Top 20 Places to Take Kids in New York's Capital District - 2020
Winners for 2020
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, sign up for our fabulous weekly e-newsletter, and make sure to click on our Everything that's free page!
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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.
My Local Library
Of course, the libraries in the Capital District area 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. They're proud that locals voted them #3 in best places to take kids this year!
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 on Facebook live during the pandemic), and in normal years have two great Plant, Book, and Bake Sales (spring and fall). Landis is a great place for families, including your well-behaved, leashed dog. Masks and social distancing are the key words for safety. Visit our website for lots more information!
Billy Beez Crossgates, Albany, NY and Billy Beez Sangertown, New Hartford, NY
Billy Beez is the ultimate indoor play park for kids and kids-at-heart! Our 20,000* sq. ft. play parks offer a variety of features and activities, from slides to sports courts, tunnels to towers, ball blasters to bouncy trampolines, adventure is always right around the corner at Billy Beez. The park is ideal for all ages, including infants, toddlers, adults and every age in between.
Voted best birthday party place, choose from one of our award-winning packages which includes our Private Party Room, with anywhere from 90-120 minutes of catered or non-catered customizable add-on options. Your upcoming celebration will truly WOW all of your party guests.
Billy Beez is the park that they’ll ask for by name.
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.
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.
New York's most exciting theme park!
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.
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.
Howe Caverns & Howe High Adventure Park
Whether you are visiting for the first time or re-visiting memories, you will discover why HOWE CAVERNS is New York State's second most visited natural attraction. The centerpiece of any trip to Howe Caverns is the descent 156 ft. below the Earth's surface where you will enjoy a 90-minute guided tour of the largest show cave in the Northeast. Limestone corridors, cavernous galleries, stalactites, stalagmites, flowstone, formations, serpentine passages and an underground boat ride all await you in our underground world.
Indian Ladder Farms
We are a family owned farm committed to local agriculture and growing the best apples in the area!
Capital District YMCA
One of the area's premier nonprofit organizations dedicated to strengthening the foundations of our community.
The Wild Center
The Wild Center is located in the Adirondacks in northern New York, comprising 115 acres of indoor and outdoor experiences, a new kind of museum connecting people with nature in unique and unexpected ways. The Wild Center is science-based, and its experiences, exhibits and programs are designed to open new ways to look into the latest discoveries made by natural scientists.
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.
Five Rivers Environmental Education Center
Five Rivers Environmental Education Center is a living museum comprising over 450 acres of fields, forests, and wetlands. Five Rivers offers people of all ages a rich variety of guided and self-guided tours. The interpretive programs and guided school lessons promote awareness, knowledge and appreciation of New York State's environment year 'round. With over 10 miles of trails for exploration, Five Rivers fosters discovery, spiritual refreshment and physical fitness through wholesome outdoor recreation.
The Crossings of Colonie
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. The Crossings of Colonie is a place that must be visited and explored to truly appreciate its peacefulness, diversity and beauty.
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!
Proctors
The Capital Region’s destination for BIG Broadway, cutting-edge film, exciting special events, and everything in between.
Via Aquarium / Via Entertainment
Explore vivid underwater worlds across 37 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.
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.
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.Favorite Indoor Play Center
Billy Beez Crossgates, Albany, NY and Billy Beez Sangertown, New Hartford, NYBilly Beez is the ultimate indoor play park for kids and kids-at-heart! Our 20,000* sq. ft. play parks offer a variety of features and activities, from slides to sports courts, tunnels to towers, ball blasters to bouncy trampolines, adventure is always right around the corner at Billy Beez. The park is ideal for all ages, including infants, toddlers, adults and every age in between.
Voted best birthday party place, choose from one of our award-winning packages which includes our Private Party Room, with anywhere from 90-120 minutes of catered or non-catered customizable add-on options. Your upcoming celebration will truly WOW all of your party guests.
Billy Beez is the park that they’ll ask for by name.
Favorite Place to have Fun Outdoors
Great Escape and Splashwater KingdomNew York's most exciting theme park!
Favorite Performing Arts
ProctorsThe Capital Region’s destination for BIG Broadway, cutting-edge film, exciting special events, and everything in between.
Favorite Kid-Friendly Museum
New York State MuseumWidely 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.
Favorite Nature Center
Landis ArboretumThe Landis Arboretum is a public garden overlooking historic Schoharie Valley near Esperance, New York stretching into Schoharie and Montgomery Counties.
Favorite Farm (agri-entertainment)
Indian Ladder FarmsWe are a family owned farm committed to local agriculture and growing the best apples in the area!
Favorite Mini Golf
Pirates Hide-Out Mini GolfFamily Fun All Day - Miniature Golf, Ice Cream, Grill, Pizza, Birthday Parties and more!
Favorite Professional Sports Team
Adirondack Thunder (hockey)The ECHL affiliate of the Calgary Flames playing at the Glens Falls Civic Center.
Favorite Arts Education Center
Albany Institute of History and ArtThe Albany Institute is dedicated to collecting, preserving, interpreting and promoting interest in the history, art, and culture of Albany and the Upper Hudson.
Favorite Sports Education Center
Capital District YMCAOne of the area's premier nonprofit organizations dedicated to strengthening the foundations of our community.
