cold backdrop of the season. Since 1861, this Brooklyn institution has evolved from its origins as a home for the Philharmonic Society's concerts into a vital cultural hub. The original 176-194 Montague Street location in Brooklyn Heights boasted a 2,200-seat theater, a more intimate concert hall, performer spaces, and an ornate kitchen that fed the artistic community. The venue hosted everyone from Ellen Terry to Edwin Booth to Fritz Kreisler, mixing amateur and professional talent under one roof. Today, BAM continues that legacy by bringing world-class performance and cinema to the neighborhood year-round, proving Brooklyn's deep-rooted appetite for art extends far beyond a single season.

Just a short ferry ride from Red Hook, this 172-acre island transforms into a vibrant summer destination with rolling hills offering stunning harbor views, historic military landmarks like Castle Williams and Fort Jay, and creative outdoor art installations. Hammock Grove invites you to kick back in one of 50+ suspended hangouts, while playgrounds, sports courts, and lush green spaces provide endless ways to spend the day. The island hosts year-round events including concerts, festivals, and outdoor movie nights, all accessible via free ferry service from Brooklyn Bridge Park.

The Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge is a double-decked suspension bridge that connects the New York City boroughs of Staten Island and Brooklyn. It spans the Narrows, a body of water that separates the two boroughs, and is named after the explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano, who was the first European to enter New York Harbor in 1524. The bridge was designed by Othmar Ammann, who was also the chief engineer of the George Washington Bridge, and was completed in 1964. At the time of its completion, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world with a main span of 4,260 feet. The bridge has six lanes of traffic on the upper level and three on the lower level, and is a major transportation link for commuters and commercial vehicles. The bridge also offers a spectacular view of the New York City skyline and the harbor. The bridge's opening ceremony was attended by various dignitaries including Robert Moses, the powerful NYC Parks commissioner and urban planner who had pushed for the construction of the bridge. The bridge is considered as an engineering marvel and a significant transportation link in the New York City.

Located on Staten Island 's North Shore Empire Zone. Built almost 75 Years ago, this theatre once housed 3,000 people and was a showcase for celebrities of that time and later, as a motion picture venue. It enjoyed a successful economic life from 1929 until the 1970’s. At that time, vaudeville was entertainment of a bygone era and multi-screen, small capacity motion picture theatres were cropping up throughout the island. Attempts were made to re-vitalize the theatre by using it as a flea market, an antique showroom, a night club, and skating rink. None of these lasted very long and many who remembered or heard fond stories of its past grandeur, wondered what would become of the beautiful St. George Theatre . Hope was raised in January 2001 when, in his State of the City address, then Mayor Rudolph Giuliani promised resources for the renovation of the St.George Theatre into a Performing Arts Center which would ensure revitalization into the entire neighborhood. Unfortunately, the tragic events of 9/11/01 understandably put a halt to these resources.

Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden will kick off its roster of 2013 events on January 12 with a concert by the Vincent Ruggieri Jazz Quartet and an exhibition of the work of two unique artists from the Snug Harbor Artist Residency Program (SHARP). The jazz concert, the first in the Island Sounds Music Mash-Up series will be from 7 to 8 p.m. in the Main Hall, Building C. The SHARP exhibition will be from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Newhouse Center for Contemporary Art in Building G. Refreshments will be served. Admission to both events is free. The Snug Harbor campus is at 1000 Richmond Terrace in Staten Island.<br/> A short ferry ride away from Manhattan's powerful downtown financial district sits one of New York City's best kept secrets, The Staten Island Botanical Garden. Nestled within the grounds of the Snug Harbor Cultural Center, The Staten Island Botanical Garden with its Victorian charm and stately elegance is a "must visit" that should be on every tourists' list.

Operating since 1905, the Staten Island Ferry is one of the oldest continuously operating ferry systems in the United States. The ferries operating on this route are equipped with services such as refreshment points, rest areas and toilets. The journey from one terminal to the other takes about 25 minutes. The ferry is also an alternative to the car as it offers a convenient and reliable way to travel between the two parts of the city without traffic jams. Additionally, the ferry is an important part of New York City's transportation infrastructure and helps reduce congestion on the area's freeways.<br/> The Staten Island Ferry is a unique and distinctive feature of New York City that continues to play an important role in the city's transportation network.

Family Fun and Open Skate Hours

The New York Botanical Gardens is a premier educational institution. Located just a brisk 25 minute bicycle ride from Sound View Park via Dr. Theodore Kazimiroff Blvd, this NYC attraction is surprisingly bicycle accessible and encourages travel as such. The Gardens offers many educational programs including the opportunity to graduate with certificates in botany, floral design and horticulture, just to name a few. Ongoing hands-on gardening activities for the whole family are also available, so check their schedule online, or just give them a call. The Everett Children’s Adventure Garden is a year-round world of its own, boasting mazes, larger than life flowers, and many real time activities for your curious explorer. A prize bloom in the collection of Bronx attractions, it also actively participates in community outreach programs that expand nutritional education. Make sure you check out the Green Market, which carries a variety of produce available for purchase. Health-related screenings offered the 2nd Wednesday of every month by staff from both Montefiore Medical Center and St. Barnabas Hospital are another of the services that demonstrates their involvement in the surrounding communities. Their dedication to the conservation of the plants and fungi of the world through various scientific research associations places them on the world map.

Explore layers of American history through the lens of a borough that's always been at the center of it all. The Bronx stretches across mainland New York City, home to 1.2 million residents whose cultures and traditions have shaped the nation's story from colonial times forward. Founded in 1955, this organization safeguards those interwoven narratives through multiple windows into the past. The Valentine-Varian House opens up colonial-era life as the Museum of Bronx History, while Edgar Allan Poe's cottage preserves the intimate spaces where the legendary writer spent his final years. Both buildings carry National Register recognition. Winter visits carry a particular quietness here, with frost settling over these 18th and 19th century structures in ways that somehow make their histories feel more tangible. Behind the scenes, the Archives and Research Library hold thousands of documents waiting to connect visitors with their own family threads or deeper understanding of the borough's evolution. Whether you're chasing genealogy, studying local heritage, or simply curious about how one borough reflected American transformation across centuries, you'll find substantial material to explore.

The best way to connect to nature in New York City is by visiting the Bronx Zoo, the world’s largest urban zoo. With world-class exhibits such as the Wild Asian Monorail, the Tiger Mountain, the Congo Gorilla Forest and the newest exhibit, Madagascar, the Bronx Zoo features more than 600 different species, including mammals, birds, reptiles & amphibians and insects. Check the daily schedule of feedings and enrichment demonstrations and then customize your trip with their interactive trip planner. Find your inner animal on the Animal Activity Trail; watch amazing aerial tricks at the World of Birds; experience a very unique form of New York City transit when you ride a camel around Wild Asia Plaza; feed and watch Magellanic penguins come out of their dens and bob for fish; watch one of the most popular attractions, the Sea Lion feeding and training demonstration; visit the Butterfly Garden, a wild meadow and spacious greenhouse where you can identify different butterflies, smell the flowers and learn how to plant a nectar-rich garden. No matter how you plan your trip to the Bronx Zoo.

Home to the New York Yankees since 2009, this state-of-the-art ballpark in the Bronx delivers an unforgettable game day experience with world-class amenities and stunning views. Catch a summer game in one of baseball's most iconic venues, or dive deeper with the Yankee Inside Experience, which includes a meet-and-greet with a current player, guided stadium tour, and buffet lunch. Built across from the original stadium at a cost of $1.5 billion, it stands as one of the most impressive sports facilities ever constructed.

In 1960, the Perkins-Freeman family deeded Wave Hill to the City of New York; Wave Hill, Inc., was formed in 1965 as a non-profit corporation. Today, as one of 33 City-owned cultural institutions, Wave Hill provides an oasis of serenity and offers programs in Horticulture, Environmental Education, Woodland Management and the Visual and Performing Arts. Through the arts and sciences, Wave Hill seeks to foster connections between people and nature.