Awesome activities for the whole family are never more than a short drive away in this hub of activity that we live in. Sometimes you need to just think a little outside the box to get the kids out of the house and exploring.
There are a lot of exciting theme parks and event centers right in our backyard. We can pick some fresh locally grown produce, watch a concert outside or hop on the world’s fastest rollercoasters!
Here is our list of go-to destinations for ultimate family fun in Westchester, New York!
Rye Playland is a timeless adventure and has been a summertime staple of the metropolitan New York area since 1927.
Playland is a fun burst of nostalgia for a lot of us Westchester parents. This small amusement park is just enough excitement for the family looking to spend an afternoon cooling off on some rides and attractions. This Rye, New York, ‘carnival meets-themepark’ is appropriate for all ages. You can finish off the day strolling the Playland boardwalk and catch the fireworks every Friday night through out the season.
If safe and clean theme parks sound like your family’s idea of summer fun, head over to Lake Compounce in Bristol Connecticut.
This theme park has the perfect mix of rides for all age groups and a full size water park. With free soft drinks all day and water rides included in your admission, Lake Compounce is an absolute must. This theme park boasts a brand new steel roller coaster for 2016 and the number one wooden roller coaster in the world. The whole family will have an absolute blast and you’ll forget you’re only a “hop skip and a jump” over to Connecticut. Don’t forget to pick up some of their famous fudge and salt water taffy on your way out!
Grab the family season passes so you can enjoy Lake Compounce visits for the entire summer. Not to mention little ones under 3 years old are completely free.
Pack up the hats and mittens and take the kids over to the Danbury Arena for some ice skating complete with some DJ tunes.
When you think of summer fun you might not think of something indoors, keep this one in your pocket for a rainy summer day! You’ll ditch some of that stored up energy and you’ll be staying cool at the same time! You can rent skates right there at the arena and feel safe knowing the staff is safety trained on ice and always present while you are skating. This rink even features a snack area where the family can quickly fuel up after a long skate session.
Conveniently located in Danbury, this is an easy adventure on even the rainiest of summer days that the kids will absolutely love.
Although a little bit of a road trip from Westchester, the Renaissance Faire is an absolute must see.
You’ll be transported back in time when you attend this medieval themed festival complete with food and artisan vendors and live entertainment.
The kids will love to dress up as little knights, pirates and princesses while they explore the medieval themed play area for kids and carnival games. If you visit August 13 through the 14th, kids under 12 are completely free and encouraged to dress up!
The whole family can watch knights joust on real horses and cheer their favorite knight! This is a completely unique experience that everyone can enjoy and will be impossible to forget.
Pick Your Own Berries at Fishkill Farms in Fishkill or Ochs Orchard in Warwick.
If theme parks aren’t your speed, try taking the family out to a pick your own farm for baskets of fresh berries, peaches and nectarines. Your kids will love making a contest of finding the perfect strawberry and you’ll leave with arm fulls of fresh delicious fruit. When your family heads home you can create a delicious recipe with the fruit you harvested and you can feel great about knowing exactly where it came from.
Visiting farms beyond the apple and pumpkin seasons help our local farms thrive and keep fresh homegrown produce in our area.
