CENTRAL PARK ZOO & TISCH CHILDREN'S ZOO From penguins and polar bears to ducks and pigs
Where: Enter Central Park at 64th Street and Fifth Ave. -- the main zoo is right there, the Tisch Zoo (a petting zoo designed for toddlers and preschoolers) is a bit further north.
When: The zoos are open the following hours:
Mon.–Fri. 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Sat.–Sun. 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
During the winter months, they close at 4:30 p.m.
Entry Fee: Adults $8 Seniors $4 Children $3 (under age 3, free)
(Admission is good for both zoos; hold on to your receipt.)
Contact: Call 212.861.6030 or visit the Central Park Zoo Web site.
Admission: $6.50 Mon.–Fri. $7.50 Sat.–Sun. Individual-ride tickets are $1 each (ride fees range from 2–3 tickets); an unlimited-rides wristband is $12 Mon.–Fri., $14 Sat.–Sun., plus admission fee.
72nd STREET BOAT POND Listen to stories at the Hans Christian Andersen statues; climb on Alice in Wonderland; or just rent a radio-controlled sailboat to navigate through the pond
Where: Enter Central Park at 72nd and Fifth Avenue, head north
When: Sailboat rentals are offered seasonally from 11 a.m.–6 p.m. daily; storytelling at the statues is offered June through September, on Saturdays at 11 a.m.
A favorite spot for bird watching, the Castle is also one of the Park's information hubs, and is home to the Henry Luce Nature Observatory. Activities and tours are frequently run for children, and you'll find some hands-on exhibits relating to the Castle's long history as a data-gathering outpost for the U.S. Weather Bureau.
Hours: Tues.–Sun. 11 a.m.–5 p.m. (closes at 4 p.m. Oct.–Feb.)
Heckscher Playground
Mid-west Central Park, near 64th Street
Central Park's largest playground features plenty of space to run around, a special area designated for toddlers, sprinklers that sprout like leaks from a fun climbing structure, and Astroturf circles where families can "picnic" or just spread a blanket for reading and naps.
Summer Concerts
The Great Lawn, mid-park from 79th to 85th Street
During the summer, Central Park is alive with the sound of music, from free serenades courtesy of the Metropolitan Opera to classical music by the New York Philharmonic. The Park's Summerstage program (mid-park from 66th to 72nd Streets) hosts contemporary artists -- from hip-hop to family favorites.
The Park Conservancy also hosts a plethora of seasonal activities, including the great Easter Egg Hunt, a Halloween celebration, and more.
Metropolitan Museum
1000 Fifth Avenue, at 81st Street
The Met is the perfect place to while away a rainy morning or afternoon, gaping at the sphinx, dropping coins in the pools around the Temple of Dendur, eyeing the suits of armor and the Greek and Roman sculpture, and snacking in the museum's lovely cafeteria.
An exceptionally good playground for kids of all ages, with all the obvious play stuff: lots of slides; two rope swings which kids can use to play Tarzan as they fly over a sand pit; tire swings; chain bridges; a water sprinkler that runs on hot days, and enough sand to start a small beach when you go home and shake out your shoes.
