Make Downtown Your Weekend Family Weekend Destination
Fall is quickly approaching and young school aged children are dreading the shorter days because they know it means back to school. Fall weekends still pose an interesting question for parents, “how do I entertain the children while sticking close to home?” Make your answer this fall be, “Downtown Manhattan.” The quickly evolving neighborhood is full of ways to entertain your entire family.
Downtown is home to some truly incredible parks, museums and world renowned institutions. The historic South Street Seaport can be found under the Brooklyn Bridge and is home to many unique shops, restaurants and stunning views of the New York Harbor. Stroll the cobble stone streets and take in the unique shopping and stellar restaurants.
The gorgeous SeaGlass Carousel at Battery Park.
The Bronx may be up but the Battery is definitely downtown. The gorgeous Battery Park has been a staple in many films and television shows because of its gorgeous views of the New York Harbor and the Statue of Liberty. Take a leisurely walk down its main promenade. The Battery Conservatory is also a perfect place to pick up many different harbor cruises for stellar views of the Manhattan Skyline. Be sure to take the kids on the magnificent Sea Glass carousel for a ride they won’t soon forget.
Downtown is also home to two wonderful and insightful museums about two diverse groups that are both part of the fabric of New York’s rich history. A branch of the Smithsonian Institution, the National Museum of the American Indian displays artifacts from the culture of the native people who originally called our land home. From intricately woven baskets to beaded buckskin shirts and even contemporary work, the exhibits rotate regularly so there’s always more to come back and explore.
The Museum of Jewish Heritage details Jewish life throughout the last century and is a living memorial to the Holocaust. The collection consists of 24 documentary films, 2,000 photographs and 800 cultural artifacts including textiles, toys and musical instruments. Again, the main collection rotates so there is always more to see.
New York Theatre Ballet’s Carnival of the Animals.
Photo Credit- Richard Termine
The perfect corner stone to your family trip downtown is taking in one of our fabulous child friendly performances at the Schimmel Center. This October we welcome the New York Theatre Ballet’s Carnival of the Animals. The one hour presentation is perfect for the little ones as it offers an engaging story with bright sets and costumes, enchanting music and a run time that won’t test their attention span.
We hope to see you downtown this fall!
