New York City - A family vacation in New York City? Nearly 11 million visitors come to New York City every year for just that reason, making family travel the city's fastest growing visitor category - up 25% over the last five years. The reasons are simple. Neighborhoods such as Times Square have been transformed into family friendly destinations and the city's once forbidding crime rate has plummeted to that of a large town. According to recently released FBI statistics, the city is ranked 203rd out of 225 cities across the nation, placing it between Garden Grove, California, (population 165,196*) and Henderson, Nevada (population 175,381*). Out of the nation's 10 largest cities, New York City ranked 10th with the fewest overall crimes on the total crime index.
This summer the city has more to offer the younger set than ever before.
Here is just a small sampling of family-friendly events happening around the city.
For complete information about New York City events visit NYC's Official Visitor Information Web Site at
www.nycvisit.com. To order the free Official NYC Visitors Guide call 1-800-NYC-VISIT (U.S. & Canada) or (212) 397-8222 (international) or stop by NYC's Official Visitor Information Centers at 810 Seventh Avenue at 53rd Street and at the base of City Hall Park at Broadway and Park Row.
All Summer New York Mets(718) 507-8499
Shea Stadium, Queens
New York Yankees (212) 307-1212
Yankee Stadium, Bronx
River to River Festival (212) 835-2789
Free outdoor arts festival celebrating renewal of Lower Manhattan.
Legends of Our Times:
Native Ranching and Rodeo Life on the Plains and the Plateau (212) 514-3700
The National Museum of the American Indian, Lower Manhattan
Exhibition tracing the history of Native American people as buffalo hunters, horsemen, ranchers, and cowboys, and as entertainers and participants in the sport of rodeo.
Catch-and-Release Fishing Harlem Meer/Central Park Conservancy
110th Street & Fifth Ave.
(212) 310-6600
Catch-and-release fishing. Poles and bait are provided with a valid photo ID. Children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult.
June 1 - August 22
New York Liberty Season (212) 564-WNBA
Madison Square Garden
New York's team in the Women's National Basketball Association shoots for the hoops championship.
July 19 & August 9
Staten Island Waterfront Festivals (718) 447-3329
A series of festivals featuring art, entertainment and food on Staten Island's waterfront.
July 7- September 28
Music at the Piers (212) 336-6881
Main Plaza at Pier 62, Chelsea Piers
Free music concerts every Saturday and Sunday afternoon.
June 17 - August 24
Hudson River Festival (212) 528-2733
Lower Manhattan
Free concerts by some of the top acts in the country during this 10-week river front festival.
June 17 - September 3
Staten Island Yankees (718) 720-9265
Richmond County Bank Ballpark at St. George, Staten Island
June 17 - September 3
Brooklyn Cyclones(718) 449-8497
Keystone Park, Brooklyn
July 19 & 26
Bronx Zoo Summer Nights featuring Tiger Mountain (718) 367-1010
Bronx
Join the Bronx Zoo as it opens its gates for the first time for special evenings on Saturdays in July. Visit the new Tiger Mountain exhibit and some of its other popular animal habitats.
July 12-20
Tap City 2003, The New York City Tap Festival (646) 230-9564
Manhattan
The third annual international tap dance festival featuring public performances, master classes, children's and adult courses, panel discussions and films.
July 19
Central Park 150th Birthday Party Manhattan
A day long celebration of the country's premiere public park's 150th Birthday, including kids bicycle and running races, croquet, lawn bowling and storytelling. For more information log on to
www.centralparknyc.com.
July 29 - August 18, 2003
Centennial of Flight Rockefeller Center (212) 632-3975
Manhattan
Rockefeller Center has developed a state-of-the-art aviation exhibit in honor of the Centennial, beginning with the first flight and leading up to the present day.
August 2 & 3
South Street Seaport 13th Annual Ship & Model Boat Festival (212) 748-8600
South Street Seaport
Dozens of model builders display their work and float their models. Demonstrations of nautical skills, tours of the square-rigger Wavertree, children's activities and musical entertainment.
August 3-27
Harlem Week/Harlem Jazz & Music Festival (212) 862-8477
Harlem
Celebrates the culture, music and history of Harlem. Concerts, jazz festival, sporting events, family activities and food.
August 9 & 10
Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York (718) 539-8974
Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, Queens
Dragon boat racing championships, an opening-day parade, dragon dance, food, arts, crafts, cultural programs, and performances.
August 20-26
HOWL!(212) 505 -2225
East Village
Festival celebrating the East Village's 50 years as the capital of the counter culture. Free outdoor events for the whole family.
August 23
Matchbox International Toy Show (973) 470-0400
Chelsea Piers
Matchbox enthusiasts of all ages from around the world will be on hand for a free day of collecting, swapping, and trading.
August 23
Arthur Ashe Kids' Day www.usopen.org Flushing Meadows Corona Park at the USTA National Tennis Center
The day-long festival of kids' tennis activities - including interactive games, musical entertainment, free clinics and the World TeamTennis finals. August 25 - September 7
U.S. Open Tennis Tournament(888) OPEN-TIX or (718) 760-6200
Flushing, Queens
One of the four Grand Slam tournaments of professional tennis.
August 30
NYC Run to Liberty 10K (212) 484-1222
Lower Manhattan
10K race for people of all ages and abilities as well as a series of kids races and a weekend of exciting Lower Manhattan activities for the entire family.
September 1
West Indian American Parade (718) 467-1797
Brooklyn
New York's Caribbean Carnival/Mardi Gras, the largest such event in the U.S. Eastern Pkwy. and Utica Ave. to Washington Ave.
Year-Round Fun In addition to thousands of family-friendly events throughout the summer, New York City offers an endless array of fun for the whole family no matter when you visit. A brief sampling includes:
Rose Center for Earth and Space(212-769-5100,
www.amnh.org).
Metropolitan Museum of Art(212-879-5500,
www.metmuseum.org)
Lower East Side Tenement Museum(212-431-0233,
www.tenement.org).
South Street Seaport Museum(212-748-8600,
www.southstseaport.org),
National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian Institution(212-514-3700,
www.si.edu/nmai)
Children's Museum of Manhattan(212-721-1223,
www.cmom.org Brooklyn Children's Museum(718-735-4402,
www.brooklynkids.orgStaten Island Children's Museum(718-273-2060)
The Museum of the City of New York(212-534-1672,
www.mcny.org) Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum(212-245-0072,
www.intrepidmuseum.com The Museum of Television and Radio(212-621-6600,
www.mtr.org),
American Museum of the Moving Image(718-784-4520,
www.ammi.org),
On Location Tours(212-239-1124,
www.sceneontv.com) Central Park SummerStage(
www.summerstage.com) Bronx Zoo(718-220-5100,
www.wcs.org) Central Park Zoo(718-220-5100
www.wcs.org) Prospect Park Zoo(718-220-5100
www.wcs.org) Queens Zoo(718-220-5100
www.wcs.org) Staten Island Zoo(718-442-3100
www.statenislandzoo.org) ESPN Zone(212-921-3776,
www.espn.go.com) Mars 2112(212-582-2112,
www.mars2112.com) FDNY Fire Zone(212-698-4520,
fdnyfirezone.com) Hard Rock Cafe(212-489-6565,
www.hardrock.com) and
Planet Hollywood(212-333-STAR,
www.planethollywood.com),
Ellen's Stardust Diner(212-956-5151,
www.ellensstardustdiner.citysearch.com Madame Tussaud's New York(212-512-9600,
www.madame-tussauds.com) 42nd Street(212-307 4100
www.42ndstreetbroadway.com) Disney's The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast(212-307-4747
www.disneyonbroadway.com) The People Garden(212-239-6200,
www.thepeoplegarden.com) Blue Man Group(212-260-8993,
www.blueman.com) Chelsea Piers(212-336-6800,
www.chelseapiers.com) Central Park Bicycle Tours & Rentals(212-541-8759,
www.centralparkbiketour.com) Statue of Liberty(212-363-3180,
www.nps.gov/stli).
NBA Store(212-515-6221,
www.nba.com) NikeTown(212-891-6453,
www.nike.com) FAO Schwarz(212-644-9400,
www.fao.com) Toys "R" Us(646-366-8800,
www.toysrus.com) Circle Line Sightseeing & Entertainment Cruises(212-563-3200,
www.circleline.com) Circle Line-Statue of Liberty Ferry(212-269-5755,
www.statueoflibertyferry.com) Empire State Building(212-736-3100,
www.esbnyc.com) 
