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101 Day Trips in Upstate NY - All within 3 hrs. of Schenectady!

Family Friendly Events & Activities for Kids in Schenectady County

By Gladys Dunbar June 19, 2018

We have put together 101 Day Trips for you to explore with the whole family, all summer long! From Lakes, Caves, Museums, and State Parks, this list will keep you busy before school starts. Don't miss the interactive map at the end of the article, to easily find directions. Parental discretion is advised, as some places are better suited for older children. 

Splash at the Beach/Pool
1. Local Public Pools*
2. Thompson's Lake State Park*
3. Grafton Lakes State Park* 
4. Moreau Lake State Park* 
5. Shepard's Park Beach*
6. Usher Park Beach*
7. Peerless Pool*
8. Cherry Plain State Park**
9. Mine Kill State Park Pool**

Cool down at Spray/Water Parks
10. Scotia-Glenville Lions Splash Pad*
11. Gavin Splash Park*
12. Great Escape & Splash Water Kingdom*
13. Water Slide World*
14. Zoom Flume Water Park*
15. Tubby Tubes Co. Outdoor Fun Park*
16. Enchanted Forest Water Safari**
17. Sea Breeze Amusement Park***
18. Seneca Lake State Park***
19. Great Wolf Lodge***

Day at the Museum
20. Museum of Innovation and Science*
21. New York State Museum*
22. Children's Museum of Science and Technology*
23. National Baseball Hall of Fame**
24. Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art**
25. Springfield Museums**
26. Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art**
27. Stepping Stones Museum for Children**
28. Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History***
29. The National Museum of Play***

Picnic/ Play at the Park
30. Local Parks & Playgrounds* 
31. Clifton Commons Kids Corner 
32. East Greenbush Town Park* 
33. Yaddo Garden*
34. Congress Park* 
35. Saratoga Spa State Park*

Go Hiking
36. Albany Pine Bush Preserve*
37. Hollyhock Hollow Sanctuary*
38. Wilson M. Powell Wildlife Sanctuary*
39. Indian Kill Nature Preserve*
40. Lisha Kill Preserve*
41. Papscanee Island Nature Preserve*
42. Limestone Rise Preserve*
43. Landis Arboretum*
44. Sam's Point Preserve*

Find a Waterfall
45. Christman Sanctuary*
46. Huyck Preserve & Biological Research Center*
47. Hannacroix Creek Preserve*
48. Barbersville Falls Nature Preserve*
49. Chittenango Falls State Park**

Explore Outdoors 
50. John Boyd Thatcher State Park*
51. Emma Treadwell Thacher Nature Center*
52. Five Rivers Environmental Education Center*
53. Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center*
54. Reineman Wildlife Sanctuary and Beaversprite Nature Center**
55. OMI International Arts Center**
56. The Wild Center***
57. Ausable Chasm***

Tour a Lighthouse
58. Saugerties Lighthouse*
59. Hudson-Athens Lighthouse*
60. Roundout Creek Lighthouse*
61. Jeffrey's Hook Lighthouse**

Explore Caves, Caverns & Mines
62. Herkimer Diamond Mines*
63. Howe Caverns*
64. Natural Stone Bridge & Caves Park*

Go Up, Up & Away 
65. Ramblewild*
66. Catamount Adventure Park**
67. Adirondack Balloon Flights*
68. Adirondack Extreme Adventure*
69. Zipline Adventure at Hunter Mountain**

Fun at Play Parks
70. Glenville Mini Sportsplex*
71. Huck Finn's Playland*
72. Funplex Fun Park*
73. Great Escape Six Flags*
74. Santa's Workshop**
75. Rye Playland***

Visit the Animals
76. Catskill Animal Sanctuary*
77. Adirondack Animal Land*
78. Utica Zoo*
79. Rosamond Gifford Zoo** 
80. The Maritime Aquarium**

Automobiles, Boats & Trains
81. Empire State Aerosciences Museum*
82. Saratoga Automobile Museum*
83. USS Slater*
84. Lake George Steamboat Cruise*
85. FASNY Museum of Firefighting*
86. Lake Placid Marina & Boat Tours**

Places to Explore
87. Saratoga Springs* 
88. Town of Lake George*
89. Village of Lake Placid**

Visit the Farm
90. Indian Ladder Farms*
91. Altamont Orchards*
92. Bowman's Orchards*
93. Engelke Farm*

Take a trip back in time
94. Erie Canalway*
95. Saratoga National Historical Park*
96. Bennington Battle Monument*
97. Fort William Henry*
98. Fort Ticonderoga**

Shop 'til you drop
99. The Outlets of Lake George*
100. Lee Premium Outlets**
101. Woodbury Common Premium Outlets**

Drive time from Schenectady, NY
*       0-1 hour
**     1-2 hours
***    2-3 hours




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