Top 20 Places to Take Kids in New York's Capital District - 2021
Winners for 2021
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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1. 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.
2. 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!
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Via Aquarium
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. Located in the same hallway as Via Dino Discovery at VIA|Port Mall in Schenectady.
6. Indian Ladder Farms
We are a family owned farm committed to local agriculture and growing the best apples in the area!
7. 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.
8. Six Flags Great Escape
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!
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. Bowman Orchards
At Bowman Orchards, we feature pick your own apples, berry picking, and so many more seasonal activities. Our trees are low to the ground so usually ladders aren't needed. However they are available to use if you need them. Enjoy the farm animals. We have pigs, sheep, goats, and horses waiting for your attention.
12. 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.
13. 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.
14. Howe Caverns
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.
15. 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.
16. 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.
17. Dave & Buster's
Dave & Buster's is a 56,000 square foot dining and entertainment facility featuring world-class pocket billiards, shuffleboard and the latest video games and interactive simulators.
18. 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 Dull 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!
19. Proctors
The Capital Region’s destination for BIG Broadway, cutting-edge film, exciting special events, and everything in between.
20. 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!
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
Albany Institute of History & ArtThe Albany Institute is dedicated to collecting, preserving, interpreting and promoting interest in the history, art, and culture of Albany and the Upper Hudson.
Top Sports Educator
Northeast Institute of GymnasticsNortheast Gymnastics has been changing the lives of children for over 35 years we pride ourselves in not only developing athletes but in producing exceptional human beings. Northeast offers gymnastics, ninja classes for children 5 – 18 years old, and preschool Tumblekid classes for children 2 – 5 years old as well as birthday parties and special events. Because Northeast places emphasis on helping each child succeed and grow to their full potential character development is seen as the number one thing we can do for every child.
Northeast Gymnastics’ has partnered with Child Development Expert Dr. Robyn Silverman to bring her Powerful Words Character Development program to our students. As the only school in the Capital District to participate in this program coaches at Northeast are able to prepare our students for life outside of sports by “building skills to last a lifetime” in every student.
Top STEM Educator
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.
