Top 35 Indoor Spots

Whether you’re on a New York City vacation or live locally, here are the city’s 35 best indoor spaces. Spots interesting enough to capture our children’s imagination and big enough to give them room to roam.

Given the economic climate, its always good to call ahead and make sure the spot still exists.

Want to add one to the list? Put it in the comments below, or email us and we’ll check it out!

MOST PLACES ON THIS LIST ARE:

• Almost Always Accessible during the day
• Cozy & Warm (Indoors)
• Lesser Known
• Non-commercial
• In Manhattan

PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES

• Ride the first car of the E train.
• See Toy Boats and Model Trains at the Forbes Gallery.
• 4. Look for all the Tom Otterness silly sculptures in the 14th Street A, C, E subway station.
• 5. Visit the train show at the Transporation Museum in Grand Central.

GET PHYSICAL

• 6. Ice skate at Bryant Park.
• 7. Wander through the giant palm-tree filled Winter Garden.
• 8. Let the kids off leash until late (7 a.m. to 11 p.m.) at 550 Madison Avenue.
• 9. Take Free Shots at the NBA Store.
• 10. Practice Hula-Hooping at the Nintendo World Store.

GIVE IN TO YOUR INNER TOURIST

• 11. Whisper across a crowded room near The Oyster Bar.
• 12. Shoot then email a free video of yourself in Times Square.
• 13. See the Statue of Liberty from the Staten Island Ferry.
• 14. Do a Family Tour with Big Apple Greeter (book in advance).
• 15. Make free iPhone calls from one of the three Apple Stores.

ABSORB THE ARTS (AND SOME HISTORY & CULTURE TOO)

• 16. Walk like an Egyptian: Temple of Dendur at the Met Museum
• 17. Be Medieval at the Cloisters
• 18. Go Native at the Smithsonian Museum of American Indian.
• 19. Relive the Revolution at Manhattan’s Oldest House (Morris-Jumel Mansion)
• 20. Check out the gargoyles and statues at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine.
• 21. Get jazzed at the Harlem Jazz Museum.
• 22. See the birthplace of American Government at Federal Hall.
• 23. Make a Fashion Statement at the Museum at FIT.
• 24. Browse the local crafts at Artists and Fleas indoor craft market (weekends only)

PLAY GAMES

• 25. Play the floor piano at FAO Schwartz.
• 26. Share a story at the Mulberry Branch of the NYPL.
• 27. Make a Potato Head at The Disney Store.
• 28. Play computer games at the Apple Store.
• 29. Become a Mad Scientist at the Sony Wonder Center.
• 30. Go Incognito at the world’s best costume store Abracadabra.
• 31. Read a book or play a computer game at the newly-opened Children’s Center at the Fifth Avenue NYPL.

TAKE IN A SHOW

• See the Kaleidoscope Show in Grand Central.(until January 1, 2009)
• Visit a real Chocolate Factory.
• Observe the Snowflakes at the Time Warner Center.
• Email here to become a KidCity member to stay current with the best of everything for families.

NEW FOR 2010

• Moomah
• Sony Wonder Center
• MOMA shape lab

MEMBERSHIPS

• Scandinavia House
• Morrison Hotel Gallery
• NYPL Children’s Reading Room (42nd STreet)
• The newly renovated St Agnes Children’s Reading Room
• Museum of the Moving Image