Family Fun

Make a getaway as a family, whether you’re looking for outdoor adventures or indoor fun. See animals at zoos and farms, learn about the world around us at nature centers, explore history at museums and on excursion railroad lines that cater to young and old alike and embrace adventure with tubing and other family-friendly adventures.

Family on Tilt-a-Whirl at Midway State Park in Bemus Point, New York (photo courtesy of Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau)

Established as a trolley park in 1898, this Bemus Point, New York, destination offers classic arcade games, family-friendly rides and a themed mini golf course.

Dad and son at John Deere Pavilion in Moline, Illinois (photo courtesy of John Deere)

Explore a collection of this iconic company’s farm equipment, from vintage tractors to electric-powered machinery, in Moline, Illinois.

Costumed educators at Genesee Country Village & Museum in Mumford, New York (photo by Joann K. Long)

Make your way to Mumford, New York, to experience this interactive village with 68 historic buildings that are populated by costumed educators offering stories and demonstrations.

Sauna pod at Nature Mystique Retreat in Creola, Ohio (photo courtesy of Nature Mystique Retreat)

Stay at this Creola, Ohio, destination that brings Moroccan- and Hobbit-inspired cabins to southeast Ohio’s Hocking Hills region. 

Bison and elk at Wildlife Prairie Park in Hanna City, Illinois (photo by Brielle Kuchinski)

Encounter over 180 animals at this Hanna City, Illinois, destination that is home to coyotes, cougars, black bears, bison and more.

Interior of Belle Isle Aquarium in Detroit, Michigan (photo by Matt Shuert)

Visit Detroit, Michigan, to see America’s oldest aquarium: a beautifully preserved building that houses a collection of 182 aquatic species.

Stalactites and stalagmites at Squire Boone Caverns in Mauckport, Indiana (photo courtesy of Squire Boone Caverns)

Head to Mauckport, Indiana, to explore this subterranean marvel, which is home to the largest publicly accessible active rimstone dam in the United States.

Carnegie Science Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (photo by Becky Thurner)

This hands-on museum in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, teaches visitors about the wonders of space, the human body and the city’s waterways. 

Niagara Parks Butterfly Conservatory in Niagara Falls, Ontario (photo by Rob Anzit)

Immerse yourself in butterflies at this Niagara Falls, Ontario, spot that allows guests to get up-close with the colorful creatures and learn about their life cycle. 

It’s A Wonderful Life Museum in Seneca Falls, New York (photo by Henry Law)

Immerse yourself in the world of this classic holiday film in Seneca Falls, New York, the community that inspired parts of the fictional town of Bedford Falls in the movie.