National Museum of the American Indian - New York

About 25 minutes across the harbor with the skyline and the Statue of Liberty out the window. Everyone gets off at the far end, so reboard to come back.

Granite slides at different heights, tree houses to scramble through and sand and water to mess with. Every age finds a slide.

Your kid rides inside a glowing fish, and the whole thing feels like drifting underwater.

Interactive scenes following young people through the rescue of Jews in Denmark. For older kids, and worth talking through afterwards.

Climbers, swings and a sandbox, plus water play on hot days.

Giant loose foam blocks your kid can build with, plus sand to move and water when it's warm. Endlessly rearrangeable.