Be a tourist in the South Bronx

8/6/07 - By Anna Fader

In my last post, I said that my current favorite outing with kids in NYC is to take the trolley to explore the South Bronx. I thought I'd write up some more details so more of you can enjoy this great excursion. And thanks to everyone who has contributed their favorite outings.

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My idea of a perfect day out in New York with kids is to take a trip to explore a new NYC neighborhood. To make it a perfect day I need kid friendly parks or activities, yummy food and a little shopping or, at least, ogling. An added bonus is if it's easy to get there without too much schlepping with the kids. Since the world, clearly, revolves around me, the Bronx Tourism Council (yes, The Bronx has a Tourism Council) has created a hop on/hop off trolley service that makes it easier than ever to spend a great day exploring the South Bronx with kids. If just uttering the words "South Bronx" makes you shudder, then even more reason you need to go check out this revitalized neighborhood with a vibrant West African community and eats, New York's real Little Italy on Arthur Avenue, NYC's biggest outdoor market, The New York Botanical Garden, and, of course, The Bronx Zoo. The trolley stops at all these points and more in three separate routes with hop-on/hop off service, which allows you to enjoy one activity and then move on to the next when you are ready. Trolleys leave from Seventh Avenue and 53rd Street in Manhattan at 9:30 and return at 6:30 on Saturdays and Sundays or you can take the #2 or #5 to meet the trolley at West Farms Square in the Bronx. Click here for weekend trolley schedule. To find out more about trolley routes, visit ilovethebronx.com.

About the Author

Anna Fader

Founder & CEO of Mommy Poppins
Anna was born in Park Slope, spent her early years in the West Village. By the time she graduated high school, she had lived in 4 of the 5 boroughs. Growing up in NYC in the '70s meant the streets were her playgrounds. Museums and avant garde music venues were the kid-friendly activities. And living downtown taught her the importance of creating community for families in NYC.

Now, raising her own two children in the city, she tries to create the same sense of magic and community she felt growing up, despite today's more commercialized version of kid-friendly New York.

She started Mommy Poppins in 2007 to share a more artsy, educational, uncommercial, community-oriented vision of raising kids in New York City. Today Mommy Poppins is relied on by millions of families as the authority on the best things to do with kids beyond New York City: from Boston to Philly, Los Angeles, Houston and travel guides for dozens more cities and destinations.