Top 20 Places to Take Kids in New York's Capital District
Every May and June, thousands of local parents, grandparents, and caregivers weigh in on their favorite local places to take kids. 2024's winners in KidsOutAndAbout's survey of the Top 20 Places to Take Kids in New York's Capital Region. (Click here for the full list of nominees.)
Of course, there are literally hundreds of wonderful places to take your kids in our area, not just this year's winners! Browse through our site and discover lots more to do, sign up for our fabulous weekly e-newsletter, and make sure to click on our Everything that's free page! Click here for the original list of nominees.
2024's Top 20 ranking + category winners! Scroll down for more about each venue, with links!
| 1. FunPlex Fun Park 2. miSci: Museum of Innovation & Science 3. Thacher Park/Nature Center 4. New York State Museum 5. The Crossings at Colonie 6. Indian Ladder Farms 7. My Local Library 8. Grafton Lakes State Park 9. Proctors Theatre 10. Ellms Family Farm 11. Huck Finn's Playland 12. Six Flags Great Escape and Splashwater Kingdom 13. Five Rivers Environmental Education Center 14. Liberty Ridge Farm 15. Landis Arboretum 16. Adirondack Animal Land, Gloversville 17. Albany Pine Bush Preserve 18. Via Aquarium 19. Tri-City ValleyCats 20. Caffe Lena |
Arts Education: The Music Studio Sports Education: Northeast Institute of Gymnastics STEM Education: New York State Museum |
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1. FunPlex Fun Park
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!
2. miSci: Museum of Innovation & Science
The Museum of Innovation and Science is a museum and planetarium located in Schenectady, New York. miSci's exhibitions and educational programming focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics
3. Thacher Park/Nature Center
Thacher State Park is situated along the Helderberg Escarpment, and offers scenic views, over 25 miles of trails, a beautiful new Visitor Center, a campground on Thompson’s Lake, and Thacher Nature Center. Programs for the public and school groups are offered year-round. Thacher Nature Center exhibits and displays include a geologic model of the Helderberg Escarpment, a live honeybee observation hive, a bird viewing area, live turtles, fossils, furs and other hands-on collections.
4. New York State Museum
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.
5. The Crossings at Colonie
Welcome to The Crossings. Whether you are a town resident looking for an extraordinary setting in which to walk, bike, fly a kite or enjoy a relaxing picnic with friends or family, or a local company seeking a tranquil, yet convenient location to hold an important business meeting, The Crossings of Colonie has it all. Situated in the heart of Colonie just a stone’s throw from the hustle and bustle of Wolf Road, the 130 acre passive park features a pond, acres of meadows, marshy wetlands and extensive wooded and wildflower areas - all of which are connected by 6.5 miles of multiuse trails for walking, running, biking and in-line skating that wind across the natural landscape.
6. Indian Ladder Farms
We are a family owned farm committed to local agriculture and growing the best apples in the area!
7. My Local Library
Of course, the libraries in the Capital District are not really ONE place, but MANY places... but it's important to emphasize how valuable libraries are for family learning and fun. The libraries in our area are wonderful about posting their events to the KidsOutAndAbout calendar so you always can get ideas for free things to do with your kids that celebrate education and imagination. KidsOutAndAbout.com takes this opportunity to salute the wonderful children's librarians who serve our community with such dedication.
8. Grafton Lakes State Park
Grafton includes four lakes, a pond and a reservoir surrounded by forest that stretches over 2500 acres. Long Pond has a large, sandy beach, which is a popular summer attraction and the park boasts over 25 miles of hiking trails to explore.
9. Proctors Theatre
The Capital Region’s destination for BIG Broadway, cutting-edge film, exciting special events, and everything in between.
10. Ellms Family Farm
Plan a visit to Ellms Family Farm this Fall! Discover corn maze fun for young and old, pumpkin patches for pick-your-own-pumpkins, and old-fashioned activities for Fall family fun for Saratoga Springs, Albany, Clifton Park and Upstate NY! Wonderful outdoor fun that includes a unique challenge course and awesome apple cider donuts will create memories and family traditions when you visit Ellms Family Farm. Birthday parties are available on the farm in the fall: book early to ensure a very special celebration.
11. Huck Finn's Playland
The Capital District's premier authentic amusement park, located in Latham. After the Hoffmans announced their retirement in 2014, the park was saved from extinction and was purchased by Huck Finn's Warehouse, which relocated the facility to the intersection of I90 and Route 787. It re-opened in 2015.
12. Six Flags Great Escape and Splashwater Kingdom
New York's most exciting theme park! Come experience Lake George's largest, most thrilling theme park filled with over 100 exciting rides, shows, & attractions!
13. Five Rivers Environmental Education Center
With 10 miles of trails and 450 acres of forests, fields, and ponds, Five Rivers offers the perfect location to Love Our Lands as you practice sustainable recreation. The Visitor Center is open Monday through Saturday from 9 AM to 4:30 PM, except for state holidays. The grounds and trails are open daily from sunrise to sunset.
14. Liberty Ridge Farm
Upstate NY’s Original Agritourism Experience is right in the backyard of the Capital District. Liberty Ridge Farm’s 100 acres offer endless fun for everyone! The spacious facilities are available year-round and can accommodate families, friends and groups of any size for company outings, birthday parties, special events and family gatherings.
15. Landis Arboretum
Landis Arboretum is open from dawn to dusk, free to everyone, 365 days a year. You and your family can roam our hundreds of acres, hike over 14 miles of trails, watch the critters at our ponds, and observe the many birds and other creatures who make Landis home. We offer classes on nature related topics (including some on Facebook Live), welcome great bands to our Live at Landis Full Moon Music Series, and have two great Plant, Book, and Bake Sales (spring and fall). You’ll love our new Shanti Vun Meditation Garden. Landis is a great place for families, including your well-behaved, leashed dog. Visit our website for lots more information!
16. Adirondack Animal Land, Gloversville
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.
17. Albany Pine Bush Preserve
The Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center transforms this globally unique destination into an exciting adventure where learning comes naturally through hands-on activities. As the gateway to the Pine Bush, the Discovery Center introduces visitors to everything that makes the Preserve rare and adventurous. With the help of many volunteers, the Discovery Center offers monthly outings and programs about the ecology, natural and cultural history of the pine bush area.
18. Via Aquarium
Explore vivid underwater worlds across 45 exhibits. From local favorites to the deepest depths of the ocean, explore our planet’s oceans and rivers all in your own backyard on this self-guided tour. Watch our Sharks swim overhead while schools of fish surround you in our immersive tunnel tanks. Feel the soft, smooth skin of a stingray as they swim right up to your hand in Stingray Bay. Take your family on an unforgettable journey, tickets available here or at the admissions desk. Located in the same hallway as Via Dino Discovery at VIA|Port Mall in Schenectady.
19. Tri-City ValleyCats
The Tri-City ValleyCats are a professional independent baseball team based in Troy, New York. The Tri-City name refers to the three nearby cities of Albany, Schenectady, and Troy which make up New York State's Capital District.
20. Caffe Lena
A state of the art barrier free playground for children ages 5 through 12 at The Crossings, Colonie's Largest Public Park.
Winners in Special Categories
In the second part of our survey, we asked readers to select their favorites in three categories. Here were their choices.Top Arts Educator: The Music Studio
The Music Studio has provided the highest quality music instruction to Capital Region students since 1977, offering both short-term Music for the Young classes and a comprehensive school-year Foundation Program. In sunny, well-equipped classrooms, a rigorously educated faculty teaches a custom curriculum to children ages 2 and up––always meeting students where they are and giving them the instruction and encouragement to go further. The Music Studio is joyful, challenging, supportive, and life-changing.
Top Sports Educator: Northeast Institute of Gymnastics
Northeast Institute of Gymnastics is the oldest existing school in the capital district we have been giving children an unfair advantage in life for over 3 decades! Girls Gymnastics, coed ninja, School break camps, and preschool gymnastics are offered for both boys and girls. New this year play and learn for children 3 - 5 years old. We focus on your child as a whole. From toddler to high school, our goal is always to bring out the very best in your child - mentally, physically, and emotionally.
Top STEM Educator: New York State Museum
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.
WildPlay Thacher (hidden)
