Bronx
Brooklyn
Manhattan
Queens
Staten Island

Flushing Town Hall: Gallery
137-35 Northern Boulevard at the corner of Linden Place; (718- 463-7700 x 222)
Enjoy jazz, dance, and a diversity of performances and visual arts that reflect communities of Queens. Entry fee is a suggested donation. [Queens]
(2 to 4; 5 to 8; 9+)

Forest Park Skate Park
Woodhaven Boulevard, just past Myrtle Avenue

Rockaway Skate Park
Shore Front Parkway at 91st Street
Give your kids get their daily dose of extreme sports at one of these Queens locations. 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]

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 Queens are the Lewis H. Latimer House, the home of the African-American inventor and electrical pioneer, and the Kingsland Homestead, a two-and-a-half story 18th Century farmhouse. [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]

Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning
161-04 Jamaica Ave  (718-658-7400)
The Center has visual, performing and literary arts galore, along with a gallery that is free at all times. [Queens]
(2 to 4; 5 to 8; 9+)

New York Hall of Science
47-01 111th Street
450 hands-on exhibits at the New York Hall of Science, organized into the numerous thematic exhibitions exhibits invite touching, exploring, and manipulating, plus there’s the great science playground! Closed on Mondays. Free Fridays 2–5PM and Sundays 10–11AM. [Queens]
(0 to 13 months; 2 to 4; 5 to 8; 9+)

P.S.1: Contemporary Art Center
22-25 Jackson Ave. at the intersection of 46th Ave. (718-784-2084)
PS 1 is an arts exhibition space that pushes the envelope in young, vibrant creativity. That means it might not always be appropriate for children, but if you check to see what’s currently on display, you could be in store for a dazzling display. Open 12pm–6 PM, Thursday through Monday, closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. [Queens]
(5 to 8; 9+)

Queens County Farm Museum
73-50 Little Neck Parkway, Floral Park, 718-347-3276
Take a free tour of this farm, which was built around 1697, and then buy some feed to give out to the resident goats and sheep. You can even take a hayride for just $2. General admission is free, except for during special event weekends, which are usually listed on their website. [All ages]

Queens Museum of Art
New York City Building Flushing Meadows Corona Park (718-592-9700)
There are always plenty of good exhibitions at the Queens Museum of Art, but the biggest draw is the grand Panorama of New York City, an exact replica model of the city including every building built before 1992. Open Wednesday – Sunday: 12 – 6pm [Queens]
(2 to 4; 5 to 8; 9+)

Queens Zoo
Flushing Meadows Corona Park, 53-51 111th St., 718-271-1500
Get wild with this collection of animals that are native to North and South America, including bald eagles, mountain lions, bison, Roosevelt elk, and more. Admission is just $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]

Socrates Sculpture Park
32-01 Vernon Boulevard, at Broadway, 718-956-1819
This free artist studio and museum is located on the East River in Long Island City and features impressive sculpture and multimedia installations, all displayed in a unique outdoor setting. The site also hosts many community events and an outdoor summer film series, presented with the Manhattan skyline as its dramatic backdrop. The Park is open 365 days a year and is free to all from 10 a.m. to sunset. [2-4 years; 5-8 years; 9+ years]

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]