American Museum of Natural History and the Discovery Room
Central Park West
Subway: B, C to 81st St–Museum of Natural History; 1 to 79th St:
212-769-5100
Suggested admission $14, seniors and students $10.5, children $8.
The Discovery Room is an interactive space offers families, and especially children ages 5-12, a gateway to the wonders of the Museum and a hands-on, behind-the-scenes look at its science. It offers Gateway Storytime (Science and culture for preschoolers and their parents or caretakers). Meet the Scientist (Come and meet a Museum scientist and learn about their work!) and Roving Mars (This engaging large-format film explores the surface of Mars through the eyes of Spirit and Opportunity, NASA’s robotic Mars rovers.)

The Hall of Ocean Life features a life-size model of a blue whale, suspended from the cavernous ceiling, while the Gem and Mineral Collection is the setting for the 563-carat Star of India, the largest sapphire on display anywhere. The Hall of Meteorites is home to the 34-ton Anighito meteor, while the museum’s IMAX theater screens eye-popping nature documentaries. The Hayden Planetarium in the Rose Center for Earth and Space—a giant silvery globe that’s dazzling to behold after sundown—houses both the Space Theater, which uses a customized Zeiss Star Projector to bring the night sky to life, and Big Bang, where surround-sound and lighting effects transport visitors back to the universe’s earliest days.- Time Out Kids

The Museum’s new Polar Rink, made from synthetic ice, is located on the Arthur Ross Terrace, with views of the Rose Center for Earth and Space and the surrounding Theodore Roosevelt Park. Skaters will glide around a 17-foot-tall polar bear made of openwork stainless steel festooned with pine boughs and twinkling lights. Engaging facts about polar bears and the Earth’s polar regions, as well as “green” tips and suggestions, will surround the rink, extending the Museum experience beyond its halls. Non-skaters can hang out on surrounding benches on the Terrace under trees adorned with lights, or from the glassed-in North Galleria adjacent to the rink where hot cocoa and snacks will be served. Following an afternoon on the rink, and for a suggested admission, visitors can easily explore the Museum and have ready access to the Rose Center for Earth and Space. The skating rink will remain open through February 28, 2009. The rink is 150 by 80 feet and can accommodate up to 200 people during a one-hour skating period. The Polar Rink will be open from 12–8 pm Monday–Thursday, 12 pm–10 pm on Fridays, 11 am–10 pm on Saturdays, 11 am–8 pm on Sundays, and 11 am–10 pm on holidays. Tickets will be $10 for adults, $9 for students and seniors, and $8 for children 3-12 years old, and include skate rental. Members’ tickets will be $8 for adults, $7 for students and seniors, and $6 for children 3-12 years old. All children under 10 must be accompanied by someone 16 years of age or older. For more information visitors should call 212-769-5200. Tickets can be purchased at any of the Museum’s entrances or enter directly through the Weston Entrance on Columbus Avenue and 79th Street or via the Terrace stairs.

Brooklyn Botanical Gardens
www.bbg.org
1000 Washington Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11225 (Clinton Hill)
718-623-7200
Tues-Fri 8am-6pm, Weekends 10am-6pm, closed on Monday (but open holiday Mondays)

Children under 14 must be supervised by an adult 18 or over, with the exception of bottled water and baby bottles, food and beverages cannot be brought into the Garden Food can be purchased and consumed at the Terrace Café. Picknicking is not allowed, sitting on the lawn is only allowed at the Cherry Esplanade. Blankets and folding chairs are not permitted, no athletic or recreational equipment is allowed, pets are not allowed. Service animals must have accompanying documentation. The Terrace Café offers a full menu of gourmet lunches and beverages. Dining is outdoors from spring to early fall and in the Steinhardt Conservatory during late fall and winter. Picnicking is not permitted in the Garden. The Gardener’s Resource Center provides reference services to home gardeners, staff, and to the professional horticultural community. It is a convenient access point from which to learn more about all of the Library’s collections and about the Garden’s plant collections. The Gardener’s Resource Center is located on the second floor of the landmark McKim, Mead & White Administration building. For getting there and back check out the HOB Connection- a new FREE shuttle for the Brooklyn Botanical Garden, Brooklyn Children’s Museum, Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn Public Library and Prospect Park and Prospect Park Zoo. You can even start in the city at the Met and hitch a ride home to Brooklyn! Visit The HOB Connection webpage or call (718) 638-7700, x22 for full details and schedule.

When we are looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of urban life, but we can’t leave the city, we make a trip to the BBG. It’s so serene, and the plants and flowers are breathtaking. In just a few months, the cherry blossoms will be at their peak and this is a sight not to be missed! A family membership to the garden is $75 and includes admission for two adults and all children. It also includes four parking passes. My favorite perk though is access to the members’ only picnics once a month during June, July and August. During the picnics, the garden welcomes members only to picnic on the Cherry Esplanade. It’s a kind of urban utopia of kids playing and adults lounging on picnic blankets all enjoying the summer air and the beauty of the gardens. Picnicking is not allowed at any other time so it’s truly a special experience.
-Carolyn

Coney Island Friday night fireworks
Surf Ave btw. 10th and 12th Sts
Coney Island, Brooklyn
718-372-0275
All summer you can see fireworks at 8:30 pm every Friday. Check them out along the Coney Island boardwalk.

Downtown Boathouse
http://downtownboathouse.org/
Pier 40 at the Western end of Houston St on the river side of the West Side Highway. They are on the walkway of Pier 40.
Walk-up kayaking: This is our original and most popular program. The only requirement is that you know how to swim. It runs at all of our locations on weekends and holidays from May 12th to October 14th, and on many weekday evenings. You can take one of our kayaks out for a short 20-minute paddle inside the protected embayment in front of the boathouse. We give you a life jacket, a kayak, a paddle, and some tips on paddling. You will need to stay inside our protected embayment where we can keep an eye on you, but otherwise you are on your own to enjoy the river and the sunshine. Bring a bathing suit, or shorts and a T-Shirt. We have changing rooms, and a hose to rinse off.
Three Hour Trips: We run guided trips every weekend and holiday morning from June 16th 2007 to September 16th 2007 from our Pier 96 Clinton Cove (56th St.) location. The trips leave our protected enclosed area, and go out into the Hudson River and the lower harbor. The exact destination depends on the tides and the weather, but we usually go at least 4 or 5 miles. To go on the trip you must go out several times on our walk-up program, or have previous kayaking experience. We require this to build-up your strength and allow you to get familiar with the boats. The trips are three hours of constant paddling and require you to be physically fit.

Millennium Skate Park
http://www.nycgovparks.org
Owl’s Head Park, Colonial Road, between 68 Street and Wakeman Place
Brooklyn, NY 11220 (Bay Ridge)
Thu-Mon, 11am-7pm (until July 1); In season, daily 9am-8pm
Ages 5 and up
Free
The Department of Parks & Recreation has an attendant on duty during operating hours at Millennium Skate Park. All participants have to sign a waiver; those under 18 need their guardian’s signature.The Park is a boarder’s paradise, with two concrete bowls, three wood ramps, a three-foot high pyramid, and more. Helmets, knee pads, and elbow pads are required.

Narrows Botanical Gardens
http://www.narrowsbg.org
Shore Road between Bay Ridge Avenue & 72nd Street
Brooklyn, NY 11228 (Bay Ridge)
718.238.1692
Daily, dawn to dusk
Nestled in Bay Ridge, between Shore Road and the waters of The Narrows, are four and a half acres of rambling parkland that were transformed by sheer community dedication in the mid-1990’s.The Gardens host numerous family-friendly events during the year (see our calendar), and they’re also a lovely spot for a spring, summer, or autumn stroll.

Prospect Park
http://www.prospectpark.org/
Bounded by Prospect Park West, Prospect Park Southwest, Flatbush Avenue, Ocean Avenue and Parkside Avenue
718-965-8999
Brooklyn’s 526-acre park includes picnic house, carousel, skating rink, Audubon center at boathouse, lawns, lakes and playgrounds. For getting there and back check out the HOB Connection- a new FREE shuttle for the Brooklyn Botanical Garden, Brooklyn Children’s Museum, Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn Public Library and Prospect Park and Prospect Park Zoo. You can even start in the city at the Met and hitch a ride home to Brooklyn! Visit The HOB Connection webpage or call (718) 638-7700, x22 for full details and schedule.

Prospect Park Zoo
http://www.prospectparkzoo.com/
450 Flatbush Avenue
718-399-7339
Entrance to zoo within Prospect Park at northeastern part of park called near Carousel and Audubon Center, Zoo open 365 days per year. Winter hours 10 am to 4:30 pm. Other seasons open from 9am to 5:00 pm or 5:30 pm.  Children under 3 enter free. Admission $5 per adult, $1 for children ages 3 to 12 and $1.25 for seniors.
Naturalistic habitat exhibits replaced bars, cages, and pits. And three major exhibit areas were designed to engage children, especially, in learning about wildlife: The World of Animals, Animal Lifestyles, and Animals in Our Lives. These approaches to wildlife education are based on WIZE (Wildlife Inquiry through Zoo Education), the nationally-acclaimed education programs developed by Bronx Zoo educators. For getting there and back check out the HOB Connection- a new FREE shuttle for the Brooklyn Botanical Garden, Brooklyn Children’s Museum, Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn Public Library and Prospect Park and Prospect Park Zoo. You can even start in the city at the Met and hitch a ride home to Brooklyn! Visit The HOB Connection webpage or call (718) 638-7700, x22 for full details and schedule.

This membership gets you into the Bronx Zoo, the Prospect Park Zoo, the NY Aquarium, Central Park Zoo and the Queens Zoo. The basic family membership is $120 but there are a couple of different options as well. If your children are all under the age of 3, you can join at the Individual Premium level for $90 and get in one adult plus one adult visitor; kids under 3 are free. The premium level on both the Individual and Family memberships also offers unlimited access to all the “extras” at the Bronx Zoo. All of the memberships include four free parking passes as well.
-Carolyn

Prospect Park Audobon Center at the Boathouse
http://www.prospectparkaudubon.org/
Follow Lincoln Road into the park, across Central Drive. You will see the Cleft Ridge Span on your right. When you exit the tunnel you will see the Boathouse! There are scopes to examine elements from the park and singing birds overhead. Special programs in the past have included storytelling and crafts, drop-in crafts, discover tours, drumming circles and a history cruise. For getting there and back check out the HOB Connection- a new FREE shuttle for the Brooklyn Botanical Garden, Brooklyn Children’s Museum, Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn Public Library and Prospect Park and Prospect Park Zoo. You can even start in the city at the Met and hitch a ride home to Brooklyn! Visit The HOB Connection webpage or call (718) 638-7700, x22 for full details and schedule.

Salt Marsh Nature Center
http://www.saltmarshalliance.org
info@saltmarshalliance.org
3302 Avenue U
Brooklyn, NY 11229 (Flatbush, Brownsville)
This is one of 10 Urban Park Ranger Nature Centers and serves as in-park community center for public education, recreational activities and environmental studies. Take a walking tour, check workshops or educational programs. Jr. Ranger Camp (ages 8-11) is open during the month of July for just $10 a day.

Socrates Sculpture Park
http://www.socratessculpturepark.org/
Socrates Sculpture Park
32-01 Vernon Blvd.
Long Island City, NY 11106
(718)956-1819
The Park is located in Long Island City, Queens at the intersection of Broadway and Vernon Boulevard. The Administrative Offices are located directly across the street from the Park’s Broadway entrance at the intersectionof Broadway, Vernon Boulevard and 11th Street. BY SUBWAY Monday through Friday take the N or W train to the Broadway stop in Queens and walk eight blocks along Broadway toward the East River. On Saturday and Sunday take the N train to the Broadway stop. Socrates Sculpture Park was an abandoned riverside landfill and illegal dumpsite until 1986 when a coalition of artists and community members, under the leadership of artist Mark di Suvero, transformed it into an open studio and exhibition space for artists and a neighborhood park for local residents. Today it is an internationally renowned outdoor museum and artist residency program that also serves as a vital New York City park offering a wide variety of public services.

Staten Island Botanical Gardens
The Staten Island Botanical Garden is an amazing garden with a specimen landscape collection for gardening enthusiasts. Among the gardens are: The New York Chinese Scholar’s Garden (shown above); The White Garden, inspired by Vita Sackville-West’s famous garden at Sissinghurst; and Connie Gretz’s Secret Garden,complete with a castle, a maze and walled secret garden.

One of our favorite spots is Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden in Staten Island. This Center calls itself “New York’s most unexpected and extraordinary destinations.” This tagline truly depicts this stunning oasis of 83 acres which was built more than a hundred years ago as a “haven for the aged, decrepit and worn out sailors.” It began to struggle in the 1950s and closed its doors to the sailors. The city stepped in to protect the buildings and declare them New York City landmarks and list them on the National Register of Historic Places.The sailors are long gone and have been replaced by artists and community groups that use the campus for concerts, art exhibits and art classes. The sprawling compound includes manicured gardens, paths, ponds and open fields. It is simply beautiful for strolling or great for a rollicking game of tag with your kids.
-Rena

The Staten Island Children’s Museum
The Staten Island Children’s Museum is a place to exercise minds, bodies and imaginations with hands-on exhibits, family workshops, performances, after school programs and parent-child classes.
www.statenislandkids.org

When visiting Snug Harbor you should try to visit the Children’s Museum. Here kids can play with a huge chest board with pieces as big as my toddler, marvel at hanging sculptures, climb on a real fire truck, explore the nature exhibits, play with trains in the activity room, hide in a big wooden boat and splash in the outdoor water exhibit.
-Rena

Teardrop Park
Teardrop Park and Nelson A. Rockefeller Park at Battery Park City. At Rockefeller Park, children can run through the sculpture garden and ride the merry-go-round. There are plenty of nice grass spots for a picnic.

Teardrop Park- between Warren and Murray Streets on West St. There is an enormous boulder field with rock steps and once you get to the top you can slide down an enormous slide.

Water Taxi Harbour Tours
http://nywatertaxi.com/
Choose from many tour options: sunset and live music cruises, Mets Express, Fall Foliage Cruises, New Years Even, Hop On/Hop off- 11 stops at cool sightseeing spots and 2 days of unlimited water taxi use with a 2 day pass. Gateway to America- is a one hour tour of NY history will show you the the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Brooklyn and Verrazano Bridges, Fort Wadsworth, and Castle Clinton. You will also learn about the military forts that defended the city in the American Revolution and the War of 1812.
Departs from South Street Seaport and Battery Park and DUMBO.

Kate Wollman Center and Rink
http://www.prospectpark.org
Lincoln Road off Ocean Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11215 (Park Slope)
718.287.6431
Hours: Mon 8:30am-2pm; Tue 8:30am-5pm; Wed 8:30am-3pm; Thu 8:30am-6pm; Fri 8:30am-9pm; Sat 10am-10pm; Sun 10am-6pm
Cost: Adults $5; Children and Seniors $3; Skate Rental $5.50
Kate Wollman Rink is located near the Lincoln Road entrance of Prospect Park and is open forice skating from late November (usually Thanksgiving Day) through March. In spring and summer, the Wollman Center is the start-off site for pedal boating.
Skate rentals are $5.50 and are available for all sessions. Free lockers are available at the Rink; bring your own lock or purchase one at the Gift Shop. Group skating classes are offered on Fridays, at 4pm and 4:30pm, and weekends from 10am on. A series of four classes costs $100, plus a $10 registration fee. For group or private skating instruction, call The New York Skating Center (718.282.1226) on Wednesdays between 4pm-5pm, Fridays between 2pm-5pm, or weekends from 9:30am-3pm, to register. Skating parties can be scheduled by calling 718.287.6215.Ice hockey enthusiasts can join the Brooklyn Blades by calling 718.595.2808; or try the figure skating club, 718.659.5565. For getting there and back check out the HOB Connection- a new FREE shuttle for the Brooklyn Botanical Garden, Brooklyn Children’s Museum, Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn Public Library and Prospect Park and Prospect Park Zoo. You can even start in the city at the Met and hitch a ride home to Brooklyn! Visit The HOB Connection webpage or call (718) 638-7700, x22 for full details and schedule.

The Wyckoff House
http://www.wyckoffassociation.org/
5816 Clarendon Road
Brooklyn, NY 11203
718-629-5400
open: Tues-Sat from 10-4. Walk-in tours given at 11, 1 and 3 pm.
Begun c. 1652, the Pieter Claesen Wyckoff House is New York City’s oldest structure and one of the oldest wooden frame houses in the country. It was the first site to be designated a Landmark upon the creation of the Landmarks Preservation Commission in 1965 and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1968. Pieter Claesen emigrated from the Netherlands in 1637 as an indentured servant and through connections to Peter Stuyvesant, Director-General of New Netherlands, settled in what was then known as New Amersfoort in 1652. Successive generations of Wyckoffs farmed the land until 1901. His descendents donated the house to the City in 1969 and after an exhaustive restoration it opened as a museum in 1982. The Museum’s mission is to educate New Yorkers about the earliest patterns of Dutch and English agrarian life in the region. They now have a farmers market that started in summer of 2007 with rotating workshops and demonstrations on gardening topics. They also have cooking demos.