60 upcoming events · 3 local studios
Queens neighborhood with real suburb-in-the-city energy, Forest Hills sits in the middle of the borough with tree-lined streets, prewar co-ops, and Tudor-style homes that make it feel genuinely calm without being far from anything. For a parent with a toddler, the big draw is Forest Park right at the neighborhood's southern edge, a 500-plus-acre green space with seven playgrounds, wide trails, and a restored historic carousel that runs seasonally. Closer to home, the Queens Public Library on 71st Avenue runs storytime and other programs for young kids on a regular basis and is easy to reach on foot from most of the neighborhood. Austin Street, the main commercial strip, gives you coffee shops and casual spots to duck into when the kid needs a snack and a break. Getting here and getting around is straightforward: the E, F, M, and R trains stop at 71st Avenue, and the LIRR station is right there too. Strollers work fine on these streets. With 139 events on our calendar right now, including classes from Further Music School and HUG MUSIC, there is real momentum for the under-five set in Forest Hills.