Noguchi Museum and Socrates Sculpture Park, Long Island City
A sculpture garden plus a free waterfront park. Long Island City, Queens.
The short answer
These two sit on the same stretch of the East River in Long Island City, close enough to walk between. Socrates Sculpture Park (32-01 Vernon Boulevard) is a six-acre waterfront park that is open 9am to sunset daily and always free. It is a sculpture park rather than a playground: the park says there is no playground and asks people not to climb or touch the artworks, which is a firm message for children to absorb, but the lawn and the harbor view help.
What it is like
The Noguchi Museum (9-01 33rd Road, at Vernon Boulevard) is open Wednesday to Sunday, 11am to 6pm and is closed Mondays and Tuesdays. At the time of writing general admission is $16, seniors and students $6, and admission is free on the first Friday of every month, with extended hours until 8pm from May to September. I could not confirm a child rate, so check the site. It has an indoor/outdoor pavilion and a sculpture garden, and it is wheelchair accessible.
It is not the first place most families think of, which is why I like it. A small museum with a garden is a fair test for a seven-year-old: if they can stay calm for 40 minutes among the stone, the lawn next door is the reward. Take snacks for Socrates, where picnicking is allowed (no alcohol), and remember that the portable restrooms are at the south end, so the walk there can become the whole plan.
Best time to go
A fine weekend afternoon; the first Friday for free Noguchi entry.
Tips before you go
- Check the Noguchi child price before you book; I could not confirm it.
- First Friday of the month is free at the Noguchi.
- Socrates has no playground and you must not touch the artworks; bring a ball for the lawn if the rules allow.
Where it is
Noguchi Museum, 9-01 33rd Road (at Vernon Boulevard), Long Island City, NY 11106; Socrates Sculpture Park, 32-01 Vernon Boulevard, Long Island City, NY 11106. OpenStreetMap ↗ · Directions ↗
What's on here
From The New York Almanac, the next 60 days.
- Nothing listed here in The New York Almanac for the next two months. It is refreshed every week.
Nearby on the Brood List
Museum of the Moving Image, Astoria
Astoria · 1.0 mile away
Take the Roosevelt Island Tramway above the East River
Upper East Side · 1.6 miles away
The Metropolitan Museum of Art with kids: three rooms, not three floors
Upper East Side · 1.6 miles away
Questions people ask
Is Socrates Sculpture Park free?
Yes. It is open daily 9am to sunset and always free.
When is the Noguchi Museum free?
On the first Friday of every month.
Is there a playground at Socrates Sculpture Park?
No, it is a sculpture park, and visitors should not climb or touch the artworks.
How do I get there?
N/W to Broadway then walk eight blocks west, or take NYC Ferry to Astoria Landing and walk about five minutes.
Which subway stop is nearest?
N/W to Broadway (not listed as accessible) and walk eight blocks west to the river; 7 to Vernon Blvd-Jackson Av (not accessible). NYC Ferry to Astoria Landing is about a five-minute walk north of Socrates. Check the MTA elevator status.
Can you take a stroller?
Socrates has a paved path around the lawn. The Noguchi says it is wheelchair accessible; check its stroller policy.
How long do you need?
2 to 3 hours for both.
The whole list
All 40 on a map
Open the map →For the fridge
The printable list
Print it →Queens
More in Queens
Guides and events →Get the weekend email
Free, one short email a week. Thursday, 7am: the weather call, one proper day out and the family events worth leaving the apartment for this weekend, checked with the organizer. See the archive.
- Thursday, 7am: the weather call for the weekend, made for you.
- One proper day out: with the subway stop, the stroller verdict and where the restrooms are.
- The family events worth it: each one checked with the organizer and linked, famous and lesser known side by side.
No spam, no ads. Unsubscribe from any email with one click. Privacy