Classic NYC, Elevated: 15 Ways to Experience the City Differently with Kids

New York City with kids is no longer just about staring at the Empire State Building or waiting in lines at the Statue of Liberty. The new era of family travel in NYC is about immersion, access, and storytelling.

For families, the difference between a stressful trip and a magical one comes down to logistics. Whether it’s skipping the line at a crowded museum, having a private driver navigate the holiday gridlock, or turning a history lesson into a scavenger hunt, what you can do now is extraordinary and maximizes time.

Here are 15 experiences that elevate the classic NYC family trip, with the specific details on why they are worth your time and how to book them.

1. Open FAO Schwarz Before the Crowds

The experience 
The flagship toy store at 30 Rockefeller Plaza is magical, but the midday crowds can be overwhelming. Instead of fighting for elbow room, you can arrange to have the store opened just for your family before the public arrives.

A real-life Toy Soldier greets you for a one-hour private tour. Your kids can dance on the famous “Big Piano” from the movie Big without a line, raid the bulk candy dispensers, and shop with a personal shopper before the doors open to the public.

How to do it
Book VIP Experiences directly through FAO Schwarz

2. Turn the Metropolitan Museum of Art Into a Game

The experience 
The Met is the largest art museum in the Americas, which usually means that museum fatigue sets in within an hour. A Context for Kids tour isn’t a lecture; it’s a 3-hour interactive game led by a PhD or MA-level art historian.

They use inquiry-based learning. This means asking the kids to decode symbols in Egyptian hieroglyphs, find specific animals in medieval armor, or solve riddles hidden in Renaissance paintings to keep them engaged and moving.

How to do it 
Context Travel’s Met Museum Tour for Kids includes skip-the-line access, which is worth its weight in gold on busy weekends.

When my daughter was four, my husband convinced her to visit The Met by tying it to Olivia the Pig, who visits the Degas ballerinas and Jackson Pollock in her books. Framing the galleries through Olivia’s eyes kept her happily exploring everything from pastel dancers to mummies for a full 90 minutes — far longer than we ever expected!

3. See NYC from the Sky (The New Way)

The experience 
While the Empire State Building is a classic, the new observation decks offer immersive experiences that feel more like theme park rides. 

Summit One Vanderbilt (next to Grand Central) features “Air,” a massive two-story room of floor-to-ceiling mirrors that makes you feel like you’re floating, and “Affinity,” a room filled with hundreds of floating silver balloons.

Alternatively, RiseNY in Times Square is a museum-ride hybrid that ends with a spectacular 4D flight simulation ride where you soar over the city skyline, complete with wind and mist effects.

How to do it 
You can book tickets directly through Summit One Vanderbilt or RiseNY. Note: RiseNY has a 40″ height requirement for the ride. 

4. Take a Day Trip to LEGOLAND New York (The VIP Way)

The experience 
If your kids are between ages 2 and 12, the new LEGOLAND New York in Goshen (about 60 miles north of NYC) is a dedicated “vacation within a vacation.”

It is a full theme park with seven themed lands, including the unique LEGO Factory Adventure Ride, which uses technology to “shrink” you down to the size of a Minifigure. The park also features a Dragon coaster, driving schools for kids, and Miniland with a massive recreation of NYC built from millions of LEGO bricks.

How to do it 

• Book a VIP Experience for 4-7 hours with a VIP Host and priority access to rides and attractions.
• Take the direct Coach USA bus from Midtown (Port Authority Gate 409) or arrange for a car service.

5. Walk the Brooklyn Bridge With a Story (Engineering & Pizza)

The experience 
Walking the bridge is a New York rite of passage, but without context, it can feel like a crowded stroll. This scholar-led walking seminar turns it into a real story. You’ll start near City Hall, cross into Brooklyn, and learn how suspension bridges work, plus the drama behind the Roebling family.

One of the most interesting parts is learning about Emily Warren Roebling, who kept the entire project on track when her husband fell ill.

The walk ends in DUMBO, right by Jane’s Carousel and some of the city’s best pizza spots, including Grimaldi’s.

How to do it 
Book Context Travel’s Brooklyn Bridge and DUMBO tour.

6. Explore NYC’s Superhero Movie Locations

The experience
This guided bus tour takes you to real New York City filming locations from Spider-Man, The Avengers, Batman, Superman, and more. Kids see where major scenes were filmed, from the Daily Bugle at the Flatiron Building to the streets where the Battle of New York took place. It’s fast-moving, visual, and designed to keep superhero fans engaged without a lot of walking.

How to do it
Book the Super Tour of NYC: Heroes! Comics! More! with On Location Tours. It’s a three-hour, climate-controlled bus tour that departs from Times Square and runs year-round.

7. Get Dolled Up at American Girl Place

The experience 
The American Girl store has moved to a stunning new location at 75 Rockefeller Plaza. It is a retail wonderland where you can book a table at the American Girl Cafe (dolls get their own “treat seats” and mini cups).

The Dolled Up Salon goes beyond doll hair. Girls can get manicures, ear piercings, and hairstyles to match their dolls.

How to do it 
Reservations for the Cafe and Salon open 60 days in advance and are essential for weekends.

8. Step Inside the Wizarding World at Harry Potter New York

The experience 
Located in the Flatiron District, this is the flagship Wizarding World store and operates more like an attraction than a retail space.

You can drink Butterbeer (draft, bottle, or ice cream) at the Butterbeer Bar under a ceiling of floating bottles. The store also features the “Broomstick Green Screen” experience, where you can ride a broomstick over London and take home a video of your flight.

How to do it 
While Harry Potter Shop general entry is free, the interactive experiences and Butterbeer bar can have lines. I recommend visiting on a weekday morning if possible.

9. Find Central Park’s Famous Movie Scenes

The experience 
For families who love Elf, Home Alone 2, or Enchanted, Central Park is basically a giant movie set. A 2-hour guided walking tour takes you to over 30 filming locations.

You’ll see the exact bridge where Buddy the Elf had his snowball fight (Pinebank Arch), the Wollman Rink from Serendipity, and the Bandshell from Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

How to do it 
On Location Tours offers a fun bus/walking combo.

10. Experience History Inside a Tenement Apartment

The experience 
For school-aged kids (8+), this is often more impactful than Ellis Island because it is so tactile. You visit a preserved apartment building on the Lower East Side that has been left exactly as it was in different eras.

On the “100 Years Apart” tour, you visit the apartments of two different families (one from the 1870s, one from the 1950s) to see how they lived, cooked, and worked in the same space.

How to do it 
Tenement Museum tickets are by timed entry and must be booked in advance.

11. Thrill Ride Around Statue of Liberty (or Something Calmer)

The experience 
If your kids aren’t up for the long security lines at the Statue of Liberty ferry, see her from the water instead. 

The Beast is a high-speed jet boat ride that feels like a rollercoaster on water; it blasts music, does 360-degree spins, and zooms right up to the Statue for a selfie (Seasonal: May-Sept). For a calmer ride, the Circle Line Landmarks Cruise offers the best photo ops of the skyline and Lady Liberty.

How to do it 
These are often included in the CityPASS or Go City details below or through Circle Line.

12. Create Street Art With a Brooklyn Graffiti Artist

The experience 
This is a fantastic option for teens who dislike traditional tours. It starts with a walking tour of the Bushwick Collective to see incredible street murals.

Then, you head to a studio where a real graffiti artist teaches you aerosol techniques. You get a canvas (or tote bag) and spray paint to create your own masterpiece to take home.

How to do it 
Book a private Graffiti & Street Art Workshop through On Location.

13. Explore an Aircraft Carrier and Space Shuttle

The experience 
Located on Pier 86, this is a hit for kids who love planes, trains, and automobiles. You explore the legendary USS Intrepid aircraft carrier from WWII. The flight deck is covered in real fighter jets (including a Blackbird spy plane), and the Space Shuttle Pavilion houses the actual Space Shuttle Enterprise.

You can also tour the guided missile submarine Growler—the only American guided missile submarine open to the public.

How to do it 
It is included in the CityPASS C3 and C-All options or you can buy tickets.

14. Live Like Eloise at The Plaza

The experience 
Have an Eloise fan? Head on over to The Plaza Hotel’s Eloise at the Plaza store where kids can not only browse everything Eloise but have an opportunity to play dress up and flip through books in the reading room.

And if this isn’t enough, remember that The Plaza Hotel has a (very pink) Eloise suite available for booking that was designed by none other than Betsey Johnson.

How to do it
You can visit the store any time during opening hours. We have VIP amenities for overnight stays at The Plaza. Request rates.

15. Skip Crowds With The Ultimate VIP Holiday Experience (Seasonal)

The experience 
If you are visiting in November or December, we can bypass the massive crowds with VIP access. Instead of shivering on the street for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, attend an indoor viewing party at Del Frisco’s with a private sidewalk viewing area.

For Rockefeller Center Skating, the VIP Skate package gets you immediate entry, access to a heated VIP chalet with cookies, and a longer skating session. For the famous Dyker Heights Lights, we can book a private luxury SUV tour so you have a warm car to hop back into between displays.

How to do it 
These customized, exclusive holiday experiences are bookable by American Stories Travel as part of a full vacation package that we can help you coordinate. Request rates.

Pro Tip: Sightseeing Passes

If you plan to hit the major “icons” on your own, a pass can save you up to 40%.

• CityPASS: Best for the First Timer who wants to hit the Big 5 (Empire State, Museum of Natural History, Statue of Liberty, etc.) at a relaxed pace over 9 days. Buy Now (promo code SAVEMORE saves $5). It also has a C3 version with fewer activities.
• Go City: Best for families who want flexibility or have teenagers who want to do specific attractions like The Edge, Madame Tussauds, or a Yankees game. Buy Now.

The truth is, there is never enough time to explore all the fabulous things to do in New York City with kids but that’s why it’s the greatest city in the world. You can keep going back and never do the same things twice.