Karen Moline puts her Cheapallonia hat on again, and finds the best free fun for small children (and their minders) in New York City.

This Holiday Goddess can smell a bargain from the Bronx to the Battery, but even New York City can put a dent in Cheapallonia’s budget when she’s taking a wander with her six-year-old in tow. Luckily, if you know the right places to go, you’ll not only entertain the kids, you’ll be astonished at how many free activities there are. With a bit of planning, you won’t have to spend much more than a subway fare to have a dazzling time.

Here are some of Cheapallonia’s favorite (and free) hidden gems in lower Manhattan that are perfect for kids (and big kids aka mummy and daddy).

Teardrop Park
Hidden from view is the coolest water park in the City. Not only does the water come out of several fanciful fountains cleverly set into rocks, but there’s an incredibly long, straight slide that kids slick down with water so they can shoot off, screaming with laughter, into the sand pit below. Teardrop Park is unique in that even the smallest kids can safely enjoy the water feature and sand pit, and bigger kids will not tire of climbing up the rock stairwell to go down that slide all afternoon. As Teardrop Park is tucked between several large apartment buildings, you can walk by it and never know it’s there, so it’s rarely crowded. Too bad the water is only on in the summer, but there’s also a large lawn for picnics, and the City Parks Department often has free activities on weekends. *Teardrop Park is located between Warren St. and Murray St. in Battery Park City, east of River Terrace. Nearest subways: 1/2/3/A/C at Chambers St., E at World Trade Center.

 
Governor’s Island
If you like history, Governor’s Island is a gem. Its strategic location in the middle of New York Harbor made it a crucial defense for Yankee troops, and during the Civil War, one of the forts was used as a prison for Southern soldiers. The island became an army base, then a naval base, and was eventually turned over to the Coast Guard, who gave it back to the city with the condition that it not be developed for commercial gain. While planners try to figure out what to do with it, you can take a 7-minute ferry ride on Saturdays during the summer, hop on an air-conditioned bus for a guided tour, and marvel at the view before having a picnic on the beautiful grounds, near the gorgeous homes built for the officers near one of the forts that Cheapallonia’s imaginative son swears is haunted.

*Governor’s Island is open from June through September. The Governor’s Island Ferry departs on the hour from 10 am to 2 pm at the Battery Maritime Building, located next to the Staten Island Ferry on South Street and Whitehall Street. The last ferry leaves the Island at 4 p.m.

Nearest subways: R/W at Whitehall St., 1 at South Ferry, 4/5 at Bowling Green, J/M/Z at Broad St.

 
Staten Island Ferry
Cheapallonia is not one to pay for overcrowded tourist boat cruising the harbor when she can pose on the bow of the Staten Island Ferry for free and do her best imitation of Emma Lazarus. Sure, there’s no tour guide droning on, but she can read a travel guide and look out the window and figure it out for herself.

The Staten Island ferry ride spans 5 miles, takes about 25 minutes, and is brilliant free fun for people watching, scum-in-the-harbor watching, big cruise ship watching, and sunset watching. Eat a hot dog and feed the bun to the nasty gulls, then turn around and come right back. Be sure to stand in the front for a heart-stopping view of Lower Manhattan.  

The Staten Island Ferry is located at Whitehall Street and the East River. Like all city transport, it runs 24/7. You do have to get off the boat at Staten Island and transfer to another one for the return voyage. Nearest subways: R/W at Whitehall St., 1 at South Ferry, 4/5 at Bowling Green, J/M/Z at Broad St.

Daffy’s
While you’re near the Ferry, you might as well tap the piggybank for what you’ve saved on entertainment, and spend it instead on absolutely crucial fashion items, darling. Since most Holiday Goddesses have likely thought about having a shopping accident (the accident part comes when you faint after opening your credit-card bill) in the ginormous designer discount emporium of Century 21 (across from the World Trade Center site at 22 Cortlandt St,  between Church and Broadway), do yourself a favor and skip over to the smaller and more civilized Daffy’s instead. This chain has goodies for all family members, and you can either strike real gold (hugely discounted items from many different famous designers, like Cheapallonia’s favorite, Les Copains) or strike out. There’s no predicting what might be hidden in the sale racks, and that’s have the fun. Even if you don’t find the perfect new outfit for yourself, their selection of kids’ designer clothing and shoes never fails to disappoint.

There are many different Daffy’s in Manhattan; check at www.daffys.com. In lower Manhattan, go to 50 Broadway, 212 422-4477. Nearest subways: R/W at Whitehall St., 1 at South Ferry, 4/5 at Bowling Green, J/M/Z at Broad St, E at World Trade Center.

Shu Uemura Beauty Boutique
Now that you’re loaded with gorgeous things to wear, don’t forget your face. Make the Shu Uemura Beauty Boutique a must-see, as you can sample the hundreds of lipsticks, eye shadows, and blushes to your heart’s content, and then get a free makeup lesson with a staff makeup artist. Trust me, Cheapallonia hates a hard-sell, and you’ll never find that here. Located at 121 Greene St., between Houston St. and Prince St  212-979-5500. Nearest subway: N/R at Prince St. and Broadway, #6 at Spring St, C/E at Spring St.

SoHo Nails
If your feet are starting to ache after all that walking, why not soothe them with a quick pedicure. You’ll be thrilled with the bargain-basement manicure/pedicures available from the ubiquitous, no appointment-needed nail salons on practically every block of the city. Most salons are open seven days, from about 10 a.m. to 8 or 9 p.m., and many have specials early in the week, when you can usually find a mani/pedi for about $20, not including tip. Bribe your little girls (and fashion-forward boys) with a manicure and you’ll not only get a respite from shopping but a chance to relax together.SoHo Nails is enormous, and cheap, and it’s where you’ll see fashionistas comparing Essie colors and getting their eyebrows waxed without a yelp. SoHo Nails is at 458 W. Broadway, 3rd Floor, between Houston St. and Prince St. 212-475-6368. Nearest subway: N/R at Prince St. and Broadway, #6 at Spring St., C/E at Spring St.