1. Take the kids to the Bronx Zoo
If you have a kid like me, your first stop will probably be the Bronx Zoo, the biggest metropolitan zoo in the U.S.
Since it covers 250 acres, you probably won't be able to see all of the 4,000 animals from more than 650 species in one afternoon, but you can get started. When I lived in NYC for 10 years, we took many day trips to the zoo.
The Bronx River flows through it so you can admire a range of naturalistic habits managed by the Wildlife Conservation Society.
Don't miss the NYC landmarks in the zoo, such as the Rainey Gate entrance off Fordham Road and Astor Court at Zoo Center.
The zoo is not only a popular spot you can visit on your day off, but also has a worldwide reputation for animal conservation and captive breeding.
Best of all, the zoo is open daily from 10-5 so if you are looking for something to do with kids last minute in the Bronx, you can head here. Admission cost is quite high ($38.20+ for adults and $28.20+ for kids) so if you live in the area, the Family Zoo Plus membership (from $230) can actually be worth it if you visit the zoo a couple of times. I lived in NYC for 10 years and because of high admission costs we sometimes signed up for a membership instead.
Address: Bronx Zoo, 2300 Southern Blvd, Bronx, NY 10460
2. Head to The Van Cortlandt House Museum
If you are looking for something more affordable, check out The Van Cortlandt House Museum, the oldest building in the Bronx.Unlike the zoo, admission here is just $5 for adults and free for kids under 12.
It's ocated in Van Cortlandt Park where you can let kids run and play for a while after you visit.
The Georgian-style house was built in 1748 for Frederick Van Cortlandt and his family and is considered to be one of the finest examples of the Georgian-style stone houses in the country.
I was interested to learn that during the Revolutionary War, the house was used by Lafayette, Rochambeau, and Washington.
Address: The Van Cortlandt House Museum, 246th Street and Broadway, Van Cortlandt Park, Bronx, NY 10471
3. Visit the historic Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum
Another favorite museum of mine in the Bronx is the Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum because of its Greek revival interiors. You will find it in the quiet part of Pelham Bay Park.
The house is standing on the location of a Federal-style home built in 1654 for Robert and Maria Lorillard Bartow so you will really get to see a piece of history here.
The current house, completed in 1842, was owned by the Pella and the Bartow families until 1888, when it was sold to the City of New York.
You can tour the house, filled with lavish mid-19th century furnishings and decorative arts. My favorite were the beautifully landscaped formal terraced gardens behind the house.
Address: Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum, 895 Shore Rd, Pelham Bay Park, Bronx, NY 10464-1030
4. Stroll through Bronx Little Italy
If you are on the budget and are looking for free things to do, head to Bronx Little Italy. You can immerse yourself in authentic Italian culture and a thriving business district.
I'm sure you'll find a restaurant here that appeals to your taste. Or you can pick up a picnic lunch at one of the artisanal food stores. I like specialty stores here that sell local handmade and imported items not easily found anywhere else.
Developed in the early days of the nation, Bronx Little Italy has an Old World vibe created by generations of Italian-American families that settled in it, combining a European small town feel with a modern urban setting. Don't miss it and it's completely free to visit.
I want to mention some of the area’s most famous residents: Joe Pesci, Anne Bancroft, Chazz Palminteri, and Robert de Niro.
Activities and Attractions for Couples and Singles:
5. City Island Nautical Museum
Another great community you have to visit is City Island!
Located at the very edge of new York City, just beyond Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx and surrounded by the Long Island Sound and Eastchester Bay, City Island is a small community famous for its rich nautical history.
Much of that history has been preserved by the Historical Society in the Nautical Museum that you can visit. Admission is $8 for adults.
The museum occupies the top floor of a historical former elementary school located on land that was once a Revolutionary War graveyard so you can get a historical perspective during you visit.
The museum houses a rich collection of photos and artifacts on City Island and its rich boating history. You can admire ship sails, model boats, and a range of America’s Cup memorabilia.
Address: City Island Nautical Museum, 190 Fordham St, Bronx, NY 10464, Phone: 718-885-0008
6. Admire the historical Enid A. Haupt Conservatory
I loved visiting the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory. My one complaint is the cost because you have to purchase the $35 all garden pass to enter the the New York Botanical Garden to see it.
Opened in 1902, the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory is a beloved New York City landmark and a vital part of the New York Botanical Garden in Bronx. You'll be able to immerse yourself in local history here.
The magnificent Victorian glass greenhouse was created after Nathaniel Lord Britton and his wife Elizabeth visited the Royal Botanic Garden at Kew in the UK and saw the fragile beauty of its glasshouse artistry.
The conservatory today houses the World of Plants exhibition. Admire the garden’s large collections of tropical rain forests plants, deserts filled with blooming cacti, palms from all over the world, carnivorous and aquatic plants, and much more.
My favorite time to visit is when the conservatory’s open air courtyards are filled with water lilies and lotus during the warm summer months.
You can plan your visit around popular seasonal exhibitions such as an annual orchid show, the Holiday Train Show, and a number of fascinating themed flower shows.
Address: Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, Haupt Conservatory, Bronx Park Rd, Bronx, NY 10458, Phone: 718-817-8700
What to do if you are traveling with kids:
7. Take the kids to Everett Children's Adventure Garden
If you've already purchased the New York Botanical Garden all garden pass, check out my second favorite spot: Everett Children's Adventure Garden.
This is a true kids’ wonderland, an indoor-outdoor plant museum and a playground that will give your kids endless opportunities not only to have fun but also to learn about the natural world through a hands-on exploration of the wonders of science and nature.
I want to mention that when it was opened in 1998, the garden was the first plant museum for children of its kind in the United States.
Your kids can play in boulder mazes, enjoy more than 40 nature-discovery activities, trails, topiaries, galleries, a picnic area, plazas, and more.
If your kids are learning about biology in school, check out the outdoor galleries provide a look at plant lifecycles, what plants are made of, what ecosystems are, how plants and animals interact, and how the sun makes plants grow.
There are also boulders to climb, Beth’s Maze to wander through, and Plant Part Paradise, where your kids can make their own plants.
Address: Everett Children's Adventure Garden, Bronx, NY 10458, Phone: 718-817-8700
8. Go on Bronx Historical Tours
If you'd rather explore Bronx Little Italy, The New Bronx and other areas accompanied by a local guide, you can go on a tour. Bronx Historical Tours showcase one of New York City's liveliest and most cultural boroughs as part of walking tours you can sign up for. The tours start around $20 so they are quite affordable.
The tourism company strives to connect travelers with local communities and personalize all tour experiences, utilizing a small-group format of no more than 10 participants per tour.
Unique tour itineraries highlight the borough's beautiful landmarks and vibrant history, led by Bronx native residents.
Standard tour experiences include an Introduction to the Bronx 101 Tour, a Bronx Little Italy Walking Experience, and a South Bronx Historic Walking Tour.
Specialty tours also overview the area's street art, social justice history, and diverse international culinary scene.
9. Louie & Ernie's Pizza
If you are looking for a great pizza place for lunch, head to Louie & Ernie's Pizza, a homey, small old-school counter-serve spot in the cozy, residential neighborhood in the Bronx. If you want a famous thin-crust, New York-style pizza, this is the spot!
The iconic pizzeria has been selling pies, whole and slices, since 1959, and their pizzas have been voted the best in Bronx and in the States several times.
All they serve in their tiny unpretentious shop are pizzas and calzones, fragrant, hot, juicy, and incredibly tasty! You can eat indoors, there is even a TV on the wall, or on a small patio in the back, and they serve beer and wine as well.
1300 Crosby Ave, Bronx, NY 10461, Phone: 718-829-6230
10. Mon Amour Coffee and Wine
I ended my tour of the Bronx with great coffee at Mon Amour Coffee and Wine, a French-inspired coffee shop in the Riverdale/Kingsbridge area of the Bronx.
Tiny and charming, it is a little corner of Paris in the heart of the Bronx, serving high-quality coffee, espresso, baked goods, flatbreads, and gourmet sandwiches and salads.
Everything is made fresh and with high-quality ingredients. Exposed brick walls, small wood tables, padded banquettes, metal chairs, pendant lights, and Old World decorative wall frames all combine to create a cozy, Old World atmosphere.
Mon Amour is a great neighborhood spot for a cup of great coffee or a fresh pastry, alone, with friends, or with the grandkids.
Address: Mon Amour Coffee and Wine, 234 W 238th St, Bronx, NY 10463, Phone: 718-708-7804
I enjoy writing about NYC where I lived with my family for 10 years.
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