What to do with kids in: New York City

After a long closure, the Statue of Liberty reopens to the public on July 4th. Photo: iStockphoto

Our series of fam-friendly summer travel guides 

A trip to the Big Apple is special any time of year, but what’s nice about visiting NewYork in summer is that locals make their seasonal exodus to places like the Hamptons and the Jersey Shore, meaning (slightly) less crowds on the streets.

Visit a newly restored Lady Liberty

After closure for conservation work and then damage from Superstorm Sandy, the Statue of Liberty finally reopens to the public on July 4^th. Climb to her crown, her pedestal, or just tour Liberty Island and nearby Ellis Island Immigration Museum. (Tip: If the crowds are too much for you and your brood, you can get a great view of the statue and the New York City skyline by taking a ride on the Staten Island Ferry, about 25 minutes each way. The best part: It’s free!)

Satisfy sweet tooths

Dylan’s Candy Bar is the amazing, multi-floored must-stop for tourists looking to sate sugar cravings. But if you want to save some dough and go where the locals go, head to Economy Candy on the Lower East Side, a small store literally stocked floor to ceiling with a mind boggling selection of retro and new-fangled sweets.

Walk the High Line

The High Line is a pretty, linear public park that stretches about a mile on the site of a former elevated rail track on Manhattan’s West Side. It’s lush with mostly native plants, and affords a view of the city from a great vantage point. The final one-third of the park is scheduled to open in 2014; there’s scheduled kids’ programming at the park on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

See the pint-sized set perform on Broadway

There have never been so many kids performing on the Great White Way—and in family-friendly shows—than there are this summer. Take your own babes to see Broadway babies perform in Matilda, Annie, Newsies, The Lion King and more.  Go to the TKTS booth for ticket discounts.

Eat pizza!

It probably won’t take much arm-twisting to eat the quintessential New York food. It’s easy to find good pizza in just about any neighborhood, but we love the by crispy, bubbly, perfect vodka pizza at Rubirosa in Little Italy, served by the slice until 5pm, by the whole pie after that.

Shop for souvenirs at Pearl River Mart

You can pick up a stack of I ♥ New York t-shirts for a song in Chinatown, but let your brood explore this Chinese emporium filled with treasures such as kid-friendly chopsticks, colorful paper lanterns, origami sets and toys.

Take in the Brooklyn Bridge from a carousel

Jane’s Carousel, in the Fulton Ferry section of Brooklyn Bridge Park, is a beautiful antique ride that was built in 1922 and refurbished over 25 years by owners Jane and David Walentas. It’s housed in a Plexiglas, making it an option even on a rainy day.

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Tagged: Family time