A summer weekend in New York City can be as big or as low-key as you want. Here are three family-friendly ways to spend a Saturday that lean into the season.
1. Spend the day at a county fair
It sounds unlikely, but New York City has real county fairs, and they're a blast for kids. The Richmond County Fair on Staten Island (over Labor Day weekend) turns Historic Richmond Town into a 25-acre festival with carnival rides, pony rides, and a Revolutionary War encampment where costumed interpreters fire off muskets. Later in September, the Long Island Fair at Old Bethpage (September 25 to 27) recreates an 1800s village fair complete with antique crafts and prize produce, and the Queens County Farm hosts its own harvest-time Agriculture Fair (October 1 to 4) on New York City’s largest remaining tract of undisturbed farmland.
Find a fair near you at FindYourFair.com.
2. Spend a day at Coney Island
If a fair is what you're craving, Coney Island is basically a permanent one by the sea. Ride the historic Cyclone, stroll the boardwalk, grab a hot dog, and cool off in the ocean. The New York Aquarium is right there too if you want to add some sharks and sea otters to the day. It's loud, colorful, and pure summer.
3. Escape to Governors Island
For a quieter kind of fun, hop the ferry to Governors Island. It's car-free, breezy, and full of space for kids to bike, climb the play areas, and picnic with skyline views in every direction. The ferry ride itself is half the adventure, and there's almost always a festival or art installation happening in summer.
One great city weekend
Three stops, one very New York Saturday. Start with a fair while the season's on, then let the waterfront take over. Find the fair nearest you at FindYourFair.com.