11 New York Attractions That Bring Back The Toys, Movies, And Games You Loved As A Kid

A giant floor piano is exactly the kind of thing you forget existed until you are standing on one. Eleven places across New York work like that.

Old toys on shelves, favorite movies playing where somebody can actually watch them, pinball machines still taking quarters and still swallowing them.

Childhood does not go anywhere. It waits around behind the arcade cabinets, patient, ready to jump out the moment you recognize something.

My weakness is a pinball machine I played badly at eleven and will play badly again at any age. Grown-ups get welcomed here as warmly as the kids do, which is not always true of places built around nostalgia.

Eleven stops across the state, and every one of them hands your younger self the microphone for an afternoon.

1. FAO Schwarz – Rockefeller Center, New York

The oldest toy store in the country still knows how to make an entrance. Toy soldiers greet you at the door, standing at attention like they clocked in for a very serious job.

Inside 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10111, three floors hold dolls, board games, plush animals, and remote control gadgets stacked to the ceiling. The famous giant floor piano remains the main event, and yes, adults line up for a turn stomping out Heart and Soul.

Founded in 1862, FAO Schwarz has outlasted trends, fads, and every toy craze you can name. The candy shop pours sweets by the scoop, and the Build-A-Bear Station lets you stuff a companion from scratch.

Weekday mornings run calmer than weekend afternoons, so plan around the crowds if you want elbow room at the piano. Demonstrators roam the aisles showing off toys you did not know you needed, which is both delightful and dangerous for your wallet.

Bring cash for the candy counter and patience for the checkout line. Leaving without buying anything is technically possible, though I have never once managed it myself.

2. The Strong National Museum Of Play – Rochester

Few museums let you play with the exhibits, and this one builds its whole identity around it. Rochester holds the largest collection of play related artifacts on the planet, which is a sentence worth reading twice.

Both the National Toy Hall of Fame and the World Video Game Hall of Fame live here at One Manhattan Square, Rochester, NY 14607, honoring everything from the humble cardboard box to Pac-Man.

Vintage arcade cabinets sit beside doll collections that stretch back over a century. Kids sprint. Adults freeze in front of a toy they had in 1987 and go quiet for a minute.

Give yourself a full day, because rushing through would be a genuine shame. The museum ranks among the biggest history museums in the United States, and the layout rewards wandering rather than checklist touring.

Interactive galleries cover comic books, cartoons, and the science behind why play matters so much for growing brains. There is a butterfly garden too, in case you need a breather from the joyful chaos.

Buy tickets ahead during school breaks. Everyone in western New York has the same idea when the weather turns rough.

3. LEGOLAND New York Resort – Goshen

Brick by brick, an entire theme park rose out of Orange County farmland. Opened in 2021, this 150 acre playground aims squarely at families with kids between two and twelve.

You will find it at 1 LEGOLAND Way, Goshen, NY 10924, roughly an hour and change north of the city. Seven themed lands hold more than fifty rides, shows, and attractions built around those little plastic bricks.

The LEGO Factory Adventure ride turns guests into minifigures, which is a strange compliment nobody asks for but everybody enjoys. Over in LEGO Castle, the Dragon coaster whips riders through a medieval fortress with plenty of swoop.

Miniland deserves real attention. Skilled builders recreated New York City landmarks in brick form, and the detail work borders on obsessive in the best possible way.

Wear comfortable shoes and pack a hat, since shade comes and goes across the grounds. The park runs seasonally, so double check the calendar before driving up.

Grown adults who never stopped building will feel completely at home. No judgment here whatsoever.

4. Mary Arnold Toys – Upper East Side, New York

Since 1931, one family run shop has kept selling toys on the Upper East Side without ever closing its doors. That makes Mary Arnold Toys the longest continuously operating family toy store in New York City.

The current address sits at 1178 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10028, and the vibe leans cozy rather than cavernous. Shelves climb the walls with puzzles, plush animals, art kits, and games that reward actual attention spans.

Staff here know their inventory cold. Tell them the age and interests of the kid you are shopping for, and they will pull three excellent options in under a minute.

Hard to find playthings are a specialty, along with a solid selection of toys made in the United States. Classic wooden trains sit near science kits and card games your grandparents would recognize.

Gift wrapping comes free, which matters more than you think during December panic shopping. The shop also stocks stocking stuffers priced kindly.

Small stores like this one carry serious weight in a city full of chains. Nine decades of survival is no small feat.

5. Museum Of Nostalgia – Astoria, Queens

Two toy collectors decided their personal stash deserved an audience, and honestly, they were right. The result is a small Astoria space that walks the line between museum and shop with real charm.

Care Bears sit near Star Wars figures still holding their paint. Metal lunch boxes line the shelves like tiny time capsules from the cafeteria wars of decades past.

Head to 31-27 31st Street, Astoria, NY 11106, and prepare for the specific jolt that comes from spotting a toy you forgot you owned. The 1970s, 80s, and 90s dominate the collection, which covers a wide swath of childhoods.

Part of the fun involves the shop side, where certain items can actually come home with you. The rest stays behind glass, admired from a respectful distance.

Conversations flow easily here since the owners genuinely love talking shop. Ask about a piece and you will likely get its full backstory.

The space stays compact, so combine it with a walk around Astoria. The neighborhood serves some of the finest Greek food in New York.

6. Museum Of The Moving Image – Astoria, Queens

Kermit the Frog holds court in Queens, and that alone justifies the trip. The Jim Henson Exhibition displays original puppets, sketches, and props from the man who taught generations how to feel things through felt.

Found at 36-01 35th Avenue, Astoria, NY 11106, this is the only museum in the United States built entirely around film, television, and digital media as art and technology.

Behind the Screen breaks down how movies actually get made. Costumes, cameras, editing stations, and sound effects gear reveal the plumbing behind the magic, and visitors get hands on with several stations.

The collection ranks as the largest of its kind in the country, covering over one hundred thirty thousand artifacts. Video game history gets its due too, with playable classics that will restart old rivalries.

Screenings run regularly in the theater, from animated features to restored classics. Check the calendar since the programming changes constantly.

Make your own flipbook animation before you leave. It costs a few minutes and produces a souvenir far better than a keychain.

7. Scrappleland – Greenpoint, Brooklyn

Flipper fanatics finally got a clubhouse worthy of the obsession. Over sixty pinball machines fill this Greenpoint arcade, spanning wood rail antiques through modern tables loaded with LED light shows.

Swing by 1150 Manhattan Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11222, and listen for the sound. Pinball has a specific chorus of bells, ramps, and slapping flippers that hits the memory center immediately.

Themed tables include Lost in Space and Godzilla, plus plenty of titles that veterans chase across state lines. The place opened in 2025 and quickly earned a reputation as a pinball mecca among people who take the sport seriously.

Tournaments and a dedicated league run on the regular schedule. Newcomers should not feel intimidated, since the regulars generally love explaining rule sets to anyone curious.

Bring small bills and lower expectations for your first few games. Modern machines hide deep rule structures that take real practice to crack.

Greenpoint rewards a longer visit anyway. Polish bakeries and waterfront views sit within easy walking distance once your thumbs need rest.

8. Sunshine Laundromat & Pinball – Greenpoint, Brooklyn

Laundry day has never had better odds of becoming fun. A working laundromat sits up front at 860 Manhattan Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11222, washers spinning away like any other neighborhood spot.

Behind the washing machines, a door leads somewhere far more interesting. Pinball machines fill the hidden back room, glowing away while somebody’s socks tumble dry twenty feet away.

The gag never stops being funny. Locals genuinely wash clothes here, and the machines up front are fully operational rather than props.

Titles rotate through the collection, mixing classics with newer arrivals. The tight quarters create a friendly crowd where strangers watch each other’s games and offer unsolicited advice.

Cash works best, and the room fills quickly on weekend evenings. Earlier hours give you better access to the popular tables.

Kids are welcome during daytime hours, which makes it an easy family stop. Half the joy comes from the reveal, watching someone realize the back room exists.

Only in New York does a chore hide an arcade. Greenpoint keeps proving it has the strangest and best ideas.

9. Midtown Comics – Times Square, New York

Comic shops come in many sizes, and then there is this one. Midtown Comics ranks as the largest comic book retailer in the United States, which explains the sheer wall of new releases greeting you.

The Times Square store operates at 200 West 40th Street, New York, NY 10018, one flight up from the sidewalk madness below.

Current issues, graphic novels, and back issues fill the racks in organized rows. Hunting for a specific issue from 1994 actually has decent odds of success here.

Action figures, statues, and pop culture memorabilia occupy their own real estate. Manga readers get a serious section too, deep enough to lose an hour inside.

Wednesday remains new comic day, so expect a crowd of dedicated readers grabbing their pulls. Staff members hold encyclopedic knowledge and will happily point you toward a series that matches your taste.

Bring a list or you will wander. The store rewards browsing but punishes indecision, especially when your train leaves in twenty minutes.

For anyone who once read comics under the covers with a flashlight, this feels like coming home.

10. Forbidden Planet – Greenwich Village, New York

Science fiction fans have gathered at this Broadway address for decades, and the shelves show it. Comics, graphic novels, fantasy novels, and movie memorabilia pack the space at 832 Broadway, New York, NY 10003.

The store has become something of an institution among collectors who care about depth over flash. Rare titles surface here that bigger retailers never stock.

Toys and collectibles claim a healthy chunk of the floor. Vinyl figures, model kits, and action figures from franchises spanning fifty years wait for someone to recognize them.

Older sci-fi paperbacks deserve a slow browse. Cover art from the sixties and seventies looks wonderfully unhinged and makes for great wall decor.

Staff recommendations tend to hit the mark, especially for readers wanting to try graphic novels for the first time. Just say what movies you like and let them work.

The Union Square area sits a short walk away, making this an easy addition to a bigger afternoon. Strand Book Store is practically next door too.

Nostalgia comes cheap here. Recognition costs nothing at all.

11. M&M’s World – Times Square, New York

Twenty seven thousand square feet dedicated entirely to candy is a bold commitment. The three story flagship at 1600 Broadway, New York, NY 10036, wastes none of it.

The color wall runs two stories tall, loaded with thousands of candies sorted into shades you did not know existed. Filling a bag becomes weirdly meditative.

Giant M&M character statues stand ready for photos, and everyone takes one whether they admit it or not. The Personalized Printer stamps custom messages onto candy shells, which makes for a genuinely fun gift.

Merchandise stretches well beyond sweets. Apparel, kitchen items, and plush characters fill the upper floors alongside seasonal collections.

Weekends bring serious foot traffic, so weekday visits feel far more manageable. Free samples appear now and then, which never hurts.

Prices lean touristy, so decide your budget before you start scooping. The color wall has separated many visitors from their spending money.

Kids adore the place, and grown-ups who grew up with those commercials will find themselves grinning too. Times Square holds plenty of noise, but few stops in New York taste this good.