Category: Things to do with kids: Local Unique

You’ll feel like local billionaire “The Donald” while you and your children cruise over Manhattan in a helicopter. Hover in the air, watch people and cars move around like insects, and your family will feel literally on top of the world for two – 15 minutes, depending on which tour package you select. Though all the tours offer their own stunning views of Manhattan, the “Lady Liberty” package takes you for a loop around our favorite green-complexioned broad for a unique perspective of her mammoth-ness.

Contact no: (212) 967-6464

Location: West 30th St. and 12th Avenue, New York, NY 10001

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Since its 1976 debut in New York City’s Battery Park, the Big Apple Circus has become an entertainment tradition. At this circus, you and your kids can get up close to the energetic and hilarious show because every seat in the tent is less than 50 feet away from the ring. Spotlighting world-class performers juggling, bending and twisting as acrobats, and swinging in trapeze tricks, this circus has something for everyone. A surefire crowd pleaser, the Big Apple Circus creates lasting memories and lingering laughter for years to come. This nationally recognized nonprofit organization shares some of its funds with community outreach programs, including Clown Care, which places clowns-in-residence at 19 children’s hospitals across the country. The troupe is featured every year in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and pitches its tent twice a year in Lincoln Center. The Big Apple Circus is giving performances in several locations in the metropolitan area, before moving on to New England venues. Tickets available online and in advance.

Contact no: (212) 268-2500

Location: 505 Eighth Avenue, New York, NY 10018

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The Roosevelt Island Tram, 250 feet above the East River at its peak, carries 125 people in its cabin every 15 minutes. Originally built for commuters between the islands of Roosevelt and Manhattan, the tram now serves as a popular activity for sightseeing tourists less prone to vertigo. The spectacular views of midtown Manhattan and the Queensborough Bridge are incredible to even a veteran New Yorker, and the ride itself, suspended from cables over the water, is a memorable experience.

Contact no: (212) 832-4555

Location: 59th Street and Second Avenue, New York, NY 10022

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As the saying goes, the view is always best from the top, and New York is no exception. As breathtaking as the skyline can be from popular vantage points like the Brooklyn side of the East River or the flight into JFK, there’s still no better place to marvel at New York’s skyscraping landscape than from the top of some its tallest buildings, namely, the Empire State and Rockefeller Center. Both spots have observation decks open to the public (for an admission price, of course), and offer stunning views from the 103rd and 70th floors, respectively. Rockefeller Center is also host to a battery of shops and eateries at its ground level, a safe plan B for anyone prone to vertigo.

Contact no: (212) 736-3100

Location: 350 Fifth Avenue at 34th Street, New York, NY 10118

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One of New York’s tallest and most interesting buildings, the Chrysler Building is a monument to the art-deco period in which it was built. There are no organized tours or exhibits, but the gleaming chrome lobby is open to tourists daily, making it a cool stop on a day of other sight seeing, and perfect fieldwork for a child with an Art History assignment.

Contact no: (212) 682-3070

Location: 405 Lexington Avenue at 42nd Street, New York, NY 10017

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Enjoy a relaxing 3-hour cruise around the city. You’ll go all the way around Manhattan and see it all: three rivers, seven bridges, five, over 25 world renowned landmarks and one magnificent close-up of the Statue of Liberty. Beverages, food and souvenirs are available on board.

Contact no: (212) 563-3200

Location: West 42nd Street on 12th Avenue, New York, NY 10036

Learn more here.