A family friendly route through West Chelsea, New York City
Chelsea is a great neighborhood to explore with kids, and I've mapped out a kid friendly, stroller accessible route to enjoy a morning of art, food, and sights! And as a bonus - most of it is free! We're starting off at Maman Cafe, at their 800 Washington Street location. (Note: the The A, C, E, and L subway lines stop about six blocks from the Whitney Museum at 14th Street and 8th Avenue.) They have amazing lattes for parents and pastries if you want to treat the kids! I sat in the cafe with my son and enjoyed the street view while we waited for the Whitney to open at 10:30 a.m.
Whitney Museum of American Art
Next we're heading to the Whitney Museum of American Art - they currently have free 2nd Sundays, as well as free Friday night admission, which is great for families! The museum is a short stroll across the block from Maman, and has bathroom access as well. Be sure to check the day's schedule when you enter, as they often have kid-friendly activities available (my son made a solar sound machine and painted a family crest, which was so cute - and yes, this was included with our free admission!). It's a gorgeous museum with so much to explore! Depending on the ages of your kids, and how interested in art they are, I'd plan for 1-2 hours at the museum. When you're ready to head out, exit to the left past the Museum cafe and you'll see an entrance to the High Line (there is elevator access here if you have a stroller on board or your kids just don't want to do stairs!).
Whitney Museum of American Art
The Highline
We took a short stroll on NYC's "park in the sky," The Highline! It has great views of the city and lots of different plants to explore - my son thought it was so cool that so many trees and flowers were growing so far off the ground! Keep walking until you see a view of Little Island park across the street, and you'll then see an exit ramp that's stroller accessible to come down from the High Line. Continue across the street to Little Island Park.
Little Island
The Little Island is a free 2.4 acre park with a playground, views of the harbor, and tons of nature to explore. You can check out their landscape list on their website and do a plant scavenger hunt! You can also listen to a free audio tour here. Explore as long as you like (or until the kids get hangry!), and then stroll over to Pier 57 for lunch. This is also your next bathroom stop, and water bottle fill station!
Photo: Little Island Park
Pier 57
Located in Hudson River Park, Pier 57 is a community space with lots to explore, including The Living Room located on the ground floor of the Pier’s southern edge with views of the Hudson River. Also inside Pier 57, you'll find Market 57, which has tons of food options so everyone can pick what they want! I opted for Indian food, and my son picked a Glizzy's NYC hot dog. This is a great indoor spot to recharge and reset before heading back home. I did this route with my 9 year old son, but I kept in mind stroller accessibility, walk times, and bathroom access in order to bring my littles back with us next time we visit! We started around 9:30 at Maman Cafe, and had finished lunch by about 1:30 p.m. - we spent plenty of time at The Whitney viewing the art and engaging in the kids activities, so you could definitely cut this time down if you needed a more condensed morning (or stroll around longer and make a full day of it!). Again, your closest subway is going to be the A, C, E, or L train at the 14th Street (8th Avenue) station. I hope you enjoy this vibrant NYC neighborhood as much as we do!
Carly Matthews Photography
Carly is a newborn and family photographer and mom of 4 serving Central Florida, Florida's East Coast, and New York City. Learn more here.
