By Michelle Scott
New York can be an endless adventure for kids all year round, but not all venues are for all ages. Keeping kids of various ages happy and entertained while on a budget does not have to be as challenging as it may sound. The key is to find activities that both kids and adults will enjoy, thus creating memorable times together.
The New York Aquarium in Brooklyn
Located in Brooklyn, just a couple blocks from Coney Island, the New York Aquarium is a fun and educational adventure for children of all ages and is accessible by the DFNQ subway trains. Kids will marvel at the wide variety of fish, sharks, penguins, walruses and other activities such as scheduled feedings. The aquarium offers a balanced layout of indoor and outdoor attractions, and is open Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and weekends and holidays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Go to nyaquarium.com, or call (718) 265-3474 for more information.
Bicycling in Central Park
Central Park offers ideal bicycling routes for cyclists of all ages and abilities. There are three distances for traveling, 6.1 miles, 5.2 miles and 1.7 miles. Kids ages 6 and up will enjoy exploring the many sights of the park as well as traveling in the great outdoors. Bicycle rental is available from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., March through October, in the parking lot of Loeb Boathouse, located at East 74th St. For more information, contact thecentralparkboathouse.com, or call (212) 517-2233.
The Little Shop of Crafts
The Little Shop of Crafts is open every day to people of all ages. Kids will enjoy discovering endless ways of expressing their artistic sides through pottery, painting, beading, gift-making and various other crafts up for grabs. This venue is a great way for adults and kids to have a fun time together. A favorite craft choice is create-a-cuddly, which allows kids to create their own stuffed friend and T-shirt. The Little Shop of Crafts has two locations; an east side store at 431 East 73rd St. 10021, (212) 717-6636 and a west side store at 711 Amsterdam 10025, (212) 531-2723. Call for more information, or go to littleshopny.com.
About the Author:
Michelle Scott is a graduate of DePaul University, and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in business finance. She has been writing about various topics for 13 years, and now works in New York as a freelance writer and artist. Scott also applies her writing skills to academic summations.
