Would they get a kick out of seeing the goats in Liberty State Park? They're fenced in just south of the Nature Interpretive Center. Just don't let them feed the goats through the chain link fence, the goats eat poison ivy.

http://www.nj.com/jjournal-news/index ... e_goats_liberty_stat.html

SEAGLASS CAROUSEL AT THE BATTERY

Starting Thursday, the SeaGlass Carousel will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. until January, when it closes for two months.

http://www.thebattery.org/seaglass/

http://nypost.com/2015/08/15/you-have ... -new-16-million-carousel/
https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20150 ... f-seaglass-carousel-whirl
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/14/art ... l-of-mechanized-fish.html

Quote:

The Central Park Zoo is definitely worth a visit. Even as an adult, I enjoy walking through it and reading about each of the animals. The Delacorte Clock is whimsical and worth checking out, and the kids love it. If the kids have watched the animated film Madagascar (the original one from 2005) they will be familiar with many of the Central Park Zoo highlights, making it even more interesting to actually see it in person.

Brewster mentioned Staten Island zoo, but if you don't feel like schlepping all the way over there, you can check out the Central Park Zoo, which is much easier to reach via mass transit. The scale is very doable. Took my cousin's three-year-old there, and she loved it. Alas, I don't think they have polar bears there anymore, but there's a penguin house.

Thank you all! This was very helpful!

If you're taking the ferry over to world financial, you should definitely go to battery park. There are multiple playgrounds, and large areas there. Tons of fun!

It sounds like you don't have a car, but if you do, or do Zipcar, the Staten Island Zoo is awesome for little ones. It has the right scale, unlike the Bronx Zoo. My kids went frequently.

Annod has some good links. Newport Green is a great park for kids, and right on the water.

The 6 & 4 year old might like just taking the light rail for a ride, I know a few boys that age who ride it for fun (and it's more interesting if you're not always on trains).

The water park in Hamilton Park is definitely very inviting. My 13-year-old daughter kept eyeing it the other day and I could tell she wanted to go run through it.

Also of possible interest: Bambino Chef, on Newark Avenue. They have cooking classes for little ones. Not sure if they have scheduled classes open to all, or just open for private events/classes. Perhaps stop by and ask.

About LSC, the few times I visited it with my daughter, it was a bit of a letdown. It's been at least three years since our last visit. Often times, we would find broken exhibits and not a large collection. Of course, for little ones with short attention spans, the (lack of) size of the museum may be just right, and perhaps a godsend to a tired parent. :)

You know -- mother of two here, three if you add in the stepdaughter (all grown up now).

Every time i have occasion to be in Hamilton Park, I can't help but think how much my brood would have LOVED to have spent some chill summer days with a simple picnic and running around that playground and little water park.

Newport Green Park
https://goo.gl/maps/GbZnk
http://newportnj.com/parks-and-recreation-community-5.php
http://www.jerseyfamilyfun.com/newpor ... county-parks-playgrounds/


Liberty Science Center
https://www.groupon.com/biz/jersey-city/liberty-science-center

Movie in the Park
http://cityofjerseycity.com/uploadedF ... n%20the%20Park-poster.pdf

Have family coming to visit in a couple of weeks on a Tuesday and Wednesday, and they have small children (6, 4, and 2). I'm wondering if there are any activities in the areas of downtown and near the water that would be fun for kids that small? We were planning on taking the ferry one day to the city for lunch. Any other suggestions?