Better than Coney Island (the I didn't look at the calendar edition)
April 25, 2015 3:30 PM Subscribe
I wrongly assumed that the Coney Island amusement parks (Luna Park, Deno's) would be open weekday afternoons mid May. Having gotten the family excited to spend an afternoon there on our upcoming vacation, I am now left scrambling for an alternative. What's better than Coney Island?
Two kids - 6 and 10 who are very much into amusement parks and not very interested in museums or historical landmarks. Things we are already planning to do: Top of the ROC, Matilda, The Beast boat ride, the High Line, Times Square, Central Park, possible Prospect Park, walking the Brooklyn Bridge, maybe Museum of Natural History. We are fond of street food, pizza, and ice cream and plan to hit food trucks if possible.
I am now debating another show, maybe Stomp? Some other kind of ride or experience or physical activity? I need something fun and exciting, a worthy substitute. We are only in town during the week.
Note - this may not feel like much of a blow to some, but the kids were looking forward to it.
Two kids - 6 and 10 who are very much into amusement parks and not very interested in museums or historical landmarks. Things we are already planning to do: Top of the ROC, Matilda, The Beast boat ride, the High Line, Times Square, Central Park, possible Prospect Park, walking the Brooklyn Bridge, maybe Museum of Natural History. We are fond of street food, pizza, and ice cream and plan to hit food trucks if possible.
I am now debating another show, maybe Stomp? Some other kind of ride or experience or physical activity? I need something fun and exciting, a worthy substitute. We are only in town during the week.
Note - this may not feel like much of a blow to some, but the kids were looking forward to it.
Which week? A Mets game might be fun and/or you could go to Flushing Meadows Corona Park and/or into Flushing for Chinese food and/or Jackson Heights for Colombian food. All places you can get to on the 7 train, and if you're in the front of the first car when it goes above ground it's like a slow roller coaster =)
posted by the twistinside at 4:01 PM on April 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by the twistinside at 4:01 PM on April 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
One of the zoos?
Specifically the Bronx Zoo. The other zoos in the city don't even remotely compare. Neither do most zoos in cities besides San Diego, honestly - it seriously spoiled me as far as zoos go. Also they have a skyride thing that takes you over the whole place, so that's kind of like a ride.
They might like the Intrepid too - it's technically a museum, but it's on an aircraft carrier in the Hudson river.
posted by Ragged Richard at 4:04 PM on April 25, 2015 [2 favorites]
Specifically the Bronx Zoo. The other zoos in the city don't even remotely compare. Neither do most zoos in cities besides San Diego, honestly - it seriously spoiled me as far as zoos go. Also they have a skyride thing that takes you over the whole place, so that's kind of like a ride.
They might like the Intrepid too - it's technically a museum, but it's on an aircraft carrier in the Hudson river.
posted by Ragged Richard at 4:04 PM on April 25, 2015 [2 favorites]
Blue Man Group is pretty fun for kids of all ages, and they do afternoon shows on Wednesdays.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 4:13 PM on April 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 4:13 PM on April 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
Museum of the Moving Image in Queens has a lot of fun interactive stuff.
posted by greta simone at 4:14 PM on April 25, 2015
posted by greta simone at 4:14 PM on April 25, 2015
Nthing the Bronx Zoo!
(And good choice on Matilda! I saw it last month and was absolutely delighted!)
posted by firei at 4:49 PM on April 25, 2015
(And good choice on Matilda! I saw it last month and was absolutely delighted!)
posted by firei at 4:49 PM on April 25, 2015
Yup, definitely the Bronx Zoo. Also, you said "maybe" Museum of Natural History - if your kids are into dinosaurs, that's a must-do.
posted by sunflower16 at 5:19 PM on April 25, 2015
posted by sunflower16 at 5:19 PM on April 25, 2015
Also, yes to the Intrepid. And Lion King!
posted by sunflower16 at 5:21 PM on April 25, 2015
posted by sunflower16 at 5:21 PM on April 25, 2015
One more thing: I'm guessing you won't have time to drive here and still have sufficient time go to on rides, but mentioning it just in case: https://www.sixflags.com/greatadventure
posted by sunflower16 at 5:24 PM on April 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by sunflower16 at 5:24 PM on April 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
I'm not sure where you're coming from but Six Flags is about an hour drive & a great park, if you don't want to give up on roller coasters.
posted by dame at 6:01 PM on April 25, 2015
posted by dame at 6:01 PM on April 25, 2015
Check out the drop-in activities at the Chelsea Piers Field House. They have batting cages, rock climbing, foam pits, etc. Bowlmor is also very close.
You can combine that with a trip to the Intrepid, which you'll see when you do the Beast. You can easily grab a cab on the West Side Highway and be there in five minutes. Check out Gotham West Market if you need somewhere to eat after.
If you go all the way to Prospect Park, you have to take your kids to the Superhero Supply Company.
Have fun!
posted by amicus at 9:27 PM on April 25, 2015 [4 favorites]
You can combine that with a trip to the Intrepid, which you'll see when you do the Beast. You can easily grab a cab on the West Side Highway and be there in five minutes. Check out Gotham West Market if you need somewhere to eat after.
If you go all the way to Prospect Park, you have to take your kids to the Superhero Supply Company.
Have fun!
posted by amicus at 9:27 PM on April 25, 2015 [4 favorites]
The Big Apple Circus will be in Queens beginning May 17.
posted by SemiSalt at 5:27 PM on April 26, 2015
posted by SemiSalt at 5:27 PM on April 26, 2015
Rye Playland, an Art Deco amusement park built in 1927 and pretty well preserved, is a short ride from Grand Central on the Metro North New Haven Line. I took my daughter there all the time when I lived in New York in the 1990s. It opens for the season the first week in May. Besides the usual rides and attractions, there's a beach and a picnic area. It opens the first weekend in May, but could--like Coney Island--stay closed on weekdays until school's out.
posted by 4shortlegs at 2:00 PM on April 27, 2015
posted by 4shortlegs at 2:00 PM on April 27, 2015
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posted by Cosine at 3:58 PM on April 25, 2015