New York zoos, immersive museums and theme parks

The short answer

Decide what kind of day you want first: outdoors with animals or plants, indoors in an immersive or interactive museum, or a full theme-park day out of town. Each product below admits to one venue, and several split their options by day of the week, so the option you pick depends on your date.[5][15][12][8]

Animals and gardens

Three of these are run by the Wildlife Conservation Society, according to their own sites: the Bronx Zoo, Central Park Zoo and the New York Aquarium.[6][4][2]

The Bronx Zoo product is the big day out, and its one option lists unlimited access to the Zoo Shuttle, Butterfly Garden, Children's Zoo and Wild Asia Monorail. SkyGate's own notes say several of those close from November to March, and that Wednesday admission is by pay-what-you-wish donation; XTOUR could not confirm either on the zoo's site.[1] The zoo gives its address as 2300 Southern Boulevard in the Bronx and lists seasonal hours and four closed holidays.[2] See the Bronx Zoo page on XTOUR.

The Central Park Zoo ticket is the short Manhattan visit: its option covers the main zoo, the Tisch Children's Zoo and one entry to the 4D Theater.[3] The zoo is at 64th Street and 5th Avenue, by its own account.[4] SkyGate's listing says children under 13 must be with an adult and there are no storage lockers.[3] See the Central Park Zoo page on XTOUR.

The New York Aquarium is at Coney Island in Brooklyn, according to its operator.[6] SkyGate's two options, Admission with 4D Theatre and the same for weekends, each include one 4D Theatre entry, and SkyGate says you can enter within one hour of your timeslot. SkyGate's listing advises against the 4D Theatre for guests sensitive to strobe, fog or loud sounds.[5] See the New York Aquarium page on XTOUR.

The New York Botanical Garden Ticket sells an All-Garden Pass, plus a student version that needs a valid student ID.[7] SkyGate's options name the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, the tram tour and the Everett Children's Adventure Garden.[7] See the New York Botanical Garden page on XTOUR.

Immersive rooms in Manhattan

The Mercer Labs Ticket is for what the operator calls New York's Museum of Art and Technology, at 21 Dey Street in Lower Manhattan, with 15 immersive spaces.[11] SkyGate's single option is timed general admission, and its listing says children under 18 need a child ticket.[10] See the Mercer Labs page on XTOUR.

The ARTE MUSEUM New York Ticket is digital art inspired by nature, with light, sound and scent, according to SkyGate.[12] The museum gives its address as 61 Chelsea Piers.[13] SkyGate's two options are Admission (Monday-Thursday) and Admission (Saturday); there is no Friday or Sunday option.[12] See the ARTE MUSEUM New York page on XTOUR.

The Banksy Museum New York Ticket is an exhibition of recreations of Banksy's works, which SkyGate describes as life-sized and numbering over 160.[14] XTOUR could not read an operator site, so the hours on SkyGate's page are not repeated here. See the Banksy Museum New York page on XTOUR.

The Museum of Ice Cream New York Ticket is the playful choice, at 558 Broadway, with the Sprinkle Pool the operator advertises.[9] SkyGate's options are split Mondays to Thursdays and Fridays to Sundays, and its listing says the booker must bring photo ID and under-16s must be with an adult.[8] See the Museum of Ice Cream New York page on XTOUR.

Interactive museums around Times Square

The SPYSCAPE Ticket is a spy museum with codebreaking and surveillance challenges and a personal spy profile at the end, according to SkyGate.[15] SPYSCAPE gives its New York address as 928 8th Ave.[16] SkyGate sells weekday and weekend options, exchanged for a paper ticket at the ticket office, and says it is designed for adults and teens but can be enjoyed from age 8.[15] See the SPYSCAPE page on XTOUR.

The Madame Tussauds New York Ticket comes as Silver, Gold or Platinum. Gold adds a 7D experience, Fast Track Entry and a digital photo pass; Platinum adds a wax hand mould and a guidebook. The operator describes over 200 figures on five floors at 234 West 42nd Street, while SkyGate's options say nine floors; XTOUR has not resolved the difference.[18][17] See the Madame Tussauds New York page on XTOUR.

The Museum of Broadway Ticket is general admission to a chronological exhibition of Broadway history with costumes and props, according to SkyGate, which gives the address as 145 West 45th Street. Its listing says children under 13 must be with an adult aged 18 or over.[19] See the Museum of Broadway page on XTOUR.

Theme parks outside the city

The LEGOLAND New York Theme Park Admission is for the park that LEGOLAND places in Goshen, New York, with seven themed lands.[21] SkyGate's options are 1-Day Admission, 1-Day Admission with Round Trip Bus Transfers, and 2-Day Admission, where the second visit must be within 5 days of the first. Only the bus option includes transport: a Coach USA coach from Gate 409 on the 4th floor of the Port Authority Bus Terminal, with departure and return times listed in the option.[20] See the LEGOLAND New York page on XTOUR.

The Six Flags Great Adventure Ticket is one-day admission to a park that Six Flags places in Jackson, New Jersey, with 14 coasters.[23] SkyGate's five options, from One Day Ticket (Value) to One Day Ticket (Super Peak), include the same access and differ only in which dates they open on.[22] The ticket includes no transport. See the Six Flags Great Adventure page on XTOUR.

How to choose

• Young children and animals: Central Park Zoo for a short visit, the Bronx Zoo for a full day, the Aquarium for sea life.[5][1][3]
• Photo-led immersive rooms: Museum of Ice Cream, ARTE MUSEUM or Mercer Labs.[10][12][8]
• Teens: SPYSCAPE.[15]
• Theatre fans: the Museum of Broadway.[19]
• A theme park without a car: LEGOLAND's bus option.[20]

Before you book

• Check day-of-week splits: ARTE MUSEUM, Museum of Ice Cream, SPYSCAPE and the Aquarium sell different options by day.[5][15][8][12]
• Six Flags options are date tiers; pick the one that opens on your date.[22]
• Bring photo ID to the Museum of Ice Cream.[8]