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1. Visit the Beach

Sneak in one last trip to a great NYC beach you can reach by ferry or train for some seaside fun. FREE

2. Scream for Ice Cream

Enjoy an over-the-top ice cream treat at one of these cool spots, or pick up a chilly scoop at one of our favorite ice cream shops.

3. Enjoy an LIRR Day Trip

Take a day trip to Jones Beach or enjoy one of these other LIRR-friendly day trip stops.

Don't miss Summer Streets for a day of car-free fun. Photo courtesy of NYC DOT.

4. Summer Streets

Cycle through car-free streets, join a dance party, learn to ride a bike, or catch more family-friendly things to do in NYC at the annual Summer Streets on Saturdays from July 29 through August 26. FREE

5. Visit the New York Renaissance Faire

Take a trip back in time with a visit to the New York Renaissance Faire in Tuxedo Park. The Faire runs weekends from Saturday, August 26 through Sunday, October 8.

6. Enjoy Some Water Sports

One of our favorite physical things to do in NYC each summer is rowing our way through one of the city's waterways in a free boat ride in the city on a kayak, canoe, or rowboat.

7. Ride the Ferry

For a more relaxing ride, let someone else command the vessel and hop on a ferry to a kid-friendly shore.

RELATED: Best of August: Top Things To Do in NYC with Kids

Take a glamping vacation at Jacob Riis Beach. Photo by Wade Mayer

8. Go Glamping...

Stay local and try out glamping on Governors Island.

9. ...Or Camping

Escape the city's heat and humidity with a weekend camping trip. Some of our favorite family-friendly sites are even accessible via the MTA. Prefer a one-day getaway? Check out one of these summer day trips.

Check out the new Gilder Center at AMNH. Photo by Jody Mercier

10. New Glider Center

Explore the new Gilder Center at AMNH. The new wing is full of wings!

11. Play Mini Golf

Try for a hole-in-one at VALE(mini)GOLF, the new mini-golf course that opened last year at The William Vale in Williamsburg, or another of NYC's outdoor putt-putt spots.

12. Roller Skating

Glide (or stumble, we won't tell) to one of NYC's best roller rinks including the summer-only pop-up Flipper's Roller Boogie Palace at Rockefeller Center.

13. See an Outdoor Movie

Catch an alfresco flick at one of the spots that host FREE outdoor movies in an NYC park.

14. See a Kiddie Concert

Groove to a great summer concert or outdoor music festival for families.

15. Go Bowling

Hit the lanes at one of our favorite bowling alleys for NYC kids—bonus: industrial AC.

16. Go for a Bike Ride

Explore the city on two wheels with a family-friendly bike ride in NYC.

RELATED: Best NYC Playgrounds with Shade

The Water Lab at Pier 6 is one of our favorite places to cool down. Photo by Sara Marentette

17. Dive Into a Play Fountain

When the summer sun gets to be too much, splashing in one of these play fountains is one of our favorite things to do in NYC. Make sure you get in a splash before the sprinklers are turned off for the year. FREE

It's hard to resist the allure of a dip in Mirror Lake during your weekend getaway to the Golden Arrowhead Lakeside Resort. Photo courtesy of the resort

18. Escape for a Weekend

We've got tons of picks for late-summer weekend escapes including lakefront getaways in New York state, family-friendly spa resorts nearby, and family-friendly Catskills resorts to consider.

19. See Some Fireworks

Watch the FREE dazzling Coney Island fireworks every Friday night.

20. Journey to City Island

Head to the bucolic City Island for an evening of fun on the Bronx isle. A public bus takes you from the Pelham Bay Park subway stop to the island anytime.

21. See the NYC Unicycle Festival

Head to Governors Island over Labor Day weekend for the always entertaining and FREE NYC Unicycle Festival.

RELATED: Expanded Summer Streets Returns Saturday: Explore Car-Free NYC with Kids

Explore the Richmond County Fair over Labor Day weekend at Historic Richmond Town. Photo courtesy of the fair

22. See Staten Island

Sticking around town for Labor Day weekend? Hop on the Staten Island Ferry and enjoy the sea spray en route to the Richmond County Fair. Want to venture out on another day? Hop off the ferry to explore Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden.

23. Explore Alley Pond Park

Idle away a sunny afternoon in Queen's second-largest public green space, Alley Pond Park, where you can hike, bird watch, zip line, picnic, and explore its orienteering course.

24. Visit the Statue of Liberty

Take a Statue of Liberty tour and visit the museum dedicated to Lady Liberty's history.

25. Hit the Playgrounds

Check out our guide to the best playgrounds in NYC, and pick a part of the city where you can visit a bunch in one day, like Central Park, Prospect Park, Riverside Park, or Brooklyn Bridge Park.

26. See the Blooming Botanic Gardens

Stroll among the blooms and butterflies at one of the city's botanic gardens. The NYBG offers FREE grounds admission to NYC residents on Wednesdays and the Queens Botanical Garden is FREE on Wednesdays from 3-6pm and Sundays from 9am-11am.

RELATED: Visiting the Fountain of the Fairs Mega Splash Pad in Queens

Admire the view from Jane's Carousel during a visit to Brooklyn Bridge Park. Photo by Shinya Suziki

27. Explore Brooklyn Bridge Park

Plan a daycation to Brooklyn Bridge Park, which is filled with fabulous things to do in NYC. Explore its destination playgrounds and ride its spectacular carousel, which is on our list of the best carousels in the city!

28. Take a Metro-North Trip

Explore one of these seven kid-friendly stops on the Metro-North.

29. Visit the New York Aquarium

Get up close to deep-sea creatures at the New York Aquarium on Coney Island.

30. Tour a Children's Museum

Check out one of our favorite children's museums. Bonus: With an NYPL card, you can even get FREE admission to over 60 NYC museums and gardens, including several children's museums.

RELATED: Best NYC Summer Festivals for Kids this August

Conquer The Hills on Governors Island. Photo by Matt Nighswander

31. Sail Away to Governors Island

Channel your inner kid with a ride down the city's longest slide at The Hills on Governors Island. Check the calendar for family-friendly things to do in NYC, like the weekends-only FREE adventure playground.

32. Visit a Local Farm

Pick the final peaches at area farms, or start plotting your apple-picking day trips.

33. See American Dream

The New Jersey mega-mall is home to tons of kid-friendly attractions like Big Snow, plus thousands of square feet of retail stores, restaurants, and more.

34. Enjoy Outdoor Dining

Take the night off and treat yourself to dinner with a view at one of these kid-friendly waterfront restaurants in NYC or an alfresco meal at one of these family-favorite restaurants with patios and backyards.

35. Enjoy a Picnic

Or pack a blanket and some food and head to one of our favorite NYC picnic spots with built-in entertainment.

RELATED: Flower Picking near NYC: Holland Ridge Tulips, Lavender By the Bay, and More

Stroll, skate, and scoot through Central Park and explore Belvedere Castle. Photo by Janet Bloom

36. Play Like Royalty at Belvedere Castle

Explore the enchanting Belvedere Castle and the surrounding ecosystem.

37. Hit the Local Amusement Parks

Go for a wild ride at one of these amusement parks near NYC reachable by public transportation or travel further afield to tackle one of these top thrill rides at NY amusement parks perfect for teens and tweens.

38. Go for a Dip in a Rooftop Pool

Splurge on a day pass at one of these NYC hotels with rooftop pools.

39. Try a Family Adventure Course

Enjoy some thrilling adventures at WildPlay at Jones Beach or one of these other adventure parks, zip lines, and ropes courses near NYC.

40. Visit the Zoo

Enjoy some face time with NYC's wildest residents at one of our favorite zoos and aquariums.

This post was first published in August 2016.