But first, we play
It’s a swelteringly hot New York summer’s day and our refuge is the city’s newest carousel – the Seaglass at The Battery Conservancy. Sunlight streams through the glass windows, shooting light beams off the iridescent marine life we are perched on and as we ride up and down and around in circles, it feels as if we’re in a giant (thankfully air- conditioned) fish bowl.
This is the playful New York City that we know and love, the place where my daughter was born, calls her ‘second home’ and that we return to every summer. A city of steel, glass and big business that also surprises little ones with carousels and rainbow bagels. A city full of delightful secrets and hidden gems that can take a lifetime to discover. There are hundreds of playgrounds in New York City to choose from. It’s hard to pick a favourite but if we had to choose, it would be Washington Market Park in the incredibly hip TriBeCa. The leafy trees give shade in summer and it’s only a few steps from one of the most kid-friendly eateries in town, Sarabeth’s, where we enjoy their famous pancakes. Afterwards, my daughter burns off the sugar running through the community garden and propelling herself down slides while I look on from the gazebo. Still craving something sweet we wander to nearby Ample Hills Creamery, aka the best ice- cream in the city. Flavours range from Hot as Honey to Mexican Hot Chocolate, Salted Crack Caramel to Nonna D’s Oatmeal Lace. The Ooey Gooey Butter Cake is my favourite and my five-year- old loves their bitter dark chocolate.
Brooklyn-bound
When the throb of Manhattan gets too much, we jump on the number 4 train for some quiet time in Brooklyn Bridge Park. Sprawling 34 hectares around the East River, the park is full of playgrounds for kids, sporting facilities and barbecue areas, as well as giving locals and tourists alike breathtaking views of the city.
My daughter, however, couldn’t care less about the sparkling skyline across the river and bolts straight for Jane’s Carousel, a 1922 traditional carousel that was refurbished in 2011. She nabs a moving horse and it’s a solid hour before I can prise her off. The nautically themed park was designed with residents of all ages in mind, from a toddler playground to a pirate ship for bigger kids to run wild on. Feeling particularly hot we walk around to the Water Lab playground at Pier 6 and afterwards, needing some refreshment, make a pit stop at One Girl Cookies in DUMBO for the best buttercream cupcakes in the city.
If you have any avid bookworms in the family the powerHouse Arena will be literature heaven. Known for having one of the best curated children’s book sections in the country, from hard-to-find classics to new discoveries and unexpected treasures, little imaginations soar among the rows and rows of shelves.