Midway State Park

Not many state parks have bumper cars and Ferris wheels, but Midway State Park in New York is not like the others. Situated on Chautauqua Lake, Midway State Park boasts one of the oldest continually operating amusement parks in the United States. Here, visitors can fish, hike and bird-watch, as well as munch on cotton candy and hop on a vintage carousel. 

Midway State Park started as a trolley park in 1898, and its owners added tennis courts, playing fields, bathhouses and a dance hall to encourage weekend trolley riders. In 1915, a new building brought a kitchen and large dining area, along with a space for dancing and roller skating. Today, visitors will find the original building is now used as a museum, gift shop and concession stand. 

Most visitors drive to Midway State Park, but you can boat in too. (The park offers free, day-use docks for visiting boaters.) From the sparkling lake, head up the sloping grass meadow and find nostalgic midway games and picnic areas. Lake breezes float into the game room where visitors will find Skee-Ball and Whac-a-Mole, as well as other classic arcade games. Paper tickets spew out of the machines as scores climb, and kids are quick to trade them in for small toys or candies. 

A favorite ride here is the Little Dipper kiddie coaster and a giant slide where riders glide down in old-fashioned potato sacks. Bumper cars and go-karts provide plenty of fun, and just behind the Ferris wheel, a miniature train chugs the perimeter of the park, toting both kids and adults. End the day with a game of mini golf on a Chautauqua-area-themed course with a colorful mural of hometown comedian Lucille Ball and a mini replica of the 1911 Miller Bell Tower on Chautauqua Lake. 4858 St. Rte. 430, Bemus Point, New York 14712, 716/386-3165, parks.ny.gov