Discover the Big Apple: 6 Amazing Fun Facts About New York City for Kids

1. Empire State Building: Lightning Whisperer

In a shocking turn of events, the Empire State Building moonlights as a lightning whisperer: Surprisingly, every year it attracts around 25 lightning bolts that strike its spire, but fear not, its copper lightning rod safely conducts the electric energy through a wire and into the ground. This superheroic skyscraper even throws lightning back into the sky, protecting Manhattan from electrifying encounters, all thanks to an engineering marvel discovered by the General Electric Company back in the 1930s.
Source => nycmicroseasons.com

2. Times Square: New Year's Confetti Quilt

Who needs a blanket of snow when you can have a confetti quilt? Picture this: Times Square on New Year's Eve transforms into an impromptu paper party wonderland! The serious reveal: Over one million pieces of confetti rain down upon the jubilant crowd—enough to cover an entire acre—as the world counts down to a brand new year.
Source => newscentermaine.com

Did you know the first Carvel ice cream shop was founded in New York State in 1929? 🍦 Discover the sweet history behind this iconic dessert destination!

=> Fun Facts about New-York-State

3. 9/11: Tower Pancakes & Dust Surge

When tower pancakes make for a shockingly dusty breakfast: the collapse of the World Trade Center buildings on 9/11 created a massive airborne "debris surge", which initially spread at over 50 miles per hour and blanketed areas up to two miles away with a thick layer of dust.
Source => nytimes.com

4. NYC Taxis: Yellow & Apple Green Orchard

In the Big Apple, it's not just the apples that come in different colors: there's a wild orchard of taxis, too! But we're not talking about a Skittles bag assortment—only yellow and apple green taxis roam the urban jungle: Yellow taxis can pick up passengers anywhere in the five boroughs, while the apple green "boro taxis" only operate in Upper Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island (excluding the airports). As of 2014, over 13,000 yellow medallion taxis and 7,600 boro taxis were licensed, but these days, their numbers are dwindling due to the invasion of the Uber species.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

5. Strand Bookstore: Bookworms' Paradise

Ever heard of a bookworm's paradise overflowing with countless adventures and pages waiting to be devoured? Well, this literary wonderland exists and it's called the Strand Bookstore: Located in Manhattan, New York, the Strand houses over 2.5 million book treasures, from new and used copies to rare editions. While the exact length of its bookshelves may be a miles-long mystery, it's certainly far beyond the once asserted 23-mile claim. Don't forget to explore this book haven next time you're in town, and who knows, you might just stumble upon that life-changing gem!
Source => en.wikipedia.org

6. Roosevelt Island Tramway: Spider-Man's Envy

Ever heard of the majestic ride soaring through the skies of New York, with Spider-Man jealous of its slick moves? Well, we're not talking about a bird or a plane but the Roosevelt Island Tramway: this high-flying wonder is the most modern aerial tramway in the world and zips between Manhattan and Roosevelt Island, making pit stops at 59th Street and Second Avenue in Manhattan and Tramway Plaza on Roosevelt Island every 7-15 minutes – just don't forget you need to exit and repay at each stop to keep swinging through the city skyline!
Source => rioc.ny.gov