The American Museum of Natural History

You cannot say too much about this New York City gem!  Located on Central Park West between W. 77th and W. 81st Streets, the very imposing facade is a joy to behold and provides a lot to point to young children.  Older sections have fascinating turrets and of course there is the famous statue of Teddy Roosevelt on a horse at the main entrance.  Once inside, most kids want to head straight to the dinosaurs and they are wonderful, but there is so much more to explore.  In addition to the special exhibits, my own grandkids love wandering through the maze of fascinating objects in the Hall of Minerals.  The Museum usually has an IMAX film production (extra fee) and of course the Rose Planetarium is worthy of a separate visit.  If the time spent at the museum gets to be too much for some, you can always walk out of the front door, cross the street, and enjoy some relaxing strolls (and great playgrounds -- topic for another post) in Central Park.

The Front of the American Museum of Natural History

The Hall of Dinosaurs

The Hall of Minerals

The Rose Planetarium

The HIPPO Playground

In Riverside Park, near Riverside Drive and 91st St., there is the "Hippo" playground, so named because of the ground level statues of hippos that occupy the park.  It is great fun!  During the summer months, they even spout water.  There are swings, climbing equipment, a sand area, and lots of other activities that can occupy kids for hours any season of the year.

Here are some photos:

There is even one large hippo that kids can climb into.  They enter from a passageway on the ground, climb though, and emerge from the large hippo's mouth!

In the background, you can see the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument which is just south of the Hippo Playground on 89th Street.  Dedicated in 1902 and desingated a municipal landmark in 1976, the Monument commemorates the soldiers and sailors who served the Union during the Civil War.  The architecture is very interesting and many details can be pointed out to grandchildren -- the pillars, the surrounding walkways, and steel door entrance, etc.  

My own grnadkids like to sit atop the canons, but be careful during hot summer days as the surface of the canons can get quite hot!

  

A visit to the Soldiers' and Sailors' monument offers a good opportunity to introduce young children to the sacrifice that servicemen and woman have made to their country.

In the summer, Shakespeare performances on the back steps of the monument. 

Remote Control Boats in Central Park

Have you seen those those idyllic wooden boats that kids push along with a bamboo stick at Jardin de Luxembourg in Paris?  Well you don't have to go to Paris (although that might make for a great excursion with the grandkids!) but you can accomplish a similar activity, albeit high-tech version, at New York's Central Park!  

Jardin du Luxembourg, Paris

Kerb's Boathouse (on the East side of Central Park near 74th St.) is on "Conservatory Water," a small lake where small boats of all kinds can be watched and sailed.  From April through October, remote control boats can be rented (at not too steep a costl; about $11/half hour in 2014) that provide great fun for children of all ages.  Younger children may need some help using the remote control, but most kids these days are "digital natives" and figure it more ably than their grandparents.

Remote Control Boats in Central Park

Lovely View of the City from Conservatory Water

Here are some relevant websites:

http://www.centralparknyc.org/things-to-see-and-do/attractions/conservatory-water.html

http://www.centralparknyc.org/things-to-see-and-do/attractions/kerbs-boathouse.html

Very close by are some wonderful scultures, statues, and features of the Park.  Children can climb on the sculptures of Alice in Wonderland and Hans Christian Andersen and identify many of the familiar aspects.

Alice in Wonderland

Hans Christian Andersen

Bryant Park -- A Little Gem in the Center of Manhattan

Bryant Park is a really attractive 8 acre space, kind of like a Parisian urban park, that has scheduled events nearly every day.  It is right behind the New York Public Library and occupies two blocks between 40th and 42nd Streets between Fifth Avenue and Avenue of the Americas (Sixth Avenue).  There is a great lawn, cafes, an ice cream stand, a carousel, and even an outdoor library with a children's section! There are statues of famous Americans to look at and discuss as well as wonderful views of the mid-town skyline.  In the symmer there are afternoon concerts and evening movies.  In the winter, there is an ice-skating rink and holiday shops and stalls.  There is so much to do at Bryant Park and you can easily spend an afternoon exploring all that the park has to offer.

One of the Many Promenades

Ice Skating in Winter Months

The Great Lawn at Bryant Park

One of the Holiday Shops

The Carousel

You can check out daily events at:   http://www.bryantpark.org/

Because Bryant Park is so centrally located, it is accessible from many subway and bus lines, particularly those with stops at Grand Central Terminal and Times Square. Also, the 42nd St. stop of the B and D trains stop just at the park corner.