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Best Things To Do in Red Hook with Kids

1. The Red Hood Arcade

This cozy arcade features both classic and current arcade games running on new, original, and retrofitted hardware. This spot is mostly weekends-only, but check the website for occasional special events like "Monday Fun Days."

Shipwrecked Mini Golf is a neighborhood staple that never disappoints on a bad-weather day! 

2. Shipwrecked Mini Golf

Rainy day? School vacation? The indoor Shipwrecked is the place to go to keep the kids busy, fed, and happily working on their putting game. In addition to the playful NYC theme (the last hole is in a faux subway car) and decor, Shipwrecked offers a kid-centric menu, plus grown-up beverages. There are mini escape rooms and a handful of old-school video games in the waiting area, including Pac-Man. Kids as young as 3 will likely enjoy a round of golf here. Sensory nights are also offered with sound effects off, lighting dimmed, and other sensory-friendly accommodations and amenities.

3. Brooklyn Sluggers

A warehouse that has been retrofitted into a baseball training center, this facility features indoor batting cages, plus baseball and softball clinics for kids. Birthday party packages offer lots of sports-themed activities as well as Zumba dance parties

4. Hit the Shops

With vintage vinyl and used books at Record Shop, home goods and decor at Open Invite Boutique, and an impressive selection of plants and gardening supplies at Chelsea Garden Center, Red Hook is the perfect place to shop the day away.

RELATED: 50 Best Things To Do in Brooklyn with Kids

Red Hook Pool draws a crowd on hot summer days. It's one of the city's best FREE swimming pools. Photo courtesy of NYC Parks

Fun Free Things to Do in Red Hook with Kids

5. Red Hook Pool

One of our favorite public pools, this Olympic-size treasure is a lifesaver on scorching summer days. Open daily from late June through Labor Day, this massive WPA-era beauty brings the diverse community together for hours of splashing good fun. The separate toddler sprinkler area is a spacious tot spot.

6. Ikea Småland Play Area

Got some home shopping to do? Drop off your littles (37 to 54 inches; must be potty-trained) at Ikea's in-store play space. Customers' kids can enjoy up to an hour of supervised romping time in a "Swedish Forest." Afterward, hit the on-site restaurant for the chain's famous Swedish meatballs.

7. Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition

This waterfront gallery offers support and exposure to artists working to advance their careers. The sprawling Civil War-era warehouse is chock-full of interesting art, with Statue of Liberty views as a bonus backdrop.

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The Red Hook Boaters help local families enjoy all the waterfront neighborhood has to offer.  

8. Red Hook Boaters

Take a paddle with the whole family! Minors need a parent/guardian to accompany them, and everyone needs a Coast Guard-approved life jacket to explore the waterways around Red Hook. Check the website for dates and opportunities to explore the neighborhood from the water.

9. Pioneer Works

There is so much to see and do at this local cultural center. Immerse your family in art with one of its inspiring exhibitions. Spend a few minutes studying the calendar to find the best day to bring your kids. The center aspires to bring art to all, and that includes little ones.

RELATED: Best Things To Do in Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, and Boerum Hill

Kid-friendly workshops are part of the fun at the Kentler International Drawing Space. 

10. Kentler International Drawing Space

With an impressive roster of events, as well as youth and family programs, Kentler International Drawing Space makes for a great art-centric afternoon with the kids. Sign up for an after-school program, or bring the children (ages 4 and older) to a family drawing workshop led by a professional teaching artist.

11. Brooklyn Waterfront Museum

Get even closer to the water with a floating gallery. The Brooklyn Waterfront Museum is a family-focused outpost floating on the 1914 Lehigh Valley Barge #79. It has open hours on select dates, or you can schedule a tour. It also offers a full roster of fun, kid-friendly events throughout the year.

12. The Mary A. Whalen

This historic oil tanker is docked at Pier 11 near the Atlantic Basin, NYC Ferry stop, and the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal. The tanker is home to the non-profit PortSide NewYork.

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Families flock to Louis Valentino Park and Pier for easy access to the water. Photo courtesy NYC Tourism + Conventions 

Best Parks and Playgrounds in Red Hook

13. Louis Valentino Junior Park & Pier

Though there's no playground here, this sweet green patch on the water is a favorite for pups and crawlers. Have a picnic, go fishing, or just relax and enjoy the view. In summer, hit the pier for the aforementioned FREE kayaking.

14. Harold Ickes Skate Park

This newly renovated skate park features 11,800 square feet of concrete with designated areas for parkour and bouldering, plus a full-sized half-pipe and a bike repair stand. Roller blades, scooters, and bikes are also welcome, though you'll need some safety equipment and a signed liability waiver before you can skate.

15. Red Hook Recreation Area

In addition to a standard playground, this nearly 60-acre green space boasts handball courts, a running track, picnic tables, and ball fields that are often completely empty on weekdays (but teeming with leagues on weekends). There's also an indoor rec center that's open to members.

16. Erie Basin Park

Ikea built and maintains this waterfront green space, which is a nice place to stroll, relax on the plentiful benches, or marvel at the view. Keep an eye out for artsy structures or picnic on the modest lawn. Ikea sponsors various family events here in the summer.

RELATED: Best Bike Riding Paths for NYC Families

You don't have to be a member to enjoy the Urban Meadow Community Garden. Photo by Sara Marentette

17. Urban Meadow Community Garden

This awesome outdoor space is actually in the Columbia Waterfront neighborhood, just north of Red Hook, but we couldn't resist including it as it's right on your way. Organizers host events throughout the year, like the unmissable Jazz Festival in the summer and the Halloween parade in the fall. No need for a membership to explore this community green space from April through October. Supervised kids can explore, play in the sprinklers (seasonally), hunt for snails, and learn about the different varieties of plants and flowers. Check the events calendar for local happenings throughout the year.

18. Coffey Park

This park remains a great spot for birthday parties with plenty of room for games, picnic tables, and trees for piñatas. Kids like the playful crocodile-shaped benches, and parents  enjoy the safety surfacing that was added to the playground during renovations.

19. Brooklyn Greenway

Hit this bike path for an adventurous and scenic day out. Bring your own wheels or grab a Citi Bike. While the neighborhood's old railroad tracks and Belgian-block streets make for a bit of bumpy ride, the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway offers lovely paths along the East River from Dumbo, through Brooklyn Heights and even Williamsburg.

RELATED: Kid-Friendly Waterfront Restaurants in NYC for Dinner With a View

Brooklyn Crab is the spot for good seafood, a rooftop patio, and games and activities to keep kids busy.

Best Family-Friendly Restaurants in Red Hook

20. Brooklyn Crab

In addition to delicious dishes, many featuring its namesake crustacean, Brooklyn Crab is home to a big backyard featuring an eight-hole miniature golf course, bean bag toss, and shuffleboard. The spot fills up quickly in the late afternoons and becomes a grown-ups-only hangout after dark.

21. Red Hook Lobster Pound

Seafood can be a tough one for kids. Luckily, Red Hook Lobster Pound makes a lobster roll that is impossible to turn down. This NYC destination is known for its fresh seafood and hip ambiance. Bring the kids for one of its special events and savor a buttery lobster roll surrounded by playful nautical decor and stellar service.

22. Red Hook Food Vendors

This outdoor culinary destination of top-notch food trucks has been around for 43 years, and for good reason! This is the place to go if you have kids with many different food preferences. Tacos? No problem! Barbecue? Sure! It does, in general, specialize in Latin American foods. Be warned, this is a definite bucket list item for many New Yorkers, so lines can get long. To avoid wrangling hungry children, try to go on the earlier side. It's seasonal only; opening in late April through October on weekends, from 11am-8pm. Get updates via the Facebook page.

23. Hometown Bar B Que

Pit-smoked barbecue, live music, and a family-friendly vibe are all readily available at this awesome Red Hook establishment. True to Southern barbecue tradition, it offers walk-up service at the counter. Let your kids pick their favorites from the menu, and grab a table for some finger-lickin' family fun.

Best Sweet Treats for Kids in Red Hook

24. BonBon

The viral Swedish pick-and-mix candy store recently opened an outpost just off Columbia Street. Specializing in an extensive assortment of premium candies imported directly from Sweden, this teen fave offers a selection of goodies including gummies, licorice, marshmallows, and chocolates. If you're there on a Sunday, Swedish hot dogs are also served.

25. Baked

If pie isn't your thing, Baked will have what you need. Whoopie pies, brownies, and cookies are all on the menu at this Brooklyn favorite. It also offers enticing limited-edition sweet treats. Lemon sprinkle white chocolate blondie? Yes, please!

26. La Newyorkina

This Latin-woman-owned ice cream and sweets company was founded in 2010 by Mexico City native and James Beard-nominated pastry chef Fany Gerson. The sweet spot serves delicious handmade natural Mexican ice cream and sweets.

27. Steve's Authentic Key Lime Pies

Grab a swingle (chocolate-dipped pie on a stick!) at Steve's in Red Hook. This neighborhood mainstay is the place to go for pie enthusiasts and appreciators alike. It takes its mission seriously, which means fresh ingredients, stellar service, and a great place to dig into a slice of key lime pie. Stop by after a stroll along the adjacent Louis Valentino Junior Park & Pier.

28. Raaka Chocolate

The factory of this delectable chocolate brand crafts its wares from bean to bar right in Red Hook. Stop by to peruse the shop, which features a wide variety of chocolates. Chocolate-making classes are also offered.

A version of this article was first published in 2014, but it has since been revised and updated. Louise Finnell contributed additional reporting.

Unless noted, all photos courtesy of the venues