A Parent’s Year-Round Guide: Our Annual Guide 2024-2025 is now out!

A Parent's Year-Round Guide: Our Annual Guide 2024-2025 is now out!

A Parent’s Year-Round Guide: Our Annual Guide 2024-2025 is now out!

Parenting in NYC is like no other, and we get that. While it certainly has its challenges, raising a family here comes with some major benefits too. We get year-round access to some of the best attractions, events, activities and fun that simply can’t be found anywhere else in the world! 

That is why we, too, are excited when our Annual Guide arrives, bringing with it 365 days of resources and info in one little handheld guide. Whether you are a new, seasoned parent or new to New York (welcome!), this guide is for you. We add essential tools to help you make the most of parenting in our vast – and we do mean vast – city. We cover four boroughs of NYC (Manhattan, Queens, the Bronx and Brooklyn) plus Long Island in this guide!

If you are from Westchester or Rockland, be sure to check out our Westchester Annual Guide! If you’re in Staten Island, go take a look at our Staten Island Annual Guide!

The Annual Guide covers more than just what is going on this month; it spans the whole year. Our Family Calendar (page 27) is loaded with 12 months of events your family will love. Think: Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Rockefeller Christmas tree arrival, plus all of the most exciting annual parades, carnivals and festivals New York has to offer. Peruse the calendar pages and bookmark the events you want to attend, then be sure to check back in with us on our digital Family Calendar as each event gets closer for more details – and more family-friendly events too!

Pssst… Check out The Ultimate Family Guide to Summer Fun 2024!

Our Annual Guide comes out in July and we’re still in the dog days of summer, so we’re sharing our favorite sprinkler parks and water playgrounds for keeping your cool when the heat waves are heat waving (relief soon, please?). Fall will be here before we know it, though, so see we’re sharing the best leaf peeping spots in the city so you can plan your scenic photo shoots accordingly (page 64).

With fall comes pumpkin-picking and apple-picking season, two of our absolute favorite fall activities. We just love a day on the farm, any time of year really. Our Ultimate Guide to Pick-Your-Own-Farms (page 18) features everything you need to head out with the family for some fresh air and freshly picked goodies! We’re sharing all you need to know about picking your own fruits, veggies, flowers, and even Christmas trees, including what’s in season and when, so you’re ready for a farm day, any day!

One thing you can do all year round in NYC is visit a plethora of museums any day of the week. We updated our roundup of the best museums in and around New York City (page 77), including the best ones for children with special needs and disabilities (page 78).

Pssst… Check out 10 Free Things to Do This Week with Kids

Most kids love rides, but not every day can be a carnival or amusement park trip. A quick spin on a carousel will usually do the trick when your kids are getting restless. Some carousels are open year round, while others are seasonal. Find out when and where to ride the beautiful carousels in and near New York City (page 12).

Between the pages of the Annual Guide articles you’ll find a wealth of offers and information tailored to your area from our New York Family partners; you’ll find everything from education resources, real estate professionals and vacation ideas, to extracurricular and after school activities and so much more. Tip: Click on any ad page to visit their site and get more information!

Check out the Annual Guide now!

 

Psst… Here are The Best Spots for Family Summer Travel

Relevant Directory Listings

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Plugged in Band

<div>Plugged In is a nonprofit program that offers online programs to student musicians (Ages 10-18) in a non-competitive environment and provides band and individual performance opportunities in support of community and charitable causes.</div> <div> </div> <div>Our programs include:</div> <div> </div> <div>Rock Band Classes</div> <div>Private Music Lessons</div> <div>Summer Camp</div> <div>Digital/Audio Production</div> <div>Songwriting and Recording Workshops</div> <div> </div> <div>Oh and hey parents, we are now offering private music lessons and our rock band program for adults too. Reach out to us for more information. </div>

This Is Cooperstown

<p>Nicknamed America's hometown, Cooperstown has small-town charm and world-class attractions including the National Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum, a must-see for fans of the game and the ultimate homage to America's Pastime. Discover fine, folk, and Native American art at Fenimore Art Museum, acclaimed and varied performances at the Glimmerglass Festival, craft beer at Brewery Ommegang and Red Shed Brewery, fresh cider from the Fly Creek Cider Mill, great restaurants, four-season events, and outdoor fun.</p>

The Wild Center

<p>The Wild Center, nestled within the breathtaking landscape of New York's Adirondack Park, offers an unforgettable journey into the heart of nature. As visitors approach the Center, they are greeted by the Adirondack Mountains towering in the distance, setting the stage for an immersive adventure.<br /><br /></p> <p>Upon entering the 34,000-square-foot exhibit hall, guests are enveloped in a world of wonder and discovery. Interactive exhibits like Planet Adirondack and Climate Solutions invite exploration, allowing visitors to delve into the rich biodiversity of the Adirondack region. The indoor experience also includes an opportunity to soar on Birdly--a one-of-a-kind VR experience. Also, get up close with an animal ambassador during one of many live animal encounters throughout the day.<br /><br /></p> <p>In addition to its indoor exhibits and programs, the Wild Center also boasts 115-acres of extensive outdoor amenities. One of the highlights in the award-winning Wild Walk. Visitors walk up a trail of bridges to the treetops of the Adirondack forest, 40 feet off the ground. Along the way, interactive exhibits provide insights into the flora and fauna that call the Adirondacks home, from songbirds to black bears.<br /><br /></p> <p>The rest of the campus features more ways to explore. Check out Patrick Dougherty’s Stickwork sculpture, an all natural installation of woven sticks that will spark your imagination and nostalgia. Immerse yourself in Forest Music, take a naturalist-lead canoe trip, or get your roll on with Raquette River Roll, a brand-new, oversized, all-natural ball run experience opening in June 2024.</p>