NYC KIDS RECOMMEND TO VISITORS....

Best Playgrounds: For Toddlers.

Adventure Playground, Central Park West and 68th Street.
[Best Enclosed Space to Watch Multiple Children]

Diana Ross Playground, Central Park West and 81st Street.
[Best Obstacle Course]

Spector Playground, Central Park West and 85th Street.
[Best See Saw]

Teardrop Park, Downtown, Between Murray and Warren Streets.
[Best Slide in the City]

Nelson Rockefeller Park, Battery Park City/Tribeca
[Best Park for Children of Multiple Ages/Best Foot Powered Carousel]

John Jay Recreation Park, Upper East Side, 77th and East End
[Best Fenced in Toddler Playground for Parents to Sit and Watch]

Madison Square Park, Chelsea, 25th and Fifth Avenue
[Best Playground Near Shake Shack, Best Cheeseburger in the City]

Hippo Playground and River Run, Upper West Side, Riverside Park
[Best Neighborhood Parks Unknown to Tourists]

Best Sprinklers

New York City in the Summertime means that many parks open their sprinklers, where you will find NYC kids of all ages donning bathing suits and enjoying running through the water. Some of the best sprinkler parks:

Heckscher Park, Enter at Central Park South
Carl Schurz Park, Upper East Side,  East End Avenue at 86th Street
Hudson River Park Playground, Chelsea/Village, West Street , Pier 51
Chelsea Waterside Playground, Chelsea,  11th Avenue at 23rd Street
[This playground is great, but lacks shade]

Best Carousel/Amusement Park

Central Park Carousel, Mid-Park, Enter at Central Park South
Victorian Gardens, Central Park
[Only Open in Summer/Fees Range for Rides and Entrance]

Best Places to Dine with Kids

Landmarc, Time Warner Center, West 60th Street,  and SOHO, Pricey
Unos, West 81st and Columbus [Kids Can Make Their Own Pizza]
Arties Deli, 2290 Broadway, Upper West Side
Barking Dog Diner, Upper East Side and Midtown East
Blue Smoke, Midtown East
Ellen's Stardust Diner, Midtown [They Sing!]
Ollies, Chinese, Upper West Side
John's of Bleeker Street, The Village
Patsys Pizza, Uptown and Downtown Locations on East and West Sides
Alice's Tea Cup, 2 East Side Locations, 1 Upper West Side
Dylan's Candy Bar, 60th Street and Third Avenue
Say Cheese!, Midtown West
Burger Joint, West 57th Street
Chat 'n Chew, Union Square West
S'MAC, East Village and Upper West Side
Pommes Frites, East Village
San Loco, 4 Locations Citywide
Kitchenette, Tribeca
Beacon, Midtown, West 56th Street, [Kitchen visit and Cotton Candy for kids}

Best Hotels

Doubletree Guest Suites Times Square (Times Square)
An all suites hotel, with an entire floor of childproof suites, and a Kids Club.

Ritz Carlton Hotels [Central Park and Battery Park)
There isn't anything this hotel won't do to help make your family's visit a fun one.

Hotel Beacon (Upper West Side) 
     Best kid-friendly neighborhood, all rooms have kitchenette, spacious rooms.

Loews Regency (Upper East Side) 
First class hotel. A big welcome by longtime kids' concierge Kaptain Kidz.

Hotel Metro (Midtown West)
Family Room Suites - two bedrooms attached and complimentary continental breakfast. 

Le Parker Meridien (Midtown West) 
Nice sized rooms with kid-friendly burger joint. 

Milburn Hotel [Upper West Side]
All suites hotel and good prices, with kitchenette and great location.
                                                          
Novotel New York (Midtown West)
Kids under 16 stay free in their parent's room and eat free at the hotel's Café Nicole. 

Skyline Hotel and Travel Inn (Midtown West)
Inexpensive parking and oversize rooms and swimming pools, a rarity in a NYC hotel.
                                                                                              

Best Museums For Kids

SONY Wonder Technology Lab, Midtown, www.sonywondertechlab.com
New York City Fire Museum, Downtown, www.nycfiremuseum.org
Children's Museum of Manhattan, Upper West Side,  www.cmom.org
Hayden Planetarium, Upper West Side, www.haydenplanetarium.org
American Museum of Natural History, Upper West Side, www.amnh.org
Bronx Zoo, Bronx, www.bronxzoo.com 
Scandinavia House, Midtown, www.scandinaviahouse.org

Best Tourist Attractions

Ellis Island, Battery Park City, www.ellisisland.org
Empire State Building, Midtown West, www.esbnyc.com
M&M's World, Midtown, www.mymms.com/service/locations.asp
New York Tour Goddess, Various locations, www.nytourgoddess.com
The Shark, Various locations, www.circlelinedowntown.com
Spotlight Live, Midtown, www.spotlightlive.com
Statue of Liberty, Battery Park, www.nps.gov/stli