Hull-O Farms:
You don’t usually go to work on a vacation day, but when your getaway is to a working farm in The Catskills, you’ll actually want to put in some overtime. At
Hull-O Farms kids love that the jobs involve getting dirty and hand-feeding baby ducks and calves. You’re invited to do as much (or as little) as you like in beautiful panoramic farm country that’s blossoming with life. (518) 239-6950
Howe Caverns:
There’s an exciting family fun destination everywhere you look in New York—even underground! Howe Caverns has been attracting visitors since the massive cave system was discovered more than 160 years ago. Brave weekend warriors can sign up for off-trail adventure tours through parts of the cave that haven’t been open to the public in 125 years. For the rest of us there are elevators, lighting, an elevated walkway over the underground river and a quarter-mile boat ride on the underground Lake of Venus. (518) 296-8900
Rochester Lilac Festival:
Every spring, visitors from all over the world follow their noses to the world’s largest display of lilacs at the Rochester
Lilac Festival. Martha Stewart is a regular and even has her own pale blue hybrid strain on display in historic Highland Park. It’s a free family day filled with marching bands, tantalizing international foods and the permeating perfume of thousands of exotic flowers. (585) 753-7289
You-Pick Farming:
June 8 is Kids Day at
Becker Farms, an idyllic agricultural utopia nestled in the patchwork of sprawling farmland and golf courses between Lake Ontario and Niagara Falls. You’d be surprised how interested the kids can be in fruits and vegetables when they pick their own strawberries and rhubarb. Plus, while they’re off feeding baby goats and eating homemade fudge on hayrides, Mom and Dad can enjoy the sweet tastes of more than 15 homemade fruit and grape wines at the Vizcarra Vineyards. (716) 772-2211
Philipsburg Manor:
Take your clan back in time to 1750 at
Philipsburg Manor, a beautiful farm and mill steeped in cross-cultural history. You’ll marvel as Scottish border collies show off their herding skills and watch as newborn lambs take their first steps. During Pinkster, an African-American spring celebration first practiced by northern slaves in the early 1700s, ancient folktales and indigenous foods mix with African drumming and dance for an unforgettable cultural experience. (914) 631-8200 (weekdays), (914) 631-3992 (weekends).