There’s a certain pressure that comes with being the “cool aunt.” You can’t just babysit; you need to deliver the kind of day (or in my case, several weeks of summer) that has your nieces and nephews running home to brag about you. Luckily, New York City and its surrounds are overflowing with experiences that dazzle kids while letting adults sneak in a little fun too.
Here’s how I managed to win some serious cool points with my crew.
Things To Do in NYC and NJ to Impress the Kids TOC
A Morning of Wonder at Mercer Labs
At exactly 11 a.m., we stepped into Mercer Labs, a Museum of Art and Technology. In this place, art and technology blur so seamlessly that it feels like stepping into another dimension. Beyond the entrance, we slipped on shoe covers, a ritual that set the tone: nothing here would be ordinary.
Our first stop was a room of swings. What was supposed to be a glance turned into nearly half an hour of wide-eyed wonder. We sat, swayed, and let ourselves be enveloped by mind-boggling graphics that shifted and pulsed around us. My niece spun herself in dizzying circles, squealing quietly with delight, while my nephew whispered that it felt like a trip through another world.
The space only got more surreal from there. A room of dancing lights made us feel like extras in a Hollywood music video, our phones working overtime to capture the spectacle. We moved from one installation to the next, pausing often, our jaws dropping at every turn. The interactivity was the best part: my niece and nephew waged a hilarious battle in one gallery over who could control a statue’s guitar motion, each refusing to concede defeat.
Even beyond the laughs, Mercer Labs left us buzzing with its exhibition, “Maestros and the Machines,” conceived by artist Roy Nachum and featuring soundscapes by Timbaland. The museum asks what great artists like Mozart, Da Vinci, or Hokusai might have created if they’d had access to today’s technology. It’s not just a museum, it’s a playground for imagination, where art feels alive and constantly in flux.
For Anime fans, Toei Animation and Mercer Labs present ONE PIECE x MERCER LABS
✨ Whether you’re a lifelong fan of ONE PIECE or discovering it for the first time, this exhibition offers a one-of-a-kind opportunity to live the adventure beyond the screen.🏴☠️
⚔️October 9 – November 30, 2025
Cool Aunt Tip:
- 📍 21 Dey St, Lower Manhattan
- 🚇 Take the subway to Fulton St for the quickest walk
- 🎟️ From $46 (kids under 3 free)
- 👶 Best for ages 7+
- 💡 Let the kids lead in the interactive rooms; it’s more fun when they “teach” you how things work.
Sliding Into Sugar Highs at the Museum of Ice Cream
From futuristic art, we stepped into a pastel dreamscape at the Museum of Ice Cream, a world that feels dipped in sugar and laughter. Every room promised a new surprise, and every turn came with a spoonful of something sweet.
We wandered through whimsical spaces, pausing to share bites of bagel and cream cheese ice cream, a flavor that sounded like a dare but somehow worked. The kids couldn’t stop giggling at the odd mix while I secretly went back for seconds of the rich chocolate scoops that came next.
A fun highlight was the pink train room, a bubblegum-hued subway car that demanded a mini photoshoot. My niece and nephew immediately slipped into character, gripping the poles and striking their most serious commuter poses while I snapped photos between fits of laughter.
And then came the big one: the spiral slide that coils down through the building. My niece went first, shrieking with delight, followed closely by my nephew’s fearless dive. I came last, clutching my bag, my nerves, and my dignity, and landed laughing so hard I could barely breathe.
In the game room, the sugar rush reached new heights. Lights pulsed, music thumped, and the kids darted between games while I happily sank into a swing, nibbling on my pina colada flavoured iced lolly and letting the chaos swirl around me.
The finale was everything it promised to be. Thanks to our VIP passes, we wrapped up the visit with a round of specialty treats. My niece’s sprinkle-filled sundae came served in a pink bathtub bowl, while my nephew devoured an Oreo milkshake that required both hands to lift. I, meanwhile, indulged in a chilled espresso martini, the perfect pick-me-up after an afternoon of sugar-fueled fun.
We ended our visit exactly as it should be: the kids diving into the sprinkle pool for one last round while I leaned back on a swing, finishing the last of my ice lolly and letting the whole technicolor chaos wash over me.
If joy could be scooped, it would taste like this place.
Cool Aunt Tip:
- 📍 558 Broadway, SoHo
- 🚇 Take the subway to Prince St or Broadway–Lafayette
- 🎟️ From $39
- 👶 All ages
- 💡 Book weekday mornings for fewer lines and more sprinkle-pool time.
A Grand Central Detour
On our way home from SoHo, my niece had one last request: Grand Central Terminal. She’d seen it in Madagascar and insisted on recreating the scene herself. So, we hopped off the train, stood beneath the constellation ceiling, and let her pose while I played photographer. My nephew photobombed almost every shot, which only made her laugh harder.
Sometimes the best memories aren’t on the itinerary—they’re the ones that sneak up between destinations.
Cool Aunt Tip:
- 📍 89 E 42nd St, Midtown
- 🚇 Served by multiple subway lines and Metro-North
- 💡 Stop for a photo shoot under the constellation ceiling—it’s cinematic magic for little movie fans.
Snow Days in Suburban New Jersey
The next adventure took us beyond the city, to the surreal sight of snow-covered slopes under a mall ceiling. Big Snow American Dream in New Jersey is North America’s only year-round indoor ski slope, and the disbelief on my nephew’s face when he stepped inside was priceless. “Wait, it’s winter in here?” he gasped, racing to get his rental snowboard as if he knew what to do with it.
I optimistically tried to give the kids a snowboarding lesson, but after a few spectacular tumbles, they abandoned me for tubing and slides. Their shrieks of joy echoed across the artificial mountainside while I soldiered on with my board, secretly proud they were having the time of their lives without me. I eventually joined in on their fun and got to experience snow tubing for the first time.
After two hours of frosty fun, we swapped snow for snacks at H-Mart, conveniently tucked into the same mall. That’s when my carefully planned day unraveled. The kids pulled out a secret “bucket list” of foods saved on their phones. They led me on a scavenger hunt through aisles of neon drinks, unfamiliar ramen flavors, and novelties like a perfectly sculpted mango ice cream that was way too expensive but impossible to refuse. My wallet begged for mercy, so I set a firm limit of four items per kid, though somehow we still left with arms full of bags and wide grins plastered on every face.
Cool Aunt Tip:
- 📍 American Dream Mall, East Rutherford, NJ
- 🚌 Short bus ride from Port Authority (no car needed)
- 🎟️ Slope passes from $59.99
- 👶 All ages welcome (lessons from 4+)
- 💡 Pair slope time with a foodie adventure at H-Mart; kids love exploring the aisles.
Wipeouts and Sand Castles at Far Rockaway
For a change of scenery, we swapped snow for surf and headed out to Far Rockaway. This time, we drove; it’s easier with picnic coolers and beach gear in tow. The plan was ambitious: a surfing lesson with Skudin Surf. My niece gamely took to the board, wobbling as waves crashed against her, before being sent tumbling under. She popped up, coughing and spluttering, and with dramatic flair declared, “I’m done. Forever.”
But the day was far from over. Once she’d dried off, she found her rhythm on the boardwalk, practicing skateboard moves while her brother focused on building elaborate sand castles, complete with moats and towers. I stretched out on the sand after too many failed surfing attempts and spent the afternoon watching them rediscover their laughter in the sun.
Cool Aunt Tip:
- 📍 Beach 67th–92nd St, Far Rockaway
- 🚗 Driving is easiest (street parking fills up fast)
- 🎟️ Surf lessons from $95 with Skudin Surf
- 👶 Surfing best for ages 8+, but beach fun for everyone
- 💡 Bring layers—the ocean breeze can be chilly even in summer.
Why These Days Stick
From glass rooms and sprinkle slides to indoor snowstorms, sandy wipeouts, and a train station straight out of an animated film, our adventures proved one thing: being a cool aunt (or uncle) isn’t about perfect planning. It’s about saying yes to spinning in a swing until you’re dizzy, to buying overpriced mango ice cream, to detouring through Grand Central just because a cartoon made it famous.
These days weren’t just about keeping the kids entertained; they reminded me to play, too. And I think I definitely solidified myself as the cool aunty…for the year at least.
