As one of the largest cities in the world and the biggest in the state of New York, New York City offers plenty of opportunities for you and your kids to explore alternatives to picnics in the park, kayaking on the Hudson and sea lion shows at Central Park Zoo. Dare to do something you have never done before. Flip, twist and tumble on trampolines, learn the moves of hip hop or climb a gigantic wall. By looking a little off the beaten path, you and your kids can gain muscle strength, develop your cognitive abilities and satisfy your desire for an adrenaline rush.
Playground Adventures for the Youngest Explorers
Crawl through constricted tunnels, slide down spiral slides and get lost in the wizardly mazes at Kids Fun House in Queens. To get your heartbeat under control, mix up the turbulent activities with dress-up games, arts, crafts and temporary tattoos. On Saturday, it's time for a Nordic adventure. Scandinavia House, which is open to non-members on Saturdays, transforms your surroundings into a Swedish panorama, complete with a Stockholm cityscape, a hand-crafted tent, a Swedish playhouse, shelves of Swedish children’s books, and much more. When it's too cold for Heckscher Playground in Central Park, engage your youngest explorers in gymnastic activities on a safe mat area at the gymnasium in Manhattan's Cathedral of St. John.
Circus
Learn to fly at New York Circus Art. This enchanting circus school offers classes in trapeze flying, trampoline tumbling, juggling and aerial acrobatics. World-renowned circus artists provide instruction for kids and adults. Sign up for a single class or a full course. For a family adventure, hire a private instructor and spend the afternoon gaining body control, diving through the air and convulsing in laughter. If you are not in the mood for a workout, attend one of New York Circus Arts' regular shows and witness the circus students perform their stunts.
Rock Climbing
For a thrilling experience, stop by Manhattan Plaza Health Club. With 5,000 square feet of indoor climbing surface and more than 60 routes, you don't run out of opportunities to work on your rock-climbing technique. See if you can beat your kid to the top. Newbies can sign up for instruction with one of the experienced coaches. The Sports Center Climbing Wall is another excellent place to break a sweat. With its 10,000 square feet climbing wall and potpourri of bumpy routes, this unique gym offers feasible and challenging, off-the-wall adventures to the top.
Gymnastics & Dance
Learn hip-hop dance moves at Peridance Center on Broadway. Your kids will love to see you shake it up. For the youngest age group, My Gym New York City gives your toddler an excellent opportunity to develop her physical, cognitive and emotional acumen in one of the endless gymnastics and dance classes. At NYC Gym Kids, a progressive gymnastics program, your little ones can discover how to balance, climb, slide, jump and swing. Get involved. The instructors count on your help and encouragement.
Science
Discover the wonders of science at Sony Wonder Technology Lab in Midtown Manhattan. Four floors of high-tech, interactive exhibits give you and your kid the opportunity to make music and animation and gain insight into video game technology, robotics and nanotechnology. For a gratifying science excursion, zip over to the N.Y. Hall of Science in Queens, which features 400 gratifying activities and an impressive outdoor science playground where you and the kids can explore the principles of physics. The Discovery Room at the American Museum of Natural History provides you with numerous hands-on projects, and the IMAX theater sends you on intriguing scientific expeditions in a newly renovated show hall with a 40-feet high, 66-feet wide screen and a state-of-the-art digital sound system.
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