The 7 Best Picnic Spots for Families in NYC

picnic spots for families
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The 7 Best Picnic Spots for Families in NYC

Warn weather is here, and that’s the perfect excuse to get out in the sun and spend some quality time with the people you love.

Flowers are blooming all over the city and we all know that New York has some of the most amazing parks that are perfect to enjoy a picnic in! Take some time away from your daily work load or tasks and surprise the family by taking them on a picnic.

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Central Park (Great Lawn)

This 55-acre area is perfect for a good meal outdoors! It’s one of the most popular lawns, and for a good reason. There is so much space to lay down a blanket and relax for the afternoon.

The kids can play games on the grass while you read a book or sunbathe. Remember to take some silly family pictures to remember this charming park!

Prospect Park

Located in Brooklyn, this place isn’t just your standard park. They have a bunch of recreational facilities as well as a zoo which has amazing animals like sea lions and red pandas that will make the experience unforgettable.

Take notice of the park’s indigenous forest and manmade wetlands for a special sight. Extend the picnic to an entire day in the sun while you stop for lunch, relax under the sun and play with the kids!

Astoria Park

This park has beautiful views to pick from! Soak in the sun while you picnic on the fluffy grass. The kids can also enjoy the playgrounds, basketball courts or track around the area. They even have dog-friendly areas throughout the parks so that no one in the family is left behind!

Plus, if you need to do some work while the kids are playing in the lawn, you can go to one of the park’s Wi-Fi hot spots. You can also take the family to walk the multiple trails and enjoy the fresh air, or admire the view of the river!

Madison Square Park

Take advantage of the weather by heading to Madison Square Park! Grab the kids for a fun day out where they can enjoy the playground and space.

You can even bring your dog along for the adventure and if you find that you still need to do some work, the park provides free Wi-Fi for laptops in order to keep you connected.

Pack your own lunch or get some tasty burgers from the original Shake Shack and appreciate the peace of the park’s atmosphere!

Brooklyn Bridge Park

This amazing park has many fun things to do that the entire family will enjoy. Lay down blankets to enjoy the sights of the Brooklyn Bridge and New York Harbor. You can choose to sunbathe and relax or participate in the exciting activities around the park, like basketball, biking, fishing and more!

You can also check out their website to see what beautiful sights to see before the day is over as well as upcoming events and activities the family can participate in! Stop by the pier to take a flick with the family and take in the beautiful moment!

Bryant Park

Take a step outside the towering buildings and enter Bryant Park for some fresh air! This is a perfect place to sit down on the lawn with the family and eat a delicious meal.

Pass around a ball with the kids, or bring some lawn games from home, this park has enough greenery for any activity! Make sure that you take advantage of their free outdoor movie events and performances!

Governors Island

A short ferry ride from Manhattan or Brooklyn, Governors Island has plenty of spacious fields and picnic areas, including Hammock Grove and Picnic Point with stunning views of the Statue of Liberty and Lower Manhattan.

The island offers 120 acres of open space and a car-free environment. It is open to the public every day year-round.

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Adventuring Portal

<p><a name="m_-1473885667065203258__Hlk72147528"></a>Adventuring Portal runs Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) games for kids.   We have created a safe online space for tweens and teens to learn and play D&D.</p> <p>Our D&D Summer Camp session are a one-week experience.  Monday – Friday.  Each day will be 3 hours of gaming (with 2 breaks build in).  15 total gaming hours for $180.  If you have played with us before, you are entitled to 10% off.   </p> <p>Need your kids, nieces or nephews, grand kids or neighbor’s kids to be occupied for a bit so you can get work done & take care of your to-do list? Maybe your tween or teen is still a bit isolated and craves connection with their peers? Whether your teen/tween has played D&D before or is brand-new to the experience, this safe space brings players together to have fun and solve problems as a team in ways few other online opportunities do.</p> <p>All our games focus on experiential learning.   Our players leave knowing all the basic game play as well as experiencing: teamwork, bravery, compassion, generosity, negotiation, improvisation, gamer etiquette, strategy, critical thinking, problem solving, cartography and probability - all through online D&D adventuring!</p> <p>We are an inclusive organization and welcome gamers who are LGBTQIA+ and those on any spectrum. </p> <p>All girls’ groups available. </p> <p>I am a parent, a certified elementary school and middle school math teacher and last summer in the midst of the mess started Adventuring Portal, an online Dungeons & Dragons business for kids. There are so many benefits to playing D&D and I hope you will consider us as a great way for your child to safely socialize, grow as people and have a great time.</p>

Speakitaly NYC

<p>SPEAKITALY NYC offers stimulating and entertaining lessons for children 0 to 16 years through a wide combination of activities based on the communicative approach anchored in the Common European Framework of Reference: active learning (group work, role plays, etc.) and practice exercises aimed to improve listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. Kids will start speaking and using Italian in a very natural way.  Small classes capped at 6 students to make sure each one gets the needed attention and facilitate learners' progress. </p> <p>Our method is driven by a didactic method that is the result of constant updates, professional certifications and more than 10 years of experience in working with non-native speakers from different native languages and levels of knowledge.</p> <p>Our aim is to develop a range of Italian language skills while improving accuracy that will enable the students and participants to interact without stress or feeling rushed. We want to help those in the community really embrace not only the true culture in Italy but the Italian culture within New York City… Who doesn’t love what Italy represents in the kitchen, in history & in the arts?</p> <p>Speakitaly wants to support multilingual families who want to learn a new language or pass along their ancestor’s heritage and culture. Raffaella, the founder said: "We see language awareness and intercultural sensitivity as the milestones for an inclusive society. Italian, like all other languages, is an enrichment and a growth in every way. Vi aspettiamo!"</p>

USC Gymnastics & Baseball Training Facility

<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" data-sheets-value="{" data-sheets-userformat="{">We offer sports activities, after school programs, birthday parties & private lessons for kids ages 3–13 years! Our gymnastics classes are a great way to keep your child active and healthy. We strive to empower and challenge children through the sport of gymnastics.</span></p>