This is fun place to be a kid again! Not as impressive as I was hoping it'd be, but still great. 4…read moreslides of different lengths, with the longest one actually being pretty tall! A great addition to governors island. The only way to go up is by stepping up the wooden boxes the trees are built on, or on the stone blocks. It seemed a bit dangerous and I might be hesitant about little kids running up and down those, but none of the parents there seemed concerned! I'm really looking forward to more additions like this to governors island. Outlook hill is awesome as well, great views of the city.

Loved it! My kids enjoyed climbing the steep stones and sounding down. I even felt like a kid again!read more

CREA interactivity is an indoor play space on the second floor above Japan Village (building 2)…read more It's tucked away, you have to enter from 253 36th St, not from any other part of the building, and climb to the second floor. They are good about signage, which was helpful! I booked 8 kids for a two hour experience for a birthday. The two hours included one "adventure" and some craft time. We were lucky that my group was the the only ones booked for that two hour window, so they got to enjoy it as a team. The best thing about the two hour experience: it's drop off. The adults literally cannot stay, there is no space for you. They have your number if some thing happens, but this is designed for adults to have your own adventure. HUGE win. If you have more than 15 kids, there's a party package with a custom adventure, side room and time for cake. They have a deal with the Industry City vendors for food options, which sounded awesome. The CREA team was responsive, answering my queries within a day of me sending an email. They were kind about helping me with options and ensuring we were all set. The space is fun. The room is long and has several zones to explore and collaborate in. There are things to climb and bounce on and zoom. The staff are special. They are kind, excited to hang with the kids, and organized. Feedback from my set of discerning and hopefully not too spoiled 7 to 9 year olds was mixed. The girls (7) loved it, and waxed poetic about the blocks and climbing wall and made gorgeous art. The 9 year old boys said great things about the bouncy area, but also reported that some of the interactive sensor games were glitchy and decided they were too cool for the craft. I would probably be back for a CREA date night (Friday and Saturday evenings). Perhaps not for another birthday.

From the owner: CREA offers interactive and immersive team-based adventures for kids that blend virtual and…read morereal-world elements. All of our games are STEAM-inspired, and feature themes about the environment made in collaboration with our students in our design lab. The Crea Adventure is a 60-minute continuous experience in an action-packed environment where kids navigate through technologically-infused games, conquering challenges and fostering creativity through movement. Players run, jump, climb, crawl and dodge through nine zones that combine technology with traditional play, ending with a relaxing meditation in our ChillZone.

We were visiting family in NYC this summer with a 2- and 4-year-old, and quickly realized two…read morethings: apartments here are not big enough when you have to entertain 2 energetic toddlers, and AC is life. Honestly, my little ones started testing my sanity by our 3rd day on the trip, but then my SIL recommended I take the kids to PlayWell that morning...and they loved it. We dropped in for two hours and the time flew by. Both kids were so happy, got to burn off their energy, and I didn't even get the "I'm bored" complaint! The highlights: 1. The Ultimate Heat Escape: It's spacious, bright, super clean, and beautifully air-conditioned. A total oasis when it's melting outside. 2. Caters to different interests: The variety of activities is top-notch. They have high-energy set-ups like swings and a zip line, brain-boosting pegboards and puzzles, and pretend play activities like a kitchen and wooden train sets. 3. Smart layout: The space is designed with different zones, so kids can actually get a little separation and quiet space if they prefer, especially nice for the younger kids. 4. Perfect for all paces: It easily handles everyone from crawlers to high-energy kids who like to run or bounce around. We've been to a lot of play spaces, and this one has been one of our favorites. A must-visit!

Went for a child's 4th bday - so fun! They had so many different activities for children of all…read moreages and a nice set up for bdays. We appreciated how clean, safe and friendly it was.

The staffs were top notch. Very attentive and helpful. My daughter enjoyed her time here. Plenty…read moreof beginner's level walls for her to climb. At some point her hands got too sweaty to climb. Wished there was chalk or something to help with that otherwise a fun indoor spot to take your kids to.

I brought my son to Hapik during a recent school break, and I'm thoroughly impressed with the…read morefacility, staff, and overall experience. This is a supervised, climb-at-your-own-pace experience rather than formal instruction. If you're looking for climbing classes with instructors, this is not for you. If you're looking for a climbing facility where kids decide what they want and don't want to do, this place is perfect. Booking & Check-In: The online process was seamless--purchasing tickets, selecting a time slot, and completing the waiver form all happened smoothly. Pro tip: fill out the waiver online when you buy tickets to save time at check-in. There was a line when we arrived, but it moved quickly. Safety & Orientation: All kids in our time slot gathered in a separate room for harness fitting and a thorough safety video. Since each harness must be fitted individually by an instructor, this takes some time--hence the 20-minute early arrival recommendation. It's time well spent for peace of mind. The Facility: The climbing courses are fantastic, with plenty of variety across different difficulty levels. The auto-belay system lets kids climb independently while staying securely connected at all times. With colorful themed walls, vertical challenges, and ropes courses reaching 26 feet high, there's no shortage of excitement. Everything feels extremely safe, with staff members consistently available throughout. There's also a play structure for younger children (4 feet and under). The Staff: I was particularly grateful when a staff member noticed my son losing confidence midway through (even on courses he'd already completed, like the pirate plank). This instructor took genuine time to help him regain his footing. It helped a lot. The Location: Hapik is located in Industry City, which means you're surrounded by excellent food options. We grabbed lunch at Japan Village in the next building, which offers a lot of different dining options Tips for First-Timers: - Start with one pass if it's your first visit--no need to commit to multiple passes until you know your child enjoys it. - During school breaks, arrive before 11am to beat the crowds. - Complete waivers online at booking to streamline check-in. - If you came to just follow your kid without climbing, you still need to sign a waiver. Highly recommended for a fun, confidence-building activity!

It's fine when the adults are present, but the teens working here are very unprofessional. There's…read moreone adult manatee who is always kind, but the teen staff often speak to parents disrespectfully. I've seen them playing around instead of paying attention, and when I reported it, they tried to deny it. They even addressed my son about something another child did right in front of them. Just be cautious bringing your kids here -- you shouldn't have to deal with staff talking to you any kind of way, especially when you're older than them.

It was fine. INCREDIBLY overpriced. Skews very young, kids running around like crazy, not enough…read moreseating for people to find a home base to sit...far too overcrowded. We booked tickets in advance thinking they might sell out but no: Urban Air will just keep. packing. people. in. As many as possible, as much cash as they can with zero regard for safety. There was also an obvious smell in the ball pit where a child must have had an, ahem, accident, and it wasn't closed for cleaning...gross. Not a fan. Did the kids have fun overall? Sure. Will we come back? Nope.

Pros: it's free, big enough to swim with out getting kicked in the face, plenty life guards…read more Cons: not enough chairs, only 4 ft is the deepest depth, big rude women worker shouted "shower before you step out in the pool" Lol sheesh

Visited the website to read about the pool rules. It wasn't clear in explaining that you cannot…read moreenter the pool deck, and understand that all of the pool is the pool deck, without being in a swimsuit. The workers are clear when you get there. Bring a lock, wear a swimsuit including swim top for males wanting to wear any type of tshirt or a white plain tshirt. Clear directions when you get there but the website needs to be more clear. It reads like suggestions rather than mandates. Not against the rules because there needs to be order but just make sure that the website clarifies the rules as requirements. Pool is in great condition, very clean, respectful workers who were kind enough to let me give my kids their towels before I went back to my car to wait for them. I only got one pic. Lots of parking if you get there timely. In my waiting, they closed to capacity based on the number of lifeguard to swimmer ratio. Well run.

Super cute store, but the woman working there was horrible. She refused to answer questions saying…read morethat we can look online. Then she got mad at my 9 year old daughter for asking a question about one of the pieces of origami. All this because we wanted to book a class and buy stuff. She said she has to answer the same questions every day as if that's our problem. If you hate people, don't work in retail.

With all the media devices today and kids ( and adults) staring for hours into a screen, I believe…read moreits even more important to get back to the simple art of paper folding. Don't take my word for it..Psychology Today published an article about how origami can promote mindfulness. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/urban-survival/201609/5-ways-origami-boosts-mindfulness Step into this sweet little studio on the second floor of a building on 7th Avenue and you will instantly feel a sense of serenity. Tiny paper cranes and miniature folded creatures, buses etc are scattered in the studio. For $10 you get 30mins of origami folding time. Simple to intermediate to advanced projects with complete step by step tutorials are available on a couple of iPads in the studio. You also get to choose from a bookshelf of rainbow colored papers including some patterned ones for your origami masterpieces. And if you need extra help, there is always a very patient and kind person at the front who is able to help you decipher the tutorial instructions. Taro Origami is a true gem in the neighborhood and I recommend everyone from age 5-105 go there now!

This is a hidden gem in lower Manhattan. The Sea Glass Carousel is a very fabulous amusement that…read moreis very well hidden. It cost six dollars for a pretty nice ride, and the visual is stunning. Add in an excellent sound track and I imagine that some might ride it all day. Highly recommended!

This carousel is literally magical. I saw it on a tv show and then thought it would be fun to take…read moremy kids to when visiting nyc. It was $6 a person which felt steep but somewhat similar to what I pay for the standard carousel in the mall at home. This was so much better than that. Straight out of a fairytale. The park right next to it was unique and fun for my kids to play at afterwards too.