Even before the Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education, and Innovation opened, the American Museum of Natural History was one of NYC's most iconic cultural institutions, so hulking in its square footage you'd be hard-pressed to see it all in one day. That statement is doubly true now that the Gilder Center is set to debut on Thursday, May 4, 2023.

A modern-looking new wing, the Gilder Center adds a whopping 230,000 square feet to AMNH and, for the first time, allows visitors to traverse the entire 10-building campus without hitting a dreaded dead end.

We got a sneak peek at the brand-new building and walked away in awe and anxious for a return visit with kids in tow. Read on for our review of the Gilder Center, which further cements AMNH's place on our list of the best museums in NYC for kids to visit, and learn about all the family-friendly attractions this brand new wing houses, including a year-round butterfly vivarium, 18 species of live insects, and an impressive, immersive exhibition backed by the science and data the American Museum of Natural History holds at the core of its mission.

Belmont Park makes for a charming destination for an old-fashioned family-friendly day trip. Located in Elmont, New York, this thoroughbred horse racing track is centrally located for families traveling from New York City and Long Island, and yet a day at the races is far from an ordinary outing.

My mom grew up as a certified country girl, riding horses and watching the rodeo circuit, and though she—and I—have raised a family of city kids, I try to keep my kids connected to our country roots. Spending a day admiring the horses at Belmont Park is one of our favorite you're-not-in-NYC-anymore outings.

Belmont Park receives tons of attention on the second Saturday in June when the Belmont Stakes—the final leg of racing's Triple Crown—brings the top racehorses to its starting gates, but its racing season debuts in early May and runs through mid-July each year. From food trucks to fillies, here are all the fun things to do during a family-friendly day trip to Belmont Park. Our Guide to Local Farms and Pick-Your-Own Produce offers even more agritainment for families.

Pickleball, the fast-growing, easy-to-play, all-ages racket sport has a brand new home in NYC: CityPickle has taken over Wollman Rink in Central Park for the spring, summer, and early fall.

Bringing with it 14 pickleball courts, CityPickle is the largest pickleball installation in NYC and offers 196 bookable hours daily between now and when it closes up shop in October so the famed ice skating rink can have its valuable real estate back.

To test out the kid-friendliness of CityPickle, we rounded up a pack of 9- and 10-year-old pickleball novices and took a CityPickle lesson. From learning about the kitchen to dinks, drives, and serves, read on for our experience and to learn how you can get in the pickleball game yourself at CityPickle this season.