Bronx Zoo. Only a half-hour from our area, this world-class zoo has 265 acres of wildlife exhibits and attractions.
Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts, Katonah. Caramoor isn't just for adults...they have terrific concerts and events for families including their Dancing at Dusk series.
Croton Point Park, Croton-on-Hudson. This 508 acre park is located on the Hudson River and is a great place to go camping, hiking or swimming.
Fishkill Farms, Hopewell Junction, NY. Pick your own fruit and vegetables at this farm which is about 45 minutes from our area. As of press time, you can pick sugar snap peas, blueberries, raspberries, black currants, kale and summer squash.
Greenburgh Nature Center, Scarsdale. This 33 acre nature preserve has extensive trails, a pond and gardens. They host many special events this month including a Butterfly Exhibit and Weekend Walks for All Ages.
Hike the Hudson Valley. There are many great hikes in our area including Anthony's Nose (Bear Mountain) and Poet's Walk (Rhinebeck).
Hudson River Museum, Yonkers. Participate in art and science projects on Saturdays from 1-4. There are also daily Planetarium Shows including free Star Shows Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m. Museum is open Wednesdays - Sundays from 12 - 5 p.m.
Hudson Valley Hot-Air Balloon Festival, Poughquag (Dutchess County). The festival will be held on July 8-10 at Barton Orchards. There will be plenty of family activities on-site such as a petting zoo, crafts, hay mazes, hayrides, food trucks, a tap room, bakery and market, fire pits, ball toss, vendors, live music from great bands, Moon Glow, tether rides, rides in the hot air balloons for sale and and fireworks on Friday night.
Hudson Valley Renegades, Wappingers Falls. Minor league affiliate (Single A) of the Tampa Bay Rays. Great family atmosphere and lots of fun promotional nights.Lake Compounce, Bristol, CT. It is the oldest, continuously-operating amusement park in North America, having its genesis more than 165 years ago in 1846! Among other famous attractions, Lake Compounce is home to Boulder Dash, which has been voted the world’s #1 wooden roller coaster.
Legoland Discovery Center, Yonkers. See New York's top landmarks made out of LEGO bricks. 15 different attractions are included in the admission price.
Long Beach, NY. Of all the Long Island beaches, my favorite is Long Beach. 3.5 miles of beautiful beach plus a great 2.2 mile boardwalk where you can jog or bike along the water. Long Beach is fairly easy to get to (approximately 1 hour/15 minute drive). Non-Resident daily passes are $15 per person and can be purchased at the beach.
Maritime Aquarium, Norwalk, CT. The Maritime Aquarium features 34 exhibits featuring more than 1,200 marine animals of 259 species. The sharks, seals, river otters, sea turtles and other animals, carefully tended in re-created natural settings, serve as ambassadors both for their species and the Sound’s natural environment. The Maritime Aquarium also boasts Connecticut's largest IMAX Theater, with a movie screen that's six stories high.
Mini Golf. There are a couple of places that you can play mini golf in Westchester including Saxon Woods (White Plains), Rye Playland and Fun Fuzion New Roc City (New Rochelle).
Muscoot Farm, Katonah. Come see cows, goats, chickens and horses on this historic farm in Katonah. Muscoot Farm has free admission and many special events including an art show and farmers market this month.
Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome, Red Hook, NY. This living museum of antique aviation is home to weekend air shows at 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday (weather permitting).
Overlook Drive-In Theatre, Poughkeepsie. Watch a current movie the old-fashioned way ... at a Drive-In Movie Theater!
Rockland Boulders, Pomona. Minor league baseball team that competes in the Can-Am league. They have many promotional nights including fireworks.
Palisades Fair, West Nyack. Fair runs July 1 - 10 right outside the Palisades Mall in Rockland County. There is plenty to see and do including a huge carnival midway, food, games, and free live entertainment and shows including The Fearless Flores Thrill Show (as seen on America's Got Talent), Lance Gifford’s Magic & Illusion Show, Las Vegas Hypnotist Show, and a Petting Zoo.
Playland Park, Rye. A Westchester landmark amusement park, Playland is home to the legendary Dragon Coaster plus many other rides and attractions. They have fireworks every Friday night and a variety of ticket specials.
Pleasantville Music Festival. The 12th annual Pleasantville Music Festival kicks off on Saturday, July 9th. Bands scheduled to perform include Guster, KT Tunstall, The Annie Minogue Band, Aztec Two-Step, The Smithereens, The Revivalists plus many more. In addition to the music, the festival will have three stages with kids activities, vendors and a beer and wine garden for the adults.
Rye Beach/Oakland Beach. Non-resident fees are $15 weekday parking fee, $20 weekends; $10 beach admission on weekdays, $15 on weekends.
Stepping Stones Museum for Children, Norwalk, CT. Hands on, kid-powered learning and fun! Open Monday - Sunday from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Stone Barns Center, Pocantico Hills. Take a family friendly tour of this farm to see the animals they are raising and vegetables they are growing. Tickets required.
Summer Concert Series, Chappaqua. Four free Wednesday evening concerts in July held at 7 p.m. at the Chappaqua Gazebo next to Town Hall. July 6 - The Mike Risko Band; July 13 - Tramps Like Us; July 20 - Don Dupont Big Band, July 27 - Chappaqua Orchestra.
Teatown Lake Reservation, Ossining. Teatown offers 15 miles of hiking trails ranging from beginner to difficult. Teatown is also host to many educational events such as Summer Saturday Adventures and a Butterfly Walk in July.
Trailside Museums & Zoo at Bear Mountain State Park. Trailside Zoo only houses animals native to New York State. All of the animals are either permanently injured or orphaned and would not be able to survive in the wild. Animals to see include black bears, foxes, beavers, porcupines plus a variety of birds, reptiles and amphibians.
Turkey Mountain Nature Preserve, Yorktown. This 125 acre preserve has a terrific 3.4 mile hike to the top where on a clear day you can see as far as NYC.
Walkway Over the Hudson, Poughkeepsie or Highland. This linear walkway spanning the Hudson River is 212 feet tall and 1.28 miles long. It is the longest, elevated pedestrian bridge in the world. Access to the walkway is free of charge but there is a $5 fee to park.
Westchester Children's Museum, Rye. Interactive exhibits and programming space features Toddler Beach, the KEVA Planks construction exhibit; the Build Your Own Roller Coaster exhibit and two Makerspaces. Open Wednesday - Sundays from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Wolf Conservation Center, South Salem. The WCC’s mission is to promote wolf conservation by teaching about wolves, their relationship to the environment, and the human role in protecting their future. WCC has children's programs including Story Time with the Wolves and Nature Play for Toddlers.
