Bronx
Brooklyn
Manhattan
Queens
Staten Island

Brooklyn Botanic Garden
900 Washington Avenue, 718-623-7200
Take the time to smell the roses—and the slew of other beautiful flowers—offered here, where admission is always free for children under 12. Regular admission for adults is $8, but everyone gets in for free on Tuesdays, as well as on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon, as long as there's not a special event going on. Call ahead to find out if there is. Regular Admission is $10 Adults [All ages].

Brooklyn Bridge Promendade and Pierrepont Playground
Furman Street at Pierrepont Place
Take a family stroll and check out some of the most memorable views of the city. Don't forget to wave to the Statue of Liberty or to stop by the playground to take advantage of its great climbing structures and swing sets. [All ages]

Brooklyn Children's Museum
Corner of Brooklyn Avenue and St. Mark's Avenue, 718-735-4400
This museum was specifically designed for kids. Among the museum's highlights are an Animal Outpost, a greenhouse and garden, a Music Mix exhibit, a stage to play around on, and a Totally Tots section, just for those under 5. Admission is $7.50 per person; free for kids 1 and under.  [All ages]

BRIC Rotunda Gallery
33 Clinton Street (718-683-5604)
Get a load of visual art, media and performances at this home to the arts in Brooklyn. Open Tuesday-Saturday 12PM - 6PM [Brooklyn]
(2 to 4; 5 to 8; 9+)

Historic House Trust of New York City
Explore one of the Trust's 22 historic sites across the five boroughs and you'll be taking a virtual walk through time. Step foot inside everything from a modest farmer's cottage to a luxurious, grand mansion, all while getting a taste for what life was like in the city a hundred or so years ago. Among the Trust's highlights in Brooklyn are the Old Stone House, where the lawns once served as the summer home for the Brooklyn Dodgers, and the Pieter Claesen Wycoff House, which was built circa 1652, making it the oldest structure in all of New York. [2-4 years; 5-8 years; 9+ years]

Indoor Recreation Centers
Get your game on by investing in your neighborhood's center, where you can open up a world of low-cost activities for you and your family. Run by the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, there are conveniently located sites in all five boroughs. Memberships are just $50 a year ($75 if the center has a pool) for adults, with no charge at all for kids under 18. So for less than $7 a month, you can tap into your local center's pool, gym, dance studios, art studios, game rooms, basketball courts, and more. [All ages]

Kentler International Drawing Space
353 Van Brunt Street (718-875-2098)
Drawings, paintings and more works on paper are on display at this visual arts space which is tailored for adults. [Brooklyn]
(9+)

Millennium Skate Park
Colonial Road, between 68th Street and Wakeman Place, in Owl's Head Park
Give your kids their daily dose of extreme sports. Children under 18 need a guardian's signature on an onsite waiver, which you should download and fill out ahead of time. Helmets, knee pads, and elbow pads are also required for those utilizing the facility. [5-8 years; 9+ years]

New York Aquarium
Surf Avenue & West 8th Street in Brooklyn,718-265-FISH
Otters and penguins and sharks, oh my! There are plenty of sea-loving creatures to delight the family at the aquarium in Coney Island. And on Fridays, after 3pm, the price of admission is suggested. Open 10:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. [Brooklyn]
(0 to 13 months; 2 to 4; 5 to 8; 9+)

New York Brooklyn Public Library
Be sure to check out the Library's online calendar for a list of free programs at the Brooklyn branches that'll wow your kids, from toe-tapping musical performances and drawing classes to Wii sports tournaments, and more. [2-4 years; 5-8 years; 9+ years]

Noguchi Museum
9-01 33rd Road (at Vernon Boulevard) (718-204-7088)
This museum dedicated to preserving the work of the great architect, designer and artist, Isamu Noguchi, will satisfy the interests of any budding, young visual artist. With gardens, sculptures and sketches galore, it’s worth the trip. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: 10:00am-5:00pm; Saturday & Sunday: 11:00am-6:00pm. Pay what you wish the first Friday of every month. [Brooklyn]
(5 to 8; 9+)

Prospect Park Carousel
Willink entrance, at Ocean and Flatbush Avenues and Empire Boulevard, 718-282-7789
Cap off a day in the park with a $1.50 ride on one of the ponies that circle this famed merry-go-round, which was built in 1912 and is one of the only wheelchair accessible carousels in the entire world. $2 per ride [All ages]

Prospect Park Zoo
Prospect Park, 450 Flatbush Ave., 718-965-8999
Go see where the wild things are and watch your kids come face-to-face with prairie dogs and walk amongst some wallabies! Admission is $6 for adults, and $2 for children between the ages of 3 and 12. Those under 3 are admitted at no cost. The zoo is open 365 days a year. [All ages]

Street Fairs and Festivals
Hit the pavement and scope out some of the low (or no) cost street fairs, festivals, and performances that go on all year around the city, such as the Association of Jazz Festival on July 27th and the Manhattan Youth Fair on August 1, for example. [All ages]

Transit Museum
Corner of Boerum Place and Schermerhorn Street, 718-694-1600
Catch a train to this historic 1936 IND subway station and museum in Brooklyn Heights, which features many interactive exhibits. It's a fascinating look at one of the world's most intricate underground public transportation systems. Admission is $6 Adults, $4 for children 3-17 years.