Exploring Central Park with kids!

When planning a family trip to New York City, make sure to carve out some time exploring Central Park with kids in New York City. It’s such an amazing oasis in the middle of the city, with so many fun things to do with the kids.

This urban park in New York City is one of the most visited park in the US, and one of the most filmed locations in the world as well.
How many movies can you name that we’re filmed here? One that comes to mind is Home Alone 2, at least for me!

We’ve always wanted to explore more of Central park, and dedicated a day just for that. On the blog, I highlight some of the best things to do in Central Park with kids!

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Top things to do at Central Park with kids

Central park was established in 1857, and is designated a National Historic Landmark. With 843 acres to explore, you would need a few days to see it all!

During a recent visit to the city, we set aside a whole day to explore this magnificent park in the city.

Central Park is home to about 36 bridges, lots of playgrounds, a zoo, a skating rink, sculptures, and miles and miles of paths. Theres just so much to discover in Central Park with kids!

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How to get around Central Park with kids

Central Park is huge covering over 800 acres in the city. If you want to fully explore all that the park has to offer, I suggest spending a few days to see it all!

But if you only have one day, I suggest exploring the Southern half of the park, as most of the iconic spots are found in that area.

You can easily explore Central Park with kids on foot, just make sure to bring a stroller for the little ones.

Another way to explore Central park is on a horse carriage ride, which is something to experience on your visit.

There are also bike rentals and pedicabs as well. We preferred to explore on foot just so we’re not limited to a certain timeframe.

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Central Park activities with kids

Climb Rocks at Central Park with kids

One of the most fun things to do in Central Park with kids is climbing rocks. There are so many spots in the park for kids to enjoy rock climbing.

One place in particular is at the Hernshead Rock and the Lake.

Not only do you get the most amazing views of the city skyline from here, the kiddos will have a blast climbing the rocks!

This was our favorite spot in Central Park, and could’ve easily spent the whole day here!

Explore the trails at the Ramble at Central Park

Another fun place for kids at Central Park is the Ramble, which is a lush woodland in Central Park and is composed of 38 acres of winding pathways.

Our little one enjoyed climbing the rocks here and the winding footpaths. It was definitely a nice and quiet place in Central park, and so much fun to explore with kids.

Visit the Bethesda Terrace and Fountain

Another one of the best activities in Central Park with kids is the Bethesda Terrace and Fountain.

Built in 1859, the terrace is one of the very first structures to have been built in Central Park. 

We especially loved the bubble man who kept the kids busy with his giant bubbles! And the many musicians you will find entertaining the crowds.

I was entranced by the beauty of the terrace and the beautiful ceiling, it felt so palatial!

Not something you see in a park everyday, it’s definitely one of the best things to do in Central Park!

Stroll through the Hallett Nature Sanctuary

One of Central Parks hidden gems is the Hallett Nature Sanctuary.

Take a stroll through Central Parks four-acre nature preserve and let the kids have fun exploring the trails.

They will enjoy bird watching, along with the other animals who take refuge here.

Relax at the Pond at Central Park

Right next to the Hallett nature sanctuary is The Pond. The Pond is a great place to take a relaxing stroll along the winding pathways.

This is one of the most peaceful places in Central Park, and it’s a great place to let the kiddos have some downtime.

They’ll be entertained by the ducks and turtles swimming in the pond, and all the rock climbing as well.

Gapstow Bridge spans the pond and makes for a beautiful backdrop to your Central Park photos, with the most amazing NYC views from here.

Rent a Rowboat in Central Park

Another fun activity in Central Park with kids is a boat ride on the Lake. You can rent a row boat at the Loeb Boathouse, which cost about $15 an hour.

Boats are on a first come-first served basis, and I recommend coming early in the day to avoid the lines.

Explore one of the bridges at Central Park

Central Park has 36 bridges to explore, and many have been featured in some popular movies.

One of the most recognized bridge is probably Gapstow Bridge, which was featured in the Home Alone 2 movie.

Another iconic bridge in Central Park is the Bow Bridge, which is one of the most beautiful spots, with one of the most amazing New York City views!

Visit the playgrounds at Central Park with kids

One of the best things to do at Central Park with kids is a visit to one of the many playgrounds.

There are so many play areas within the park, but one of our favorites is the Heckscher playground located by the Umpire Rock.

The Heckscher playground is one of the parks first and largest playground in the city.

There are swings, slides, a splash pad, and rocks for climbing. Restrooms are also located nearby. This is one of the best spots to take in the New York City skyline as well.

Iconic spots at Central Park

The Beatles Strawberry Fields

Fan of the Beatles? There is a memorial in honor of John Lennon called Strawberry Fields at Central Park.

Strawberry Fields is a landscaped area in Central park that was dedicated on what would have been Lennon’s 45th birthday, and was named after the Beatles song “Strawberry Fields forever”.

The Central Park Mall esplanade

One of the most iconic places in the park is the Central Park Mall esplanade. This area in the park was originally used for horse carriages to go through, hence the wide aisles.

The first thing that comes to mind as we made our way through the esplanade are all the movies that have been filmed here! it was so cool to sit in one of the the iconic benches and just admire the beauty of Central park.

We had such a great time exploring Central Park with kids. With over 800 acres to explore, you would need a few days to see it all.

We spent the whole day exploring Central Park and still haven’t managed to see it all.

There’s still so much to discover that we would have to plan another visit! We would especially love to see Central Park in the spring when all the trees and flowers are in bloom.

Plan your next weekend getaway to New York City and explore this wonderful park in the middle of the city.

Tips on visiting Central Park with kids

• One of the best tips when exploring Central Park with kids is to make sure to have some snacks and water handy, or pack a lunch and have a picnic at the park.

• Make sure to bring something for the kiddos to get around, like a folding scooter, or a stroller for the little ones. Theres gonna be a lot of walking so be prepared.

• You can easily take the subway here and stop at the 59th street station at Columbus Circle.

• Theres so much to explore in Central Park with kids, so I suggest blocking out a day!

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