You might think of winter as best spent either indoors or cruising down a snowy mountainside, but there are actually lots of great ways to engage with the natural world–even indoors! From a winter wildlife cruise in the New York Harbor to indoor gardens that will transport you to the tropics, check out these fun winter wildlife activities from our 2016 Winter Fun Guide!
Escape the winter cold with your kids at the Butterfly Conservatory at the American Museum of Natural History. The 1,200 square-ft tropical paradise contains about 500 winged beauties that are fascinating to observe—and it’s more than 80 degrees inside the conservatory’s glass dome! amnh.org
The Central Park Zoo’s Tropic Zone: The Rainforest can be a wonderful escape from the cold. The habitat is filled with exotic animals such as black-and-white ruffed lemurs and blue poisonous frogs, and is constructed to feel like a real rainforest, with trees and greenery hanging above.c entralparkzoo.com
Travel to warmer climes at the New York Botanical Garden’s “Wild Medicine in the Tropics” in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory (opening January 23), or enjoy the balmy temps and beautiful blooms at NYBG’s annual Orchid Show, opening on February 27. nybg.org
If you do feel like braving the chilly temps, you can look for harbor seals and winter birds on the New York Water Taxi’s NYC Audubon Winter EcoCruise throughout the New York Harbor. Every Sunday through March 13, families can board the New York Water Taxi to learn about the harbor seals and the winter birds. nywatertaxi.com
Wave Hill’s conservatory can provide a much-needed dose of warmth and vibrant floral colors in the winter months. Stroll through the Palm House, visit the desert at the Cactus and Succulent House displays, and revel in the humidity of the steamy Tropical House. Be sure to check out some of the nature-themed Family Art Projects held on select weekends. wavehill.org
- For our 2016 guide to super sledding slopes, click HERE.
- For our 2016 guide to indoor and outdoor skating rinks, click HERE.
- For our 2016 guide to great family art workshops, click HERE.
- For our 2016 guide to awesome indoor sports and play venues, click HERE.
- For our 2016 guide to great spots to grab hot chocolate and tea, click HERE.
