by Central Park Conservancy
Photo: Summ · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Central Park's only formal garden, six acres of French, Italian and English-style plantings with fountains. Kids who love The Secret Garden can find the Burnett Fountain, which honors the book's author with sculptures of two children.
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| Monday | 8 AM – 7 PM |
| Tuesday | 8 AM – 7 PM |
| Wednesday | 8 AM – 7 PM |
| Thursday | 8 AM – 7 PM |
| Friday | 8 AM – 7 PM |
| Saturday | 8 AM – 7 PM |
| Sunday | 8 AM – 7 PM |
Hours vary by month (Sept 8–7, Oct 8–6, Nov–Dec 8–5); designated Quiet Zone
Free
Open daily. Pick a date to add it to your plans.
All ages.
Free
Sunday: 8 AM–7 PM · Monday: 8 AM–7 PM · Tuesday: 8 AM–7 PM · Wednesday: 8 AM–7 PM · Thursday: 8 AM–7 PM · Friday: 8 AM–7 PM · Saturday: 8 AM–7 PM. Hours vary by month (Sept 8–7, Oct 8–6, Nov–Dec 8–5); designated Quiet Zone
Central Park, East Side between 104th and 106th Streets, 10029, in East Harlem, Manhattan.
No. Conservatory Garden is outdoors, so plan for weather, sunscreen and water.
A Central Park visitor center on the north shore of the Harlem Meer where families borrow Discovery Kits for self-guided nature exploration and play free lawn games like ring toss. It also hosts free Conservancy programs, exhibits and holiday events.
Manhattan's 840-acre backyard, with lakes, woodlands, lawns, the Central Park Zoo, a carousel and more than 20 playgrounds. Families can bird-watch in the Ramble, borrow Discovery Kits at visitor centers and explore quiet corners like the Hallett Nature Sanctuary.
A teaching farm on Randall's Island where kids see how food grows, meet farm residents and join edible-education programs. It sits near salt marshes where families can look for fiddler crabs.
A small stone castle perched on Vista Rock in the middle of Central Park that serves as a visitor center. Kids climb to the terraces for sweeping views over Turtle Pond and the Great Lawn and can look out for hawks and turtles below.
Hands-on outdoor science workshops in Riverside Park for kids ages 4 to 10, exploring topics like migrating birds, bugs and plants through activities and observation.
A six-mile stretch of Hudson River parkland from West 59th to 181st Street with 16 playgrounds, a bird sanctuary, waterfront bike paths and summer events. The Riverside Park Conservancy runs kids' nature workshops and story hours.