Big City Family Fun

From the Statue to the Carousel: 23 Top Things to do in Lower Manhattan with Kids

Visit the Statue of Liberty during your 4 day NYC itinerary.
Explore the Statue of Liberty with your kids. Credit: Catherine Parker

As one of the top destinations for families in the U.S., a  trip to New York City is a bucket list trip for some. With attractions, museums, boat rides, and playgrounds, NYC is more than Midtown Manhattan. Families will find lots to do in Lower Manhattan too. If it’s your first visit, start with a trip to see the Statue of Liberty and then visit The National 9/11 Memorial and Museum. Afterward, I recommend you branch out and see New York City from above and from the water. Here are the top things to do in Lower Manhattan with kids for your next getaway.

23 Top Things to Do in Lower Manhattan

  • Statue of Liberty
  • Ellis Island
  • The National 9/11 Memorial and Museum 
  • Battery Park 
  • SeaGlass Carousel
  • Castle Clinton National Monument
  • National Museum of the American Indian
  • South Street Seaport Museum
  • Staten Island Ferry
  • NYC Ferry
  • Brooklyn Bridge
  • Oculus-World Trade Center
  • One World Observatory
  • East Side Tenement Museum National Historic Site
  • New York City Fire Museum
  • Fearless Girl Statue
  • Federal Hall National Monument
  • The High Line
  • Little Island
  • The Whitney Museum of American Art
  • African Burial Ground National Monument
  • Chelsea Market
  • The Friends Apartment

Statue of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty is a symbol of freedom and liberty known worldwide. It sits on a 12-acre island in the middle of New York Harbor. A visit to the Statue of Liberty is a must for a first-time visit to NYC.

It’s one of the top things to do in Lower Manhattan with kids. The trip will take half a day, and it’s a memorable experience seeing the details of Lady Liberty up close.

While on Liberty Island, visit the museum to learn about its construction. Then, climb the 215 stairs to the top of the pedestal to capture views of downtown Manhattan and the copper patina. (Additional tickets are required.)

Separate reservations are required for Pedestal Access and Crown Access. Depending on the time of the year, these reservations sell out months in advance.

Operated by Statue Cruises, the ferry departs from Battery Park in Lower Manhattan. First, explore the Statue of Liberty, then reboard the ferry to tour Ellis Island, an additional stop. The first ferry leaves at 9:00 a.m., and the last one departs at 3:00 p.m., with extended hours during peak seasons.

Tickets start at $24.50 for adults and $12 for kids 4 to 12 with discounts for seniors. Ferry tickets are required for everyone. Food outlets are available on Liberty Island, along with lockers for items not allowed on the pedestal.

Statue Cruises also operates a Statue of Liberty Ferry from New Jersey.

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If you have the time, visit the Ellis Island Immigration Museum. Credit: Catherine Parker

Ellis Island

From 1892 until 1954, Ellis Island welcomed 12 million immigrants to the United States. The Ellis Island Immigration Museum walks visitors through the facility that processed close to 5,000 people a day. While at Ellis Island, you can look up family names to see if they immigrated through Ellis Island.

Give yourself half the day to visit both the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Reservations are a must. A Junior Ranger Booklet is available. All passengers will go through airport-style security screening.

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Take a moment and remember those who lost their life on that day. Credit: Catherine Parker

The National 9/11 Memorial and Museum 

The outdoor memorial offers a peaceful fountain with the names of those lost along the perimeter of the fountain. It is lighted at night, and the flow of water drowns out the sounds of city life.

Inside the 9/11 museum, a collection of artifacts, narratives, archives, and interactive technology remembers the 2,996 people who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. It retells the story of the tragic day along with the months of recovery. 

Located at 180 Greenwich St. The 9/11 Memorial is open from every day from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Free. The 9/11 Museum is open from Wednesday to Monday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Adult admission starts at $21, and kids 6 and younger are free. Reservations recommended. If you are visiting several museums during your visit, consider a CityPass.

Note: Due to the sensitive nature of the museum, skip it with small children.  

Battery Park

Located at the southern tip of Manhattan, Battery Park offers green space to explore with gardens, walkways and lots of views of the New York Harbor. Walk through the perennial gardens, the Battery Woodland and the Bosque Fountain during your visit. 

The playground is a kid magnet and offers some unique climbing structures as well as several assessible features. It is one of the top things to do in Lower Manhattan with kids. For snacks, food trucks line the streets next to Battery Park, or grab a snack at one of the kiosks in the park. 

Located at State St. and Battery Plaza. Free to enter. 

SeaGlass Carousel

Built in 2015, hop on a fish to whirl around the pavilion to classical music. This carousel moves up and down from the floor and twirls around in smaller circles so it feels like dancing. This is also one of the top things to do in Lower Manhattan with kids.

Located in Battery Park. Open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and admission is $5.50 per person. 

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Explore Castle Clinton on your 4 day NYC itinerary.
Next to the Statue of Liberty ferry is the Castle Clinton National Monument. Photo Credit: Catherine Parker

Castle Clinton National Monument

After visiting the Statue of Liberty, explore the Castle Clinton National Monument for more immigration history, located steps from the ferry dock. For war buffs in the family, it’s also a fort from the War of 1812 with antique cannons.

Located in Battery Park and open seven days a week from 7:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free to enter. Juior Ranger booklets available.

National Museum of the American Indian

Located in the Alexander Hamilton Customs House, a Beaux Arts Building that’s a National Historic Landmark, explore the New York branch of the Washington, D.C. Smithsonian Museum. With 700 Native American artifacts and arts, it’s part of the George Gustav Heye collection, started in 1903. This museum is organized geographically and includes items from North America as well as South and Central America.

Located at 1 Bowling Green. Open Daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free to Enter. Reservations not required.

South Street Seaport Museum

Learn about the rise of NYC and its role as a port city. The South Street Seaport Museum offers five historic vessels. Tour the Ship Wavertree and the Lightship Ambrose, located nearby.

Located at 12 Fulton St. Open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed Monday and Tuesday. Weekends only in winter. Adult admission is $18, students are $15 and kids (3 to 17) are $5. Harbor cruises are available and require a separate ticket purchased in advance. Harbor cruises are available and require a separate ticket.

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Staten-Island-Ferry
The Staten Island Ferry is free and a quick and easy way to enjoy Lower Manhattan views. credit: Catherine Parker

Staten Island Ferry

Tight on time but want to get a closer view of the Statue of Liberty without taking the official tour. Then hop the Staten Island Ferry offering passenger service. Departing every 15 to 30 minutes, it’s a free harbor cruise. Since it’s free, it’s one of the top things to do in Lower Manhattan with kids.

Located in Battery Park. Open seven days a week and 24 hours a day.

NYC Ferry

From the Wall Street Ferry Port, you can catch a ferry to popular spots like DUMBO, Governors Island, and even Midtown and the Upper East Side, along with several locations in Queens and Brooklyn. With open-air decks, it’s a run ride with exceptional views of Lower Manhattan.

Located at South Street at Pier 11. Ferries run from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. It’s $4 to ride one way, and tickets (or the app) are available at the ferry dock.

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A trip to New York City is a must for teens who might be exploring the world on their own in a few years. Photo Credit: Catherine Parker

Brooklyn Bridge

Walk over the first bridge that spanned the East River, started in 1870 it was completed in 1883. The towers feature Gothic Revival Towers made of limestone and granite with a pedestrian walkway above the vehicle traffic below. In total, the Brooklyn Bridge is 1.1 miles long, and the DUMBO area offers a lot of dining and activities. Best of all, you can take the ferry back to Manhattan. This is one of the Top Things to do in Lower Manhattan with Kids.

Oculus-World Trade Center

As a transportation hub, retail, and dining area along with stunning work of architecture, the Oculus is a modern version of the Grand Central Terminal. Designed by Santiago Calatrava, visitors should enter from the street level to see the voluminous space Calatrava created. For the exterior, it’s meant to look like a dove flying from a child’s hands.

Underground, find several NYC subway lines as well as PATH trains to New Jersey.

Located at the intersection of Fulton St. and Greenwich St. Free to enter and open daily from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m.

One World Observatory

Rising up in lower Manhattan, head to the 102nd floor of the 1 World Trade Tower for a view of Lower Manhattan and the New York City harbor. Anchoring the revitalization area most affected by 9/11, this building offers a guiding light to the future, especially as the sun sets and glass glows.

Located at 180 Greenwich St. Open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. most days. General admission is $39.

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Lower Eastside Tenement Museum. Best New York City National Parks with kids.
Learn more about the recent immigrants at the Lower Eastside Tenement Museum. Photo Credit: Catherine Parker

East Side Tenement Museum National Historic Site

Walk through history in a preserved tenement building on the Lower East Side. Tour the building that housed 7,000 working-class immigrants from 1863 until 1935. Though not great for younger kids, my teen really enjoyed this museum. It’s one of the top things to do in Lower Manhattan with kids.

With specialized tours focusing on Irish immigrants, Jewish immigrants, and sweatshop workers, along with neighborhood tours, you can get an understanding of an immigrant’s life over a hundred years ago.

The Visitor Center at 103 Orchard St. Open Monday to Thursday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6: p.m. General admission tours are $30. Timed Entry Tickets Required.

New York City Fire Museum

As the official museum of the New York City’s Fire Department, learn about its history in the 1904 firehouse. See the antique equipment, some of it horse-drawn. Then take a moment to reflect at the  NYCFM 9/11 Memorial that honors the 343 fallen firefighters.

Located at 278 Spring St. Open Wednesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Adult admission is $15, students are $10 and kids (3 to 17) are $6.

Fearless Girl Statue

Looking the Charging Bull in the eyes, Fearless Girl, gathered international attention. But she’s moved to outside the New York Stock Exchange, looking up at the building.  The bronze statue is a beacon for strong-willed girls worldwide. This is one of the Top Things to do in Lower Manhattan with Kids.

Located at 11 Wall St. Free

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Visit Federal Hall during your 4 day NYC itinerary
Next to the New York Stock Exchange is Federal Hall, a National Park Site. Photo Credit: Catherine Parker

Federal Hall National Monument

Located on Wall Street, this building served as the first Capitol of the United States, the Supreme Court and the Executive Branch offices. George Washington took the oath of office as the first President of the United States at Federal Hall as well.

The visitor center is located at the Pine Street entrance. The Federal Hall National Monument is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and during the summer, it’s open Saturdays as well. Free to enter.

The High Line

Created from an abandoned New York Central Railroad Spur, the nearly one-and-a-half-mile elevated walking path and park is a must. Created in 2009, High Line is a destination for locals and travelers alike. As a bonus, it’s free, unless you want to grab a snack or a quick coffee along the route. This is one of the Top Things to do in Lower Manhattan with Kids.

Located from Gansevoort St. to 34th St. with multiple entrances, some with elevators. 

Open 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. during the warmer months. Closes at 7 p.m. during the winter. Free

Little Island

Created from piers, Little Island is one of the newest areas to explore in Lower Manhattan. Located at Pier 55, the island and its gardens appear to float about the water. Enjoy a stroll to its high point for views of the Hudson or attend a live performance. It’s one of the top things to do in Lower Manhattan with kids since they like exploring the island with its winding walkways.

Located at West 13th St. at Hudson River Park. It opens daily at 6 a.m. and closes at midnight during the summer, 11 p.m. in the spring and fall, and 9 p.m. during the winter. Free to enter.

The Whitney Museum of American Art

Anchoring the southern end of High Line Park, The Whitney showcases contemporary art from the 20th and 21st centuries with a focus on living artists. 

Located at 99 Gansevoort St. Open Wednesday to Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., and every day during the summer. Adult admission is $30 and kids under 18 are free. Reservations recommended.

African Burial Ground National Monument

Learn about the final resting place of more than 400 African Americans in lower Manhattan. A mass burial site from the 17th and 18th centuries retells the story of free and enslaved people in colonial New York.

The visitor center is on the first floor of the Ted Weiss Federal Building at 290 Broadway in lower Manhattan. The Visitor Center and Memorial are open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Free to enter.

Chelsea Market

On the main floor, locals and tourists traise through for standards like Sarabeth’s, Los Tacos No 1, and L’Art del Gelato. The tables might be limited at peak times. This is one of the Top Things to do in Lower Manhattan with Kids, especially to eat.

Located at 75 9th Ave. Open daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The Friends Apartment 

In the iconic TV show from the 1990s, the outside of this building was featured as their apartment building. It is located at 90 Bedford St.

Where to Stay

Head to Lower Manhattan for the Statue of Liberty and the National 9/11 Memorial and Museum then head to these top things to do in Lower Manhattan with Kids, like the SeaGlass Carousel, ride a ferry and see the National Museum of the American Indian. Here's the top 20 things to do in Lower Manhattan in New York City for your getaway. What to do in Lower Manhattan with kids | Playgrounds in Lower Manhattan #NYC

 

Catherine Parker has a passion for travel and seen all 50 U.S. States. As a former flight attendant with one of the largest airlines, there isn't a North American airport that she hasn't landed in at least once. Since clipping her professional wings after 9/11, she combines her love of the open road with visiting architectural and cultural icons. She is based out of Central Texas dividing her time between writing and restoring a pair of 100-year-old houses. She shares her life with her three kids and her husband.

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