New York City is a world nexus for culture, art, architecture, music, business and more. With all the great things to see and do you’ll run yourself ragged trying to see just a handful of the museums, historical sites and urban wonders that populate this metropolis. But these five must-see destinations will give you a fine balance to give the kids a little refinement and sophistication that the city has to offer without boring them to death.
Empire State Building
There probably isn’t a more iconic piece of architecture that’s as recognized worldwide as the Empire State Building. Construction finished on the structure right at the start of the Great Depression, and is considered one of the greatest engineering feats of the 20th Century. The Art Deco style of the time left its indelible stamp on the tower, and many other skyscrapers of the period, like the Chrysler Building and 40 Wall Street. The view from the top is a sight to behold, giving you an unparalleled view of the New York City skyline.
Central Park
Few other cities of this size in the world have such a huge, dedicated green space smack dab in the middle of a bustling urban environment. The land was set aside in 1853, and it’s been a wooded haven of retreat from city life for New Yorkers and visitors ever since. If you’re spending any time at all in Manhattan, you have to spend some time in the Park. See the Conservatory Garden, dine at the Boathouse Restaurant overlooking the lake, or just rent some bikes and explore the parks many trails. This is a good outdoor opportunity to break up the rest of your site-seeing in the city.
Museum of Modern Art
First, let’s just say there is no such thing as boring art; some of it just takes a bit more dedication to appreciate. That’s why modern art is a much better bet for families. Even the youngest art-lovers can appreciate some of the strange, colorful and even funny art exhibits that you’ll see at the Museum of Modern Art. Take your kids to see sculptures, paintings and even interactive exhibits throughout the museum.  You could easily spend your entire day there and not see everything.
Ellis Island
Chances are that you had some ancestors who made their way to the US through this tiny island. Thousands upon thousands of people stopped here on their path to becoming US citizens and becoming part of the nation’s history. The island is part of the Statue of Liberty Monument, as is the Immigration Museum, which houses a family research center to help you learn about family or famous people who may have passed through the island. You can learn about how immigrants have shaped America and the role that the island played during one of the greatest human migrations in history.
Statue of Liberty
It’s always a great idea to visit Lady Liberty and Ellis Island together. Both sites are wonderful history lessons for the whole family, and provide incredible views of the city skyline from a unique perspective. The Statue of Liberty Monument tour includes special scavenger hunts for the kids, and you can learn all there is to know about this massive neo-classical sculpture that is almost as recognizable as the American Flag as a symbol of hope and freedom. A visit here will be an unforgettable capstone to your family vacation.
And there you have it, a whole vacation’s worth of sites to take in. It’s a vacation your whole family will remember for a lifetime.
Dan Patterson works for CityPASS. To save money on your next trip to New York City, make sure to see the list of New York CityPASS attractions. Attractions include the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, Empire State Building, Metropolitan Museum of Art, and more. We have a great list of the top things to do in New York City as well!
