Last Licks

Discovering a new treat is always sweet—especially when frozen. And New York is home to some of the most delicious (and unique) ice cold eateries! In business for over 60 years now, lick your way through real-fruit flavors at the Lemon Ice King Of Corona. Or mix and match your sundae sweetness at 16 Handles with over 16 flavors of frozen yogurt, like Angel Food Cake, and 40 toppings. Get a spoonful of Boston from the fabulous (and creative) duo, Emack & Bolio's—we can't get enough of their berry-licious Deep Purple Cow. For those living on the edge, test out exotic flavors like Red Bean at The Chinatown Ice Cream Factory or opt for gelato on a DIY stick, the ingenious creation of Popbar. If you're on the go, just listen for the jingle of Van Leeuwen, a revamped postal service truck that serves up the yummiest gourmet ice cream in organic cones! Also giving Mr. Softee a run for his money is The Big Gay Ice Cream Truck. This on-the-go creamery (with a permanent East Village shop) coats their treats in everything from wasabi pea dust to sea salt. Finish your extensive taste-testing with a scoop of Brooklyn-based Blue Marble.

A Museum Of One's Own

Lift the lid off of the city's melting pot and encourage kids to embrace New York's eclectic mix of cultures. To trace the history of one of the world's oldest religions, take advantage of The Jewish Museum's music and art workshops, children's exhibitions and special family days. The Scandinavia House on Park Avenue presents a comprehensive look at Nordic culture through storybook installations at its Heimbold Family Children's Center. Don't miss out on The National Museum of the American Indian's reading programs and interactive educational experiences to satisfy a younger generation's curiosity. And even if your kids clamor for a trip to Chinatown every other weekend, Centre Street's Museum of Chinese in America uses games and hands-on activities (like its current puzzle program) to help New Yorkers delve beyond the ethnic neighborhood into the heart of Chinese life. El Museo del Barrio offers a variety of bilingual programs, including conversations with Latino artists, to explore and celebrate Hispanic history and culture, and The Studio Museum in Harlem features artistic work and ideas of African descent.

In Bloom

Foster a love of nature in your born-and-bred city kid with a walk (or short subway ride) to stunning scenery. The Everett Children's Adventure Garden at the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx features a Boulder Maze, touch tank and indoor laboratory for interactive exploration. If that's not hands-on enough, the Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden encourages groups to dig up the dirt and offers children their own garden plots to tend. If you're closer to Brooklyn, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden offers similar opportunities to play, learn and plant, and the Discovery Garden sponsors workshops and classes for a broad age range. The Queens Botanical Garden serves the city with more than 20 unique gardens, including a Children's Garden program. Off the beaten path, Wave Hill's blend of nature and awesome art exhibits are broken down into education sessions and guided tours designed just for youngsters. And of course, Central Park offers New Yorkers a chance to stop, smell, touch and gawk at the blooms in its color-bathed rose garden, as well as a flower-and-fountain-dotted Conservatory.

Diner-ville

Throw in the dish towel and satisfy every family member's taste buds with a trip to one of the city's classic diners. For families partial to ethnic eats, Jackson Diner in Jackson Heights serves up Indian cuisine from every part of the country. For a more traditional (yet unconventional) diner experience, Times Square's Ellen's Stardust Diner brings mealtime back to 1950s America. Nostalgic décor, a singing wait staff and variety shows will give families a glimpse of life a la "Happy Days" alongside its delicacies from then and now. Fast forward a few decades (the 80s to be exact) and arrive at Big Daddy's in Gramercy and on the Upper East and West Sides. While you wait to dive into classic burgers, shakes and breakfast foods, mull over memories that the kitschy wall memorabilia brings back. For a more contemporary NYC dining experience, stop by your nearest Shake Shack for a burger, hot dog or constantly revolving flavor of frozen custard. Adults can even refresh with beer or wine after they've ordered shakes for the kids. For a kid-friendly brunch, EJ's Luncheonette covers all the bases, from fluffy pancakes to dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets.

Sky High

Admire New York from one of the city's most breathtaking vantage points: the sky. Switch up your normal fresh air plans and head to the High Line, a public park situated over the West Side on an elevated rail structure. The park recently doubled in size, adding space for rotating food trucks, public art and family events. If you're interested strictly in marveling at the view, consider a Liberty Helicopter Tour. Tours range from 12-20 minutes and give inspiring views of city landmarks including the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, the Empire State Building and the USS Intrepid. For a classic skyline experience, the 86th and 102nd floors of the Empire State Building boast panoramic views, as does the Top of the Rock Observation Deck at Rockefeller Center. A walk along the iconic Brooklyn Bridge over the East River offers a stunning scene for even the most seasoned New Yorkers. If nostalgia's your thrill, ride to the top of Coney Island's Wonder Wheel—a chance for older kids and adults to connect with (and reflect on) an important piece of Brooklyn history.

Water Works

Make waves with the water activities available on the city's surrounding rivers. Circle Line Tours has options for families that want to relax for a couple of hours on the blue part of the map. From the three-hour Full-Island Cruise to the 75-minute Liberty Cruise, all age ranges (and attention spans) will be pleased. If your crew is not the boatin' type, New York Water Taxi leaves from Pier 17 at the South Street Seaport and offers landmark tours, fall foliage cruises and special holiday tours for individuals and families. For a more active approach to water fun, sign up for sailing lessons at Chelsea Piers. The Offshore Sailing School offers private family courses that range from two hours to five days. Families looking for a more tame Captain experience can head to the Downtown Boathouse on a weekend and borrow kayaks and life vests for free! Meanwhile, the Central Park Boathouse rents rowboats daily for families looking to explore the park with a lake view.

Winter Wonderland

Embrace the wonder that is a New York winter! No city childhood is complete without witnessing the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting. But as soon as the switch has been thrown, don't forget to scope out the American Museum of Natural History's Origami Holiday Tree, decorated with more than 500 themed creations. For live entertainment (and infinite high kicks), the classic Radio City Christmas Spectacular has been revamped for the 2011 season. The window displays at Macy's, Saks Fifth Avenue, Barney's and Lord and Taylor's are also must-sees—but if the lines are long, peer in the windows of just about any store (especially tiny boutiques) for holiday cheer. For more low-key family fun, Bryant Park's Citi Pond offers ice skating, shows, events and restaurants. If tourist attractions become too overwhelming, glide uptown to Wollman Rink in Central Park to enjoy laid-back skating and ice hockey. Once you start to feel like you're made of ice, warm up at City Bakery's Hot Chocolate Festival, which features new flavors, like tropical hot chocolate, every day during the month of February.

Down To A Science

A seat on the Magic School Bus. Impossible. Trips to some of the city's best and brightest science-minded institutions. Entirely possible! The New York Hall of Science in Queens features the largest collection of hands-on science exhibits (over 450) in New York City, suitable for all ages. Techies will be in tinker-heaven in midtown's Sony Wonder Technology Lab, a state-of-the-art technology and entertainment facility that offers free admission. Watch and marvel at the inner workings of cell phones or feel the sensations of performing open heart surgery through haptic technology. If your family suffers from gadget phobia, the American Museum of Natural History is always a safe bet. After your visit, even Ms. Frizzle would be impressed with your newfound knowledge on the human brain, ancient fossils, climate change and the solar system. If you're looking to edge out of the city for the day, you can crawl through the touch tunnel, help perform a simulated surgery and make your own ocean water at the Liberty Science Center in New Jersey.

Life's A Beach

There's no great escape quite like the beach on a steamy, summer day. Brooklyn has three shorelines to offer. Brighton Beach has an ethnic feel with ocean-view restaurants whereas Coney Island boasts close to three miles of sandy expanse and a host of amusement rides and recreational activities for restless beachgoers. Manhattan Beach, deceivingly located in the BK, is often dotted with picnicking families and is sandwiched between playgrounds. If you're Queens-bound, Jacob Riis Park is home to an Art Deco bathhouse with nautical-themed architecture that opened in 1932 and has been recently restored. Aspiring surfers can hang ten at Rockaway Beach, which hosts the city's only surfing areas. Non-waveriders can enjoy fishing, swimming, and seven playgrounds for the younger crowd. Known as Bronx's sand-swept Riviera, head to Orchard Beach for your pick of 26 sports courts. The Water Taxi Beaches offer an outdoor beach lounge complete with food, flat-screen TVs, table games and bars for the adults at its South Street Seaport location, and cafes and live music at its Governor's Island location. Families willing to take a short ride to the shore can head to New Jersey's Sandy Hook for a seven-mile expanse of ocean and bay swimming, surf casting and relaxing.

Gather up the brood, fetch your camera, and don't forget to don those comfy shoes—all year round New York morphs in and out of parade mode. Starting in the spring, soak up the Irish pride and the green décor at the St. Patrick's Day Parade. When the summer heat starts to roll in, show your swagger on Surf Avenue for Coney's Island Mermaid Day Parade. This artistic display keeps on going into the wee hours of the night with the Mermaid Parade Ball—parents only! In the fall, get your "Thriller" on at the largest shindig for goblins, ghouls, ghosts and other creatures at the Village's Halloween Parade. And before you devour that scrumptious dinner; be sure to take in the annual extravaganza that is the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. From larger-than-life cartoons floating down the avenue to the percussion of marching bands, it's a tremendous way to continue your year of parades. Sprinkled throughout, be on the look out for crowd-pleasing ethnic street fests – from the Chinese New Year Parade to the Puerto Rican and Israeli Day Parade.

Tell Me A Tale

Any day can be story day, thanks to the city's many bookish nooks! Start off by consulting the calendars of your nearby New York Public Library branch for events and readings. Jumpstart your youngster's love for reading at the Bank Street Bookstore, where they get to meet authors up close and personal. At Barnes & Noble, storytime isn't complete without an amusing costume character visit. Or encourage young readers to share their thoughts at the noon Q&A session on Sundays at Books of Wonder. They can peruse through rare books such as 19th century editions of Grimm and Anderson fairytales. On Thursdays, an enthusiastic team at the Strand Bookstore delivers a themed story-time, like Crazy Cats, followed by crafts. The chic shop McNally Jackson Books can be found crawling with babies buzzing for stories on Fridays. On Saturdays, kids ages 3-7 can hear readings of under-the-radar child-friendly stories read by master storyteller, Yvonne Brooks. The world of toys, FAO Schwarz holds weekday storytimes as well.

Animals A-Plenty

Family pets aside, you'd be surprised to find out which four-legged, long-necked and winged creatures share our island. Your child's cutest friends are gathered at the Art Farm in the City; where they can pet bunnies, chinchillas and twitchy-nosed guinea pigs. If you want a taste of history, check out the Queens County Farm, a wonderful example of working agriculture, which dates back to 1697. Or head on over to the
Queens Zoo, complete with a farm, aviary, and animals such as sea lions and lynxes. The famous Bronx Zoo houses the world's largest urban zoo! Be sure to check out exhibits such as the "Congo Gorilla Forest" and take a spin around their bug carousel. During your scenic stroll through Central Park, wander over to the Central Park Zoo and see what's playing in their 4-D theater. At the Prospect Park Zoo, you can meet rock wallabies, tufted deer and prairie dogs all along their discovery trail. While in Brooklyn, learn all about the wonderful undersea world at the New York Aquarium. Make the affection permanent by adopting a new furry companion at either Bideawee or ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals).

Suburbs In The City

You don't have to live in the 'burbs to bring the 'burbs to you! Despite the concrete, the city offers a slew of recreational sports programs—from soccer to basketball—all manned by incredible parent volunteers. Kick it with West Side Soccer or Downtown Little League, which provides co-ed baseball, softball, and a Challenger Division for children with special needs. Or if you're looking for something completely different, the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation, along with the NFL, sponsors its own league of flag football. And just like in the suburbs, there's loads of fun to be had by moms. You can never have too many friends and babybites is the hotspot for socializing (and all-things motherhood!). For opinions on parenting issues, hit up Park Slope Parents--a community of parents that swap information. Have an infant and live below Canal? Meet up with the Hudson River Mother's Group for toddler talk. Lastly, through their superb events, Bowery Babes is dedicated to making downtown Manhattan a perfect place for raising children.

Living Free

On a budget? In the city that never sleeps, it's surprisingly easy to find fun that won't leave a dent in your wallet. The New York Public Library hosts over 25,000 free public programs throughout their locations. Tots can master computer skills through classes such as 'Kid Tech Time,' or explore artistic expression in works from 'Celebrating 100 Years.' If you feel the need for a change of scenery, head on over to one of NYC's praised museums with free admission. Among our favorites: Children's Museum of the Arts, free for kids from 4-6pm, the American Folk Art Museum, free on Fridays from 5:30-7:30pm, and the MoMA, free on Friday evenings. There's also free Target programming at culture hubs like The Brooklyn Museum and The New Museum. Presenting musicians like Yo-Yo Ma and comedians such as Jim Gaffigan, the City Parks Foundation provides a deluge of free arts, sports, and educational programs throughout the boroughs. For those youngsters craving something more active, take a swing on the baseball field, test out your moves in a skate park, or swim in an indoor pool, all for free at one of the many spaces set up by the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation.

Curtain Call

There's something for everyone in NYC's legendary league of kid-friendly theaters. If the family is craving timeless classics like Wicked, Mary Poppins or The Lion King then head on down to Broadway. For those wanting a bit more pizzazz, tune into musicals such as A Christmas Carol at Literally Alive. Your child will be enchanted by the originality at the Vital Children's Theater with hits such as Pinkalicious, The Musical. At the New Victory Theater, a cozy 499-seat landmark theater, they manage to pull off the cutting edge with enough razzle-dazzle to go around. After watching the mischief in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer or tapping your feet to Untapped!, make sure to find out about their one-of-a-kind family workshops. Experience a world of marionettes and hand puppets at Puppetworks—in Brooklyn all year round and Manhattan twice yearly. There you can encounter all the favorite "Oz" characters as they discover "there's no place like home" or marvel at a classic with a twist in Little Red Riding Hood. If you're frolicking in Central Park, stop by the Swedish Cottage for more puppetry fun.