21 Cool and Unusual Kid-Friendly Places in New York City

Hidden gems to earn you major parent brownie points.

by Kavya Ram Mohan

21 Places

New York City is a bustling cornucopia of sights and sounds, packed with hidden gems to delight the most curious of explorers, including those most discerning members of the family: the kids.

Beyond the razzle-dazzle of major tourist attractions are plenty of surprising, lesser known places that are also great for children. Tropical forests hidden down alleyways, giant chessboards tucked inside offices, and shops piled high with superhero supplies are but some of the spots that can be found in the city’s vibrant streets, if you know where to look. Here are 21 kid-friendly places that will win everyone’s approval while exploring the Big Apple.

Brooklyn, New York

Brooklyn Superhero Supply Store

This store stocks all manner of eccentric equipment and merchandise for a crime-fighting customer base. From canned cyclones to Mylar force fields and, of course, capes and spandex, this store has everything a hero needs.

Oliver Hong

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New York, New York

767 Third Avenue

At three stories high, this chess board is the largest in the world. The pieces are embroiled in a near-perpetual match, and each Wednesday at noon a piece is moved via the use of a cherry picker.

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New York, New York

Tannen's Magic Shop

The city’s oldest magic store has items like invisible paint, multiplying billiard balls, “pure smoke,” the “Emperor’s Orange Box,” and hundreds of versions of rabbit producing hats, magic canes, dice and cards.

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Brooklyn, New York

The Carousel in Prospect Park

You can still ride this 100-year-old work of art consisting of 53 horses, two dragon chariots, a deer, a giraffe and a lion, built during the golden age of carousels.

New York, New York

Chinatown Ice Cream Factory

The Seid family has perfected the art of ice cream making at this Chinatown institution. Wasabi, black sesame and peanut butter and jelly are just a few of the one-of-a kind ice cream options here.

Oliver Hong

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New York, New York

Alice in Wonderland Statue

At this Central Park celebration of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland, clamber onto to a giant mushroom, next to Alice, who is surrounded by the White Rabbit, the Dormouse, and the Cheshire Cat.

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New York, New York

Babycastles

A gamer’s Valhalla, this arcade-art-gallery exhibits homemade arcade cabinets and custom-made art games. It’s a museum where you’re actually encouraged to not just touch, but actually play the exhibits.

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New York, New York

Mysterious Bookshop

The world's oldest and biggest bookstore stocking only mystery, crime fiction, espionage, and thrillers. Every square inch of walls is packed with books from these genres, including an entire section for Sherlock Holmes.

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New York, New York

Explorers Club Headquarters

A polar bear, a set of double elephant tusks, a narwhal tusk, a wooly mammoth tusk, and a yeti scalp are some of the artifacts on display at this hub of scientific exploration.

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Brooklyn, New York

Robotic Church

When activated, the robots at this abandoned church perform a unique task that creates their singular noise, be it by strumming the strings pulled taught on its body, or by clanging itself against the floor, creating an orchestra.

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Brooklyn, New York

Buzz-A-Rama

Make tiny plastic cars zoom around the tracks at at an average of 300 laps in 40 minutes, at this model slot racing shop that has existed for over half a century.

Brooklyn, New York

Deno's Wonder Wheel

This 95-year-old ride is one of the most enjoyable bits of Coney Island. It was built by a Romanian-born amusement engineer who wanted to create a ride that would combine the thrill of a scenic railway, Ferris wheel and Chute-the-Chutes.

Brooklyn, New York

The Smile Face Museum

At this shrine to the iconic yellow grin that has been a symbol of good times since the 1960s, the smile beams out from over 1,000 items including oven mitts, clocks, and deli bags.

The Smile Face Museum

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New York, New York

New York's Hidden Tropical Forest

The Ford Foundation office building is an oversized tropical greenhouse, whose bizarre garden includes lush giant trees, dwarf shrubs, magnolias, and garden terraces that slope down to verdant water pools.

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New York, New York

The Museum of Interesting Things

A reminder that human innovation has produced fascinating objects like a 1,800-year-old metal fire starter, and a 1901 cylinder phonograph, and a crystal radio powered by nothing more than radio waves.

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New York, New York

MoMath - The Museum of Mathematics

Math can be the coolest thing ever at this Pythagorean funhouse, featuring bicycles with square wheels, and sculptures of light and sound that react to your touch.

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New York, New York

New York Herald Monument

Spot the glowing green owl eyes at Herald Square. This monument marks what was once the city’s largest newspaper.

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New York, New York

Jefferson Market Library

Named the fifth most beautiful building in America in 1885, this former courthouse, now a public library, boasts the best view in the Village.

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Brooklyn, New York

Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory

Hidden at the very end of Manhattan Avenue, this shop was set up as the factory for the more famous Dumbo location, and a small shop in front was added selling delicious ice cream.

New York, New York

The SeaGlass Carousel

Ride a tall angelfish or much smaller clown triggerfish in this unique carousel that has a changing LED light display that makes you feel like you’re underwater.

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New York, New York

Lexington Candy Shop

The oldest family-owned luncheonette in the city, it serves much the same menu as it did when Roosevelt was President: tuna melts, egg creams, malted milkshakes, and sodas using real syrup.

Luke J Spencer

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