Arthur Ross Terrace

Did you know that the Natural History Museum has an outdoor water park inside it’s walls? Well, it does and it’s amazing! The Ross Terrace is basically a slate field with water jets that rocket H20 anywhere from 2 feet to 20 feet into the air. There is a little basin at the bottom of the slate field where smaller babies can easily hang out and splash. My kid loved it even at just 6 months old.
While the museum likes donations, this has been a free feature to the public in the past; you don’t have to buy a ticket to get in.
TO GET INTO THE WATER PARK: enter on the west side of the building at Columbus Avenue & 79^th St. You know you’ll be at the correct entrance if you see a «Fortune Cookie» looking sculpture by the doors. You should see some stairs on your right. Pass them, and on the left is an elevator. Take the elevator up one floor, and you should see the windows leading you to the beautiful outdoor water park.
Things to bring for your toddlers: bathing suits, swim diapers, towels, change of clothes, water shoes or shoes you don’t care about, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, picnic foods and drinks.