The city of New York ranks among the most populous urban areas in the world. And with in mind it should not be surprising that New York City offers a wide range of family activities, no matter what time of the year it is. Whether you are in the mood for learning, exploring, or just having fun – you will not run out of things to do with the kids while in this metropolitan city. Below are the ten best family activities in New York City:

1. Central Park

212-310-6600
59th Street & Central Park South
New York, NY 10022

This park is a peaceful oasis in the middle of all the hustle and bustle of the city. New Yorkers and visitors from around the world come to enjoy the beauty and nature of Central Park. Kids young and old will also enjoy the attractions in the park like Wollman Rink, the Zoo, Friedsam Memorial Carousel among many more.

2.  The Lion King

212-307-4747
Minskoff Theatre
1515 Broadway
New York, NY 10036

You can not go to New York with your family and not see at least one Broadway play, and what better to see then the Disney classic “The Lion King”. From the ambiance of the theater to the costumes and music this show will be a fantastic family memory.

3. Metropolitan Museum of Art

212-879-5500
1000 5th Ave
New York, NY 10028

Some know this museum as simply The Met and is one of the world’s largest art galleries. It hold works of art from an expansive amount of different cultures and different times in history.

4. The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum

212-423-3500
1071 5th Ave
New York, NY 10128

This unique and innovative building was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and is home to an acclaimed collection of Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, early Modern, and Contemporary art. They also feature special exhibits throughout the year.

5. Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island

212-363-3200
National Park Services Liberty Island
New York, NY 10004

If you are in the Big Apple you can not pass up the opportunity to see two of the most pronounced symbols of American freedom.  If you do not already know, the Statue of Liberty is a monument that was presented by the people of France to the United States of America in 1886 to celebrate the centennial of the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence. And Ellis Island was the main entry facility for immigrants entering the United States.

6. Time Square

The junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue and stretching from West 42nd to West 47th Streets. The Times Square area consists of the blocks between Sixth and Eighth Avenues from east to west, and West 40th and West 53rd Streets from south to north, making up the western part of the commercial area of Midtown Manhattan.

In Frank Sinatra’s famous song “New York, New York” it says ” I wanna wake up in a city, that doesn’t sleep, although most of New York City is a very active place, Time Square out shines them all with neon signs and digital billboards. In Time Square  you will find restaurants, Broadway shows, shopping, art exhibits, and attractions like Ripley’s Believe It of Not! Odditorium.

7. United Nations Headquarters

212-963-8687
E 46th St
New York, NY 10017

The UN building in New York is the oldest and most well-know of the 4 United Nations Headquarters around the world. Guided Tours are conducted daily by an international staff that explains the work of the United Nations and its related organizations, while taking visitors to some of the main Council Chambers and the General Assembly Hall. The tour also emphasizes art and other objects of interest donated by Member States.

8. Sports Museum of America

212-747-0900
26 Broadway
New York, NY 10004

If you are a sports fanatic do not miss the nation’s first and only interactive, multi-media, all-sports museum adventure. This museum does an amazing job of showcasing the history, glory and importance of sports in American culture.

9. Intrepid Sea, Air, & Space Museum

212-245-0072
166 W 46th St
New York, NY 10036

The Museum is centered on the aircraft carrier Intrepid (CVS-11), one of the most successful ships in US history, and now a national historic landmark. At this unique attraction you and your family will learn about the history of the Intrepid and the role it has played through interactive exhibits and historical re-creations.

10. Empire State Building

212-736-3100
350 Fifth Ave
New York, NY 10118

This National Historic Landmark is a 102-story Art Deco skyscraper and is the world’s tallest building. The American Society of Civil Engineers has named the Empire State Building as one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. People from around the world come to see the view from the 86th floor where the  Observatory offers panoramic views from within a glass enclosed pavilion and from the surrounding open-air promenade.