Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, NYBG

The Enid A. Haupt Conservatory is the iconic centerpiece of the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx — a Victorian-era crystal palace that houses tropical rainforests, desert environments, and rotating seasonal exhibitions under its 11 interconnected greenhouses. It looks like a set from a fantasy film, and children who walk through the entrance for the first time almost always look up and say something involuntary.

For families, the conservatory is appealing year-round. It's a genuine indoor botanical environment with towering palms, tree ferns, exotic orchids, and cacti in a naturally lit, climate-controlled space. In the depths of a New York winter, standing inside a humidity-rich tropical rainforest while snow falls outside is a particular kind of magic.

The Holiday Train Show (running annually from mid-November through early January) elevates the conservatory into something almost otherworldly. Dozens of model trains run through miniature reproductions of New York landmarks — the Statue of Liberty, Grand Central Terminal, the Brooklyn Bridge — all constructed from natural materials like pinecones, moss, bark, and leaves. It's a 27-year tradition at NYBG and one of the city's great holiday family experiences.

The caveat: tickets sell out. Buy several weeks ahead for weekend visits, and even a few days ahead for weekdays.

Outside the Holiday Train Show, the conservatory is significantly less crowded and considerably calmer — a pleasant place to spend 90 minutes walking through climate zones while a 3-year-old touches every fern within reach.

Practically, the conservatory is included in the NYBG All-Garden Pass, which also covers the outdoor gardens and the Everett Children's Adventure Garden. Children 2 and under are always free. Children 12 and under visit free on Wednesday mornings and Saturday mornings with a paying adult.