Top 20 Places to Take Kids in Westchester County - 2022
Westchester County's Favorite Family Fun Spots: 2022 winners!
Every May and June, thousands of local parents, grandparents, and caregivers weigh in on their favorite local places to take kids. Typically, we showcase the Top 20 winners... but this year, in honor of KidsOutAndAbout.com's 21st birthday (we originally launched in June of 2001), we bring you Westchester's
TOP 21 Places to Take Kids!
Of course, there are literally hundreds of wonderful places to take your kids in our area, not just this year's winners! After browsing through this year's Top 20 listed below, browse our packed daily calendar, sign up for our weekly e-newsletter that will tell you everything in advance, and be sure to visit our Everything Free page!
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1. Wolf Conservation Center
Come howl with wolves! Home to 40+ wolves, including critically endangered red wolves and Mexican gray wolves, the Wolf Conservation Center is one of the wildest destinations in New York. Visitors learn about the true nature and plight of wolves during guided education programs and are able to witness wolf communication and behavior firsthand by howling with the WCC’s ambassador wolves! Through wolves, the WCC teaches the broader message of conservation, ecological balance, and personal responsibility for improved human stewardship of our World. Register for a program today! https://nywolf.org/
2. The Rock Club - Pine Brook Fitness
The Rock Club is Westchester's Premiere rock climbing gym. We offer a variety of after-school programs, climbing camps, and birthday parties. Young climbers will discover adventure as they scale the walls, learn climbing techniques, and participate in fun games, and while building confidence, focus, and teamwork skills.
3. Tig & Peach
We are an award-winning indie play space and store in Pelham. We have amazing classes for your 0-5 year old and we sell beautiful toys, books, clothing, gifts, and more.
4. LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester
Ready for a BRICKTASTIC family adventure?! Jump into a world of supercharged creativity, color and playful learning at LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester, the ultimate indoor LEGO® playground located at Ridge Hill Mall!
The entire family of budding builders can create memories with a mind-bopping amount of LEGO bricks and experiences! Take a totally awesome flight on Merlin's Apprentice, blast your way on a chariot to save the princess on the Kingdom Quest interactive ride, and meet your favorite LEGO characters in-person and inside the wicked-cool 4D Theater with mind-blowing special effects.
5. Billy Beez - Bronx
Run, jump, bounce, slide and climb your way to an active lifestyle! Experience the fun, family fitness of our ultimate indoor play park, featuring interactive play zones, slides, sports courts, our signature Honey Cafe and so much more! Kids of all ages can join us for a day of play, birthday parties, group outings or community fundraisers. Come see what all the buzzzz is about...Give your kid the birthday party of their dreams… the chance to run, play, jump and explore the world of Billy Beez with their friends! Exploring our supreme up to 25,000 sq. ft. indoor play park is the perfect option for getting active and having fun with the whole family. Billy Beez provides a seamless, stress-free birthday party experience for boys, girls, teens, and even the adults can have a blast!
6. Greenburgh Nature Center
The Greenburgh Nature Center is a nonprofit nature preserve and wildlife refuge with a mission to ignite passion, curiosity and respect for our natural world. The 33-acre property includes a woodland preserve with hiking trails, a pond, organic garden, Native Plant Meadow, Native American Replica Village, and nearly 100 animals. The Nature Center impacts close to 90,000 individuals every year through visits to its nature preserve and community outreach. Visit www.greenburghnaturecenter.org for a full listing of upcoming programs and events.
7. Bear Mountain State Park
Bear Mountain State Park is situated in rugged mountains rising from the west bank of the Hudson River. The park features a large play field, shaded picnic groves, lake and river fishing access, a swimming pool, Trailside Museums and Zoo, hiking, biking and cross-country ski trails. An outdoor rink is open to ice skaters from late October through mid-March. The Perkins Memorial Tower atop Bear Mountain affords spectacular views of the park, the Hudson Highlands and Harriman State Park. Perkins Memorial Drive and Tower are open from April through late November, weather permitting.
8. YMCA of Central Northern Westchester
Welcome to the YMCA of CNW where we build strong kids, strong families and strong communities. Join the Y to get healthy and feel great with virtual fitness classes, childcare and summer camp programs. Serving 66 zip codes the Y is an essential part of our communities. The YMCA of CNW is committed to youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. It is a charitable, not-for-profit organization that welcomes all people regardless of age, race religion, or economic status and strives to enrich each and every life through a unique, dynamic combination of programs that strengthens spirit, mind, and body.
9. My Local Library
Of course, our local library system is not really ONE place, it is MANY places... but it's important to emphasize how valuable libraries are for family learning and fun. The libraries in our area are wonderful about posting their events to the KidsOutAndAbout calendar so you always can get ideas for free things to do with your kids that celebrat education and imagination. KidsOutAndAbout.com takes this opportunity to salute the wonderful children's librarians who serve our community with such dedication.
10. Muscoot Farm
Muscoot Farm was originally a "Gentleman's Farm" founded by Ferdinand T. Hopkins in 1880 and operated as a dairy farm until Westchester County acquired the property in the late 1960s. Today, Muscoot Farm is a Westchester County Park that strives to preserve and interpret its agrarian past. Visitors may stroll through the orginal barns, visit with the animals, participate in educational programs or hike the many miles of trails. There is something for everyone on Muscoot’s 777 acres!
11. Playland Amusement Park
We’ve been creating memories as metro New York’s top destination for fun family fun for 94 years. Whether you’re looking to spend the day on thrills, play games in the arcade and along our classic “Games Row”, shop merch in our Dragon Gift Shop, relax on the beach by the sparkling Long Island Sound, or enjoy picnics with loved ones, we’re your destination for creating experiences that last a lifetime. Grab a bite in the park at one of our delicious new concession stands, like Kickin’ Chikin, Smash n’ Shake, and Cocina Fresca! From the historic Dragon Coaster to the family-friendly Crazy Submarine, there are rides for all ages and thrill levels. Take a stroll on the boardwalk and surround yourself with panoramic views of Playland Park and the shores of the Long Island Sound.
12. American Kennel Club Museum of the Dog
The AKC Museum of the Dog has returned to New York City where it began over 35 years ago. The museum, with one of the finest collections of canine-related art, will occupy new purpose-built galleries in mid-town Manhattan, just steps from Grand Central Station. Combining fine arts with cutting edge technology and interpretation, the Museum of the Dog provides unique and engaging experiences for visitors of all ages. Join us at 101 Park Avenue!
13. New York Yankees
Visit Yankee Stadium, home of the 27-time World Champions. The first time you walk into Yankee Stadium you'll remember it, and the first time you see a walk off home run you'll never forget it.
Whether you are looking to learn about Yankees history on a Stadium Tour, celebrate a special occasion, or catch the baseball action on New York's biggest stage, a trip to Yankee Stadium is an experience you and your family will never forget.
14. Sky Zone New Rochelle
Sky Zone is the original and premier trampoline park. Enjoy trampoline dodgeball and dunking, foam pit, birthday parties and more. Freestyle jump, ultimate dodge ball, ninja warrior course, skyjoust, and skyladder, among other attractions.
15. Rockefeller State Park Preserve
Rockefeller State Park Preserve offers quiet countryside walks of all lengths through forested hills and valleys surrounding sunlit pastoral fields. Thirty miles north of New York City, the property is the former Pocantico Hills and Rockwood Hall country estates of John D. Rockefeller family and William Rockefeller. Since 1983, the Rockefeller Family has generously donated over 1425 acres to the State of New York to safeguard these lands for present and future generations. Managed by New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation, the Preserve is open to the public year-round, sunrise to sunset.
16. Storm King Art Center
Storm King Art Center is a 500-acre outdoor museum located in New York’s Hudson Valley, where visitors experience large-scale sculpture and site-specific commissions under open sky. Since 1960, Storm King has been dedicated to stewarding the hills, meadows, and forests of its site and surrounding landscape. Building on the visionary thinking of its founders, Storm King supports artists and some of their most ambitious works. Changing exhibitions, programming, and seasons offer discoveries with every visit.
17. Rockin' Jump
Rockin' Jump is a indoor trampoline park with a 17,500 square foot park with a full safety and party staff to make sure the kids are having fun and properly supervised. Admission to the park guests have access to the Main Jump Area, Two dodge ball courts, two trampoline basketball "Dunk Zones", a foam pit to practice new tricks while landing on a huge pill of foam and a Rock Wall, where guests can practice their climbing skills! We provide free lockers to ensure security to our guests. We also have a Rockin' Cafe Area where our guests can relax, watch TV and purchase snacks and beverages from our large selection.
18. Harvest Moon Farm and Orchards
Harvest Moon Farm & Orchard is a family owned and operated apple orchard located in North Salem, NY, in Westchester County. They also grow a variety of vegetables and stone fruits available for purchase in their Farm Store and through a robust and continually expanding CSA program.
19. Rye Nature Center
Friends of Rye Nature Center (FRNC) is an independent, not-for-profit organization which offers programs to people of all ages and abilities. We encourage conservation, provide environmental education, and support our community’s access to nature year-round. The Nature Center is closed on Saturdays during June, July, and August. Grounds are open daily dawn until dusk.
20. Teatown Lake Reservation
Teatown Lake Reservation is a nonprofit education center and membership organization located on a 1,000-acre nature preserve in the Lower Hudson Valley. Our mission is to inspire our community to lifelong environmental stewardship. We offer year-round educational programming for the whole family, wildlife exhibits, and natural science day camps in the summer and school breaks. Our preserve is home to 15 miles of dog-friendly hiking trails, open year-round from dawn to dusk.
21. BounceU - Elmsford
Kids flip for BounceU's unbelievably cool bounce stadiums (imagine the ultimate children's playground experience in a safe, indoor setting), but they also can't get enough of the games, the food, and sharing the spotlight with family and friends.
Winners in Special Categories
In the second part of our survey, we asked readers to select their favorites in several categories. Here were their choices.Top Arts Educator: Logrea Dance Academy
Top Sports Educator: The Rock Club - Pine Brook Fitness
Adventure starts here! Rock Climbing is a fun and social sport that anyone can enjoy. We believe in encouraging, supporting, and giving young climbers the best climbing experience possible; one that leaves them inspired, self-confident, and ready to succeed both on and off the wall. Stop by for a day of climbing or join us for our after school programs, our competitive climbing team, summer and vacation camps, or have your next birthday party or Bar/Bat Mitzvah at the club. Join the climbing community!
Top STEM Educator: American Museum of Natural History
The American Museum of Natural History is one of the world’s preeminent scientific and cultural institutions. Since its founding in 1869, the Museum has advanced its global mission to discover, interpret, and disseminate information about human cultures, the natural world, and the universe through a wide-ranging program of scientific research, education, and exhibition. The Museum is renowned for its exhibitions and scientific collections, which serve as a field guide to the entire planet and present a panorama of the world's cultures.