new york city Summer Bucket List for families and kids 2024

New York City Summer Bucket List for Families and Kids 2024

We love New York City, especially in the summer when the weather is warm and the days are long. And summer is now only a few weeks away. Luckily, there are endless things to do, and as parents ourselves, we want families to have the ultimate summer.

Our NYC summer bucket 2024 is for kids and families and is chock-full of fun places to visit, including free things to do because, whether you live here or are visiting, saving money is always great.

From watching a free movie at the park to enjoying one of our city pools to strolling through our amazing museums, we truly have the best offerings and #bucketlist for you this summer!

We also know that when the kids are out of school, while we want them to enjoy the city, balancing the to-do list with things to do keeps everyone including you balanced and happy.

Psst…make sure to keep track of our weekly things to do

Check out our list of all you can do this summer in New York City!

1. Peak into Dublin without leaving NYC via The Portal! This sculpture is a 24/7 real-time(keep it PG influencers!) that is streaming until Fall – where you can interact with Dubliners, no plane ticket required!

2. Head to Long Island City MoMA PS1’s, where you’ll find exhibitions, performances, events, and more. Admission is FREE for all New York residents. For visitors: $10 for adults, FREE for kids 16 and younger, and $5 for seniors and students.

3. In the Summer, take a dip in one of the many Free Outdoor NYC Parks Pools.

4. Visit The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Roof Garden and check out its latest The Roof Garden Commission. The Roof Garden Commission: Petrit Halilaj, Abetare of metal images of spiders, stars and more.

5. Visit the New York Aquarium for free admission after 3 p.m. on Wednesdays. Up to 4 tickets are required and made available at 3:00 p.m. on Mondays.

6. It may take effort, like standing in line and going online for lottery tickets, but to see Shakespeare in the Park (publictheater.org) is entirely worth it!

7. Visit the Bronx Zoo on a Wednesday for FREE admission; you must reserve your tickets (up to 4!) online by 5:00 p.m. the Monday before.

Psst..Check out weekly Free Kid and Family Activities in NYC

8. Plan a staycation at the TWA Hotel. Whether you’re looking to enjoy a meal before or after a flight, or you’re staying for a night or a few, this hotel promises a genuine New York adventure, ideal for families.

9. Walk the Highline, check out the plants, and experience this calm urban oasis New Yorkers love. Check out our guide.

10. Visit the iconic Flagship New York Public Library to check out books and the Beaux-Arts architecture, kids will need to be quiet but worth the visit.

The Staten Island is free to ride on — Howard Cameron, Pexel

11. Hop on the Staten Island Ferry (it’s free) and enjoy a gorgeous view of the Statue of Liberty.

12. Take advantage of the many restaurants that offer kids eat for free days, go online to newyorkfamily.com for the guide.

Visit AMNH's Gilder Center, part of your admission — Photo: Iwan Baan

13. Enjoy exhibitions, immersive experiences, and more at the new Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education, and Innovation– part of the American Museum of Natural History and part of your admission. Some exhibitions cost extra- we recommend reserving tickets in advance.

14. Fly a kite at Central Park, stay awhile, and explore our city’s jewel of a park.

15. Visit the Little Island off of Pier 55 for a unique public park experience. This small island uses stunning architecture and landscaping to create a peaceful escape from busy city life

16. Kids ages 18 and under are free at The Whitney — check out art by Edward Hopper, Alice Neel, and more.

Grand Central Terminal famed glass clock at the center. — Photo: Marcus Herzberg, Pexels

17. Tour the Grand Central Terminal. Check out the oak leaves and acorn architectural details, the zodiac ceiling in the main concourse, and the famed glass clock at the center.

18. Go hiking in and around our city; some great spots exist!

19. The ultimate family day out , take on “Slide Mountain” at Brooklyn Bridge Park.

20. Check out the gorgeous views or sit for a picnic at the new Pier 57 rooftop (the largest in NYC!) at the Hudson River Park.

21. Visit a local library for a story time-one of the best play spaces for kids that is also a great way to cool off on those hot summer days.

Viist the Oculus in NYC this summer — Pierre Blache, Pexel

22. Visit The Oculus, the central epicenter of the World Trade Center and an architect of beauty that will have you oohing and aahh-ing.

23. We have Fireworks- remember to pick your spot to watch the Macy’s 4th of July fireworks (macys.com/s/fireworks)!

24. Take a break from the city and enjoy Greenbelt Staten Island’s 2,800 acres of nature, hiking trails, and more.

25. Pack a picnic and watch a free movie under the summer stars , nycgovparks.org/events/free_summer_movies.

26. Summer is one of the best seasons to bring the kids to the Intrepid Museum. Make sure to check their website for one of their fun events.

27. Check out Carole Feuerman’s Sea Idylls, whose last summer installment was featured on Fifth Avenue. This summer, you can catch her latest work of five sculptures at the South Street Seaport Seaport District, Pier 17, all with amazing views of Brooklyn!

The Wild Center

The Wild Center, nestled within the breathtaking landscape of New York's Adirondack Park, offers an unforgettable journey into the heart of nature. As visitors approach the Center, they are greeted by the Adirondack Mountains towering in the distance, setting the stage for an immersive adventure. Upon entering the 34,000-square-foot exhibit hall, guests are enveloped in a world of wonder and discovery. Interactive exhibits like Planet Adirondack and Climate Solutions invite exploration, allowing visitors to delve into the rich biodiversity of the Adirondack region. The indoor experience also includes an opportunity to soar on Birdly--a one-of-a-kind VR experience. Also, get up close with an animal ambassador during one of many live animal encounters throughout the day. In addition to its indoor exhibits and programs, the Wild Center also boasts 115-acres of extensive outdoor amenities. One of the highlights in the award-winning Wild Walk. Visitors walk up a trail of bridges to the treetops of the Adirondack forest, 40 feet off the ground. Along the way, interactive exhibits provide insights into the flora and fauna that call the Adirondacks home, from songbirds to black bears. The rest of the campus features more ways to explore. Check out Patrick Dougherty&rsquo;s Stickwork sculpture, an all natural installation of woven sticks that will spark your imagination and nostalgia. Immerse yourself in Forest Music, take a naturalist-lead canoe trip, or get your roll on with Raquette River Roll, a brand-new, oversized, all-natural ball run experience opening in June 2024.

Speakitaly NYC

SPEAKITALY NYC offers stimulating and entertaining lessons for children 0 to 16 years through a wide combination of activities based on the communicative approach anchored in the Common European Framework of Reference: active learning (group work, role plays, etc.) and practice exercises aimed to improve listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. Kids will start speaking and using Italian in a very natural way.&nbsp; Small classes capped at 6 students to make sure each one gets the needed attention and facilitate learners' progress.&nbsp; Our method is driven by a didactic method that is the result of constant updates, professional certifications and more than 10 years of experience in working with non-native speakers from different native languages and levels of knowledge. Our aim is to develop a range of Italian language skills while improving accuracy that will enable the students and participants to interact without stress or feeling rushed. We want to help those in the community really embrace not only the true culture in Italy but the Italian culture within New York City&hellip; Who doesn&rsquo;t love what Italy represents in the kitchen, in history &amp; in the arts? Speakitaly wants to support multilingual families who want to learn a new language or pass along their ancestor&rsquo;s heritage and culture. Raffaella, the founder said: "We see language awareness and intercultural sensitivity as the milestones for an inclusive society. Italian, like all other languages, is an enrichment and a growth in every way. Vi aspettiamo!"

Basketball City

Beginning June 2024, Basketball City will be running a full weekly schedule of Summer Basketball Camps. We will have our professional staff of coaches teaching your kids weekly. Our camps are designed to teach kids the skills they need to become a better basketball player by using specific drills and fitness work that focus on the fundamentals of the game in a fun, safe and inclusive environment. &nbsp;The camps run weekly varying in time and the number of days for ages 6-17. We have 3-, 4- &amp; 5-day options with times ranging from 9-4pm or 9-3pm. Every camper will receive a jersey once they are registered and arrive. We are limiting the number of camp participants each week to ensure a safe and healthy environment for your children. The limited number of campers will also ensure that your child receives individual attention needed to improve their basketball skills. Our camps in the past typically include current and past NBA players and a collaboration with the Jr. Knicks, the National Basketball Players Association, as well as 5 Star Basketball, and our ever-popular Basketball City FUNdamentals Camp along with our Jr. NBA/NBA Cares NBA Draft/Skills Challenge Camp with future NBA talent.