The Finger Lakes
Although best known for award-winning wineries, Finger Lakes wine country is a bastion of affordable kid-friendly attractions. And because the region is within a day’s drive from many major Northeast cities, it’s easily accessible for families in need of a respite from the hectic day-to-day routine.
Active tots and teens can kick-off their outdoor adventure at Watkins Glen State Park, hiking the winding gorge path over and under waterfalls -- there are 19 in all -- and dashing through the spray of Cavern Cascade. Then cool off with a dip in the park’s Olympic-size pool.
Cycling enthusiasts can peddle the crushed limestone path of the Catharine Valley Trail, a 12-mile trail connecting Watkins Glen State Park and Mark Twain State Park. For boat lovers, captain the helm and trim the sails on Seneca Lake aboard the vintage Malabar X schooner.
With free admission for kids under 17, the interactive Corning Museum of Glass is perhaps the only place where kids and glass go well together. Check-out a live glass-blowing demo, explore the Glass Innovation Center, and peruse the glass souvenirs.
Grab a discovery back-pack at Rockwell Museum of Western Art and follow the Western Art Trail to uncover artistic treasures of the great American West through exploration of the museum’s American Western and Native American collections. Then step back in time at the open-air Benjamin Patterson Inn Museum. This restored early settlement comes alive as guests explore historic structures, including the 1796 Patterson Inn, Wixson Road Log House of 1855 and 1878 Browntown Schoolhouse.
For youngsters and grown-ups with a fascination with flight, the Wings of Eagles Discovery Center actually lets visitors relive aviation history and climb inside an authentic old-world plane. The National Soaring Museum profiles 100 years of motorless flight and showcases the world's largest collection of sailplanes. Its computerized flight simulator and actual sailplane flight are a huge hit with teens.
NEXT: Finger Lakes Wineries
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