Upstate New York provides opportunities for a variety of family activities in each of its regions. Whether your family is interested in extreme recreational sports, leisurely activities or something in between, opportunities abound in upstate New York.
Theme Parks
Theme parks that appeal to all ages are abundant in upstate New York. Parks that offer fun and excitement for your whole family include Santa's Workshop in North Pole, Zoom Flume Water Park in East Durham, Great Escape Theme Park in Lake George, Seabreeze Amusement Park in Rochester, Splish Splash Water Park in Riverhead and Martin's Fantasy Island on Grand Island near Niagara Falls.
Museums
Museums are abundant throughout upstate New York. Museums that may be of interest to families, in particular, include the Science Discovery Center in Oneonta, Iroquois Indian Museum in Howes Cave, Victorian Doll Museum in North Chili, New York State Museum in Albany, The Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester and Bear Mountain Trailside Museums and Wildlife Center in Bear Mountain.
Historic Sites
History buffs will enjoy the many, varied historic sites throughout upstate New York. Some of these sites include the Shaker Heritage Society in Albany, Adsit Log Cabin in Rosendale, Alice T. Miner Museum in Chazy, Black Bear Trading Post in Esopus, Buffalo City Hall in Buffalo, Hurley Stone Houses in Hurley, Champlain Memorial Lighthouse in Crown Point, Battle of Plattsburgh 1812 War Museum in Plattsburgh, Hyde Hall Covered Bridge in Cooperstown and Fort Niagara in Youngstown.
Nature Activities
Upstate New York is an ideal destination if your family enjoys nature and wildlife activities. You may want to check out one of the state's natural caverns or mines, such as Howe Caverns in Howes Cave, Natural Stone Bridge and Caves Park in Pottersville, Panama Rocks Scenic Park in Panama or Diamond Acres in Fonda. You may also want to visit one of the waterfalls or gorges, such as Ausable Chasm in Essex, High Falls Gorge in Wilmington or, of course, the waterfalls of Niagara Falls. The state features an abundance of state and national parks.
Water Activities
If water activities are more up to your family's tastes, upstate New York also provides a number of water sports and recreation locales for enthusiasts of any level. You can spend a day at a beach at one of the state's many lakes and ponds, join a fishing charter, go scuba diving, try whitewater rafting, rent a boat for an afternoon and more. The shorelines of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario as well as the Finger Lakes, the Mohawk River and the many small lakes and streams in the Adirondacks and Catskills beckon.
Member Comments