So, last night I visited with a bunch of moms in Saratoga, many of whom are pretty new to the area, and I put together a fall fun list for them. I was trying to focus a little more north than I usually do, and I skipped some things as too obvious (if you have little kids and live in Saratoga, I assume you’ve already made it to The Children’s Museum). I also included a couple of folks, either because they’re pretty big or pretty convenient, even though I’d normally skip them (ie., Saratoga Apple, which makes you pay per person to pick, & Liberty Ridge, whom I still shun for being unwelcoming to gay folks), just because grown-ups can make up their own minds about where to go.
Anyway, I spent way more time than I meant to do gathering the information, so much so that I looked up and realized that I had to run and meet a friend for lunch, un-showered and with breakfast dishes still scattered all over my kitchen. I’d also put together my outline with links even though I was handing out pieces of paper. Pure force of habit. So I figured I’d put the list here to share it with the rest of you and to save the ladies I met last night some Googling. Keep in mind that I also have my fall page, which you can find again under the More Fun link at the top, labeled Seasonal. And because it’s September 11th, here’s an old post on September 11th.
Apple Picking
Saratoga Apple: Apples and gifts, cider donuts, must pay to pick. Apple cider donuts are made daily all year round. 15 minutes east in Schuylerville.
Bowman Orchards: Pick your own apples, berry picking in the summer, pumpkins, a petting zoo, a playground, hay rides, pony rides. Gets really busy. 25 or 30 minutes south in Rexford
Lindsey’s Idyllwood Orchard: Pick your own apples, quieter and mellow with cool ladders, small store and pumpkins. 25 minutes south in Clifton Park
Riverview Orchard: Apples picking (hayride to apple picking on weekends), bakery & store that make their donuts, bees. 30 minutes south in Rexford.
Indian Ladder Farm: Pick your own apples (berries in summer), super-fun playground, animals and a few trails, very cool shop and a cafe, definitely a huge destination, Baby Animal Days in the spring. 45 minutes south in Altamont.
Pumpkin Patch/General Fall Activities
Sunnyside Gardens: Pumpkin patch, hay ride, little train, donuts, in Saratoga Springs
Schuyler Farms: Corn maze (Alice in Wonderland), hay rides, fossil mining, petting zoo, pumpkin patch, rope maze, and scary Halloween stuff at night, Schuylerville, 15 or 20 minutes east
Double M’s Hayride & Corn Maze: Really known for their haunted night-time hay rides. In the past they’ve had mellower stuff for kids during the day. 10 or 15 minutes south in Malta.
Ellms Family Farm: Pumpkin patch, hay rides, corn maze, jumping pillow, huge slides. . . lovely, laid-back fun. 25 minutes south in Ballston Spa
Engelke Farm: Pumpkin patch, hayride, zip line, corn maze, haunted hay rides and maze at night . Half an hour away in Troy.
Liberty Ridge Farm: Corn maze, pumpkin patch, farm-themed playground, group reservations for campfires, scary Halloween stuff. Maybe half an hour southeast in Schaghticoke
More Fun Outside:
Moreau Lake State Park: beach trails, activities, camping, rent snowshoes or fishing gear. 15 minutes north
Playgrounds That Are Worth a Trip
Capital District Family-Friendly Hikes
Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail
Geocaching, Renting kayaks (state parks, nature centers), ice skating
Other Places to Go, Inside:
Wonder Room: indoor play, drop-in and school, messy cooking, toy library, 20 minutes south in Ballston Lake
World Awareness Children’s Museum: small but interesting and friendly, half an hour north in Glens Falls
New York State Museum: big, fun, free, a must-do. 40 minutes south in downtown Albany.
Super-Amazing Deals:
Museum Passes from your library. Go to your library catalog at www.sspl.org and do a keyword search for “Museum Pass” in the title.
Every Kid in a Park: If you have a child in the 4th grade, you can get a free family pass to national parks.
ISKINY: Kids in 3rd & 4th grade can ski or snowboard free with a paying adult at selected NY ski areas.
SkiVermont 5th Grade Passport: Kids in 5th grade can ski or ride for free at selected Vermont ski areas.
Museum Memberships: ASTC Passport gives you reciprocal perks for your museum membership, Empire State Reciprocal Membership Program gives you perks for other local museums.
A Few Festivals Coming Up:
9/19: Halfmoon Celebrations, LarkFEST, Adirondack Balloon
9/26: Thacher Fall Fest
10/3: Ticonderoga Harvest/Horse
10/10: Maple Ski Ridge Crafts/Cars/Tractors
10/11: Carrot Festival
Links to KidsOutAndAbout Fall Pages:
Corn Mazes in the Capital Region of New York
Fun on the Farm in the Summer and Fall – Capital Region
Apple Picking in the Capital District
To Reach Me:
Sign up for the KidsOutAndAbout newsletter
Like the KidsOutAndAbout Facebook page
Like the Capital District Fun Facebook page
Contact me at
ka***@ki*************.com
or
ca********************@gm***.com
