Summer Adventures with Kids in New York
We pulled these 129 summer adventures out of our full catalog of kid-friendly spots in New York. Every listing has the ages it suits, what it costs, how long to budget, parking notes, and what to pack.
129 adventures found
New York State Museum
Albany, NY
MuseumFree Albany museum with a full-size mastodon, New York habitat dioramas and a working 1890s carousel …
Bear Mountain State Park
Bear Mountain, NY
HikingHistoric Hudson River park with trails, pool, merry-go-round, and Appalachian Trail. Paid entry. …
Explore & More Children's Museum
Buffalo, NY
Indoor-PlayFour floors of Buffalo-themed play at Canalside with a working model Erie Canal, a mini grocery, a …
Letchworth State Park Camping and Cabins
Castile, NY
CampingCampground, cabins and a pool complex inside the seventeen-mile Grand Canyon of the East, so the …
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
Cooperstown, NY
MuseumThree floors of baseball history in Cooperstown with the Plaque Gallery, game-worn jerseys, and a …
Corning Museum of Glass
Corning, NY
MuseumFinger Lakes museum with live molten glassblowing shows, make-your-own-glass sessions, and 3500 …
Green Lakes State Park
Fayetteville, NY
SwimmingSwim in Caribbean-blue glacial lakes at Green Lakes State Park near Syracuse NY - sandy lifeguarded …
Kaaterskill Falls Trail
Haines Falls, NY
HikingThe tallest two-tiered waterfall in New York State at 260 feet. Free. Best from about age 5. About …
North-South Lake Campground
Haines Falls, NY
CampingPremier Catskills campground with twin lakes and a swimming beach - campsites from about $22/night …
Howe Caverns
Howes Cave, NY
NatureGuided cave tours 156 feet underground with an underground boat ride. Paid entry. Best from about …
Robert H. Treman State Park
Ithaca, NY
SwimmingGorge trails, multiple waterfalls, and a stunning natural swimming hole near Ithaca. Paid entry. …
Robert H. Treman State Park Camping and Cabins
Ithaca, NY
CampingCampsites and simple cabins beside the stone-walled waterfall swimming hole at Treman, the best swim …
Cascade Mountain
Keene, NY
HikingThe most popular Adirondack High Peak with stunning 360-degree summit views. Free. Better for ages 7 …
Ausable Chasm
Keeseville, NY
NatureWalk through a 500-million-year-old sandstone gorge with optional rafting. Paid entry. Best from …
Minnewaska State Park Preserve
Kerhonkson, NY
HikingSky lakes, cliff-top trails, and swimming on the Shawangunk Ridge. Paid entry. Best from about age …
Lake George Islands Camping
Lake George, NY
CampingBoat-access island camping on pristine Lake George. Paid entry. Best from about age 5. Plan to stay …
Million Dollar Beach
Lake George, NY
SwimmingSandy public beach on crystal-clear Lake George with lifeguards and mountain views. Paid entry. …
Adirondak Loj and Wilderness Campground
Lake Placid, NY
LodgingBunkrooms, cabins, lean-tos and tent sites at the High Peaks trailhead on Heart Lake, run by the …
Mount Jo Trail
Lake Placid, NY
HikingShort family hike with a spectacular High Peaks panorama above Heart Lake. Paid entry. Best from …
Mohonk Preserve
New Paltz, NY
HikingWorld-class rock climbing and cliff-top hiking on the Shawangunk Ridge. Paid entry. Best from about …
Nicks Lake Campground
Old Forge, NY
CampingSandy beach and a flat lakeshore loop trail on a quiet lake three minutes from Old Forge and the …
Natural Stone Bridge and Caves
Pottersville, NY
NatureSelf-guided cave and gorge trails with the largest marble cave entrance in the East. Paid entry. …
Walkway Over the Hudson
Poughkeepsie, NY
HikingWalk 212 feet above the Hudson River on the longest elevated pedestrian bridge in the world. Free. …
The Strong National Museum of Play
Rochester, NY
Indoor-PlayEnormous Rochester museum of play with a Sesame Street set, classic arcade, butterfly garden, …
Allegany State Park
Salamanca, NY
HikingLargest state park in New York with beaches, boulder fields, and 80+ miles of trails. Paid entry. …
Saranac Lake Islands Camping
Saranac Lake, NY
CampingPaddle-in island camping on the Saranac Lakes with 87 primitive sites. Paid entry. Best from about …
Peekamoose Blue Hole
Sundown, NY
SwimmingStunning blue-green natural swimming hole with waterfall in the Catskill forest. Free. Best from …
Museum of Science & Technology (MOST)
Syracuse, NY
ScienceSyracuse science museum with four floors of hands-on exhibits, a simulated cave crawl, a toddler …
Taughannock Falls State Park
Trumansburg, NY
HikingEasy walk to a 215-foot waterfall taller than Niagara Falls. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. …
The Wild Center
Tupper Lake, NY
NatureNatural history museum with a treetop Wild Walk and live animal exhibits. Paid entry. Works from …
Watkins Glen State Park
Watkins Glen, NY
HikingWalk behind 19 waterfalls through a stunning 200-foot-deep gorge. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. …
Watkins Glen State Park Campground
Watkins Glen, NY
CampingCamp above the gorge and walk the Watkins Glen trail at eight in the morning, before the tour buses …
Whiteface Mountain Veterans Memorial Highway
Wilmington, NY
HikingDrive to the summit of the fifth highest peak in New York for breathtaking views. Paid entry. Works …
Albany Institute of History & Art
Albany, NY
MuseumSmall Albany museum with two ancient Egyptian mummies, Hudson River School landscapes and drop-in …
Grass Point State Park
Alexandria Bay, NY
CampingRiver campground near Alexandria Bay with beach and easy Thousand Islands access. Paid entry. Works …
Dia Beacon
Beacon, NY
MuseumVast daylit factory in Beacon filled with room-size contemporary art including Richard Serra steel …
Adirondack Experience Museum
Blue Mountain Lake, NY
NatureWorld-class Adirondack history museum with interactive exhibits on Blue Mountain Lake. Paid entry. …
Blue Mountain Trail
Blue Mountain Lake, NY
HikingPopular fire tower hike with panoramic views over Blue Mountain Lake. Free. Better for ages 6 and …
Lake Durant Campground
Blue Mountain Lake, NY
CampingLakefront campground in the central Adirondacks with beach and paddle access. Paid entry. Works from …
Keuka Lake State Park
Bluff Point, NY
SwimmingSandy beach and campground on one of the cleanest Finger Lakes. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. …
Keuka Lake State Park Camping
Bluff Point, NY
CampingOpen lakeside and shaded wooded campsites with a swim beach and boat launch on Keuka, the quietest …
Buffalo Museum of Science
Buffalo, NY
ScienceBuffalo science museum with dinosaur skeletons, a mummy, live animal encounters, and a rooftop …
Burnham Point State Park
Cape Vincent, NY
CampingQuiet waterfront campground where Lake Ontario meets the St. Lawrence River. Paid entry. Works from …
Kane Mountain Fire Tower
Caroga Lake, NY
HikingQuick and easy fire tower hike perfect for young or beginner hikers. Free. Best from about age 4. …
Cherry Plain State Park
Cherry Plain, NY
SwimmingQuiet swimming beach and intimate campground on Black River Pond. Paid entry. Works from toddler …
Cedar Point State Park
Clayton, NY
CampingWaterfront camping on the St. Lawrence River with Thousand Islands views. Paid entry. Works from …
Clarence Fahnestock State Park
Cold Spring, NY
HikingHudson Highlands park with lake swimming, Appalachian Trail, and camping. Paid entry. Best from …
Taconic State Park
Copake Falls, NY
CampingTwo camping areas with swimming ponds, waterfalls, and ridge trails on the Taconic Range. Paid …
New York Hall of Science
Corona, NY
ScienceQueens hands-on science museum with a build-and-test design lab, a room-size interactive ecosystem, …
Cranberry Lake Campground
Cranberry Lake, NY
CampingRemote lakefront campground on one of the largest and wildest Adirondack lakes. Paid entry. Best …
Stony Brook State Park
Dansville, NY
SwimmingGorge swimming, three waterfalls, and rock formations in a quiet setting. Paid entry. Works from …
Stony Brook State Park Camping
Dansville, NY
CampingWooded campsites beside two stream-fed swimming pools dammed right into the creek bed, a much …
Cascade Lake Trail
Eagle Bay, NY
HikingEasy loop trail around a scenic Adirondack lake with lean-tos and swimming spots. Free. Best from …
Moss Lake Trail
Eagle Bay, NY
HikingEasy loop trail around a pristine Adirondack lake perfect for young hikers. Free. Best from about …
Wellesley Island State Park
Fineview, NY
NatureIsland park in the Thousand Islands with nature center, beach, and 430-site campground. Paid entry. …
Shelving Rock Falls Trail
Fort Ann, NY
HikingShort family hike to a beautiful waterfall near Lake George. Free. Best from about age 4. About two …
Sleeping Beauty Mountain
Fort Ann, NY
HikingModerate summit hike with one of the best Lake George panoramic views. Free. Better for ages 6 and …
Moreau Lake State Park
Gansevoort, NY
SwimmingSandy lake beach, campground, and ridge trails near Saratoga Springs. Paid entry. Works from toddler …
Cradle of Aviation Museum
Garden City, NY
MuseumLong Island aviation and space museum with seventy-plus aircraft, a real Apollo Lunar Module, flight …
Long Island Children's Museum
Garden City, NY
Indoor-PlayFourteen hands-on galleries in Garden City with bubbles, a climbing structure, a sound studio, and a …
Seneca Lake State Park
Geneva, NY
SwimmingLakefront park with splash pad, playground, and marina on Seneca Lake. Paid entry. Works from …
Zoar Valley Multiple Use Area
Gowanda, NY
HikingWild 600-foot gorge with old-growth forest and deep swimming holes. Free. Better for ages 8 and up. …
Grafton Lakes State Park
Grafton, NY
SwimmingLifeguarded sandy beach, easy nature trails, and shore fishing at Grafton Lakes State Park near Troy …
Hadley Mountain Fire Tower
Hadley, NY
HikingFire tower hike with views of Great Sacandaga Lake and the southern Adirondacks. Free. Best from …
Rogers Rock Campground
Hague, NY
CampingWooded lakeside campground on the quiet north end of Lake George. Paid entry. Works from toddler …
Finger Lakes National Forest
Hector, NY
HikingThe only national forest in New York with free camping and 30+ miles of trails. Free. Best from …
Indian Lake Islands Campground
Indian Lake, NY
CampingPaddle-in island camping on scenic Indian Lake in the central Adirondacks. Paid entry. Best from …
Lewey Lake Campground
Indian Lake, NY
CampingBeach and boat launch between two lakes beneath Snowy Mountain, with wilderness trailheads and …
Snowy Mountain Trail
Indian Lake, NY
HikingChallenging hike to the tallest peak in the southern Adirondacks with fire tower summit. Free. …
Eighth Lake Campground
Inlet, NY
CampingLakefront campground with beach and calm water on the Fulton Chain of Lakes. Paid entry. Works from …
Limekiln Lake Campground
Inlet, NY
CampingLarge pine-shaded campground on a clear lake near Inlet, with a sandy beach, boat launch and the …
Buttermilk Falls State Park
Ithaca, NY
SwimmingNatural swimming pool at the base of a cascading waterfall near Ithaca. Paid entry. Best from about …
Museum of the Earth
Ithaca, NY
MuseumIthaca fossil museum walking kids forward through geologic time past a hanging whale skeleton and a …
Sciencenter
Ithaca, NY
ScienceIthaca hands-on science museum with a walk-in kaleidoscope, a two-story ball machine, live animals …
Clark Reservation State Park
Jamesville, NY
HikingGlacial plunge basin with cliff-rimmed lake and unique geology near Syracuse. Paid entry. Best from …
Baxter Mountain
Keene, NY
HikingModerate short hike near Keene with excellent High Peaks views. Free. Best from about age 5. About …
Beaver Meadow Falls Trail
Keene Valley, NY
HikingScenic river trail to a beautiful 30-foot waterfall in the High Peaks. Free. Best from about age 5. …
Indian Head and Rainbow Falls Trail
Keene Valley, NY
HikingEpic hike past a 150-foot waterfall to the iconic Ausable Lakes cliff-top view. Free. Better for …
Poke-O-Moonshine Fire Tower Trail
Keeseville, NY
HikingShort steep hike to a fire tower with views of Lake Champlain and the High Peaks. Free. Better for …
Vernooy Kill Falls Trail
Kerhonkson, NY
HikingEasy forest hike to a beautiful waterfall with a swimming pool at the base. Free. Best from about …
Hearthstone Point Campground
Lake George, NY
CampingWaterfront state campground on Lake George close to the village. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. …
Lake George Battleground Campground
Lake George, NY
CampingWooded state campground within walking distance of Million Dollar Beach and Lake George village, so …
Prospect Mountain Veterans Memorial Highway
Lake George, NY
HikingScenic mountaintop with panoramic views of Lake George and the Adirondacks. Paid entry. Best from …
Cobble Hill Trail
Lake Placid, NY
HikingQuick family hike with a big High Peaks view just outside Lake Placid village. Free. Best from about …
Heart Lake
Lake Placid, NY
SwimmingSandy mountain lake beach with High Peaks backdrop and canoe rentals. Paid entry. Works from toddler …
Lake Placid Public Beach
Lake Placid, NY
SwimmingFree sandy village beach on Mirror Lake in Lake Placid NY with summer lifeguards, a roped …
Mirror Lake Paddle
Lake Placid, NY
KayakingPaddle a kayak or canoe on the calm motor-free waters of Mirror Lake. Paid entry. Best from about …
Frick Pond Loop Trail
Livingston Manor, NY
HikingPeaceful forest loop to a quiet Catskill pond with lean-tos. Free. Best from about age 4. A half-day …
Mongaup Pond Campground
Livingston Manor, NY
CampingSandy beach and motor-free paddling on the largest Catskill pond, with wilderness trails from camp …
Forked Lake Campground
Long Lake, NY
CampingMostly paddle-in shoreline campsites on a quiet Adirondack lake, a real step up from car camping for …
Lake Eaton Campground
Long Lake, NY
CampingSandy beach and calm shallow water on a quiet lake near Long Lake village, with Owls Head Mountain …
Robert Moses State Park (Massena)
Massena, NY
SwimmingRiver beach, nature center, and ship-watching on the St. Lawrence Seaway. Paid entry. Works from …
Fillmore Glen State Park
Moravia, NY
HikingQuiet gorge with five waterfalls, a walk-behind cascade, and swimming pool. Paid entry. Best from …
Kenneth L. Wilson Campground
Mount Tremper, NY
CampingLakeside Catskills campground with sandy beach and boat rentals. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. …
Grimes Glen Park
Naples, NY
HikingWade up a fossil-filled creek to reach two hidden waterfalls in a narrow gorge. Free. Best from …
Camp Santanoni Historic Area
Newcomb, NY
HikingCarriage road hike or bike to a historic Great Camp on pristine Newcomb Lake. Free. Best from about …
Goodnow Mountain Fire Tower
Newcomb, NY
HikingFamily-friendly fire tower hike with interpretive signs and High Peaks views. Free. Best from about …
Aquarium of Niagara
Niagara Falls, NY
AquariumAquarium steps from Niagara Falls with penguins, daily sea lion training sessions, Great Lakes tanks …
Niagara Gorge Trail
Niagara Falls, NY
HikingHike the bottom of Niagara Gorge with boulder scrambles and whirlpool rapids. Free. Better for ages …
Panama Rocks Scenic Park
Panama, NY
HikingAncient rock formations with caves, crevices, and passageways kids can explore. Paid entry. Best …
Buck Mountain Trail
Pilot Knob, NY
HikingChallenging summit hike with sweeping Lake George views from 2,334 feet. Free. Better for ages 7 and …
Mid-Hudson Children's Museum
Poughkeepsie, NY
Indoor-PlayHands-on children's museum on the Poughkeepsie waterfront with circuits, bubbles, water tables, and …
Selkirk Shores State Park
Pulaski, NY
CampingBluff-top campground on Lake Ontario with beach and Salmon River access. Paid entry. Works from …
Golden Beach Campground
Raquette Lake, NY
CampingLong sandy swimming beach with a gradual toddler-friendly entry on Raquette Lake, backed by …
Raquette Lake Beach
Raquette Lake, NY
SwimmingQuiet sandy beach on one of the prettiest lakes in the central Adirondacks. Free. Works from toddler …
Rochester Museum & Science Center
Rochester, NY
ScienceRochester science museum with three hands-on floors plus the Strasenburgh Planetarium's dome star …
Delta Lake State Park
Rome, NY
Swimming900-foot sandy swimming beach on Delta Lake in central New York. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. …
Sampson State Park
Romulus, NY
SwimmingBig family park on Seneca Lake with beach, campground, marina, and playground. Paid entry. Works …
Sampson State Park Camping
Romulus, NY
CampingBig Seneca Lake campground with a pool, marina and beach, and the most reliable availability when …
Azure Mountain Fire Tower
Santa Clara, NY
HikingFamily-friendly fire tower hike with northern Adirondack wilderness views. Free. Best from about age …
Ampersand Mountain
Saranac Lake, NY
HikingChallenging hike to a bald summit with 360-degree Adirondack panorama. Free. Better for ages 8 and …
Fish Creek Pond Campground
Saranac Lake, NY
CampingMassive waterfront campground with beach and access to a chain of Adirondack ponds. Paid entry. …
Floodwood Pond
Saranac Lake, NY
KayakingMotor-free interconnected ponds perfect for family kayaking and canoe adventures. Free. Best from …
Rollins Pond Campground
Saranac Lake, NY
CampingMotor-free Adirondack pond camping next door to Fish Creek, with glassy water, loons at dawn and …
Children's Museum at Saratoga
Saratoga Springs, NY
Indoor-PlaySmall Saratoga Springs children's museum with a pretend-play diner, a fire truck and a toddler area …
Saratoga Spa State Park
Saratoga Springs, NY
HikingNatural mineral springs, historic pools, and forest trails in Saratoga Springs. Paid entry. Works …
miSci Museum of Innovation and Science
Schenectady, NY
ScienceSchenectady science museum with hands-on electricity exhibits, General Electric history and a …
Eagle Point Campground
Schroon Lake, NY
CampingBluff-top campsites above Schroon Lake with a swimming beach below, quieter than Lake George and …
Pharaoh Lake Wilderness
Schroon Lake, NY
HikingPristine wilderness lake with backcountry camping far from the crowds. Free. Better for ages 7 and …
Giant Ledge Trail
Shandaken, NY
HikingPopular hike to dramatic cliff-top viewpoints in the Catskill Mountains. Free. Better for ages 6 and …
Slide Mountain Trail
Shandaken, NY
HikingHike the highest peak in the Catskills at 4,180 feet. Free. Better for ages 8 and up. Easily a full …
Harriman State Park
Stony Point, NY
HikingMassive park with 200+ miles of trails, swimming lakes, and mountain views. Paid entry. Best from …
WonderWorks Syracuse
Syracuse, NY
Indoor-PlayIndoor science-and-illusion attraction at Destiny USA in Syracuse with a hurricane simulator, ropes …
Taughannock Falls State Park Cabins and Camping
Trumansburg, NY
CampingHillside campsites and cabins above Cayuga Lake, with a flat stroller-friendly trail to a 215-foot …
Verona Beach State Park
Verona Beach, NY
Swimming1,000-foot sandy beach on Oneida Lake with campground and nature trails. Paid entry. Works from …
Thacher State Park
Voorheesville, NY
HikingCliff-top escarpment park with a walk-behind waterfall and 40-mile views. Paid entry. Best from …
Wilmington Notch Campground
Wilmington, NY
CampingRiverside state campground in the notch between Lake Placid and Wilmington, minutes from High Falls …
Chimney Bluffs State Park
Wolcott, NY
HikingOtherworldly clay spires sculpted by erosion on the shore of Lake Ontario. Free. Best from about age …
Overlook Mountain Trail
Woodstock, NY
HikingFire tower hike past ruins of an old mountain hotel near Woodstock. Free. Better for ages 6 and up. …