Brooklyn is a paradise for people with young kids. From restaurants dotted with strollers and beer gardens full of toddlers and tons of interactive museums and installments, I find it the most liveable and engaging part of New York City for kids. We explored it all — at length — and below are our favorite places to visit in Brooklyn with kids.
Coney Island and Cyclones Game: Our family loves Coney Island, visiting the historic beachtown and boardwalk several times each summer. You can literally make an entire day and night out of a visit, going to the beach or acquarium, then on all of the boardwalk rides at Deno’s and Luna Park, then going to a Coney Island Cyclones game. People outside of New York tend to forget that New York City is a beach town, and in my mind, nothing is better than Coney Island with kids. Pro tips: If your kids love rides, get an all-you-can-ride bracelet which will save you a ton of money. Separate pro tip: Try to make one of the Cyclone games that is a firework night, which is just an incredible display all around and a great time for families.
Brooklyn Botanic Gardens: We are big Brooklyn Botanic Garden fans and appreciate all of the family programming at the gardens. Every Wednesday and Friday they have children’s gardening, digging, music and other programming for free for every child under 5. In the summer, they host movies on the lawn, jazz night with feral toddlers running around and a dedicated children’s night that we never miss. We especially love to visit during their Cherry Blossoms and in June when the Rose Garden is in full bloom.
Brooklyn Children’s Museum: A gem of a museum located in the Crown Heights neighborhood. They have great visiting exhibits and boasts being the oldest children’s museum in the United States.
Jane’s Carousel and DUMBO: Want the most epic views of the New York City skyline while in a glass house that doubles as a historic merry go round? Head to DUMBO for a ride on the charming Jane’s carousel. It is always a delight and “pinch me” moment to ride this carousel and explore the surrounding neighborhood under the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges. Bonus tip: go for a stroller walk across the Brooklyn Bridge on a nice day for great views and explore Manhattan’s Seaport neighborhood.