RussianMixKids

The Long Meadow is perfect for running around and flying kites. Those in the mood to read or nap can head to the quieter Nethermead, a rolling meadow, while budding explorers can check out the Ravine’s rugged paths and waterfalls. The park’s nooks and crannies also conceal a small zoo, a carousel (which rotates at a good clip, so fasten your tykes’ saddle belts), tours on an electric boat and seven different playgrounds, along with seasonal events like the Halloween Haunted Walk & Carnival, ice-skating at Wollman Rink and Hawk Weekend, where your kids can have a meaningful—and safe!—encounter with one of those fearsome but supercool predators. Finally, Prospect Park is bordered on the west by Park Slope, a neighborhood so kid-friendly that local diner Dizzy’s offers not just French toast, but chocolate-stuffed French toast! Case closed.