Winners for 2013
The Capital District is rich in fun events and exciting places. It was hard for our readers to select their favorites from the hundreds of choices! The venues listed below are wildly popular with kids and families in the Capital Region But don’t miss out on ALL the other wonderful places as well! Browse through our site and discover lots more to do!
|
Unique indoor play center with a parent-friendly cafe. They offer birthday parties plus summer camps and school vacation camps. |
| |
|
Indoor play center, preschool, and birthday center, offering families the support and entertainment they need most!
|
 |
|
Located in Thompson's Lake State Park and adjacent John Boyd Thacher State Park, the Nature Center is open year-round and offers educational programs for school groups, youth organizations, clubs and the general public.
|
| |
|
An extraordinary setting including a playground, walking and biking trails, a hedge maze, and pond, and ample facilities for picnics and parties, all in the heart of Colonie.
|
| |
|
Fun in the fall and at Christmas! Corn maze, pick-your-own-pumpkins, evening Halloween hayrides (not too scary for the tiny tots!) and awesome apple cider donuts. Ride on the MooMooChooChoo, or jump on the Jumping Pillow. Cut-your-own Christmas trees available after Thanksgiving. Watch Santa and his elves parachute in on Thanksgiving weekend to entertain all kids, young and old!
|
| |
|
A place that parents remember from when they were kids because it has been around over 50 years! Features fourteen kiddie rides and five major rides. Fun, friends, and food... for all ages.
|
| |
|
Widely regarded as THE family-friendly learning center in the Capital District -- not least because entrance to its exhibit halls and most of its family programming are FREE. History and Science blend here, with many permanent and traveling exhibits.
|
| |
|
Family fun and entertainment spot, featuring age appropriate games, rides, prizes, from a play space for toddlers to laser tag for older kids.
|
| |
|
The largest zoo in upstate New York, Adirondack Animal Land has over five hundred animals, plus the only safari in the Northeast. Located just an hour to the northwest of Albany. Feed and pet a giraffe in their new Giraffe Feeding area.
|
| |
|
A pick-your-own fruit farm and market. Gift store, fresh bakery, luncheon cafe. They offer Baby Animal Days in the spring, summer day camps, and farm- and apple-themed field trips. A great place to connect with the land and simple pleasures that make memories.
|
| |
|
The Great Escape offers great fun for all ages. Thrill rides, kiddie rides, family rides, and water park, you'll find it all at The Great Escape.
|
| |
|
A living museum comprising over 450 acres of broad fields, towering forests, and tranquil wetlands.
|
| |
|
Tri-City Valleycats are our region's professional baseball team. They play at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium. Their season runs in the summer from early June through early September.
|
| |
|
Dedicated to creating an interactive community that inspires curiosity, sparks imagination and nurtures discovery. Fosters active parent involvement in children's learning and also serves as a resource for school districts in the area.
|
| |
|
Indoor play center with bounce houses galore for very young kids through older kids. Birthday party and group outing specialists.
|
| |
|
The Rudy A. Cicotti Family Recreation Center offers a fabulous Aquatic Center with a fun-filled activity area that includes water slides, splash pool, and lazy river. The Aquatic Center also features a 25-yard lap pool, leisure pool, warm water pool, and wet party room. The facility offers the perfect place for swim lessons, group exercise programs, birthday parties and more.
|
 |
|
The Capital Region's largest corn maze, Brad’s Barnyard Adventure, pumpkin picking, trolley ride, cow train and the Harvest Haunt. Summer blueberry & raspberry picking.
|
| |
|
FunPlex Fun Park has fun for adventure-seekers of all ages: Miniature golf, batting cages, go-karts, bungee trampoline, bumper boats,spider mountain, rock wall, water wars, and more!
|
| |
|
The Children's Museum of Science and Technology (CMOST) is the science center in the Tech Valley most designed for kids and parents to explore and discover science together. It includes exhibits, a planetarium, and a cafe as well as summer camps and events throughout the year.
|
| |
|
A Tech Valley science center and planetarium that offers a multi-media experience for visitors of all ages. Their goal is to be Tech Valley's best informal Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM) learning organization.
|
| |
Winners in Special Categories
In the second part of our survey, we asked readers to select their favorites in seven categories. Here were their choices.
If you are not already on our weekly mailing list for our free e-newsletter, please sign up by clicking here. You'll find out everything that is happening for kids and families at these places and a lot more -- way ahead of time!
© 2013, KidsOutAndAbout.com. This information may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, without the express written permission of KidsOutAndAbout.com.
1. 
2. 
3. 
4. 
5. 
6. 
7. The 
8. 
9. 
10. 
11. 
12. 
13. 
14. 
15. 
16. 
17. 
18. 
19. 
20. 
