Spring Break 2022: 50 Awesome Things To Do In NYC With Kids On ...

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Enjoy a tropical spring break daycation with a trip to DreamWorks Water Park at American Dream Mall in New Jersey. Photo by the author

blog March 21, 2025 - By Jody Mercier Best Of Lists Easter Spring Activities New York City

Central Park

59th St & Fifth Ave The Ego and the Id New York , NY 85282

United States

Luna Park

1000 Surf Avenue Coney Island , NY

United States

American Museum Of Natural History

Central Park West at 79th Street New York , NY

United States

Intrepid Museum

Pier 86, West 46th St & 12th Ave New York , NY 10036-4103

United States

Bronx Zoo

2300 Southern Blvd. Bronx , NY 10460

United States

Snug Harbor

1000 Richmond Terrace Staten Island , NY

United States

The High Line

Enter on Gansevoort and Washington Streets Chelsea Market Passage Section New York , NY

United States

The New Victory Theater

209 West 42nd Street New York , NY

United States

See on map

Spring break 2025 is barreling toward us. If you're worried about keeping the kids entertained over NYC's spring break, we've got you covered. If you're sticking around the city for a spring staycation, there's plenty to keep every age group busy. From exploring our favorite kid-friendly museums to playgrounds worthy of a subway schlep, and destination-worthy tourist attractions, we've rounded up 49 things to do with kids in New York City during the upcoming public school spring break.

New York City's spring break runs from Monday, April 14-Friday, April 18, 2025. Add in two weekends, and you've got nine days to fill with fun. Some of our picks only take place on specific dates; others run the entire duration, but all are engaging ways to get out and celebrate spring.

If you're hoping to get out of town, be sure to visit our Guide to Day Trips and Weekend Getaways for inspiration or consider booking a last-minute spring break vacation on the cheap.

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Best Things To Do on Spring Break 2025 with NYC Kids

1. Easter Egg Hunts

The Easter Bunny is hopping all over town this spring break with two weekends of candy-filled Easter egg hunts to explore, so grab those baskets and hit your local park or community org for this springtime rite of passage.

2. Met Opera Open House

Nab your tickets now to see The Barber of Seville on Saturday, April 19, and arrive early for this fun, kid-friendly pre-show event that lets kids go behind the scenes for demos from backstage staff, actors, dancers, and the wardrobe team. It's a great way to get kids jazzed about the production.

3. Visit a Science Museum

Get a little geeky with a visit to one of these kid-friendly science museums near NYC. There are some well-known picks on the list, plus some under-the-radar gems, too!

4. Book an NYC Hotel

Enjoy an upgraded staycation and book a night at one of these family-friendly hotels.

5. Wave Hill

Hit the Bronx's bucolic Wave Hill to take in spring's brilliance.

6. Go Rock Climbing

Stir-crazy kids can have a blast at these rock climbing walls in NYC that are all kid-friendly.

7. New York Aquarium

Explore the New York Aquarium and the rest of the fun in Coney Island, including Luna Park, which is open daily during the break.

8. Genius Gems

Book some playtime at STEM hot spot Genius Gems.

9. Easter Bonnet Parade

There are plenty of ways to celebrate on Easter Sunday, April 20, but there's nothing more NYC than the annual Easter Bonnet Parade on Fifth Avenue. Find your most festive fascinator and join in the fun.

10. Stephen A. Schwarzman NYPL Branch

Besides checking out books, there's a ton to see and do at the New York Public Library's Main Branch in Midtown.

RELATED: Best Carousels in NYC: 13 Merry-Go-Rounds City Kids Love

The Queens Botanical Garden offers plenty to see and do to celebrate spring's arrival. Photo by Sydney Ng

11. Queens Botanical Garden

The Queens Botanical Garden is an underrated delight to catch spring's beauty.

12. Hudson Yards

Explore Hudson Yards and grab a treat at Dylan's Candy Bar or nosh at José Andrés' Mercado Little Spain and enjoy amazing Spanish food. You can climb the stairs at The Vessel, which has reopened and is FREE for locals on Thursdays.

13. Bronx Zoo

Explore the Bronx Zoo like a local and get a behind-the-scenes look with these animal encounters, or trek the dino trail as Dinosaur Safari roars back into town right in time for the week off.

14. Explore an Unfamiliar Enclave

Explore a new-to-you corner of NYC. We have in-depth Kids' Neighborhood Guides for communities in all five boroughs, including Battery Park City, Harlem, Bay Ridge, Long Island City, and more.

15. Summit One Vanderbilt

Spend a day frolicking in a ball pit—and we're not talking about those primary-colored plastic orbs. No, head to Summit One Vanderbilt for an elevated ball pit experience, in every sense of the word.

16. Intrepid Museum

Head to the Intrepid Museum to explore the wonders of this WWII-era aircraft carrier, plus book a tour of the British Airways Concorde.

RELATED: Visiting Governors Island: 20 Things To Do and See

Snug Harbor on Staten Island is a fun spring break trip. Photo by Janet Bloom

17. Explore an Off-the-Beaten-Path Park

Explore some outer-borough green space gems like Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, Socrates Sculpture Park in Queens, The Greenbelt on Staten Island, or one of these other underrated NYC parks.

18. DreamWorks Water Park

No matter the weather outside, it's a balmy, tropical day at DreamWorks Water Park—the largest indoor water park in North America. When you're done, explore the rest of the amenity-packed American Dream Mall.

19. Empire State Trail

Grab your bike, scooter, or walking shoes to check out the Empire State Trail. Pick it up in Lower Manhattan and make your way all the way to the Canadian border...if you dare.

20. Statue of Liberty

Play tourist for a day and visit Lady Liberty, where you can climb to the crown if your legs can bear it!

RELATED: 32 Spectacular Spring Day Trips near NYC for Families

The Sloomoo Institute offers some hands-on sensory fun for all ages. Photo by Jody Mercier

21. Immersive Museums

Enjoy some ooey-gooey playtime at Soho's Sloomoo Institute, the Museum of Ice Cream, Color Factory, or one of these other immersive museums in NYC.

22. Bronx Children's Museum

Nab your tickets now to explore the Bronx Children's Museum, which offers tons of room to romp for kids up to 10 years old. The water table is epic!

23. Play Tourist

Open a new window on the world by viewing it through the eyes of a local tour guide on one of these 25 kid-friendly tours of NYC. You can discover everything from the haunted secrets of Broadway to the best bites in Flushing with the help of a local expert.

24. Prospect Park

Spend a day in Prospect Park and enjoy nature walks and bird watching, or hit up one of the many playgrounds—we've even ranked our favorites!

25. Central Park

Spring weather is the perfect time to reacquaint yourself with Central Park's fun, hidden finds.

26. Morris-Jumel Mansion

Historical fun awaits at the Morris-Jumel Mansion, Manhattan's oldest house, where George Washington once plotted his attacks on the Redcoats.

27. Legoland New York

You don't need to fly to Florida to get some spring break theme park action. Head to Legoland in the Hudson Valley and take advantage of early season deals. Bonus: The new Peppa Pig Playground will be ready to welcome guests!

28. Industry City

Explore Brooklyn's booming Industry City with its cool eats, Japan Village, a family-fun game room, Powerhouse@IC bookstore, Urban Air, and brand-new additions, including HAPIK and CREA Interactivity.

29. Alice in Wonderland

Puppetworks invites guests to fall down the rabbit hole during this marionette performance of the classic children's tale.

30. New York International Auto Show

Rev your engines and head to the Javits Center for this once-a-year spectacle running from Friday, April 18-Sunday, April 27, 2025.

31. Whale Watching

You've likely heard about the uptick in marine mammal sightings in the waterways near NYC, but have you seen one yourself? Book one of these whale watching cruises and pack your binoculars for a memorable day on the water.

32. Play Street Museum

Book your tickets now for playtime at this popular Upper West Side play space that offers open play and art-making for kids up to age 8.

33. Jackie Robinson Day

Head to the family-friendly Jackie Robinson Museum for a FREE celebration of the star who broke MLB's color barrier.

34. See a Broadway Show

We've outlined our top picks for all ages on the Great White Way.

35. The New Victory Theater

If your kids are too little for Broadway, bring them to The New Victory Theater, which hosts Zip Zap Circus's action-packed MOYA over the break.

36. Revisit Our Favorite Playgrounds

See how many of these best-of-the-best kid- (and mom-!) tested playgrounds you can visit over the break.

37. Batting Cages

Get in the swing of spring by taking some cracks at these indoor batting cages spread throughout the five boroughs.

38. Big Umbrella Festival

The family-friendly Big Umbrella Festival stages its annual campus-wide takeover of Lincoln Center with multi-sensory art, performances, and installations that all welcome neurodivergent audiences and their families.

RELATED: New York City Parks and Playground Guide

Wander above the city on The High Line. Photo by Sydney Ng

39. The High Line

Head to The High Line for a spring walk or visit the floating park, Little Island, nearby.

40. American Museum of Natural History

The American Museum of Natural History could easily entertain your brood for a whole week. If you haven't been there lately, we suggest visiting the Gilder Center, and seeing Apex, the new star stegosaurus, in its lobby.

41. Cirque du Soleil's LUZIA

Head to Randall's Island to catch the acrobatic circus troupe in action in this Mexican-inspired spectacle.

42. Brooklyn Museum

The Brooklyn Museum is in the midst of its 200th anniversary celebration. Honor it by visiting this treasured NYC institution.

43. Pier 26 Playground

This whimsical Hudson River Park playground lets guests climb inside the belly of a fish for some wild romping. There's plenty to climb and the super-fast slide is a crowd-pleaser.

44. Indoor Play Spaces

Our list of the best indoor playgrounds in NYC can't keep up with the new openings. We recently checked out Space Club in Fort Greene—which is expanding to Dumbo soon—and Little Explorers Play House is also worth a visit!

45. Hone Your Green Thumb

April showers bring May flowers. Why not help them along with one of these gardening programs for kids in NYC?

46. DiMenna Children's History Museum

A museum within a museum, the DiMenna Children's History Museum at the New-York Historical Society is perfect for school-aged children with interactive exhibits and a diverse selection of historical artifacts.

47. Blow Bedtime

No school is the perfect reason to stay up late and enjoy one of these fun things to do with kids after dark. From stargazing to sunset watching, there's plenty to do at all hours in the city that never sleeps.

48. Hit the Road

Enjoy one of these 32 destinations for a spring day trip and enjoy the great outdoors and the glory of the season. Driving? These fun roadside attractions make for a good diversion from those "are-we-there-yet" chants emanating from the back seat.

49. Bucket List Fun

Or cross something off your bucket list: Print out a copy of our 100 things to do with NYC kids before they grow up and get going!

This post, originally published in April 2010, is updated annually.

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Jody Mercier

Jody Mercier always dreamed of being a mom, and she's raised three wonderful kids in New York City. Since that job only pays in hugs, she’s spent her career as a journalist covering health, fitness, sports, and parenting for Sports Illustrated, espnW, and Mommy Poppins. Follow her family’s adventures on Instagram @momtakesmanhattan or reach her at [email protected].

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