Day Trips in Upstate NY for School Age Kids: Must-Do’s

This is your essential guide to plan the best day trips in Upstate NY for school age kids (ages 5 and up)! It’s packed with local tips and must-do activities. You’ll find the best day trips for each season, links to detailed posts about family day trips, and more. Use it to plan a trip that’s great for your whole family- you’ll be crowned Hero Mom for sure!

New to Upstate New York? No worries! (There’s so much more to offer here than just New York City.) And since I’ve lived here my whole life, you’ll get exclusive tips from a local. Bonus!

Have a history buff in your family? A “foodie” in the mix? Kiddos who love thrills or outdoor adventures? – Or ones that think they do…but actually prefer a slightly slower pace. (That’s our family to a T!) You’re in the right place to plan your trip.

These day trips even make great field trip lessons too, so tag your favorite teachers and homeschool groups.

Stick with me, and let’s explore!

👉Jump to: Favorite Day Trip Posts | Summer Trips | Fall Trips | Winter Trips | Spring Trips | NY Foods to Try | NY Playlist | Travel Tips

Favorite Posts About Family Day Trips in Upstate NY for School Age Kids

This guide has all the big family attractions around New York State for school aged kids, plus it’s got a few hidden gems you might not have heard of including:

• Self-guided tours
• Natural waterfalls like Niagara Falls and those in the Finger Lakes
• Details about children’s museums with interactive exhibits (like the Rochester Strong Museum of Play)
• A beach-and-amusement park combo trip, and so much more!

This is your “best of the best” day trip list! Grab it now to start planning.

Seasonal Day Trips in Upstate NY for School Age Kids

New York experiences all 4 seasons, and there’s something to enjoy or celebrate about each one!

SUMMER DAY TRIPS

The warmer months in New York are typically sunny with temperatures between 63°F – 82°F – perfect weather to enjoy all sorts of outdoor activities!

🌞01. Waterfalls and Swimming Holes – New York State has over 7500 lakes, ponds, and reservoirs. That’s a lot of spots to swim and cool off at! Most of the local parks are by water and have public swimming options. Check out Dorchester Park in Whitney Point, NY – it’s got a lengthy paved walking trail where families can walk and ride bikes, along with a spot to swim with an on-duty lifeguard. And if you’re staying near Ithaca, NY and want to check off a bucket list item, try Buttermilk Falls – It’s got a large swimming area at the base of a waterfall! (And it’s about 4x the size of the waterfall we saw in Maui on our honeymoon.)

🌞02. Blueberry Picking – Visit family-friendly farms where you can harvest your own blueberries. The best time to go is in August. It’s easy and really fun for kids. And when they get tuckered out, there’s often shady trees and benches to hang out on. Our family’s favorite farm near Binghamton is Frosty Mountain Blueberry Patch. It’s a sweet spot that’s got a relaxed vibe and great prices if you don’t mind a bit of tall grass at times.

🌞 03. State and County Fairs – There’s always some local county fair going on this time of year, and it’s often just a short trip away. We’ve found that the NY County and State Fairs are more budget friendly than the big amusement parks – plus they have more things to see and do when the kids get tired of the rides. And if you’re not big riders, there are always tasty food trucks, craft and clothing vendors, and fun kid-friendly arcade games to hit up. We love to make annual trips to the Broome County Fair the last week in July, but also highly recommend the New York State Fair too.

🌞04. Strawberry Picking – Strawberry picking season starts in June. Stop by the well-known Kelder’s Farm in the Hudson Valley or find one of the other farms across the state for the freshest produce of the season.

FALL DAY TRIPS

New York is the perfect place to enjoy the fall season. It’ll feel like sweater weather with temperatures ranging in the 50’s and 60’s (°F), but you’ll get to enjoy crisp air and amazing colorful leaves on the trees as they change.

🍁05. Apple Picking – According to the USDA, New York is the second-largest apple producing state in the country. Farms are peppered throughout the state with short trees that make picking a breeze for families. Check out a farm to pick your own, or stop by one of the NY Apple Festivals to enjoy games, craft vendors, apple dishes, and more.

🍁06. Pumpkin Farms and Hayrides – Take the quintessential hayride at a nearby Pumpkin Farm. The Iron Kettle Farm in Central NY has fun pumpkin displays showing different nursery rhymes and kids’ shows and has a continuous hayride for families to try. 

🍁07. Corn Mazes – Put your family’s teamwork and clue-solving skills to work in a corn maze. The Stoughton Farm in Newark Valley, NY always has a great one. They change the theme each year and have both easy and difficult clues to navigate through to the end – tweens and teens will love it!

🍁08. Cider Mill and Donuts – In the fall, pumpkin spice may be all the rage, but locals know there’s nothing better than a fresh glass of sweet apple cider paired with homemade donuts. The Cider Mill in Endicott, NY is just the spot to treat your family – they blend their own apple cider and bake their own donuts in a space that curious kids can sit back and watch. It’s both educational and delicious!

WINTER DAY TRIPS

❄️09. Snow Tubing – If you’re looking for outdoor adventures during the winter, visiting a local ski resort like Greek Peak in Cortland, NY for snow tubing can be the perfect option.

❄️10. Museums – There are tons of museums to appeal to both grown-ups and kids around the Upstate NY area. A favorite is the Corning Museum of Glass – the live demos of glass blowing and forming are captivating. Your kids will be impressed at how quickly these artists form a shape out of molten glass – and they’re great story-tellers! It’s got a really neat gift shop for holiday shopping too.

❄️11. Indoor Water Parks – Kids love water, even in the winter. Greek Peek has added a water park that tweens love to visit. 

Winter Bucket List Day Trips to Try

We often stick home in the winter months for sledding and snowman building. But we’ve got a ton of items on our bucket list to still try that you might enjoy too: 

❄️12. Ice Skating on an Outside Rink – I used to go with friends to an outdoor rink in Rochester, NY when I was a teen. It’s like something straight out of a Hallmark movie.

❄️13. Holiday Railroad Rides – These winter train rides are always something people suggest. We’re going to try the one that leaves out of Cooperstown this coming year. They also have staged train robberies in the summer months that could be a fun option too.

❄️14. Cross-Country Skiing – If there’s enough snow, Greenwood Park in Binghamton, NY is supposed to be a nice and easy option for beginners.  

SPRING DAY TRIPS

In the springtime, we all start getting out to enjoy the warming weather and blooming flowers. It’s a great time to visit NY local festivals, markets, and gardens! 

🌷15. Maple Syrup Making Tour – Sweet maple trees thrive in NY, making it one of the best places in the world for making syrup. NY celebrates across the state for multiple weekends. Take a tour of a Sugar Shack then enjoy samples of rich maple syrup and delicious maple candy. Try the Marathon, NY Maple Festival and snatch up some of the best maple syrup around. 

🌷16. Lilac Festival – Lilacs are beautiful and fragrant flowers that bloom in the late spring. And what better way to celebrate the season than to host a festival? At the Lilac Festival in Rochester, there’s live music, crafts, and of course flowers. It’s a great way for kids to get outdoors and for families to enjoy an easy outing.

🌷17. Public Markets – While many folks think of NY as a destination full of cities, upstate there are so many farms and areas focused on agriculture. You can partake in the latest farm-to-table movement by visiting the Public Markets. They’ve got fresh produce, plants, baked goods, and more. Stop by the Syracuse Public Markets on a free weekend and make an event day of it.

🌷18. Botanic Gardens – The Cornell Botanic Gardens have amazing, lush gardens along a serene walking path. Maintained by the university, it’s free to enter and an ideal easy stroll for families. Don’t miss the bridge just to the side of the main entrance – it makes for great photo ops overlooking the creek.

🌷19. Waterfall Walk – Springtime is also a great time to see local state parks and waterfalls as the snow melts. Taughannock falls, located in the quaint lakeside town of Ithaca in the Finger Lakes, is a great spot to see a large rushing waterfall this time of year.

6 Must-Try Upstate NY Foods for Families

Lots of delicious foods originated in NY and can be taste-tested as you tour around Upstate.

Buffalo– Spicy chicken Wings at the Anchor Bar in Buffalo, NY are a classic option!  (Bonus points if you try a Beef on Weck Sandwich while you’re in town too! These juicy beef sandwiches come with rolls topped with a crusty salt. Yum!) 

Syracuse – Try the famous “Dinosaur Barbecue” for their signature barbecue flavors. Everything at this restaurant is good. The fried pickles side dish comes highly recommended! 

Rochester – This area is known for its Nick Tahou’s Garbage Plate – a massive plate of burgers or hotdogs, fries, and sides all together. But, what I crave most from my hometown, and I know your family is going to love, are what my dad calls the “local burger joints”. Bill Gray’s is a family favorite, just up Route 104 – it’s got mouth-watering burgers and crispy crinkle fries. And if you like spice, crunch, and a little tang, ask for your burger “with everything”.

Utica – In the little town of Utica, not far from Syracuse, NY, they have quite the list of well-known dishes. There’s tomato pie, made famous by “It’s a Utica Thing”, spicy Utica Greens, and Chicken Riggies. The Chicken Riggies, a spicy pasta and chicken dish, can be found at Hairy Tony’s in Cortland, NY too. 

Binghamton – Chicken Spedies are the specialty in this neck of the woods. Chicken is often a YES when it comes to younger kids, and this marinated, grilled chicken fits right into that category. An easy stop along your travels is the Spedie and Rib Pit just as you get into Binghamton – It’s a great place to get a fast and delicious meal, and a MILLION times better than fast food.

Hudson Valley – Apple Cider Donuts are all the rage in this region. Visit Wilklow Orchards for fresh apple cider donuts, a sweet treat your family will love. It’s a spot that can’t be missed.

Best Playlist Songs for Day Trips in Upstate NY with School Aged Kids

• Welcome to New York – Taylor Swift – A fresh, modern song about NY! It’s a great anthem to start off your trip.
• Empire State of Mind – JayZ (feat. Alicia Keys) – Get the clean version! – This hook will have you singing it for hours and so excited to come to NY!
• New York, New York – Frank Sinatra – It’s a classic for a reason, and will make you excited to try something new.
• Happy – Pharrell Williams – This song just makes everyone smile. It’s upbeat and so much fun.
• Can’t Stop the Feeling – Justin Timberlake – It’s got a jazzy smooth feel to it and is catchy for younger kids and loveable for tweens.
• On Top of the World – Night Visions – A true adventure song. It makes you feel like you can dream big!

Best Small Cities to Visit in Upstate New York for a Day Trip with Kids

• Lake Placid – Best Known for: The Winter Olympics Centers and Adirondack Mountains
• Tupper Lake – Best Known for: A Tree-top Adventure Center called The Wild Center and a Stargazing Observatory
• Ithaca – Best Known for: Waterfalls and Summer and Fall Festivals on cobblestone streets
• Cooperstown – Best Known for: National Baseball Hall of Fame
• Lake George – Best Known for: Amusement Parks and Lake Activities in a touristy downtown area
• Saratoga Springs – Best Known for: Horse Racing with a Quaint Downtown Area
• Watkins Glen – Best Known for: Nascar Racing and a Outdoor Park full of Waterfalls
• Geneva – Best Known for: Belhurst Castle

Travel Tips for Visiting Upstate New York for Day Trips or Long Weekends

• Consider an EZ Pass to go through the contact-free highway tolls.
• Weather can be tricky and sometimes unseasonably cold or warm – pack layers and if you’re going underground to a cave or up to a mountain, pack coats!
• Gas at most stations in NY is self-serve.
• Rural NY driving can be dark – time it accordingly if you’re not used to driving later at night.
• Plastic bags aren’t provided at stores, but you can use reusable bags or most stores offer paper bags.

More Resources to Plan Day Trips in Upstate NY with School Age Kids

Planning a road trip to NY soon? Plan ahead with some fun questions you can ask kids in the car. And make sure to pack plenty of snacks.

Head over to the Tiny Adventure Mom homepage for more tips and getaway ideas and to learn how Amanda reclaimed family time for day trips.