New York City Stores to Play Indoors for Free

As the weather starts to climb into the high ‘50s and the snow finishes its vanishing act, you might catch yourself day-dreaming of a spring vacation. Oh, the economy still got your wallet? (too bad the sun can’t melt that issue away)—No problem! You can still give the kids and yourself a well deserved break with an old fashioned play-cation right here in New York City.

Take a day to yourselves and go visit these extremely play-friendly stores, without having to spend a cent. Do anything from shooting hoops to free amusement park play, and maybe even get a little exercise in on the Wii Fit. The kids will be so played-out, they might not even whine about getting their own Nintendo system…

The Apple Store
(various locations, visit apple.com/retail to find your local store)

Play with apps, play with the iPod touch, sit on bean-bag chairs and play computer games. For a store filled with so many electronic devices, there sure is a lot of shameless playing going on. While you discover your new favorite app, your little gamer can sample new games and educational types too, like PBS KIDS PLAY.

In addition to the in-store games, Apple provides free hands-on workshops for families to get creative. Jam out, compose songs, make presentations and photo albums and learn how to produce a movie, all with iLife and iWork applications (and all for f-r-e-e). For more information, visit http://www.apple.com/retail/youthworkshops.

The NBA Store
666 5th Ave (Fifth Avenue & 52nd Street)

Feel like a pro-baller and possibly sight some NBA and WNBA players in this arena-like store. There’s an authentic half-court shooting area for all your slam-dunkin’ needs and  where you can play a mean game of indoor b-ball, interactive video games and player video wall, and museum-like exclusive NBA and WNBA footage on jumbotron screens. And you’ll never miss a game, as there are live broadcasts on NBA TV.

The store also hosts lots of free live events throughout the year, including player appearances and concerts. Be sure to visit the site before you go. 

Nintendo World Store
10 Rockefeller Plaza

Simply put, this is a gaming paradise. Sample games on the 45” HD monitor and have a family feud at the multiplayer Wii Stations, let the kids enjoy the bar, the DS sampling bar that is, while they choose games from an extensive software library and you may even pick up some healthy and tasty recipe ideas from the DS’ Personal Trainer, Cooking.

Be sure to check the site for upcoming (and of course, free) events like the Pokèmon Platinum Launch party and Nintendo DSi Launch.

FAO Schwarz
767 Fifth Avenue

No story of in-store playing would be complete without mention of this child fantasy land. Though it can be a bit chaotic and filled with tourists, kids love to create some sweet tunes on the Giant Piano, race in the Hot Wheels village and walk around wide-eyed in the Barbie village. With larger-than-life stuffed animals and toys galore, kids love this place. Snap some photos of them with their new favorite toys and the toy soldiers outside, too.

World of Disney
711 5th Avenue (5th & 55th)

This is about the closest you can get to Disney without hopping on a plane, but be sure to bring your camera! Stop by the Friendship Room to meet your favorite characters, like Goofy, Cinderella and Pluto (who will take photos with your kids and you for free if you’ve got your camera handy) sans the amusement park lines and chat with them while you’re there. If you call up in advance, you get an idea of what characters will be in-store that day.

Head to the second floor (beware: packed with stuffed animals) for toys and games and lots of Mr. Potato Head—well at least lots of his parts! There are so many parts to dress up your Mr. Potato Head, it is pretty unreal, but be careful if you do the fill a box with accessories bit for $19.99. After so much playing, many of pieces are chipped and a little warn, from all that love. The third floor has plenty of Disney collectibles, but is a bit more hands-off than the floors below.

Toys R Us
1514 Broadway

Cheaper than Six Flags and but with similar thrills and way more toys is the famed Times Square Toys “R” Us. The site boasts you’ll “circle the center of the toy universe” and I can’t argue with them there. The 60ft tall indoor Ferris Wheel has some great toy-scape views and an incredible amusement park feel. There could be a line, but it usually moves pretty quickly.

While you explore this indoor toy theme-park, visit Barbie’s two-floor Dollhouse (talk about life-size!) and don’t forget to stop by an old prehistoric friend, the 5-ton, 20-feet-high, 34-feet long T-Rex from Jurassic Park. Take that Museum of Natural History! (Just kidding, we still love bone-y dinos too!) There’s also some arcade fun lurking in the “R” Zone—the 5,500 square feet zone of the latest games, videos, CDs and DVDs, free to be played with on big plasma screens.

Kidding Around
60 W. 15th Street

You might not be able to find your child’s favorite characters in this indie store, but there are treasures to be discovered all over. This extremely kid-friendly toy store welcomes it’s tinniest customers to sample all the goods it has to offer. From wooden toys to electronic kits, trains and planes, musical instruments and dress-up costumes, Kidding Around is a great place to just let the kids explore and be creative with their imaginations, you know, that thing that has to get dusted off next to last year’s Play Station.

M&M World
1600 Broadway

Kids and chocolate lovers alike won’t be able to leave this story very easily. (Though you might want to run out if you go during peak hours--it is best to go an hour or so before closing, since it is a tourist hot spot.) M&M furniture, pounds upon pounds of M&Ms, a 21-foot Miss Green M&M’s Statue of Liberty—this place has it all. You can spend your green quite quickly and easily here, but you can also wander around without feeling the pressure to purchase one single brown M&M (though, kudos if you can resist).

Take some photos with M&M mascots Yellow and Red, Miss Green and the whole M&M gang. Find out what color M&M you are with the interactive color display and try not to fall into a sugar-induced comma before junior does. Plus, the staff lets the kids just play and run around, and thankfully so since you don’t want all that sugar energy unleashed when you get home.

The Scholastic Store
557 Broadway

Scholastic is known for being an educational brand, but if you’ve ever step foot inside their SoHo store, you know they more than welcome some playing around. From the Build-a-Book activity board to the Magic School Bus the whole fam can step into and the 11-foot-tall dinosaur, complete with bean bag tail for playing and reading, there is plenty of creative fun to be had. Read our whole write up on the Scholastic Store here.

Pay a visit to the Scholastic Store site, since there are always different events going on.

And while you’re waiting for the weather to get a bit more seasonal, don’t miss our Indoor Guide!
 

Photo Credit: Rob Brooks