NYC Day Trips: The Big Three Must See

Whitney Museum of American Art

Spend a few dog days of summer at the Whitney.

If kids (and parents) can resist the urge to pet, the inflated-looking Balloon Dog by Jeff Koons is a fetching treat. Visit this yellow dog and enjoy the Whitney’s current building before the museum relocates downtown to the Meatpacking District in 2015. The pup’s smooth reflective nature contrasts with the lifelike Poodle. The entangling String of Puppies was inspired by the photographic work of Art Rogers and led to a legal battle.

Not a dog person? The rest of the bright, outlandish works in the exhibition Jeff Koons: A Retrospective gives some pop culture for thought and will draw in the most fickle of school-aged critics. There is a sculpture for the train-lover or the person who discovers art is a vacuum (New Hoover Convertibles). Children and adults alike find great lure in Rabbit. The towering green Hulk is actually an organ that Koons himself says is louder than a helicopter—and although you won’t be able to play the keys or hear him getting angry, just imagining it all with the expression on his green face is great fun.

See the serious side of Koons in the sculpture Liberty Bell, which is a replica that involved painstaking research of the original materials to recreate the timeless American symbol. When the kids are completely overstimulated, there’s the Lifeboat, made of bronze. In some cases, parents might need one if the kids wander—not all of the exhibits are family fare, so as a parent or caregiver, opt to avert young eyes from racier exhibits such as Elvis, Made In Heaven, Ilona on Top and Antiquity.

Grab a Family Guide so young hands can improvise with their own color: investigate activities and black and white sketches of the artist’s works provided by the Jeff Koons studio. On July 19, families can get into the museum early—-there’s a special Family Opening from 9:30 a.m. to noon. The Koons exhibition runs through October 19.

Teens might be especially interested in the What Are You Waiting For, a public art project that grew from the handwritten responses of teens, on 24-hour exhibition at the corner of Gansevoort and Washington Streets, where the Whitney will reign soon.

Ages 18 and under are free at the Whitney and general admission is $20. For more information, see Tickets at www.whitney.org or call 212-570-3600.

Note: Not all museum exhibitions are included in general admission, but often, additional charges are waived or discounted for members. Check out museum membership packages to weigh the benefits of becoming a member before you visit. Educational resources abound, especially in the education and public programs departments, so take advantage of the experience of these great cultural institutions and the ability to download guides in advance. Families that include members on the autism spectrum can search the museum sites to arrange a visit that works best for them. Most importantly, have a great adventure!