Visiting New York is an amazing experience and showing your kids the sights is great fun but it can be an expensive business so here are some free things you can do during your time in the Big Apple.

Take the kids on a 25-minute trip on the Staten Island Ferry across the water from Lower Manhattan to Staten Island. The Ferry runs 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week. On weekdays durinng rush hours 6am-9.30am and 3.30-8pm ferries are every 15 or 20 minutes, At weekends, service is provided every 30 minutes on Saturdays and Sundays.

See some of the best sites that New York has to offer such as the famous Statue of Liberty, the stunning views of New York Harbor and the majestic Manhattan skyline. All free of charge!

Of course all parks are free but Central Park has to be the most famous! A hive of activity all year round with playgrounds, wonderful buildings such as Bethesda Terrace & statues such as ‘Alice in Wonderland’ & ‘Strawberry Fields,’ for Beatle, John Lennon.

Enjoy free swimming at Lasker Pool in the summer months & storytelling at the ‘Hans Christian Anderson’ statue.

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Ok, obviously toys are not free but I have chosen these toy stores because they offer a whole experience & a lot more than a simple toy sale.

At the LEGO® Store Fifth Avenue you will find innovative displays, in-store family events, and play areas and of course plenty of LEGO. The Living Room is an interactive play area at the center of the store designed for hands-on, minds-on play.

Brooklyn Superhero Supply Store is worthy of a mention for its originality & good work! You can pick up x-ray goggles, capes & tins of immortality! Customers are asked to promise at the door to use purchases only for the forces of good & profits go to 826NYC which teaches writing to kids. Founded by author, Dave Eggers.

FAO Schwarz at the Rockefeller Center has to be one of the most iconinc toy shops but it also offers an interactive experience, with hands-on activities for kids, some of which are free, from magic tricks to science experiments.

Mary Arnold Toys on the Upper East Side has been operating since 1931, obviously selling many toys over the years but also offering a destination to gather for events and story times.

It’s not really a toy shop but kids of all ages love tricks and magic shops, so a visit to Tannen’s Magic Shop, the city’s oldest operating magic store in Midtown Manahattan is where you’ll find fun things like hats that produce rabbits, magic canes, invisible paint and more.

Free every Thursday from 2 to 6pm, the Brooklyn Children’s Museum is full of fun, educational exhibits that teach kids about world cultures, history & science. There’s also a lovely area specially geared towards the under-fives. They have the most amazing website so even if you’re not in New York, you can take a look!

One of the most recognisable parts of the New York City skyline, it’s free to walk the elevated pedestrian walkway for a stunning experience of New York City. The Brooklyn Bridge has featured in so many movies & television shows making it a real part of New York City history.

Did you know you can see the real stuffed animals that inspired the beloved Winnie-the-Pooh stories in New York? Visit them at The Children’s Center at The New York Library at 42nd Street where you will also find computers, books, programming spaces, podcasting studios, reading nooks  for kids and a cool book sorter that allows kids to return their books through a slot and watch as a conveyor belt sorts them to go back onto the shelves.

They also feature events for young people and their families including storytelling, musical and theatrical performances, spoken word performances, and guest appearances by authors and illustrators.

Curious older kids and teens can attend free public lectures at Columbia Astronomy Public Outreach, followed by a full 90 minutes of rooftop stargazing, hosted by Columbia University’s astronomy department.

Past Friday-night sessions have included “How Big Is the Solar System?”, “How Is a Hubble Image Made?” and “Where the Ocean Meets the Sky.”

The city’s second-biggest park, Flushing Meadows – Corona Park contains the amazing Unisphere, a mammoth steel globe created for the 1964 World’s Fair.

You can also explore one of the park’s six playgrounds, take a stroll along the Flushing Bay Promenade, or fly a kite or model airplane.

The Seaport (or South Street Seaport) is an entertaining area with exciting, free seasonal events and plenty of entertainment for all ages. You can also inspect the historic ships docked at the pier.

The South Street Seaport Museum tells the story of the rise of New York as a port city and its critical role in the development of the United States, with interactive exhibits, education, and experiences. The free admission includes access to all the indoor galleries and tall ship Wavertree.

You can’t really visit New York without taking a photo in Times Square, the busy, bright hub of excitement!

Obviously famous for New Year’s Countdown, there are also other seasonal events that take place along with public art installations and plenty of fun stores to ogle at. Our favourite was visiting The M&M Store located just off Times Square.

If you are staying for a few days, a Go Boston Card is a great idea as it provides discounts to Boston’s top attractions and allows card-holders fast-track admission, so you avoid the long queues.

Here are our pick of Free Things to do in Boston with Kids and please let us know if there is something we should add!

It’s not quite free but near as so I had to include it! The Boston Children’s Museum only costs $1 on Sundays and kids go free with the GoBoston discount card.

It is packed with lots of spaces and activities where children from 3 to 10 years can explore the world around them!

“Everything is built at child height and the kids are encouraged to climb, play with and even touch the exhibits!” Andrea L.

The grassy Boston Common is gorgeous anytime of the year. It has ice-skating in winter, but it truly comes alive in spring. It is the country’s first public park and a traditional carousel operates here in the warmer months.

Visit the neighbouring Public Garden and get a photo of the iconic Make Way for Ducklings sculpture, child-size bronze statues by sculptor Nancy Schön. Inspired by Robert McCloskey’s classic book, we picked up a copy of this wonderful tale as a lovely reminder of our Boston trip!

Rose Kennedy Greenway, Boston’s newest park, runs from Chinatown to TD Garden and the North End. Shaped like a narrow ribbon linking Downtown and the Waterfront, the park stretches a mile and a half in length with a series of parks, attractions, events, and revolving art exhibits.

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Perhaps more for older children, tours of the State House last approximately 40 minutes and include an overview of the history and architecture of the State Capitol. Call ahead to schedule a guided tour 617-727-3676.

A stunning building with a beautiful gold dome, it is open to the public on weekdays and admission is free.

More than just a great shopping area, Faneuil Hall Marketplace and Quincy Market is like a festival venue with jugglers, magicians, clowns and musicians.

There are plenty of free family seasonal events all year round, with summer concerts so check what’s on before you go.

Borrow a fun Discovery Pack at the Arnold Arboretum at Harvard University and go exploring the 281 acres of plant life and trees as a Living Museum or Science Lab. Activities range in ability for children over 3 years of age and you can customise the packs to suit your child’s age. As well as the Discovery Packs there are lots of fun self-guided activities.

Or you can also join a family walk or a family drop-in to experience the sights and sounds of the Arnold Arboretum on tours and activities geared toward children ages three to eight and above. Walks are free and led by Arboretum staff or volunteers. Meet at the Visitor Center or on the Hunnewell Building lawn. Adults may bring a maximum of three children. Free but registration requested for the hikes.

For the best views in Boston, and a little history, head to the Bunker Hill Monument. Ideal for all ages, but especially older kids/teens who may be studying the American Revolution.

You won’t mind climbing the 294 steps to the top that lead to the pinnacle when you see the spectacular vista from the monument.

 “The Battle of Bunker Hill Museum is free! It’s very interesting for history buffs and features a large diorama.” Teresa R.

Follow Boston’s 2.5 mile historic Freedom Trail and really get a sense of the city’s landmarks and history. There’s lots to see and do on the way.

If you are with young children it is easy to just pick a short section that includes a site your children might like such as the USS Constitution (see below, No. 8).

Then follow it up with tea and a treat at Quincy Market or in a North End bakery.

The USS Constitution aka “Old Ironsides” is the oldest commissioned warship afloat in the world. Located inside Boston National Historical Park as part of the Charlestown Navy Yard in Charlestown, Massachusetts and part of Boston’s Freedom Trail, USS Constitution is open for public visitation, free of charge throughout the year (there is a suggested admission if you wish to donate)

Visitors can ask questions and speak with active duty U.S. Navy Sailors assigned as members of USS Constitution’s crew, who are stationed at the ship as interpretative historians to help bring stories of the ship to life.

NB All people aged 18 or older must present photo ID or passport to board the ship.

Enjoy free observations of the night’s sky at Coit Observatory on Wednesday evenings starting at 7:30pm in autumn and winter and 8:30pm in spring and summer, weather permitting. Look at the starry sky through telescopes and binoculars while learning a little astronomy. The program is an hour long and perfect for the whole family!

Tickets are free, limited to 5 per person, and made available online on Thursday mornings for the following Wednesday.

The statue of Paul Revere is one of the most photographed sculptures in Boston. Not surprisingly the sculptor portrayed Revere during the famous Midnight Ride, but unlike many illustrations where he is shown galloping full speed, the motion of the bronze Revere seems to more dignified.

You’ll find the statue in Boston’s Paul Revere Mall near the Old North Church, along the Freedom Trail.

Not far from the famous Big Apple, there is an exciting world of camping, canoeing, hiking, and exploring guaranteed to keep the kids busy and entertained.

For gorgeous and breathtaking landscapes, a visit to the grand and stunning Hudson River Valley or to the Catskills should be on your list.

If you head west toward the Finger Lakes, you can pitch the tent down in the valley.

Or go north to the stunning Adirondacks, where you’ll find an abundance of lush green state parks as well as national forests with endless mountain trails and fabulous trees, all making tranquility and peace easy to come by.

You can also book a campsite or rent a cabin along the shores of the stunning Lake George, which is ideal for various water sports, boating, or just a good, fun day at the beach.

Beautiful campsites are one of the many reasons to enjoy a stay in New York. So, here are eight family-friendly campsites near New York City that the family will love.

For the majority of city slickers, this park may be the most beautiful and convenient camping option. You can get on Metro-North at the famous Grand Central Station and take the train for about an hour, or a little more, to Croton-Harmon which is around half a mile away from Croton Point Park.

Croton Point Park is located on a beautiful peninsula in the famous Hudson River. The park offers tent camping as well as other fun activities for families. You can enjoy hiking, swimming and even take tours of various local wineries.

This Brooklyn oasis, also known as Camp Getaway, is located at the edge of the famous Jamaica Bay. The best part is that the Q35 bus takes you right to the entrance of this majestic park.

Floyd Bennett Field is a perfect place to enjoy a campfire with the family and sleep under the stars. Each camping site is fully equipped with basic amenities such as drinking water, grills, campfire rings, picnic areas, and trash collecting. Plus, there is an area for RV parking as well.

Keep in mind that the camping sites fill up pretty quickly; so, visit Recreation.gov for advance reservations.

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Hither Hills Park is situated right on the ocean and presents the perfect wake-up call from the tent – what’s better than the natural sound of waves waking you up in the morning. If you are not driving, it’s accessible also by public transport, get on the LIRR to Montauk. From there you may hike the short distance or call a cab to reach this campground.

Kids will enjoy hiking the dunes of the awesome Napeague Harbor. You can also hike through oak, pine, shad, as well as Russian olive trees. You can also fish throughout the year if you have the right permit.

Campers at the amazing Fort Wadsworth can enjoy breathtaking views of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, Manhattan, as well as Lady Liberty from the comfort of their own tents!

This park also provides gorgeous beaches for fishing and swimming, playgrounds, birding, and elaborate tours of the exquisite and Revolutionary War-era fort. However, keep in mind that most on-site showers have cold water!

In true New York City style, this park is easily accessible through mass transit. Just get on a bus from the popular Staten Island Ferry. This amazing campsite is open for visitors from May through to late September while booking usually opens about one month in advance.

Fahnestock State Park stretches over 14,086 acres with lots for visitors to do and see, including the monumental Hudson River Birding Trail. If you’re into birdwatching, you’ll be amazed at the extensive variety of beautiful species available for viewing.

Fishing on the serene Canopus Lake is fun and you could also rent the rowboat available at the park office or use your personal one provided you get a permit.

What would you say to falling asleep under the beautiful starlit sky on your own island? Head to the Saranac Lake Islands and choose any of the several of islands to camp on.

Keep in mind that Saranac Lake is really an interconnected series of waterways and lakes, and you can reach the breathtaking village of Saranac Lake from any point by boat if you fancy that as your mode of transport.

North-South Lake Campground is one of the most popular and biggest state campgrounds in the famous Catskill Forest Preserve and offers extraordinary picturesque beauty, as well as historical sites, like Kaaterskill Falls and Alligator Rock.

This campsite is ideal for family excursions because of its sheer beauty and range of walks and activities.

This stunning State Park has over 805 acres of streams and trails that would make any avid nature lover smile. Also, the Musconetcong River offers excellent trout fishing; the river is annually stocked with rainbow, brown, and brook trout, making it a popular place for fly-fishing.

But if fishing isn’t your thing, there are also six miles of exciting trails for hiking, walking, horseback riding and mountain biking, making it a perfect spot for families.

There you have it. 8 family-friendly campsites that are ideal for camping enthusiasts and all within striking distance of New York City!

If you are planning a trip to Boston with the family then it’s good to know a few eateries that will be very welcoming to kids and fun for them to go to, as well as satisfying parent tastes.

Bostonian food favorites to try:

• Clam Chowder
• Boston cream pie – the official dessert of Massachusetts
• Bostonian baked beans with brown bread
• Seafood – whole lobster or Lobster rolls or you might like to try whole belly clams

There’s always lots happening at Quincy Market and with more than 50 food stalls serving everything from Boston’s famous Clam Chowder to kid-pleasing pizza and hot dogs, you’re to find something everyone will enjoy!

Mingle with the locals at one of the communal tables or head outside in the fine weather and find a bench to dine on. The kids will have fun watching the various live acts and street performers.

If you’re looking for simple tasty food, generous portions, good prices and great service try Joe’s on Newbury or Joe’s Waterfront near Faneuil Hall.

The kids menu is very reasonable and includes burgers, chicken, fish and pasta with all selections including a choice of soda, apple juice box, or milk and a kids sundae. Grown-ups are catered for too with a delicious choice of seafood, salads and steaks. Terrific service.

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Regina Pizzeria has been serving Boston locals since 1926 so you just know they’re doing something right! They have lots of locations around the city but a favourite of ours is the one in Fenway, a great place to stop for a casual lunch and to sample Boston’s most popular pizza steaming hot and fresh from the brick oven.

If you’re dying to try some of Boston’s famous grilled lobster or creamy clam chowder, give Jasper White’s Summer Shack a try! Situated near Fenway on Dalton Street, this casual and fun seafood restaurant serves a delicious selection of cherrystone clams, buffalo shrimp and crab cakes. And don’t worry if the kids aren’t fans, their cute kids menu includes fried chicken, cheeseburgers and pastas too!

Legal Seafoods is another favourite of ours, with multiple locations in boston (and other states), their Kids Menu includes Fried Popcorn Shrimp, Fish and Chips and if your kids would like to try a lobster they even offer that to the kids too!

Anyone for a ‘Joe Biden’ or ‘Mar-a-Lago’ anyone? A Cambridge favourite since 1960, Mr. Bartley’s Gourmet Burgers are named after political figures and local celebrities, so reading the menu is very entertaining.

The sweet potato fries are awesome, and while the frappes are more like milkshakes they were voted best in Boston and are super tasty! A children’s menu is also available.

We used to live in Brookline and take our new baby daughter to Zaftig’s regularly. It’s a Jewish deli and restaurant located at Coolidge Corner (on the Green line), popular for its delicious breakfast options, it offers an all day menu with delights such as Loaded Latkes and Chicken Matzo Ball Soup. It does get busy so either come at off peak times or put your name down and have a wander around Coolidge Corner.

Their Kids menu has breakfast options like silver dollar pancakes or a mini fruit plate, while for lunch & dinner, kids can enjoy mac and cheese or a sirloin burger.

Everything looks so good at the Flour Café and Bakery and the great atmosphere makes it such a fab place to go with kids! Absolutely delicious sandwiches and salads but, my gosh, the pastries, cakes and tarts are to die for.

So go ahead, treat yourself to the best Boston Cream Pie in the city!

Looking for a quick bite and tasty sandwich, head to Sam La Grassa’s on Province Street. Always super speedy with a friendly service, there’s a huge choice of delicious meats, salads and sauces all served on the freshest bread.

The pastrami, chipotle chicken and corned beef are all highly recommended. Yummy potato salad too!

If visiting in summer you are just a few hours’ drive from the beautiful beaches of Cape Cod, where you can explore the islands of Martha’s Vineyard, or in winter head for the mountains of Vermont for some wonderful family skiing.

If you are staying in Boston for a few days, a Go Boston Card is a great idea as it provides discounts to Boston’s top attractions, such as the Children’s Museum and the New England Aquarium, and allows card-holders fast-track admission, so you avoid the long queues.

Your city adventure starts here with our list of fun things to do with children in Boston.

Situated on the waterfront, the New England Aquarium is educational and amazing fun for kids! We loved that you can watch seals play in their enclosure from outside Boston aquarium while you queue to get in.

The penguins are so cute but the highlight has to be the towering cylindrical tank in the middle, 4 stories tall, that you can walk all around and view reef animals, including sea turtles, stingrays, eels and fish.

While there are a limited amount of tickets available for walk ups, you are best to book in advance.

This is a phenomenal place with lots of entertaining hands-on exhibits for little kids and older ones! Boston Children’s Museum is one of the leading children’s museums in the world and covers topics like science, space, construction, culture and art in the most fun way possible!

The Museum is open Wednesday through Sunday with two separate admission timeslots, 9am–12pm and 1:30–4:30pm. Online reservations are required.

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Faneuil Hall (pronounced Fan-yule) and Quincy Market are a fun place to visit with kids. You will find plenty to see and do there, from shopping to concerts and events, and lots of street performers. See if you can find the magic and tricks shop Illusions when you visit for a browse of fun items.

You can enjoy plenty of family friendly eateries there too from Wagamama’s to Salty Dog where you can get seafood and chowder (pronounced chow-dah of course!).

The Boston Duck Tour is a great way to get to know Boston and your kids will absolutely love it! The unique amphibious vehicles (that look like big tanks) travel on the road and then into the Charles River for stunning skyline views.

Tours are informative and amusing and the kids are encouraged to quack at the people they pass on the street!

Boston has some of the most beautiful parks, all perfect for an impromptu family picnic. Boston Common is the country’s first public park and a traditional carousel operates here in the warmer months. The Boston Esplanade and Rose Kennedy Greenway are also good choices.

Pick up your picnic goodies at one of Boston’s specialty food markets or bakeries. Or enjoy some street food at one of the markets that take place in the Greenway and other Boston green spaces.

“Boston by Little Feet” is a special tour designed for children aged 6-12 years old along Boston’s Freedom Trail. Each child gets a free Explorers’ Map which they can follow as they learn about the city’s role in American independence and fun interesting attractions along the way.

Book your tickets online in advance and meet your guide in front of Faneuil Hall at the Samuel Adams statue.

Your sporty kids will love a visit to this old, iconic baseball ground. Fenway Park is known as “America’s most beloved ball park” and is home to the Boston Red Sox.

A tour of the Park is a must but try and take in a baseball game if you can to get the true classic Boston experience! If you do go for the tour, please note they only allow very small bags in.

ICA Boston

ICA Boston is a family-friendly contemporary gallery. Push-chairs are permitted through-out and there are baby-changing facilities in the men’s and ladies’ restrooms. Free Play Dates are held on the last Saturday of each month and are a great way to explore art with the kids, catch some dance performances and films, or squeeze in some hands-on art creation. When accompanied by kids 12 and under, up to 2 adults per family are admitted free the last Saturday of every month (apart from Nov & Dec).

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum also welcomes families. There are activities for families to enjoy together, and kid-friendly programs like Saturday Drop-in Art Activities in the Bertucci Education Studio. There is no admission charge for children under 18 and single strollers are permitted. The Museum offers tandem strollers to borrow on a first come, first served basis, available from the coat check.

Family guides for suggestions on fun ways to explore the Museum with children are available free of charge at the information area in the Living Room. Sketching materials are also provided free of charge near the Courtyard, just outside the Macknight Room.

Museum of Fine Arts Boston

At the MFA as it’s known for short, kids under 6 go free. The MFA has lots of exhibitions that will keep kids smiling for hours and programs to spark the imagination along with special events and in-gallery activities. Look out for Family Labels during your visit; strollers are permitted in the galleries and you can check out their tips for families visiting here.

Their Arts Connections activity cards are specially design for kids and families to help you discover MFA artworks together and learn about objects and images in the Museum’s collection, Download these self-guided activity sheets on your phone or print them out to bring with you during your visit to the Museum.

The Prudential Observatory occupies the 50th floor of the Prudential Center and here you get a 360 degree view of Boston, 750 feet above the city! On a clear day, you can see up to 100 miles away. You will get a bird’s eye view of Boston’s famous landmarks.

Headphones are provided to give you a free audio guide of the sites and attractions that you can see as well as a brief account of the city’s history and culture.

The Museum of Science is great for kids (and adults too)! There is so much to see and do that you really need a whole day to get around to all the fascinating exhibits. Highlights include the Electricity Show and the 4D Theatre which are just awesome.

The Butterfly Garden and Planetarium Shows are also superb. There’s even a nice playground across the street if the kids have any energy left!

Thomas Land at Drayton Manor is the ideal theme park for Thomas fans! This unique family attraction is great for young thrill seekers and first-time coaster riders.

With 25 rides and attractions based on the beloved tank engine, it’ll be heaven for train-loving tykes with Toby’s Tram Express, Flynn’s Fire Rescue and loads more. Parents of train obsessed little ones often visit for that alone. So it’s all aboard to a theme park that is certain to delight the entire family!

Edaville Family Theme Park in Carver, MA is the largest Thomas & Friends attraction in the USA.

Thomas Land USA opened in 2015 with 11 rides and attractions, as well as stage shows and activities, based on the Drayton Manor Thomas Land.

Families will enjoy the opportunity to see Thomas and all his friends, including Harold the Helicopter, Cranky the Crane, Toby and the Troublesome Trucks.

Thomas Town at Kennywood brings to life everyone’s favourite engine, along with his friends and favourite destinations from the Island of Sodor.

A trip to Thomas Town includes a ton of fun to be had on five family rides themed to characters from the beloved children’s series, including a life-sized Thomas the Tank Engine.

Young conductors and their families can experience thrills with Thomas, Cranky, Harold, Flynn, and Diesel, plus an interactive live show featuring Sir Topham Hatt and some of his Really Useful Engines!

Activities, prices, and facilities may vary depending on location so check below to find your nearest station and details. For more information and booking details, check the Day Out with Thomas website.

Activities include unlimited platform rides with Thomas, Toby and Mavis, a pre-booked train to Shelley Station and back, singalongs and performances from Sir Topham Hatt and Rusty & Dusty, storytelling sessions, bubble zone, and more.

2022 Dates:

• March 12-13
• May 21-22
• July 16-17

Activities include a train ride with Thomas, meet Sir Topham Hatt, unlimited train rides with Percy, unlimited rides on the miniature railway, a Thomas & Friends activity hunt, singalongs and performances from Sodor Station Sweepers Rusty & Dusty, and lots more.

2022 Dates:

• June 1-2
• July 23-25
• September 3-4
• October 22-24

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Activities include a train ride with Thomas, meet Sir Topham Hatt and Diesel, singalongs and performances from Rusty & Dusty, fun fair rides, magician, face painting, balloon modelling, and Imagination Station play zone with Thomas & Friends activities.

2022 Dates:

• April 30-May 2
• August 6-7
• October 1-2

Activities include a train ride with Thomas, the chance to meet Diesel, Percy, Mavis, Terrance and Sir Topham Hatt, fairground rides, miniature railway rides, entertainment from Rusty & Dusty, and brakevan rides.

2022 Dates:

• July 16-17
• August 27-28

Activities include a train ride with Thomas, meet Sir Topham Hatt and Diesel, rides on the Miniature Railway, singalongs and performances from Rusty & Dusty, magician, a Thomas nature trail, and visit the Dartmoor Otters and Buckfast Butterflies.

2022 Dates:

• April 15-18
• September 23-25

Activities include unlimited rides with Thomas, Percy and Daisy, the chance to meet Toby and Henrietta, re-enactments of classic Thomas stories by Sir Topham Hatt and Rusty & Dusty, unlimited rides on the miniature railway, a train-themed children’s playground, model railway, and lots more.

2022 Dates:

• April 15-18
• August 27-29
• October 29-30
• December 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18

Activities include unlimited rides on the miniature railway, mini shows and re-enactments with Sir Topham Hatt and Rusty & Dusty, face painting and more.

2022 Dates:

• August 27-29

Activities include three new mini shows with Sir Topham Hatt and Rusty & Dusty featuring Percy, Diesel and Toad, vintage fairground rides, a round trip on a big train to Alton, unlimited rides on the miniature railway, Thomas & Friends storytime sessions, and more.

2022 Dates:

• May 28-June 5
• August 6-14

Thomas the Tank Engine is rolling into town for a day of BIG dreams and even BIGGER smiles!

Jump on board Thomas for an interactive train ride, pick up your Dream Pass and head to the Play Pod or say ‘Hello’ to Sir Topham Hatt. For the little engineers who want a little more excitement, check out the Dream Big Corner for photos ops, lawn games and more.

This year, visit Thomas at heritage railways across the US and Canada:

• March 11-13
• March 19-20

• April 23-24
• April 30
• May 1

• April 29-30
• May 1-2
• June 17-20
• September 16-19

• May 7-8
• May 14-15

• May 13-15
• May 20-22

• May 13-15
• May 20-22

• May 28-29
• June 4-5

• May 28-29
• June 4-5

• June 4-5
• June 11-12
• June 18-19

• June 10-12

• June 10-19

• July 8-10
• July 15-17
• July 23-24

• July 9-10
• July 16-17

• August 5-7
• August 12-14

• August 12-14

• August 19-21
• August 25-28

• September 10-11
• September 16-18

• September 10-11
• September 17-18
• September 24-25

• September 23-25
• September 30
• October 1-2

• October 7-9
• October 14-16

• October 15-16
• October 22-23
• October 29-30

• November 5-6
• November 11-13

Your day begins at Emerald Station, where you will travel to meet up with Thomas at Lakeside, before continuing through to the picturesque forests of Cockatoo and back. Once back at Lakeside, enjoy plenty of stopover fun in the Lakeside Visitor Centre and surrounding park precinct.

2022 Dates:

• March 5-6
• March 19-20
• March 26-27

Tickets include the chance to meet Thomas and Sir Topham Hatt, climb into the driver’s cab and toot his whistle, a short ride with Toby the Railmotor, unlimited mini-train rides, unlimited jumping castle rides, face painting, Imagination Station, storyteller sessions amongst the trains in the Great Train Hall.

Additional tickets can be bought to include a 40-minute steam train ride hauled by Donald the black engine from Thirlmere to Buxton and back.

2022 Dates:

• May 13-15
• May 21-22

• 2022 Dates TBC

• 2022 Dates TBC

Take a trip on Thomas along the Oigawa main line from Shin-Kanaya Station to Senzu Station. Enjoy the excitement as you puff along, with activities to enjoy at both ends of the trip.

At Senzu Station, see the gorgeous lineup of Thomas, Hiro and Percy, as well as more favourites. Don’t miss the Thomas shop next to the station, which has a wide range of limited-edition products that Thomas fans will love!

At Shin-Kanaya Station you can take a close-up tour of the Thomas Maintenance Factory and see how Thomas and friends are kept in tip-top shape. Discover how the real steam locomotive Thomas the Tank Engine works and meet more characters, including Flynn the red fire engine, Bertie the bus, and Bulgy the double decker bus.

Tickets are available on a lottery basis.

2022 Dates:

• April 29th to June 27th

The adventures and legends of infamous pirates come to life as you enter the world of 18th century buccaneers! As you play, you’ll see sunken ships, cascading waterfalls, dreaded pirate dungeons and lush, tropical vegetation.

Late one Christmas Eve, as Santa was flying back to the North Pole, he discovered snow in Florida. After surveying the strange sight, he decided to build a vacation destination for his off-duty elves, a Winter Summerland.

The only thing Winter Summerland lacked was a golf course, so Santa’s elves divided into two camps, one that enjoyed the warm Florida sun and another that preferred the cold of the North Pole. The elves then built two different 18-hole golf experiences: a sand course named “Summer” and a snow course named “Winter.”

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Mini golf in Orlando wouldn’t be complete with a gator option, and this 18-hole course winds around Gator Lagoon, which is home to over 200 alligators! There are a variety of animal exhibits and live shows around the course, including gator feeding and wrestling (may be subject to additional cost).

These two all-new 18-hole courses are inspired by the 1950’s era – guests enter a classic drive-in movie box office area where they select either a single (18 holes) or double feature (36 holes) with a choice of two family-friendly courses, The Haunting of Ghostly Greens and Invaders From Planet Putt.

Based on vintage horror flicks and retro sci-fi movies, guests putt through elaborate movie-style scenes, passing through a cemetery, under a giant spider, around an enormous alien robot, through the open mouth of a giant space worm, and into the basement lab of a towering haunted house. Interactive elements and special effects add to the fun, and LED neon edge-lighting means you can play from morning til late.

Putting Edge has a fun and illuminated twist on the traditional game of mini golf in Orlando. The black-lit courses make everything more exciting and offer a kaleidoscope of dazzling glow-in-the-dark colours, images and sounds.

There are two jungle locations to choose from at International Drive and Kissimmee where you can go on an African adventure around a challenging mini golf course.

Fun features include the signature zebra-striped plane, gemstone mining, waterfalls, mysterious caves, tropical rainforest, arcade room fun, opportunities to feed live gators and more.

Chart a course through lush tropical surroundings, over mountain trails and into mysterious caves. Search for amazing artefacts, such as the lavender diamond and the golden idol, as you explore the lost caverns.

Play mini gold in a lush tropical setting, surrounded by swaying palm trees and waterfalls.

Delight in two 18-hole mini golf adventures based on Disney’s classic animated film Fantasia. Putt your way through whimsical scenes featuring tutu-clad hippos, marching broomsticks and pirouetting ostriches.

Perfect for families and beginner golfers, the Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf Course invites you to join the reverie as you aim through twirling obstacles, cross fanciful fountains and discover musical surprises. Beware of the broomsticks, ready to douse golfers who pass below!

Located near Disney’s Animal Kingdom, take a trip to Mighty Jungle Golf and journey through two courses, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest or the Plains of the Serengeti.

A shaded picnic area and a meal deal with Cici’s Pizza are great options for families.

The Bonanza Golf courses are known for the highest mountains and largest waterfalls (pumping 21,000 gallons per minute!) in Orlando. Choose from two western mining themed miniature golf courses, The Prospector and Gold Nugget, which both offer fun for the whole family.