Everyone
knows the old expression that “March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb,”
and with dipping temperatures, sporadic sunshine and showers, it’s sometimes
tricky to plan your family’s weekend with the weather in mind. With this in mind, we compiled a few of our favorite outdoor destinations for milder weather, and plenty of few indoor oases too, just in case the cold weather sticks around for a few more weeks. Enjoy!
If March comes in like a lamb…pack a light jacket and enjoy the first stirrings of spring at these beautiful outdoor destinations!
Wave Hill A spacious public garden and cultural center overlooking the Hudson River, Wave Hill gives visitors the chance to walk through flower gardens, take hikes through a woodland forest, and even participate in workshops that combine nature and the arts. During the month of March, Wave Hill will offer frequent programs and events for the whole family, including visits to the Alpine House and family art projects each weekend (like "Creature Comforts of Home" on March 5th and 6th or "The Friendly Falcons and Their Friend The Snake" on March 12th and 13th.) Best of all, family art workshops are free with admission to the Wave Hill grounds, which is also free until noon each day. End your trip with a stroll through Wave Hill's picturesque gardens and rolling hills! (wavehill.org) New York Botanical Garden Marking its 120th Anniversary, the NYBG stands as one of the most notable, celebrated venues in all of New York. Home to hundreds of trees, plants and animal life, the New York Botanical Garden is constantly hosting events and programs geared toward the spread of higher education about the plant kingdom. The month of March is filled with fun and exciting activities for the whole family to enjoy, ranging from the fun-filled show "The Orchid Show: On Broadway" (which will feature set design from a Tony-award winning designer and over 500 orchid species!) to "Botanicals: Environmental Expressions in Art." (nybg.org) Central Park One of the first major urban public spaces, Central Park is comprised of 250 acres of lawns, 24,000 trees, and 130 acres of woodlands. Whether families feel like playing a game of baseball in one of the 26 ballfields that inhabit the park, or would prefer soaking in the architectural history imbedded in the 55 sculptures and monuments that surround the area, there is always a new activity to partake in. March is an exciting month for new family events in Central Park, including “After School Ice Skating,” “West Side Stories Tours,” and “Health and Race Walking.” (centralparknyc.org)
Hudson River Park
A 550-acre
riverside park and estuarine sanctuary, Hudson River Park occupies a variety of gorgeous
public piers, a waterside esplanade, and various commercial activities for the
entire community. Both adults and children are able to enjoy the benefits that
the park has to offer. From batting cages and boat excursions to sailing and
skate parks, no age group is left out! (hudsonriverpark.org)
Queens Farm Museum
Dating all
the way back to 1697, this historical gem takes up about 47 acres of land and
is home to farm buildings, a greenhouse complex, and even an orchard and herb
garden. Open year round, seven days a week, Queens Farm Museum encourages children to feed and
interact with the animals, learn about the historic farmhouse during free
tours, and enjoy a hayride through acres of undisturbed farmland. (queensfarm.org)
Prospect Park
An expansive 585-acre park located in the heart of Brooklyn, Prospect Park features the Long Meadow, the
famous 60-acre Lake, and Brooklyn’s one and only forest. Attracting local natives and bustling tourists,
Park Hill hosts numerous events throughout March such as an Introduction to Birdwatching, Nature Crafts,
and Science Power Hour. (prospectpark.org)
Brooklyn Botanical Garden
Maintaining its mission statement to serve the community with knowledge about plant life, Brooklyn Botanical Garden offers garden visits and exhibits that cater to the entire family. Not only does the beautifully crafted landscape call to lovers of nature, but Brooklyn Botanical Garden encourages people to get involved in the effort to preserve the plant kingdom through events such as “Urban Garden Design” and “Making Brooklyn Bloom 201″1 that are being featured this month. (bbg.org)
Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden
Former retirement home for local seamen, Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden is now a multifaceted center for the performing arts, garden life, and educational tours, making it a great indoor/outdoor destination for families. Open Monday through Sunday, families can plan this month around historical theater productions like “Sky-Boys,” or take a quiet stroll through the Chinese Scholar’s Garden. (snug-harbor.org)
Bronx Zoo
One of the most diverse wildlife parks in the world, Bronx Zoo provides families with the opportunity to experience the animal kingdom with an innovative, hands-on approach. From the Bug Carousel and Butterfly Garden for young children to the World of Reptiles and Tiger Mountain for older crowds, there’s an endless supply of fun in store for visitors during the entire month of March. Bonus? The zoo won’t be quite as crowded in March as it will be later on in the spring, so kids can get up close and personal with their favorite creatures! (bronxzoo.com)
If March comes in like a lion…take refuge at one of these oases for creativity and exploration!
The American Museum of Natural
History
Of course, there’s plenty to do at the expansive AMNH this month, such as the
museum’s new exhibits “Brain: The Inside Story,” (where kids can see a
three-pound preserved brain, walk through a tunnel of firing neurons and
challenge themselves to brain-teaser games) and “On Feathered Wings: Birds in
Flight” (where kids can examine photos of different birds from famed wildlife
photographers). Kids can also take in an IMAX showing of “Sea Rex: Journey to a
Prehistoric World,” or “Journey to the Stars,” an all-new space show narrated
by Whoopi Goldberg. Of course, there’s no way to ring in spring like a trip to
the awe-inspiring Butterfly Conservatory, where kids can explore a tropical
forest environment inhabited by over 500 live butterflies. (amnh.org)
Children’s Museum of the Arts
The Children’s Museum of the Arts strives to extend the benefits of the
arts to children and their communities. On Fridays in March, kids can partake
in “Stories of the City: A Collaborative Media Lab Workshop,” where they can
create puppets, skyscrapers, parks and more to share their own tales of living
in the city. (cmany.org)
Children’s Museum of Manhattan
This museum offers
art-based educational exhibits and programs in a variety of subjects, as well
as extensive offsite outreach. Throughout the month of March, kids ages 4 and
up can explore the incredible Playmobil Fantasy Diorama with CMOM staffers and
create their own dioramas with mixed media.(cmom.org)
New York Hall of Science
The Hall features the largest collection of hands-on science exhibits in New York City, which are designed to be fun and
interactive. Kids can learn about subjects such as photosynthesis, mathematics,
microbes and rockets through information and hands-on exhibits, including a
Science Playground, a climb-in rocket capsule, a 3-D atom model and more.
Throughout March, kids can enjoy exhibits like “1001 Inventions,” take in the
preschool puppet show “The Great Cat Trip,” and explore the hands-on exhibition
“ShadowPLAY,” where they can play with colorful lights, shadow puppets, tubes
and more. (nyscience.org)
Liberty Science Center
Or, science-minded families can take the short PATH ride to Liberty Science
Center in Jersey City, which boasts the nation’s largest IMAX Dome theater, hundreds of hands-on
exhibits, including a 20-foot wind tunnel, giant models of skyscrapers around
the world, an 18-foot-high balance beam and giant fish tanks. The center has
also recently reopened a popular exhibition from the past, the Touch Tunnel, in
which guests crawl through a pitch black tunnel full of twists and turns. Kids
will also love the exhibit “Eat and Be Eaten” (where they can learn about how
animals interact in the natural world and the circle of life) IMAX screenings of “Hubble,” “Legends of
Flight,” and “India: Kingdom of the Tiger”. (lsc.org)
The MoMA
The foremost modern art museum in the world, MoMA aims to make its collections
accessible to scholars and young children alike, and its modern design, sleek
aesthetic and incredible array of diverse works of art make it an oasis of
creative for young thinkers. Throughout the month, the museum invites families
to tons of age-specific workshops, such as “In Motion: Movement and Drawing”
for kids ages 5 to 8, “Putting It Together: Collage and Assemblage” for kids
ages 4 to 6, “In Place,” for kids ages 7 to 10, and “Printed Portraits” for
kids ages 11 to 14. All workshops are for children and their adult companions.
The museum also boasts frequent gallery and artist talks and film screenings,
and of course, plenty of inspiring exhibits, like “On To Pop” and “Instruction
Lab.” (moma.org)
The Morgan Library and Museum
The Morgan Library and Museum is one
of the world’s greatest collections of literary and musical works from all time
periods. This month, kids can check out the Morgan’s exhibit “The Diary: Three
Centuries of Private Lives,” which will showcase over 70 diaries from notable
figures like Henry David Thoreau and St. Augustine. (themorgan.org)
Museum of the City of New York
Explores
the history, present and future of the five boroughs. Throughout the month of
March, families can head to the museum’s exhibit “Ain’t Nothing Like the Real
Thing: How the Apollo Theater Shaped American Entertainment,” which traces the
history and evolution of the Apollo Theater and its great impact on American
pop culture. (mcny.org)
New York Police Museum
Dedicated to preserving the history of the New York City Police Department, the New York Police Museum boasts tons of hands-on educational
exhibits for kids. Kids will love exploring the Junior Officer Discovery Zone, an interactive exhibit designed for children ages 3 to 10 that is divided in four categories; the Police Academy, the Park and the Precinct, the Emergency Services Unit, and a Multi-Purpose area for programming. At the exhibit, kids can learn police codes, turn the wheel and switch on the lights of a model emergency vehicle, and check out equipment carried by actual policemen. (nycpm.org)
— By Kristina Cappuccilli and Darcy Newell
