Summer Adventures with Kids in New York

We pulled these 137 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.

137 adventures found

Beacon, NY

Beacon Sloop Club

Free evening sails on the Hudson aboard Pete Seeger's volunteer-crewed sloop Woody Guthrie. No charge, ever. Reserve by phone.

  • Sailing
  • Ages 5+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Fayetteville, NY

Green Lakes State Park

Swim in Caribbean-blue glacial lakes at Green Lakes State Park near Syracuse NY - sandy lifeguarded beach, flat lakeside trails, $10 per car

  • Swimming
  • Ages 2+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Haines Falls, NY

Kaaterskill Falls Trail

The tallest two-tiered waterfall in New York State at 260 feet. Free. Best from about age 5. About two hours. Dogs welcome.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 5+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Ithaca, NY

Robert H. Treman State Park

Gorge trails, multiple waterfalls, and a stunning natural swimming hole near Ithaca. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A half-day trip.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 3+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Keeseville, NY

Ausable Chasm

Walk through a 500-million-year-old sandstone gorge with optional rafting. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A half-day trip.

  • Nature
  • Ages 3+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Kerhonkson, NY

Minnewaska State Park Preserve

Sky lakes, cliff-top trails, and swimming on the Shawangunk Ridge. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A half-day trip. Stroller-friendly.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 3+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Lake George, NY

Million Dollar Beach

Sandy public beach on crystal-clear Lake George with lifeguards and mountain views. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 1+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Lake Placid, NY

Mount Jo Trail

Short family hike with a spectacular High Peaks panorama above Heart Lake. Paid entry. Best from about age 4. About two hours.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 4+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Poughkeepsie, NY

Walkway Over the Hudson

Walk 212 feet above the Hudson River on the longest elevated pedestrian bridge in the world. Free. Works from toddler age.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 2+
  • ~1h
  • Free

Saranac Lake, NY

Saranac Lake Islands Camping

Paddle-in island camping on the Saranac Lakes with 87 primitive sites. Paid entry. Best from about age 5. Plan to stay overnight.

  • Camping
  • Ages 5+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Sundown, NY

Peekamoose Blue Hole

Stunning blue-green natural swimming hole with waterfall in the Catskill forest. Free. Best from about age 5. A half-day trip.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 5+
  • ~3h
  • Free

Trumansburg, NY

Taughannock Falls State Park

Easy walk to a 215-foot waterfall taller than Niagara Falls. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. About two hours. Stroller-friendly.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 2+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Tupper Lake, NY

The Wild Center

Natural history museum with a treetop Wild Walk and live animal exhibits. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip.

  • Nature
  • Ages 2+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Watkins Glen, NY

Watkins Glen State Park

Walk behind 19 waterfalls through a stunning 200-foot-deep gorge. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. About two hours. Easy going.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 3+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Wilmington, NY

Whiteface Mountain Veterans Memorial Highway

Drive to the summit of the fifth highest peak in New York for breathtaking views. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. About two hours.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 2+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Albany, NY

Albany Institute of History & Art

Small Albany museum with two ancient Egyptian mummies, Hudson River School landscapes and drop-in family art workshops on weekends.

  • Museum
  • Ages 4+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Albany, NY

New York State Museum

Free Albany museum with a full-size mastodon, New York habitat dioramas and a working 1890s carousel running rides on the top floor.

  • Museum
  • Ages 2+
  • ~3h
  • Free

Alexandria Bay, NY

Grass Point State Park

River campground near Alexandria Bay with beach and easy Thousand Islands access. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. Plan to stay overnight.

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Beacon, NY

Dia Beacon

Vast daylit factory in Beacon filled with room-size contemporary art including Richard Serra steel spirals kids walk inside.

  • Museum
  • Ages 5+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Bear Mountain, NY

Bear Mountain State Park

Historic Hudson River park with trails, pool, merry-go-round, and Appalachian Trail. Paid entry. Works from toddler age.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 2+
  • ~5h
  • Paid

Blue Mountain Lake, NY

Adirondack Experience Museum

World-class Adirondack history museum with interactive exhibits on Blue Mountain Lake. Paid entry. Best from about age 3.

  • Nature
  • Ages 3+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Blue Mountain Lake, NY

Blue Mountain Trail

Popular fire tower hike with panoramic views over Blue Mountain Lake. Free. Better for ages 6 and up. A half-day trip. Dogs welcome.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 6+
  • ~4h
  • Free

Blue Mountain Lake, NY

Lake Durant Campground

Lakefront campground in the central Adirondacks with beach and paddle access. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. Plan to stay overnight.

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Bluff Point, NY

Keuka Lake State Park

Sandy beach and campground on one of the cleanest Finger Lakes. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip. Stroller-friendly.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 2+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Bluff Point, NY

Keuka Lake State Park Camping

Open lakeside and shaded wooded campsites with a swim beach and boat launch on Keuka, the quietest of the big Finger Lakes

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Buffalo, NY

Buffalo Museum of Science

Buffalo science museum with dinosaur skeletons, a mummy, live animal encounters, and a rooftop observatory for night sky viewing.

  • Science
  • Ages 2+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Buffalo, NY

Explore & More Children's Museum

Four floors of Buffalo-themed play at Canalside with a working model Erie Canal, a mini grocery, a climbing tower and a toddler zone.

  • Indoor Play
  • Ages 1+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Buffalo, NY

Sail Buffalo Sailing School

A nonprofit sailing school on Buffalo's Outer Harbor running week-long Lake Erie camps for kids, sorted by ability. Paid. Ages 8 to 17.

  • Sailing
  • Ages 8+
  • ~7h
  • Paid

Cape Vincent, NY

Burnham Point State Park

Quiet waterfront campground where Lake Ontario meets the St. Lawrence River. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. Plan to stay overnight.

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Caroga Lake, NY

Kane Mountain Fire Tower

Quick and easy fire tower hike perfect for young or beginner hikers. Free. Best from about age 4. About an hour. Dogs welcome.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 4+
  • ~1h
  • Free

Castile, NY

Letchworth State Park Camping and Cabins

Campground, cabins and a pool complex inside the seventeen-mile Grand Canyon of the East, so the overlooks are a short drive not a commute

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Cherry Plain, NY

Cherry Plain State Park

Quiet swimming beach and intimate campground on Black River Pond. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip. Dogs welcome.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 2+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Clayton, NY

Antique Boat Museum Sailing Programs

Sunfish and Optimist sailing on the St. Lawrence from a nonprofit museum, plus a free community sail every Tuesday night.

  • Sailing
  • Ages 4+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Clayton, NY

Cedar Point State Park

Waterfront camping on the St. Lawrence River with Thousand Islands views. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. Plan to stay overnight.

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Cold Spring, NY

Clarence Fahnestock State Park

Hudson Highlands park with lake swimming, Appalachian Trail, and camping. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A half-day trip.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 3+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Cooperstown, NY

National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum

Three floors of baseball history in Cooperstown with the Plaque Gallery, game-worn jerseys, and a team-by-team locker room.

  • Museum
  • Ages 5+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Copake Falls, NY

Taconic State Park

Two camping areas with swimming ponds, waterfalls, and ridge trails on the Taconic Range. Paid entry. Works from toddler age.

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Corning, NY

Corning Museum of Glass

Finger Lakes museum with live molten glassblowing shows, make-your-own-glass sessions, and 3500 years of glass artifacts.

  • Museum
  • Ages 4+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Corona, NY

New York Hall of Science

Queens hands-on science museum with a build-and-test design lab, a room-size interactive ecosystem, and a preschool zone.

  • Science
  • Ages 2+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Cranberry Lake, NY

Cranberry Lake Campground

Remote lakefront campground on one of the largest and wildest Adirondack lakes. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. Plan to stay overnight.

  • Camping
  • Ages 3+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Dansville, NY

Stony Brook State Park

Gorge swimming, three waterfalls, and rock formations in a quiet setting. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 2+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Dansville, NY

Stony Brook State Park Camping

Wooded campsites beside two stream-fed swimming pools dammed right into the creek bed, a much quieter alternative to Watkins Glen

  • Camping
  • Ages 3+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Eagle Bay, NY

Cascade Lake Trail

Easy loop trail around a scenic Adirondack lake with lean-tos and swimming spots. Free. Best from about age 4. About two hours.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 4+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Eagle Bay, NY

Moss Lake Trail

Easy loop trail around a pristine Adirondack lake perfect for young hikers. Free. Best from about age 3. About two hours.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 3+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Fineview, NY

Wellesley Island State Park

Island park in the Thousand Islands with nature center, beach, and 430-site campground. Paid entry. Works from toddler age.

  • Nature
  • Ages 2+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Fort Ann, NY

Shelving Rock Falls Trail

Short family hike to a beautiful waterfall near Lake George. Free. Best from about age 4. About two hours. Dogs welcome.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 4+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Fort Ann, NY

Sleeping Beauty Mountain

Moderate summit hike with one of the best Lake George panoramic views. Free. Better for ages 6 and up. A half-day trip. Dogs welcome.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 6+
  • ~4h
  • Free

Gansevoort, NY

Moreau Lake State Park

Sandy lake beach, campground, and ridge trails near Saratoga Springs. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 2+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Garden City, NY

Cradle of Aviation Museum

Long Island aviation and space museum with seventy-plus aircraft, a real Apollo Lunar Module, flight simulators and a dome theater.

  • Museum
  • Ages 3+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Garden City, NY

Long Island Children's Museum

Fourteen hands-on galleries in Garden City with bubbles, a climbing structure, a sound studio, and a toddler-only Tot Spot.

  • Indoor Play
  • Ages 1+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Geneva, NY

Seneca Lake State Park

Lakefront park with splash pad, playground, and marina on Seneca Lake. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 1+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Geneva, NY

Seneca Sailing Academy

A nonprofit school on Seneca Lake with Opti weeks for little kids and free public First Sail days off Geneva. Ages 7 and up.

  • Sailing
  • Ages 7+
  • ~7h
  • Paid

Gowanda, NY

Zoar Valley Multiple Use Area

Wild 600-foot gorge with old-growth forest and deep swimming holes. Free. Better for ages 8 and up. A half-day trip. Dogs welcome.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 8+
  • ~4h
  • Free

Grafton, NY

Grafton Lakes State Park

Lifeguarded sandy beach, easy nature trails, and shore fishing at Grafton Lakes State Park near Troy NY - day use $10 per vehicle in season

  • Swimming
  • Ages 2+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Hadley, NY

Hadley Mountain Fire Tower

Fire tower hike with views of Great Sacandaga Lake and the southern Adirondacks. Free. Best from about age 5. A half-day trip.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 5+
  • ~3h
  • Free

Hague, NY

Rogers Rock Campground

Wooded lakeside campground on the quiet north end of Lake George. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. Plan to stay overnight.

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Haines Falls, NY

North-South Lake Campground

Premier Catskills campground with twin lakes and a swimming beach - campsites from about $22/night via ReserveAmerica, day use $10 per vehicle

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Hector, NY

Finger Lakes National Forest

The only national forest in New York with free camping and 30+ miles of trails. Free. Best from about age 4. A half-day trip.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 4+
  • ~3h
  • Free

Howes Cave, NY

Howe Caverns

Guided cave tours 156 feet underground with an underground boat ride. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. About two hours.

  • Nature
  • Ages 3+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Indian Lake, NY

Indian Lake Islands Campground

Paddle-in island camping on scenic Indian Lake in the central Adirondacks. Paid entry. Best from about age 5. Plan to stay overnight.

  • Camping
  • Ages 5+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Indian Lake, NY

Lewey Lake Campground

Beach and boat launch between two lakes beneath Snowy Mountain, with wilderness trailheads and essentially no cell service

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Indian Lake, NY

Snowy Mountain Trail

Challenging hike to the tallest peak in the southern Adirondacks with fire tower summit. Free. Better for ages 8 and up.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 8+
  • ~6h
  • Free

Inlet, NY

Eighth Lake Campground

Lakefront campground with beach and calm water on the Fulton Chain of Lakes. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. Plan to stay overnight.

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Inlet, NY

Limekiln Lake Campground

Large pine-shaded campground on a clear lake near Inlet, with a sandy beach, boat launch and the Moose River Plains at the gate

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Ithaca, NY

Buttermilk Falls State Park

Natural swimming pool at the base of a cascading waterfall near Ithaca. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A half-day trip.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 3+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Ithaca, NY

Merrill Family Sailing Center

Cornell's public sailing center on Cayuga Lake, running youth camps, classes and family fleet access. Paid. Ages 8 to 17.

  • Sailing
  • Ages 8+
  • ~7h
  • Paid

Ithaca, NY

Museum of the Earth

Ithaca fossil museum walking kids forward through geologic time past a hanging whale skeleton and a mastodon found in the Finger Lakes.

  • Museum
  • Ages 3+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Ithaca, NY

Sciencenter

Ithaca hands-on science museum with a walk-in kaleidoscope, a two-story ball machine, live animals and a soft corner for the under-fives.

  • Science
  • Ages 1+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Jamesville, NY

Clark Reservation State Park

Glacial plunge basin with cliff-rimmed lake and unique geology near Syracuse. Paid entry. Best from about age 4. About two hours.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 4+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Keene, NY

Baxter Mountain

Moderate short hike near Keene with excellent High Peaks views. Free. Best from about age 5. About two hours. Dogs welcome.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 5+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Keene, NY

Cascade Mountain

The most popular Adirondack High Peak with stunning 360-degree summit views. Free. Better for ages 7 and up. Easily a full day.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 7+
  • ~5h
  • Free

Keene Valley, NY

Beaver Meadow Falls Trail

Scenic river trail to a beautiful 30-foot waterfall in the High Peaks. Free. Best from about age 5. About two hours. Dogs welcome.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 5+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Keene Valley, NY

Indian Head and Rainbow Falls Trail

Epic hike past a 150-foot waterfall to the iconic Ausable Lakes cliff-top view. Free. Better for ages 8 and up. Easily a full day.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 8+
  • ~7h
  • Free

Keeseville, NY

Poke-O-Moonshine Fire Tower Trail

Short steep hike to a fire tower with views of Lake Champlain and the High Peaks. Free. Better for ages 6 and up. A half-day trip.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 6+
  • ~3h
  • Free

Kerhonkson, NY

Vernooy Kill Falls Trail

Easy forest hike to a beautiful waterfall with a swimming pool at the base. Free. Best from about age 4. About two hours.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 4+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Lake George, NY

Hearthstone Point Campground

Waterfront state campground on Lake George close to the village. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. Plan to stay overnight.

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Lake George, NY

Lake George Battleground Campground

Wooded state campground within walking distance of Million Dollar Beach and Lake George village, so the car stays parked all weekend

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Lake George, NY

Lake George Islands Camping

Boat-access island camping on pristine Lake George. Paid entry. Best from about age 5. Plan to stay overnight. Dogs welcome.

  • Camping
  • Ages 5+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Lake Placid, NY

Adirondak Loj and Wilderness Campground

Bunkrooms, cabins, lean-tos and tent sites at the High Peaks trailhead on Heart Lake, run by the Adirondack Mountain Club

  • Lodging
  • Ages 3+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Lake Placid, NY

Cobble Hill Trail

Quick family hike with a big High Peaks view just outside Lake Placid village. Free. Best from about age 3. About an hour.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 3+
  • ~1h
  • Free

Lake Placid, NY

Heart Lake

Sandy mountain lake beach with High Peaks backdrop and canoe rentals. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 2+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Lake Placid, NY

Lake Placid Public Beach

Free sandy village beach on Mirror Lake in Lake Placid NY with summer lifeguards, a roped toddler-friendly swim area, and Adirondack views

  • Swimming
  • Ages 1+
  • ~3h
  • Free

Lake Placid, NY

Mirror Lake Paddle

Paddle a kayak or canoe on the calm motor-free waters of Mirror Lake. Paid entry. Best from about age 4. About two hours.

  • Kayaking
  • Ages 4+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Livingston Manor, NY

Frick Pond Loop Trail

Peaceful forest loop to a quiet Catskill pond with lean-tos. Free. Best from about age 4. A half-day trip. Dogs welcome.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 4+
  • ~3h
  • Free

Livingston Manor, NY

Mongaup Pond Campground

Sandy beach and motor-free paddling on the largest Catskill pond, with wilderness trails from camp and under three hours from NYC

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Long Lake, NY

Forked Lake Campground

Mostly paddle-in shoreline campsites on a quiet Adirondack lake, a real step up from car camping for families who can paddle gear in

  • Camping
  • Ages 6+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Long Lake, NY

Lake Eaton Campground

Sandy beach and calm shallow water on a quiet lake near Long Lake village, with Owls Head Mountain as the family summit hike

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Massena, NY

Robert Moses State Park (Massena)

River beach, nature center, and ship-watching on the St. Lawrence Seaway. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 2+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Moravia, NY

Fillmore Glen State Park

Quiet gorge with five waterfalls, a walk-behind cascade, and swimming pool. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A half-day trip.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 3+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Mount Tremper, NY

Kenneth L. Wilson Campground

Lakeside Catskills campground with sandy beach and boat rentals. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. Plan to stay overnight.

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Naples, NY

Grimes Glen Park

Wade up a fossil-filled creek to reach two hidden waterfalls in a narrow gorge. Free. Best from about age 5. About two hours.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 5+
  • ~2h
  • Free

New Paltz, NY

Mohonk Preserve

World-class rock climbing and cliff-top hiking on the Shawangunk Ridge. Paid entry. Best from about age 4. A half-day trip.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 4+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Newcomb, NY

Camp Santanoni Historic Area

Carriage road hike or bike to a historic Great Camp on pristine Newcomb Lake. Free. Best from about age 5. Easily a full day.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 5+
  • ~5h
  • Free

Newcomb, NY

Goodnow Mountain Fire Tower

Family-friendly fire tower hike with interpretive signs and High Peaks views. Free. Best from about age 5. A half-day trip.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 5+
  • ~3h
  • Free

Niagara Falls, NY

Aquarium of Niagara

Aquarium steps from Niagara Falls with penguins, daily sea lion training sessions, Great Lakes tanks and a shark and ray touch pool.

  • Aquarium
  • Ages 1+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Niagara Falls, NY

Niagara Gorge Trail

Hike the bottom of Niagara Gorge with boulder scrambles and whirlpool rapids. Free. Better for ages 8 and up. A half-day trip.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 8+
  • ~3h
  • Free

Old Forge, NY

Nicks Lake Campground

Sandy beach and a flat lakeshore loop trail on a quiet lake three minutes from Old Forge and the Fulton Chain of Lakes attractions

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Panama, NY

Panama Rocks Scenic Park

Ancient rock formations with caves, crevices, and passageways kids can explore. Paid entry. Best from about age 4. About two hours.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 4+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Pilot Knob, NY

Buck Mountain Trail

Challenging summit hike with sweeping Lake George views from 2,334 feet. Free. Better for ages 7 and up. Easily a full day.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 7+
  • ~5h
  • Free

Pottersville, NY

Natural Stone Bridge and Caves

Self-guided cave and gorge trails with the largest marble cave entrance in the East. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A half-day trip.

  • Nature
  • Ages 3+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Poughkeepsie, NY

Mid-Hudson Children's Museum

Hands-on children's museum on the Poughkeepsie waterfront with circuits, bubbles, water tables, and a climbing structure.

  • Indoor Play
  • Ages 1+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Pulaski, NY

Selkirk Shores State Park

Bluff-top campground on Lake Ontario with beach and Salmon River access. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. Plan to stay overnight.

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Raquette Lake, NY

Golden Beach Campground

Long sandy swimming beach with a gradual toddler-friendly entry on Raquette Lake, backed by pine-shaded campsites and a boat launch

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Raquette Lake, NY

Raquette Lake Beach

Quiet sandy beach on one of the prettiest lakes in the central Adirondacks. Free. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 1+
  • ~3h
  • Free

Rochester, NY

ROC City Sailing

A nonprofit on Irondequoit Bay where a whole family can go out on a Flying Scot with an instructor. Paid. Ages 8 and up.

  • Sailing
  • Ages 8+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Rochester, NY

Rochester Museum & Science Center

Rochester science museum with three hands-on floors plus the Strasenburgh Planetarium's dome star shows and full-dome films next door.

  • Science
  • Ages 2+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Rochester, NY

The Strong National Museum of Play

Enormous Rochester museum of play with a Sesame Street set, classic arcade, butterfly garden, carousel, and Toy Hall of Fame.

  • Indoor Play
  • Ages 1+
  • ~6h
  • Paid

Rome, NY

Delta Lake State Park

900-foot sandy swimming beach on Delta Lake in central New York. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip. Stroller-friendly.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 2+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Romulus, NY

Sampson State Park

Big family park on Seneca Lake with beach, campground, marina, and playground. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 1+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Romulus, NY

Sampson State Park Camping

Big Seneca Lake campground with a pool, marina and beach, and the most reliable availability when the gorge parks are full

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Salamanca, NY

Allegany State Park

Largest state park in New York with beaches, boulder fields, and 80+ miles of trails. Paid entry. Works from toddler age.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 2+
  • ~5h
  • Paid

Santa Clara, NY

Azure Mountain Fire Tower

Family-friendly fire tower hike with northern Adirondack wilderness views. Free. Best from about age 5. About two hours.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 5+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Saranac Lake, NY

Ampersand Mountain

Challenging hike to a bald summit with 360-degree Adirondack panorama. Free. Better for ages 8 and up. Easily a full day.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 8+
  • ~5h
  • Free

Saranac Lake, NY

Fish Creek Pond Campground

Massive waterfront campground with beach and access to a chain of Adirondack ponds. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. Plan to stay overnight.

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Saranac Lake, NY

Floodwood Pond

Motor-free interconnected ponds perfect for family kayaking and canoe adventures. Free. Best from about age 4. A half-day trip.

  • Kayaking
  • Ages 4+
  • ~4h
  • Free

Saranac Lake, NY

Rollins Pond Campground

Motor-free Adirondack pond camping next door to Fish Creek, with glassy water, loons at dawn and shoreline sites for paddlers

  • Camping
  • Ages 3+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Saranac Lake, NY

SAIL Adirondacks

Learn-to-sail sessions and crewed cruises on an O'Day 23 out of Saranac Lake Marina, four passengers max. Published minimum age 6.

  • Sailing
  • Ages 6+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Saratoga Springs, NY

Children's Museum at Saratoga

Small Saratoga Springs children's museum with a pretend-play diner, a fire truck and a toddler area set aside for crawlers and new walkers.

  • Indoor Play
  • Ages 1+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Saratoga Springs, NY

Saratoga Spa State Park

Natural mineral springs, historic pools, and forest trails in Saratoga Springs. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 2+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Schenectady, NY

miSci Museum of Innovation and Science

Schenectady science museum with hands-on electricity exhibits, General Electric history and a planetarium running daily star shows.

  • Science
  • Ages 3+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Schroon Lake, NY

Eagle Point Campground

Bluff-top campsites above Schroon Lake with a swimming beach below, quieter than Lake George and easy to reach off the Northway

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Schroon Lake, NY

Pharaoh Lake Wilderness

Pristine wilderness lake with backcountry camping far from the crowds. Free. Better for ages 7 and up. Easily a full day.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 7+
  • ~6h
  • Free

Shandaken, NY

Giant Ledge Trail

Popular hike to dramatic cliff-top viewpoints in the Catskill Mountains. Free. Better for ages 6 and up. A half-day trip.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 6+
  • ~3h
  • Free

Shandaken, NY

Slide Mountain Trail

Hike the highest peak in the Catskills at 4,180 feet. Free. Better for ages 8 and up. Easily a full day. Dogs welcome. Moderate effort.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 8+
  • ~5h
  • Free

Stony Point, NY

Harriman State Park

Massive park with 200+ miles of trails, swimming lakes, and mountain views. Paid entry. Best from about age 4. A half-day trip.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 4+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Syracuse, NY

Museum of Science & Technology (MOST)

Syracuse science museum with four floors of hands-on exhibits, a simulated cave crawl, a toddler area and a domed IMAX theater.

  • Science
  • Ages 2+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Syracuse, NY

WonderWorks Syracuse

Indoor science-and-illusion attraction at Destiny USA in Syracuse with a hurricane simulator, ropes course, and laser tag.

  • Indoor Play
  • Ages 4+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Verona Beach, NY

Verona Beach State Park

1,000-foot sandy beach on Oneida Lake with campground and nature trails. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 2+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Voorheesville, NY

Thacher State Park

Cliff-top escarpment park with a walk-behind waterfall and 40-mile views. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A half-day trip.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 3+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Watkins Glen, NY

Schooner True Love

Two hours under sail on Seneca Lake aboard a 1926 wooden schooner, up to four departures a day. Paid. Good from about age 5.

  • Sailing
  • Ages 5+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Watkins Glen, NY

Watkins Glen State Park Campground

Camp above the gorge and walk the Watkins Glen trail at eight in the morning, before the tour buses and day-trippers arrive

  • Camping
  • Ages 3+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Wilmington, NY

Wilmington Notch Campground

Riverside state campground in the notch between Lake Placid and Wilmington, minutes from High Falls Gorge and Whiteface Mountain

  • Camping
  • Ages 3+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Wolcott, NY

Chimney Bluffs State Park

Otherworldly clay spires sculpted by erosion on the shore of Lake Ontario. Free. Best from about age 5. About two hours.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 5+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Woodstock, NY

Overlook Mountain Trail

Fire tower hike past ruins of an old mountain hotel near Woodstock. Free. Better for ages 6 and up. A half-day trip. Dogs welcome.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 6+
  • ~3h
  • Free