Où aller à Hol Hamoed : guide des sorties en famille à New York וואוהין פארט מען חול המועד? א גייד פאר משפחות אין ניו יארק

Chol Hamoed is when the whole family piles into the car or a bus, with a bag full of sandwiches, to go see something new. But the moment Tatty says "tomorrow we're going on a trip", the big question begins: where to? Here is a list of well-known places in and around New York, grouped by type, with practical tips.

Zoos, farms and animals

The Bronx Zoo is the classic Chol Hamoed trip. It is one of the largest metropolitan zoos in America, with about 265 acres of parkland ^[1] – you can spend a whole day there. For smaller children, the Prospect Park Zoo in Brooklyn is easier and closer, and the Staten Island Zoo in Barrett Park is a small, quiet zoo.

In New Jersey there is the Turtle Back Zoo in West Orange. According to the zoo's own FAQ, you may bring your own food in (just not into the café), and there are picnic areas throughout the park ^[2] – a big plus for a family that brings everything from home. Those willing to drive further have the Space Farms Zoo & Museum in Sussex County, and at Bear Mountain the Trailside Museums with a small zoo of native wildlife.

Nature and the outdoors

When the weather is nice, nothing beats fresh air. Howe Caverns in upstate New York are underground limestone caves with guided tours and even an underground boat ride. In the city itself you can take a Circle Line cruise from Pier 83 past the Brooklyn Bridge.

Museums

The Intrepid Museum is a huge aircraft carrier on the Hudson River at Pier 86, with the space shuttle Enterprise ^[3]. Boys come out thrilled. The American Museum of Natural History on Central Park West is famous for its dinosaur halls. Liberty Science Center in Jersey City is full of hands-on experiments; its cafés are not kosher, and frum visitors bring their own food ^[4].

Indoor fun – when it rains

A rainy Chol Hamoed day doesn't have to be lost. Kids 'N Action on McDonald Avenue in Brooklyn has a kiddie train, bumper cars and soft play ^[5]. Staten Island has Funstation USA, and New Jersey has iPlay America in Freehold and Sky Zone in Lakewood. The bigger parks further out, like LEGOLAND in Goshen and Six Flags in Jackson, are seasonal; kosher food is hard to find there, so it is best to bring your own.

Practical tips

• Book ahead. Many places sell tickets online, and on Chol Hamoed they fill up fast.
• Come early. Lines are shorter in the first hours.
• Plan for Mincha. Take a siddur and find a quiet corner in advance.
• Pack food. Unless a place clearly says otherwise, assume there is no kosher food. Some places do have something: at Hershey's Chocolate World in Pennsylvania certain products are kosher certified ^[8], and the Kartrite waterpark in Monticello sells packaged kosher products ^[9].
• Check the hours. Seasonal parks are not always open, and hours change. Local community papers publish Chol Hamoed guides before each Yom Tov ^[10].

A freilichen Chol Hamoed – may you come back with full hearts and empty bags – of food, not money!