5 End of Summer Family Adventures in New York State
The end of summer offers families a window of opportunity between the time when kids’ camps are over and school begins.
Choose an adventure that excites everyone and then plan a road trip around it. Grab a map (online or on paper), hit the road, and explore the surrounding area with all there is to see and do nearby.
Here are five inspirational “starters” for planning fun family getaways in New York State. Each of them couples adventure with the outdoors:
Watkins Glen International Raceway
Car and racing enthusiasts can head to Watkins Glen International (in the Finger Lakes region), a historic site of world-class racing events. In August, spectators can enjoy a special vintage racing car event.
Located 10 minutes outside of Watkins Glen, the village is home to Watkins Glen State Park, one of the most famous of the Finger Lakes State Parks with 19 waterfalls.
Learn more at Watkins Glen International
Six Flags Great Escape
Six Flags Great Escape (located only six miles from Lake George) is an amusement park with an Adirondack-themed lodge and indoor waterpark that caters to both hotel guests and day visitors.
One of the theme park’s newest thrill rides is The Bobcat, a wooden family coaster that soars 55 feet in the air at speeds approaching 40 MPH.
Learn more at Six Flags Great Escape
Adirondack Extreme Adventure Course
This seasonal aerial adventure and ropes course treetop theme park, geared to both kids and adults,has zip lines, rope swings, nets, and more. Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy the views of the Great Adirondack Forest.
The park also offers a two-hour round trip Tubby Tubes Lazy River adventure on Lake Luzerne, suitable for ages 2 and up.
Learn more at Adirondack Extreme Adventure
Saratoga Race Course
This legendary track offers 40 days of live horse racing during the summer, many of them scheduled throughout the months of August. Children under the age of 12 are admitted free with an accompanying parent or guardian.
Horse and racing lovers will enjoy visiting the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame (with more than 29,000 objects and artifacts) just across the street from the track.
The charming city with interesting shops and restaurants is also the home of Saratoga State Park. Set on 2,379 sprawling acres, the park and its mineral waters are a National Historic Landmark. The park has walking and jogging trails, pools, tennis courts, playgrounds, and picnic areas.
Learn more at Saratoga Race Track
Catamount Zip Tours
The zip line at Catamount Mountain Resort in Hillsdale, NY (close to the Massachusetts border in the Berkshires) is home to the longest zipline in the U.S. which is just over one mile long.
The two-hour thrill starts with a chairlift ride to the top of the mountain. The three dual zipline spans can go up to 55 MPH, but a unique breaking system allows zipliners to control their speed and take it slower. Participants must be at least 10 years old, 55 inches tall, and weigh at least 50 pounds.
Learn more at Catamount Zip Tour
As summer winds down, each of these adventures offer the perfect way to cap off the season and create unforgettable family memories.
For more end of summer ideas and inspiration, visit the ILOVENY website.
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