Another of New York City's world-famous entertainment venues, Radio City Music Hall has been a city landmark since the 1930s. The hall has hosted events like the Grammy Awards, Tony Awards and the MTV Music Awards, among many others. The venue has been the home of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular for over 70 years and continues to be one of the city's most popular tourist attractions. Talented musicians like Pink Floyd, David Bowie, The Beach Boys, Eric Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughan have graced the stage at the hall. No trip to NYC is complete without a visit to Radio City Music Hall.
The Robert F. Wagner, Jr. Park is a combination of open lawns and gardens sprawled through paths and walkways. You'll find there's plenty to see here, as the park overlooks the Hudson River and offers stunning views of the iconic Statue of Liberty and other famous New York City attractions. While you revel in the city's beauty, take a stroll through the Hot and Cool Gardens among Graham Stuart roses, Autumn Prince daylilies, Trumpeter roses and Poinsettia daylilies. Don't go hungry while you're here either; enjoy a meal at Gigino's restaurant and check out the roof deck to see the city from a new perspective.
Hit the beach for family time and hang out at Rockaway Beach. Seven playgrounds, volleyball, surfing, swimming and tons of other outdoor activities are options at this beach. When you're enjoying fun in the sun as a family, be sure you all wear sunscreen!
The Rockefeller Center is one of New York City's many must-see attractions. This famous landmark is a 22-acre complex that is home to 19 commercial buildings between 48th and 51st streets in Manhattan. Radio City Music Hall and the GE Building, or "30 Rock" are two famous buildings within the complex. For a complete Rockefeller Center experience, head to the Top of the Rock, the observation deck of the GE Building. The deck occupies the 67-70th floors and offers a 360-degree panoramic view of New York City.
Have some out-of-this-world family fun at the Rose Center for Earth and Space. The planetarium uses current data to depict accurate formations of space for audiences to see up close. Explore the Center as a family and check out exhibits like the Helibrun Cosmic Pathway, a time-line that illustrates the history of the universe.
Feast your eyes on a little piece of history at the Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden. This attraction is a collection of architecturally significant buildings from the 19th century and was once a home for sailors. The 83-acre Snug Harbor is comprised of 26 buildings, built in the styles of Greek Revival, Beaux Arts, Italianate and Victorian. This National Historic Landmark District is considered to be the "crown jewel" of Staten Island.
Fans of art and sculpture will enjoy a stroll through the Socrates Sculpture Park, founded by an American sculptor named Mark di Suvero in 1986. What was once an abandoned landfill is now an outdoor exhibition space for sculpture and large-scale work. The park hosts events and programs like kids workshops, adult workshops, kite making and flying, fitness programs, outdoor cinema, and much more. In addition to encouraging and showcasing the creative expression of the featured artists, the park provides an environment conducive to artists, artwork and social interaction.
Enjoy the exhibits and attractions at the famous Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. The museum is an architectural icon and an esteemed host of Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, early Modern and contemporary art. The institution presents special exhibitions of modern and contemporary art, lectures by artists and critics, performances and film screenings, classes for adults and teens, and tours of the galleries led by expert guides.
Explore the sights of the South Street Seaport, a historic district in Manhattan. The Seaport is the original sight of the New York city port, now transformed into the home of shopping, restaurants, nightlife entertainment and other attractions. You'll find that there's plenty to do as a family here.
St. Patrick's Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral located on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, and one of the most beautiful pieces of architecture in the city. The building serves the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York and occupies an entire city block. The famous cathedral is one of many New York City National Historic Landmarks and is a sight of NYC you must see.
Take a free ride on the Staten Island Ferry. This ferry service runs between Manhattan and Staten Island, and offers a stunning view of the iconic Lower Manhattan Skyline and the Statue of Liberty. The kids will be thrilled by the ride and the view along the way.
Hang out at the Staten Island Zoo to see cool animal attractions like the Serpentarium, an exhibit that houses one of the nation's largest rattlesnake collections. There are around 858 animals that live at the zoo, including its most famous resident, Staten Island Chuck, the city's official Groundhog Day forecaster.
Pay a visit to the one and only Lady Liberty. The Statue of Liberty serves as a global symbol of freedom and is a must-see New York City attraction. Take the kids to see a true piece of American history up close.
Spend family night at the theater and catch a performance at The Broadway Theatre. This theater is one of the largest theater houses in Manhattan, and its stage has featured productions of favorites like South Pacific, Annie Get Your Gun, Cabaret, and Fiddler on the Roof.
From creativity to world culture, art and science, The Children's Museum of Manhattan has plenty of entertaining exhibits and attractions to occupy and educate its pint-sized visitors. Some of the more interesting exhibitions have included the Art of Andy Warhol, Body Odyssey, and Oh, Suess! Off to Great Places.
Enjoy the artworks that comprise The Frick Collection. The collection is housed in the former Henry Clay Frick House, a house that had a reputation for being one of the most opulent houses on Fifth Avenue at a time when the now-famed avenue was abundant with mansions and private clubs.
The High Line is a park on the lower west side of Manhattan. The park is built on a section of the freight railroad that runs 1.45 miles from the Meat Packing District up to 20th Street. After further development, the park will stretch through the neighborhood of Chelsea to the West Side Yard. The park offers attractions and design, garden, family, art and history programs.
Let the kids enjoy a symphony performance just for them at a production by The Little Orchestra Society. The company aims to introduce classical music performance to younger audiences, and engages viewers with programming like Happy Concerts for kids age 6-12, and Lolli-Pops for children ages 3-5. Check the schedule and get tickets to a performance that your kids will enjoy.
No trip to the Met is complete without seeing The Cloisters exhibition. The Cloisters is a branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art located in Fort Tryon Park and presents art works and architecture from Medieval Europe. The collection at The Cloisters is comprised of about five thousand European medieval works of art, mostly created between the 12th and 15th centuries. Other artifacts and attractions include tapestries, the Cloisters Cross, medieval manuscripts and illuminated books. The landscaping surrounding The Cloisters includes gardens planted according to horticultural information from medieval manuscripts and artifacts.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, or "The Met" is located on the east side of Central Park along Museum Mile in NYC. The museum is home to more than two million works of art, divided among 19 curatorial departments. The permanent collection includes pieces from classical antiquity and Ancient Egypt, paintings and sculptures from many of the European masters and a vast collection of American and modern art. Other holdings at the museum are encyclopedic collections of musical instruments, costumes and accessories and antique weapons and armor from around the world. Different styles of interiors, ranging from 1st century Rome to modern American design, are permanent fixtures at the Met.
Take a stroll through one of the premier botanical gardens in the nation at The New York Botanical Garden. This gorgeous floral attraction occupies approximately 250 acres of Bronx Park and is home to 50 different gardens and plant collections, and some of the world's leading plant laboratories. Tour the NYBG and see why over 800,000 visitors come to the garden annually.
Times Square is located in Manhattan and is one of the many symbols of New York City and the United States. ForbesTraveler.com named Times Square the most popular tourist destination in the country. Times Square intersects at Broadway and Seventh Avenue and stretches from West 42nd to West 47th Streets. While in New York City, there's no way that you can miss this world-famous attraction.
Another of New York City's famous landmarks, Trinity Church is a must-see work of architectural beauty. Located at the intersection of Wall Street and Broadway in Manhattan, the historic church and architectural attraction dates back to 1846 and is a part of the Episcopal Diocese of New York. The church is still operating today, offering a full schedule of prayer and Eucharistic services and hosting weddings and baptisms. Trinity Church also features a museum showcasing the history of the church, changing art, and religious and cultural exhibits.
Trump International Hotel & Tower is a skyscraper on Fifth Avenue in NYC, adjacent to Central Park, near the intersection of Broadway and Columbus Circle. As you're taking in the sights of the city, take some time to appreciate the beauty of this 58-story tower, developed by Donald Trump and the Equitable Life Assurance Company.