101 Family Day Trips and Staycation Ideas Around The Capital District
Remember, it's always best to follow each link to get details about your visit directly from your destination, since some places operate seasonally or by reservation, as well as to check each venue's COVID requirements (masks, limits, social distancing).
Looking for a new place to explore that's still close to home? Kids Out And About has tons of staycation ideas for family travel, with places to explore, learn, and have fun! We've collected the coolest stuff for a staycation in town and road trips for less than a tank of gas from Albany, Schenectady, Troy, and Saratoga.
Free activities and splurges that are worth it. The coolest stuff for a staycation in town and day trips for less than a tank of gas. KidsOutAndAbout has tons of ideas for places to explore, learn, and have fun!
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Explore Gardens & Sculpture Gardens 
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Explore Public Art Around Downtown Albany |
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Art OMI Sculpture & Architecture Park |
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Landis Arboretum |
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Opus 40 Sculpture Park & Museum |
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Berkshire Botanical Garden |
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Lavenlair Lavender Farm |
Get Wild on a Hike 
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Dyken Pond |
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Wilton Wildlife Preserve |
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Hannacroix Creek Preserve |
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Mount Greylock |
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Bartholomew’s Cobble |
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Kaaterskill Falls |
Time Travel Today 
Make Life a Beach 
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Moreau Lake State Park |
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Million Dollar Beach at Lake George |
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Grafton Lakes State Park |
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Snyder's Lake |
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Saratoga Lake |
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Cherry Plain State Park |
Splash into Some Water Fun 
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Zoom Flume |
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Six Flags Great Escape Lodge |
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Splashdown Beach |
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The Kartrite Resort & Indoor Waterpark |
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Enchanted Forest Water Safari |
Spend the Day at a Museum 
Explore These Cities and Villages 
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Boston, MA (the New England Aquarium is a reader favorite) |
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New York, NY |
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Pittsfield, MA (the Berkshire Museum is a reader favorite) |
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Saratoga Springs, NY (have you visited the National Museum of Dance?) |
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Lake Placid, NY |
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Rochester, NY |
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Manchester, VT |
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Lenox, MA |
All Aboard Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (and Boats!) 
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Lake George Steamboat Company |
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Saratoga Automobile Museum |
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Empire State Aerosciences Museum |
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USS SLATER |
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Adirondack Scenic Railroad |
Grow Some Fun at the Farm 
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Indian Ladder Farms |
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Ellms Family Farm |
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Ioka Valley Farm |
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Cooper's Ark Farm |
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Liberty Ridge Farm |
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Bowman Orchards |
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Lilymoore Alpaca and Llama Farm |
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Clover Brooke Farm |
Play Ball! 
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Amsterdam Mohawks Baseball |
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Tri-City Valleycats |
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National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum |
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Pirate's Hide-Out Mini Golf, Ice Cream, and Grill |
Connect with Nature 
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Howe Caverns |
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Huyck Preserve |
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Five Rivers |
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Thacher Nature Center |
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Albany Pine Bush Preserve and Discovery Center |
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The Wild Center |
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Max V. Shaul & Mine Kill State Park |
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Landis Arboretum |
Amuse Yourself at These Amusement Parks 
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Huck Finn's Playland |
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FunPlex Fun Park |
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Great Escape and Splashwater Kingdom |
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Santa's Workshop |
Talk to the Animals 
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Adirondack Animal Land |
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Via Aquarium |
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Dakota Ridge Farm |
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The Bronx Zoo |
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Krumkill Stables |
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Rocking Horse Ranch |
Get Active Indoors 
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Billy Beez at Crossgates Mall |
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A.I.R. Albany's Indoor Rock Gym |
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Guptill's Arena |
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Rollarama |
Challenge Yourself to Outdoor Adventure 
Limiting our list to 101 ideas meant some great destinations may have been left off the list - if there is something you’d like to see added, share it with us on Facebook!
Most of these destinations are within an hour from downtown Albany. For those that are a bit farther away:
= Less than 1 hour away
= About an hour (I'm counting, say, 55 minutes) to 2 hours away
= 2 to 3 hours away
= Just over 3 hours away