The Nestig Guide to NYC

We're a Sao Paolo and New York City based company, which means most of us are also city parents—dragging strollers onto the subway, hunting down the nearest clean bathroom, and figuring out how to entertain a toddler for six hours on a Saturday.

So we asked around the Nestig office for the spots our team actually loves taking their kids around the city. Not the "best of NYC" list you've already seen a hundred times, but the real ones—the rainy day saves, the summer playgrounds, the classic outings, and the places we go when everyone just needs a snack. Consider this our love letter to the city we call home, one stroller-friendly stop at a time.

Governors Island

Lower Manhattan / New York Harbor

Perfect for a nice day! Take the ferry over and head to the giant slide. It’s an easy way to make a whole day feel like an adventure.

Staten Island Ferry

Lower Manhattan / New York Harbor

The ferry is free, you get great city views, and you can see the Statue of Liberty along the way. An easy one when you want to do something that feels very NYC.

Columbus Ave Open Streets

Upper West Side

On summer Sunday afternoons, Columbus Ave turns into an open street with musicians, toys, and lots of room for kids to run around. Great for an ~unplanned~ afternoon outside.

81st Street Studio at The Met

Upper East Side

A really good way to bring little kids to the Met. And Ancient Playground is right across the street, so you can easily do both.

MoMath

Flatiron

Really engaging for kids of all ages and a fun one if you want to do something a little different from the usual museum day.

American Museum of Natural History

Upper West Side

Our kids have loved this since they were babies. Don't skip the Butterfly Vivarium, Hall of Ocean Life, and dinosaur exhibits!

Play Street Museum

Upper West Side

Think of it like a little kids' neighborhood, with interactive “shops” and spaces to play—a grocery store, doctor's office, and more.

Urban Dunes

Upper East Side

An indoor sandbox where kids can dig, scoop, build, and get all their sandbox energy out without having to brave the weather.

Indoor Kids' Gyms

All over NYC

MyGym and Kidville are two we love, but there are tons of indoor kids' gyms around NYC. Worth looking up what's near wherever you're staying.

Children's Museum of Manhattan

Upper West Side

Great for kids of all ages, and even has dedicated areas for babies who are crawling and exploring. There’s always something hands-on to get into.

Color Factory

SoHo

A fun, immersive option for a rainy day when you need to get everyone out of the house and want something different!

Museum of Ice Cream

SoHo

Colorful, playful, and a pretty safe bet if you're looking for something kids will be genuinely excited about on a rainy afternoon.

NYC Public Libraries

All over NYC

Most NYC libraries have play areas for kids, plus lots of free storytimes and activities. Look up the schedule ahead of time and book in advance for anything you want to attend—popular programs fill up quickly.

Ancient Playground

Upper East Side

A playground with pyramids, climbing structures, slides, and lots of different areas to explore. It’s right across from the Met’s 81st Street Studio, so the two make a very easy little-kid outing.

Dynamic H2O at CMOM

Upper West Side

Don't skip this outdoor water exhibit at the Children's Museum in the summer. It has a huge interactive water table with waterfalls, spouts, and other water features—great when you need to cool everyone down.

Central Park Zoo

Central Park

Entertaining for all ages, but it won't fill up your whole day. Good if you're already spending time in the park and looking for something to fill a few hours.

Imagination Playground

Seaport

A really unique playground with giant blocks and loose parts that kids can use to build, create, and make up their own games. Worth seeking out if you're downtown.

Water Lab Playground

DUMBO

A great summer playground when you have kids who love water play. Bring a change of clothes and let them go for it!

Domino Park

Williamsburg

The sprinklers are great in the summer, and it’s nice to walk around the waterfront while the kids play.

Pier 1 + Little Train Playground

Upper West Side / Riverside Park

A great little-kid outing with the train playground, waterfront, and often music and events happening on the pier. Grab a frozen drink at Pier 1 and make an afternoon of it.

Arte Cafe

Upper West Side

A Nestig-mom favorite. Good, reliable, and easy with kids while still feeling like a nice meal for the grown-ups.

Tacombi

Multiple locations

A favorite for tacos and an easy one to work into a day around the city.

Parm

Multiple locations

Classic, casual Italian-American food that's easy with kids. A good one when you want something everyone will eat.

Jing Fong

Chinatown

Dim sum comes out really fast, which is a major plus when you're eating with kids. Lots of little things to try, too.

Serendipity3

Upper East Side

A classic NYC spot and a fun one to do with kids when you want the food to feel like part of the outing.

Popup Bagels

Multiple locations

Get them and take them to the park. Sometimes that's the whole outing!

Milk Bar

Multiple locations

A fun little sweet treat to work into a day of walking around the city.

Ample Hills

Multiple locations

If your kids are anything like our, an ice cream stop always solves the issue :)

If it feels like sport is having a moment around here lately, that's because it is. Between stroller laps around the park and cheering on the local teams below, we've been soaking up the city's sporty side all season—so much so, it inspired our newest collection.

NY Liberty

Barclays Center, Brooklyn

Women’s basketball is a great way to introduce kids to live sports. High energy, kid-friendly crowd, and a slightly shorter game.

Arthur Ashe Kids' Day

USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Queens

The Saturday before the US Open kicks off, with player appearances, music, and activities for kids. A fun one if you're leaning into tennis season.

Brooklyn Cyclones

Coney Island

A minor league baseball game with a boardwalk and beach right there. Easy to make a whole day of it.

Staten Island FerryHawks

St. George, Staten Island

Take the free ferry over and catch a baseball game after. Low-key and easy with kids.

Harlem Globetrotters

Barclays Center / Madison Square Garden

Basketball fans, listen up. The Globetrotters swing through NYC most years; check the schedule and grab tickets when they're in town. Big crowd-pleaser for kids.

Chelsea Piers

Chelsea

Ice skating, rock climbing, batting cages, and more all under one roof. A good one to have in your back pocket no matter the season or weather.

That's our list—though if you ask us again next month, it'll probably look a little different. New York City has a way of surprising you, and so do the kids we're chasing around it.

Got a favorite spot we missed? We'd love to hear it. And if you're gearing up for a day out with a future little New Yorker in tow, we've got you covered there too.