No need to leave the New York City limits for some Labor Day weekend fun this year. Hit up one of these affordable activities with your family for the ultimate staycation before school starts

Is it really the end of August already? Soon enough, you’ll be saying goodbye to the summer season and sending your kids back to school. But with one last long weekend left, let’s make it count.

For those staying in town, we’ve rounded up enough mind-blowing Labor Day activities to keep your family busy! From live music to events with colorful costumes and cultural vibes to zoo animals galore, there’s plenty of staycation fun to be had without having to leave the New York City limits in order to send off summer properly.

Coney Island Beach Amusement Parks
Don’t say goodbye to the ocean waves yet. Pack a sandwich and head over to the Coney Island boardwalk and beach. What makes Coney Island a top pick for kids? Want to play in the sand and ride your heart out on the thrilling Coney Island Cyclone? How about a spin around Deno’s Wonder Wheel? It’s all within walking distance in one epic location.

Luna Park in Coney Island
1000 Surf Ave.
Brooklyn, NY
Online: lunaparknyc.com

Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park
1025 Boardwalk Ave.
Brooklyn, NY
Online: denoswonderwheel.com

Related: Late Summer Escapes Near New York That You Still Have Time to Take

Public School Holiday in Prospect Park
Nature is calling. Get your family outside and enjoy family programming at Prospect Park on Mon., Sep. 5 from 12-5 p.m. Participate in nature-themed activities, learn about animals that live here, join a family bird walk, and ride the carousel. Visit the website for the full schedule of activities.

Audubon Center
Brooklyn, NY
Online: prospectparkalliance.org

West Indian Parade
Immerse your family in the spirit of the Caribbean culture and heritage by joining this annual event that attracts two million people. On Mon., Sep. 5 starting at 11 a.m., get completely mesmerized by the visually stunning and colorful ensembles and hear the sounds of steel-pan and calypso bands. Watch as participants in elaborate costumes walk down Eastern Parkway, and taste what the island cuisine has to offer at one of the many vendors along the parade path.

Insider tip: Early risers can join in the fun at pre-parade parties during J’ouvert (which means “daybreak” in French).
Schenectady Avenue, ending at Grand Army Plaza
Crown Heights, NY
Online: carnifest.com

Washington Square Outdoor Art Exhibit
Aspiring artists and art lovers must come out to Greenwich Village for this fall sidewalk show on Mon., Sep. 5 from 12-6 p.m. It’s the exhibit’s 92nd year and serves as a great opportunity to get your family to experience art while getting outside. Enjoy fine art, mixed media, metal work, jewelry, glass, wood, and so much more!

Just note: despite the name, the exhibit is not actually inside Washington Square Park. It begins at E. 13th St. and continues south along the east side of the park until W. 3rd St.

University Place
Greenwich Village, NY
Online: wsoae.org

The Met’s 13th Summer HD Festival
Enjoy 10 thrilling performances at this 11-day event, which has featured free showings from Aug. 26 and runs through Labor Day weekend. The round up for Labor Day includes Massenet’s Cinderella, Puccini’s Turandot, and Terence Blanchard’s Fire Shut Up in My Bones. One of those 7:30 p.m. shows seem like a good fit for your fam? Grab one of the 2,500 seats set up at Lincoln Center.

Lincoln Center
Upper West Side, NY
Online: metopera.org

Related: 60+ Free Things to Do in NYC With Kids All Month Long

girl sitting on red caboose at walkway over the Hudson ny
Wai Sze Zara

Walkway Over the Hudson River
As the summer air winds down, so do the temperatures. Enjoy an easy nature walk with your little urbanite. The Walkway over the Hudson is a great choice and is friendly to strollers, scooters, and bikes. Walk across the 3.6-mile loop, which offers unobstructed panoramic river views, historical points of interest, and the former railroad bridge. Be sure to look for the red caboose! Kids love climbing it.

64 Parker Ave.
Poughkeepsie, NY
Online: walkway.org

Rockaway Bazaar
Enjoy one final swim and hit the beach! The Rockaway Bazaar has been hosting live music all summer long. Take one final taste of the ocean salt water, build a stunning sand castle, and rock out to live music. It’s fun and free for all ages!

Sand Shark Bar
9701 Shore Front Blvd.
Rockaway Beach, NY
Online: rockaway-bazaar.com

Queens County Farm
Visit the Queens County Farm that has served as one of New York’s longest farmed sites. Come see where your food comes from, straight from the source. Farm grounds are free to the public on Labor Day so come and visit the animals that live here, including sheep, goats, alpacas, pigs, and honeybees. Plus, school-aged children can pick up a Farmy Scavenger Hunt sheet at the farm store or take a reading break at the Con Edison Reading Room.

73-50 Little Neck Parkway
Queens, NY
Online: queensfarm.org

Even if you’ve visited dozens of times before, stepping through the doors of the refreshed Seattle Children’s Museum feels like a totally new experience because it’s been so long. After being closed for over two years, it’s time to get reacquainted with Seattle’s go-to spot for indoor play. We’ve got the scoop on what’s new, what’s changed and what to expect when you make your reservation to play.

What’s New

To celebrate its re-opening, the museum debuted a brand new logo, new color scheme and, in addition to a few new play areas, it has breathed new life into its existing exhibits.

seattle childrens museum, best kids museums
 

Neighborhood Paws

Little animal lovers will want to head straight for the paw-some new veterinary clinic, Neighborhood Paws. It’s where they’ll find cats, dogs and birds in need of a little TLC. Although the space is small, it’s used well, and there are plenty of animals and accessories to go around. Kids can don lab coats and pick the just-right animal from an array of stuffies displayed in the kennels. They can swaddle them in blankets, sit and read animal stories and of course, give them a much-needed check-up. X-ray cards, adjustable cones and a grooming station, with a real air dryer, help make the experience realistic for future vets.

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Amazing Airways

Amazing Airways is the other new exhibit making its debut during the reopening. A children’s museum favorite (maybe you’ve played with one at the Tacoma Children’s Museum or Hands On Children’s Museum in Olympia?), it’s all about air flow. Kids send objects like scarves and balls through an intricate maze of clear tubes. The fun part is diverting the airflow to see how the fast flying objects racing toward an exit are affected. We have a feeling this one will stop your little scientists in their tracks, so be prepared.

seattle children's museum, best museums for kids

Revamped Reading Room

Step inside the pages of Olympia-based, paper artist Nikki McClure’s adorable picture book 1-2-3 Salish Sea, when you duck into the redesigned storybook nook. The fairytale theme has been replaced with freshly painted murals that highlight our local waters, running along the wall like gentle waves. Within the next week or so, this space will be completed, and storytimes will be returning soon too.

seattle children's museum, best museums for kids

Tribal Tales

Tribal Tales opened just before the shut down, so while not technically new, it will be to many visitors. Sit back and relax while your kids put on a playful puppet show using puppets designed by local artists. A collab between Pacific Northwest tribes and the museum, it’s a winner with kids of all ages. They learn about the region’s original inhabitants through play and storytelling.

Refreshed Exhibits

Many of the museum’s existing exhibits got a facelift, and they’re ready for play.

Seattle childrens museum, best kids museums

Everyone’s favorite mountain has a fresh new batch of snow at the top. As you make the trek, check under rocks to find hidden creatures, climb through the nurse log and stop to play forest animal before making the final ascent. The animal burrow up top still makes a great hiding spot. And camping with friends is still the only way to play when roasting s’mores in your tent at the top.

Seattle childrens museum, kids museums

Stop in the Sound Transit Station to play with trains, drive the bus and build all kinds of crazy play structures using Imagination Playground blocks. Then hit the Post Office for some real world fun. Kids can weigh and sort packages, before putting on their all-weather postal carrier gear and hopping in the delivery truck to make the rounds.

The spruced-up Eye Clinic has an array of colorful glasses kids will be clamoring to try. All they need is a quick exam before choosing the best pair. Just across the way is where you’ll find two other favorites that are back with renewed vigor—the Marketplace and the Construction Zone. An inspiring new mural makes the wall in the Construction Zone really pop, and the marketplace is definitely still the spot to shop for toddlers.

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Tots will want to trade in their play clothes for a cute costume at the Bijou. Find fresh new looks for your little dramatists in the dressing room, before taking the stage. Don’t forget to add in sound and lighting effects to make the show complete. Another tot favorite, Discovery Bay, is back too, with a fresh coat of paint, new flooring and the same toddler-focused play kids love.

Seattle children's museum, best kids museums

The Imagination Studio, tucked in a back corner, is a prime spot to take tuckered out kids who need a reset. They can use paint, markers, glue and scissors to create a masterpiece here. And we’re happy to report the full-body Spirograph is back too. Load the markers, turn the dial and watch as a mesmerizing pattern appears

A Work in Progress

When you visit, expect to see a few closed doors hiding unfinished areas still in the planning stages. Museum staff is considering using these spaces to expand current exhibits or to design new and engaging ones. As always, the museum continues to evolve to meet the diverse needs of the kids and families who love playing there. Also under wraps are the party rooms. Although not currently available, they will be soon. Keep your eye on the website for updates if you’ve got a kid’s party in your near future.

seattle childrens museum, best kids museums

Keep Playing

Because of its prime location, planning a full day of play that includes a trip to the Seattle Children’s Museum isn’t hard. Just outside its doors you’ll find all kids of kid-friendly activities at Seattle Center. A trip up the Space Needle is always a hit with little daredevils. And MoPOP’s Heroes and Villains: The Art of Disney Costume is still on exhibit, for another few weeks (it closes April 17). Families with big kids in tow should check out the challenging slides and climbs at the Artists at Play playground. And we’re pretty sure there’s nothing more refreshing than a run through the city’s biggest fountain on a hot summer day.

Good To Know:

1. Timed tickets are required to visit, and it’s best to reserve your spot before heading over. Making the reservation is free (you’ll be charged when you arrive), and you can start your visit any time during the one-hour arrival window.

2. Find the latest updates on mask wearing and COVID cleaning protocols online.

3. Did you have a membership when the museum closed back in March of 2020? If so, you’re in luck. The time that remained on your membership, plus a month, will be added back to your membership starting April 2, 2022.

4. While parking near the museum can be tricky, not to mention expensive, there are a few street parking options that will save you some cash. Look for spots on Republican Street or Warren Avenue to avoid public parking lot rates.

 

Hours: Fri.-Sun., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (April)
Cost: $12/person; Free, babies under 1

305 Harrison St.
Seattle, WA
206-441-1768
Online: seattlechildrensmuseum.org

All photos courtesy the writer

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School is back in full swing. Have you found your favorite study spot yet? This year, look beyond the local library and check out one of the many inspiring (and sometimes, unconventional) workspaces the DMV has to offer. Here are a few of our favorite places to hit the books.

Photo Credit: The Java Shack via Yelp

Java Shack
Socially-conscious students can get their caffeine (or hot cocoa) fix and help save the earth at the same time while studying at Arlington’s Java Shack. The coffee shop is known for its sustainability efforts, including composting used coffee grounds, offering coffee cups made from corn-based materials, and running exclusively on wind power. Young customers also get a lesson in philanthropy at Java Shack: a portion of the cafe’s profits go to several Arlington-based charities.

2507 Franklin Rd. (Arlington, Va.)
Online: javashack.com

Photo: Dottie Day via Flickr

Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden
There are several spots to get your creative juices flowing at the Smithsonian’s home for contemporary art. Check out the Lerner Room, located on the third floor of the ring-shaped museum. It’s floor-to-ceiling windows offer an amazing view of the National Mall along with tables, chairs, wi-fi access, and a curvy couch that’s perfect for cuddling up with a textbook. You can also bring a blanket with your books and take your studies outdoors to the museum’s sculpture garden.

700 Independence Ave., SW (Downtown)
Online: hirshorn.si.edu

Photo Credit: Ken Mayer via flickr

Hillwood Museum, Estate and Gardens
Whether you’re studying history or horticulture, Hillwood is one of D.C.’s hidden homework gems. Purchased by Marjorie Merriweather Post (as in The Washington Post) in 1955, this estate is home to impressive European art collections as well as 25 acres of landscaped gardens and woodlands. Looking for artistic inspiration? Snag a seat in the Special Collections Library and surround yourself with nearly 38,000 pieces of art. You can also sip tea as you do schoolwork in the estate’s cafe or brush up on local history in Hillwood’s archives.

4155 Linnean Ave., NW (Van Ness)
Online: hillwoodmuseum.org

Photo: Joevare via Flickr

Kogod Courtyard
Sick of stuffy study spots? Take a trip to Kogod Courtyard, a 28,000-square-foot space filled with natural light, plants, and water scrims. The courtyard also features loads of seating, free wi-fi, and a cafe with brain-boosting snacks like fruit and yogurt parfaits. Housed in the same building as the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery and American Art Museums, the courtyard’s the perfect place for those looking for extra ideas and inspiration.

8th and F Streets (Chinatown)
Online: npg.si.edu

Photo Credit: Sarah C. via Yelp

Bump ‘n Grind
Budding Bachs and Bowies alike can get into the homework groove at this Silver Spring cafe/record shop hybrid. Snag a spot in the records nook and curate a personalized study soundtrack using Bump ‘n Grind’s two listening stations. Musicians in the making can also take a spin on community turntables or sample snacks named after local music institutions (Ft. Reno sandwich, anyone?).

1200 East-West Hwy (Silver Spring, Md.)
Online: bumpngrind.co  

Photo Credit: Forsaken Fotos via flickr

Library of Congress
Bookworms young and old will love studying like our forefathers did at the nation’s largest library. The gorgeous Main Reading Room, which is open to those with a LoC-issued ID, is a large circular space where 226 desks are housed under a copper-domed ceiling. Fair warning: this homework haven is also a tourist attraction (translation: thousands of visitors peer through plexiglass at the room during library tours).

101 Independence Ave., SE (Downtown)
Online: loc.gov

Does your crew have a favorite place to cram? Share your study spots in the comments section below.

–Sarah Vogel

Books open pint-sized minds to wonder and imagination, while reading gives kids (and adults) a window to the world. The feeling of going places and doing things they dream of — all while never leaving the room (and it doesn’t hurt that we get a little peace and quiet ourselves). Put down the laptops, iPads and smart phones and teach your little beansprouts the pleasure of reading a good book at these awesome reading rooms around town.

Photo Credit: M. Walsh

San Diego Central Library
Future engineers will love the awesome architecture, glass elevators, and exciting escalators of this beautiful building (nine stories in all). Truly an adventure and bookishly fun. Head for the colorful Dr. Seuss-themed kids library on the first floor. Your little ones will make a beeline for the colorful elephant stools. Story time and play area (56,000 books). Moms will love the nursing room, stroller parking and family bathrooms within easy reach. There’s also free, well-lit underground parking. Get your two-hour validation at the front desk.

330 Park Blvd.
San Diego, Ca 92101
619-236-5800
Online: sandiego/library.org

Hours: Mon.-Thurs., 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Fri.-Sun., 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Photo Credit: M. Walsh

Mission Valley Library
This space is new and nice looking with plenty of parking). Kid-sized readers will love the Mission Valley Library. The facility sports a colorful kid’s reading room with little nooks to snuggle into a good book. Make a day of it with a short walk to Ikea. Grab some food and burn some kid-sized energy at the playland inside.

2123 Fenton Parkway
San Diego, Ca 92108
858-573-5007
Online: sandiego/library.org

Hours: Mon., Thurs.-Sat., 9:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Tues. & Wed., 11:30 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Sun., 12:30 – 5 p.m

Photo Credit: M. Walsh

Encinitas Branch Library
A relaxed vibe (and beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean) will inspire your little bookworm to sit and read. Well-labeled book carts help early readers find books. An ocean-inspired reading room lends its comfy seats for quiet reading. Several toys to play with for the toddler set. Grab a cup of great coffee from the local coffee spots on your way in. There’s also clean bathrooms, plenty of parking and a great park across the street.

540 Cornish Dr.
Encinitas, Ca 92024
760-753-7376
Online: sdcl.org/encinitas

Hours: Mon.-Thurs., 9:30 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Fri. & Sat., 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Sun., 12-5 p.m.

Photo Credit: M. Walsh

Ships Ahoy! Point Loma/Hervey Branch Library
Your little sea captains will love the nautical theme that includes a ship’s hull with working periscope. Kids can play inside or just quietly read. Your little sailor can grab a few books and snuggle up in the compass nook. The library features a bright reading room and great book selection. It’s a small, but cozy little ship-shaped treat!

3701 Voltaire St.
San Diego, Ca 92107
619-531-1539
Online: sandiego/library.org

Hours: Mon. & Thurs.-Sat., 9:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Tues. & Wed., 11:30 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Sun., 12:30-5 p.m.

Photo Credit: Point Loma/Harvey Library Facebook page

Otay Ranch Branch of the Chula Vista Public Library
Located in the upscale Otay Mesa Mall, this little library gets plenty of tiny foot traffic. The location has made it much more accessible to families who live close by. Vibrant and cool with a decent selection of books and nice multi-use room that has story time six days a week. Stop by and check out this expanding little jewel then let your little ones play in the pop fountain or stop by the Farmers Market for a fresh bite to eat.

2015 Birch Rd.
Chula Vista, Ca 91915
619-397-5840
Online: sandiego/library.org

Hours: Mon. – Thurs. 11 a.m. – 7 p.m., Fri. & Sat., 12 – 6 p.m.

Do you have a favorite spot to read with the kiddos? What libraries are we missing?

— Monique Walsh