The American Dream: 6 must-see cities in the USA
Make sure you visit these must-see American cities when you head to the land of the brave. Is your favourite on the list?
New York is full of as many activities for kids as it has for adults! The city’s expansive green spaces are super kid-friendly, each full of playgrounds, unique entertainments and interesting areas to explore. New York is home to a wealth of truly world-class museums, many of which have dedicated children’s programs and tours specifically designed to engage the minds of young kids. Kids imaginations will run wild in this buzzing city and you will find the family spoilt for choice with sights and activities to engage in.
Sprawling Central Park is a green wonderland for children. Let young children play in the park’s 21 playgrounds, take a spin on the carousel, take a row-boat across the lake, bike around the scenic paths, visit the famous Alice in Wonderland statue and watch a show at the Swedish Cottage Marionette – you are spoilt for choice for fun things to do with the family in Central Park.
At this Brooklyn destination take an idyllic family picnic in grassy Long Meadow, wander the wild woodlands, spend an afternoon in the park’s Children Corner – ride the 100-year-old carousel, visit the impressive zoo’s wildlife and discovery centre, take a spin on the roller-skating rink, go outdoor ice-skating in winter or attend one of many family-friendly events run throughout the summer.
New York City is home to a wealth of museums with exhibits specifically for kids. Among the best are – Children’s Museum of the Arts, Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), American Museum of Natural History, New York Transit Museum, NBC Studios, Staten Island Children’s Museum and the Children’s Museum of Manhattan.
Throughout summer, spring and fall, family festival series ‘Make It’ hosts free children’s programs including regular shows and interactive activities. Information can be found at www.thehighline.org/activities/family_programs. Chelsea Markets are a fun, nearby place to grab a snack or lunch – toss a coin into the waterfall at the centre of the markets, watch tarts and bread being made before your eyes at Sarabeth’s bakery and try a free brownie sample at the Fat Witch.
Kids will love a field trip to Coney Island – enjoy the Luna Park rides and vintage carousel, visit the New York Aquarium, the Coney Island Museum and take a walk or swim at Brighton Beach.
New York is wonderful to visit all year round! Spring, March to May, and autumn, September to November, are highly recommended for comfortable travel – at both times tourist crowds are at their lowest. Both are beautiful times in the city – crisp, mild and pleasant. It’s recommended to bring wet weather gear in Spring as showers are common. Hotel rates can become quite expensive from September to November, particularly around the Thanksgiving holiday (falling on the 23rd November in 2017) so it is best to book early or avoid these times.
Summer in New York, June to August, is peak tourist season in the city. Highly crowded and with high humidity levels, this is a particularly popular time for families with school children. In saying this, summertime is a beautiful season to visit New York. The streets are buzzing and exultant and, surprisingly, hotels prices in the city remain quite steady.
There’s nothing quite like Christmas time in New York. The city is often covered in snow and the streets exuberantly decorated – an unforgettable experience. Keep in mind, hotel prices are at their highest from late December to early January. Late January through February can be a beautiful time in the city. The city becomes a winter wonderland during this time of year. Well covered in snow, with low crowds and the best savings on hotels, winter is a good time for travel. Due to temperatures below zero during most of this time, travelling with young babies may be made a little difficult, but a great experience for kids and teenagers.
Central Park is an absolute favourite for young kids. There are 21 playgrounds throughout the park in total – Arthur Ross Terrace is a free outdoor water park particularly great for very young children. MoMA is a great art gallery for kids of all ages, with guided age-specific tours for children as young as 4. The Children’s Museum of the Arts hosts day-long ‘art camps’ for children under 5, creative group activities and a ball park play centre. Information is available at cmany.org
Kids of all ages will have a ball at Coney Island. Take the subway to this Brooklyn destination and spend a day or afternoon visiting the various attractions – stroll the beach or take a swim during the warmer months, visit the Coney Island museum and New York Aquarium, indulge with a freshly squeezed lemonade or fairy floss on a stick and be sure to marvel at or take a ride on the historic restored B&B Carousel.
Spend at day around the High Line and Meatpacking District. At the High Line, the ‘Make It’ family-friendly festival runs throughout summer and tours continue year-round. Wander through the Meatpacking District, making sure to spend some time at Chelsea Markets – witness the vibrant arts culture throughout the markets, watch bread, cakes and ramen noodles being made from scratch and sample the diversity of food on offer.
Subway: Reasonably priced, efficient and reliable, the subway is a convenient (and fun!) way to travel with kids. Sometimes confusing to the inexperienced, it is advised to do some planning before using the system. A 7-day unlimited pass is $31 or single ride fairs are $2.75, regardless of distance.
Walk: New York City is best discovered on foot. Grab a site-seeing map (or use Google Maps) and explore the city. There are many scenic and recommended walks for kids to take around the city where you can have fun whilst getting to your destination. (Do keep in mind that during winter months, walking may not always be a practical option).
Taxi: Taking a yellow taxi cab is a quintessential New York experience. NYC taxis are reasonably cheap, meters start at $2.50 and are approximately $5 for every 20 blocks, with tips expected to be between 10% to 15%. Taxis can be convenient for longer distances but keep in mind that during peak hours traffic jams can be greatly time consuming and when raining, available cabs can be very difficult to find.
Bike: Bikes can be rented from Citi Bike kiosks around the city. 24-hour passes are available for $12 or 3-day passes for $24. The city is bike-friendly, with designated bike lanes throughout, as well as many scenic and tourist routes available. Visit www.citibikenyc.com/ for details.
You’ll find family and kid friendly shows at Adelaide’s wild and wonderful Fringe festival.
Australia’s premier Arts festival showcases theatre, world-class musicians, dance, writers and visual art.
This motorsport spectacular is packed with action and entertainment for families. The 2021 Superloop Adelaide 500 will occur on revised dates in 2021.
March – South Australia History Festival
Enjoy hundreds of events such as talks to workshops exploring the local history.
Enjoy family friendly performances and workshops by the world’s best traditional and contemporary musicians, dancers and DJs.
May – DreamBig Children’s Festival
This arts festival for schools and families is the largest of its kind in the world.
September – Royal Adelaide Show
Experience animals, rides, food and entertainment as the country comes to the city.
Australia’s biggest Asian arts festival.
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