Until daycare starts in September, my husband and I have been making things work with the help of our wonderful part-time nanny, who is too humble to be named. What she will happily name, however, are endless activities and little-known gems around the city to delight our 13-month-old son.
Whereas mom and dad would happily take our little guy to Carl Schurz Park and call it a day, our nanny is always at the ready with suggestions from the Chelsea Waterside Park (featuring a 64-foot wooden slide in the shape of a Pipefish, a fish species that calls the park waters home) to starchitect David Rockwell’s Imagination Playground at Burling Slip to Japan Village in Brooklyn (please, Lord, let our son not develop an expensive sushi habit quite yet).
Today, she even brought a pamphlet of all the free, family-friendly activities going on at Lincoln Center this summer.
It got me thinking: nannies really do know best. So I decided to tap some other caretaking pros for their top spots to entertain their charges in and around New York City. All are epic, most are off the beaten path, and several spots are totally free.
So go ahead, steal the credit (just be generous when birthdays and holiday tipping come along) and call yourself a superparent for the day.
I took some of my first drunken sailor steps around these hallowed waters since the Reagan era, and my dad and his little brother Andrew played with toy boats at this bucolic sliver of CP in the Post-War Boom years.
Yet, nobody really talks about its magic.
Well, secret’s out: “At the entrance of 5th ave & 72nd street you’ll find the amazing Conservatory Water,” a man-made pond where you can actually sail model boats, said Anthony Santiago, a “manny” at Brooklyn Manny and Nanny, which serves families nationwide.
“In addition, the large space and small hills make a great place,” for kids to ride their bike or scooter. It’s free to visit, and there’s a cafe on the grounds if you or your youngster is in need of sustenance.
FYI: Bookworms, take note that this bucolic environs are a setting in E.B. White’s “Stuart Little,” and its 1999 film adaptation and the park’s famed “Alice in Wonderland” bronze statue is adjacent to the pond.
Betina Mele, founder of Caring Connections, a nanny and household placement agency connecting families with caregivers across NYC, Westchester and now nationwide, calls this a “beautiful, under-the-radar spot that feels like a hidden oasis.”
Mele, who worked as a nanny for over 15 years in Westchester and NYC, likes that there are open areas for kids to explore and unique gardens that make it feel different from a typical park outing. “It’s great for a slower-paced day with toddlers or younger kids,” said Mele, whose agency is based in Yorktown, New York. She recommends visiting the free gardens in the morning or late afternoon for cooler temps and smaller crowds.
Santiago describes Hex&Co. — with locations in Union Square, Morningside Heights and the Upper East side —as a great indoor/outdoor solution for kids who prefer more indoor activities. This board game cafe has “every game imaginable,” he said and great breakfast and lunch fare.
Tabletop board game play starts at $15 per player with a discount for students Monday through Thursdays. P.S. There’s craft beer and cocktails on offer, too, if the daily parenting prescription calls for that.
“A lot of people don’t realize [Old Westbury Gardens offers] wonderful children’s classes throughout the year,” divulged Carly Caruso, account manager at Brooklyn Manny and Nanny, where she was formerly a NYC and Long Island based nanny. (Expect everything from a “tiny gardeners” program to “Seasonal Sprouts: Nature Connects” a Lego-themed adventure.)
Per Caruso, “it’s one of the few places on Long Island that consistently feels calm and manageable crowd-wise, even during the summer,” noting that the grounds are beautiful for walks, nature exploration and low-stimulation outings. Plus, for older kids, the Charles II-style mansion, a one-time family home completed in 1906 is well worth seeing, too.
Admission is free for children six and under (you’ll shell out $12 for youth ages 7-17, $22 for adult general admission and $20 for those 62+).
Who can argue with views of sailboats, Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island? Even cooler, this pier was specifically designed to house historic ships and the “Lilac,” America’s oldest lighthouse tender, built in 1933, docks here. Throw in an 18-hole miniature golf course, sand volleyball courts and … wait, there’s still more.
Mele appreciates that the park’s playground, splash area and open spaces are all in one place so you don’t have to schlep too far for more distraction, ahem, diversions. “It’s right by the water, so it feels a bit calmer than other city playgrounds,” said Mele. Her insider tip? Go to this free park earlier in the day before it gets crowded, and take note that there are bathrooms nearby, “which makes a big difference with younger children.”
In her nannying years, this was one of Caruso’s favorite places to take her clients. “We would pack a blanket, grab snacks for a picnic and spend hours exploring the gardens and open fields,” said Caruso.
“It’s peaceful, safe, and rarely feels overcrowded, which makes it ideal for younger children and toddlers,” she added, noting that the kids she worked with loved talking about what they could see, smell and feel while walking through the flowers and greenery, “so it naturally encouraged sensory play and curiosity.” Access to the grounds is free of charge, but parking fees are collected daily from May 3 through Labor Day and other peak visiting times throughout the year.
For another Central Park showstopper, head to this oft overlooked spot for little ones. Santiago likes that this large hub has a range of obstacles to keep your kid entertained. It’s “the perfect park for playdates and to make new friends as it’s tucked next to The Met,” said Santiago of this free attraction. (The park’s name and design elements like pyramids and a sundial tips its hat to The Met’s Temple of Dendur.)
“There’s always a food cart around to grab a snack after,” he added.
Looking for an easy day trip from NYC? Forty-five miles from Bloomingdale’s is another Empire State marvel starting with the letter B: Bear Mountain State Park. Though here, you’re sure to experience more than a few “Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Manhattan anymore” moments: Between the small zoo, pool, carousel, trails and wide-open space, said Mele, this park is such an underrated locale for a full summer day with kids.
There’s a $10 vehicle entry fee and the pool costs $5 per person while the Trailside Museum and Zoo has a suggested donation of $1 per person.
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