Kids
JUMPING THE SHARK
SHARK SPEEDBOAT THRILL RIDE $28 for adults; $19 for children.
Circle Line Tours
Daily June 1- Sept. 1
Departs hourly from Noon through 5 p.m.
Pier 16, South Street Seaport. 89 South St.
www.nywt.com
(212) 742-1969
Get ready for a heart-pounding, white-knuckle 30-minute thrill ride that roars around New York Harbor every day, all summer long. Enjoy exciting music and great views of the Statue of Liberty and other sites in the harbor while taking a roller coaster trip in the Hudson. Passengers must be 40” tall to ride and children must be able to sit in their own seat. Riders definitely will get wet, so dress accordingly.
LEARN THE FUNDAMENTALS OF GOLF
JUNIOR GOLF PROGRAM $399 for a seven-week program
Saturdays 9 a.m. or 10 a.m.
The Golf Club at Chelsea Piers
www.chelseapiers.com
(212) 336-6444
Let your kids, ages 5-14, get in the swing of things with hour-long golf lessons in these 7-week programs. Experienced instructors introduce and develop the elements of grip, stance, posture, and swing technique. All activities are designed for early learners at all levels. Check the website for program start dates. The Golf Club also offers lessons on driving the ball, Friday Night Swings socials with a cash bar and special Ladies’ Night Out.
A CASTLE IN THE PARK
BELVEDERE CASTLE Free
Mid- Central Park at 79th St.
Daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
http://www.centralparknyc.org
What a place for a castle – and what a castle it is. Named for the Italian meaning “beautiful view,” Central Park’s Belvedere Castle offers park goers exactly what its name implies. It has two balconies that provide wonderful panoramic views of such landmarks as the Delacorte Theater, the Great Lawn and the Ramble. It was originally designed in 1865 as a Victorian Folly, but since 1919 the National Weather Service has taken daily measurements from the castle’s tower with scientific instruments that determine wind speed and direction. Inside, visitors will find a vast collection of natural history artifacts, such as skeletons and paper mâché birds.
MAKING MAGIC
FANTASMA MAGIC SHOP Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
421 Seventh Ave., diagonally across from Madison Square Garden
www.fantasmamagic.com
(212) 244-3633
Okay, so Penn and Teller say there’s really no such thing as magic, but don’t let that stop you from taking the kids to Fantasma Magic Store and the free Houdini Museum. The store offers its products for sale from anywhere from $1 to $200. Those products include books, DVDs and videos on everything from card and coin tricks to stage magic and illusions. The Houdini Museum features exhibits of some of Houdini’s props, as well as a video of the greatest escape artist who ever lived.
INDOOR FARMS
THE ART FARM IN THE CITY $20 drop-in fee. Classes, camps, programs available.
419 E. 91st St. (between York & 1st aves.)
www.theartfarms.org
(212) 410-3117
Manhattan’s only indoor petting zoo boasts a variety of activities all year around. Their popular Mornings on The Farm allows kids over the age of 1 a fun-filled two hours on Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. to feed and snuggle with the farm’s animals, which include bunnies, chinchillas, guinea pigs, and even an occasional pig or goat. The Art Farm has a variety of programs designed to teach kids about responsibility through caring, loving and being in the company of animals. They also offer a summer camp, pre-school, various classes and space for birthday parties. Check the website for more information and about programs and fees.
WEDNESDAYS IN THE PARK
WEDNESDAYS AT TEARDROP Free
Battery Park City Conservatory
Warren St.
Wednesdays 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. All summer long.
www.bpcparks.org
Afternoons of supervised fun, including energetic lawn games, clay collage and painting projects for kids ages 5 and up. All supplies are provided at these fun-filled, high-energy events that will keep the kids busy and entertained and allow them to make new friends.
GARDENING FOR KIDS
YOUNG SPROUTS GARDENING Free
Battery Park City Conservatory
Childrens Garden at Nelson Rockefeller Park
Tuesdays, 3:15 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.
www.bcparks.org
This popular program gives kids 3 to 5 years of age an introduction to organic gardening. They will plants seeds, water plants and work on nature projects to get a feel for working with nature in the middle of the big city. Space is limited, so arrive early.