The Best New York Fall Family Bucket List 2024

The Best New York Fall Family Bucket List 2024

After a long, hot and humid summer, there’s nothing quite like autumn in New York. The house smells like a pumpkin-spiced dream, the leaves are changing, and kids are mapping out the best spots for trick-or-treating. What a season!

Perhaps best of all, of all the seasons, fall is by far the most fun for families to enjoy together. One of the biggest reasons to love fall is the beautiful weather! The just right temperatures ensure the perfect day out with the whole family – indoors or outdoors. That means there’s no excuse not to check off everything on your fall bucket list.

And we’ve got plenty of ideas below to get you started!

1. Choose the perfect pumpkin without leaving town! Queens County Farm Museum features a vast area and festive autumn activities.

2. Go to Central Parkwhere the park’s 18,000 trees transform into a beauty of autumn hues; the best part is that the seasonal change happens a little later than Upstate.

3. Take a spin around one of New York’s many carousels before they close for the winter. Some favorites include Jane’s CarouselCentral Park, Sea glass carousel, and Bryant Park.

4. Take the older kids (or brave teens) to one of New York’s many haunted houses for a spooky fun time. Some top-rated ones include Blood mansion And Bayville Scream Park on Long Island.

5. Take an autumn walk the High Line and then head to The Whitney; children are free!

6. Leave the kids with a babysitter and head to Long Island to explore the many beautiful wineries while taking in breathtaking fall views.

7. Is it even fall if you don’t like cliché treats like hot apple cider? Buy a cup at the local farmers market this season.

8. If you’ve done this walk before, you know that walking across the Brooklyn Bridge is not only one of the most iconic things to do in New York; it’s beautiful.

9. Go to The Central Park boathouse (Middle parking on 74th Street) and take a rowboat ride for up to four people. Note: Children must be at least 1 meter tall. Boats are accessible on foot and can be paid for by credit card or Apple Pay. $25 per hour.

10. Take advantage of the Culture pass and visit the great cultural institutions that participate.

11. Take a road trip in the fall and discover all the beauty that New York and our neighboring states have to offer.

12. Hop on a ferry and explore Governor’s Island before it closes for the winter.

13. Corn mazes are a must-have in the fall, and there are plenty to choose from nearby. The cream of the crop includes Von Thun’s and Hank’s Pumpkintown and Harbes.

14. Spend an autumn day enjoying the nature and forests in Prospect Park. Visit Historic Lefferts house, Prospect Park Zooor take the kids on the carousel, one of the few wheelchair-accessible carousels in the country) at Prospect Park’s Children’s Corner. Then go to one of the park’s seven (!) playgrounds or visit the lake and feed the ducks.

15. The whole family will appreciate the beautiful city on seventy floors, with breathtaking views of the city Top of the rock– where you will enjoy scenic views of the Hudson and East Rivers, the iconic Brooklyn Bridge and the Chrysler Building.

16. Hop by train and enjoy Broadway with some big Apple favorites like The Lion King, Aladdin, Harry Potter and The Cursed Child, which is kid-friendly and helps support the theater district.

17. While Bakery Levain cookies are iconic, their hot chocolate is a treat too. This is the perfect cold weather treat, made with hand-shaved Valrhona dark chocolate and your choice of steamed milk.

18. View the Lego store on Fifth Avenuewhere kids will have a fun experience in the brick laboratory, customize a minifigure in the LEGO Minifigure Factory or just do the free stuff and enjoy the shop.

19. Take your wizards to the Harry Potter Shopwhere they can visit three stories spanning 21,000 square feet of magic and have an in-store experience through digital technologies that integrate with the Harry Potter Fan Club app.

20. Watch a drive-in movie. Go to Skyline Drive In and watch one of their family-friendly films. Don’t have a car? Check out their outdoor seating!

21. Visit the Little Island at Pier 55 for a unique public park experience. This small island uses stunning architecture and adventurous landscaping to create a peaceful escape from busy city life.

22. Ride the East River Ferry and explore NYC – see Governors Island, South Brooklyn and more!

23. Go to Top One Vanderbilt and enjoy the beautiful city skyline from 300 meters high! This skyscraper allows visitors to look out over New York in its all-glass elevator and transparent glass skyboxes!

24. Exploring the American Natural History Museum never gets old. Ideally, New York residents decide what to pay for general admission. Take some time to view the new addition, The Gilder Center (free with regular paid admission to the museum).

25. First, hop on the Staten Island Ferry, because it’s the Staten Island Ferry and it’s iconic; second, it has one of the best views of the Statue of Liberty, and it’s *FREE*. Catch it at Manhattan’s Whitehall Terminal.