Top 20 Places to Take Kids in Greater Rochester (2024)

The Seneca Park Zoo inspires our community to connect with, care for, and conserve wildlife and wild places. Wild adventure awaits 362 days a year. Explore 5 ecosystems across more than 20 acres while coming face to face with over 90 animal species. See rhinos, red pandas, lions, polar bears, elephants, take a ride on the Zoo Tram, feed a giraffe, and enjoy lunch at the all-new Trailside Café. Visit our website to learn about all the animals in our care and plan your visit.

Immerse yourself in the incredible world of science, history, culture, and nature at the RMSC (Rochester Museum & Science Center). You can follow your curiosity from the depths of the oceans to the edge of the universe when you visit the Museum & Science Center, Strasenburgh Planetarium, or Cumming Nature Center. Push the limits of your imagination to create never-before-seen inventions, explore the natural world, or discover the wonders of the universe. When you visit the RMSC, you’ll have access to more than 200 interactive exhibits at the Museum, star shows and featured films on the 65-foot Planetarium dome, and 15 miles of trails to explore at the Nature Center.

Of course, the libraries in the Rochester area are not really ONE place, but 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 celebrate education and imagination. KidsOutAndAbout.com takes this opportunity to salute the wonderful children's librarians who serve our community with such dedication. They're proud that locals voted them #3 in best places to take kids this year!

Stokoe Farms is a short hike to the southwest of Rochester, in Scottsville, and it is especially noteworthy that they made our Top 20 list when they are only open for fall family fun for seven weeks from mid-September through the end of October, plus a long weekend at the beginning of August for summer fun on the farm. Stokoe Farms sure makes an impression on families, though: Hours of farm-fresh fun in the corn maze and a wide variety of outdoor active activities. Kids can play in the straw fort and slide down a huge slide, pet a large number of animals, and chomp on delicious cider donuts. Thousands of families then return the weekend after Thanksgiving for the start of the Christmas Tree season.

History comes alive at the largest and most comprehensive living history museum in New York State. Genesee Country Village & Museum invites your whole family to step back in time with costumed interpreters to explore the 19^th-century Historic Village. Visitors can tour the working brewery, the blacksmith, potter, print shop, and tinsmith, and visit the animals on the farm. End your day by taking a piece of history home from the Flint Hill Store, featuring handcrafted fudge and village-made tin and pottery. GCV&M is also home to the John L. Wehle Gallery, a Nature Center with five miles of themed trails, and the Silver Base Ball Park. Offering special events all year long. Located in nearby Mumford. Visit gcv.orgfor schedule and information.

Located on beautiful farmland just 10 minutes east of Rochester, Wickham Farms is an incredible place to spend a day. Guests of all ages can enjoy activities, food, photo ops, and much more as they make lasting memories on the farm. The farm has signature attractions like the Giant 'Corn - A - Copia', 18 hole mini golf, corn maze, kid's train ride, and jumpingpillow, along with stunning seasonal events that spanlate June - Halloween. Summer is highlighted by Lavender Days in July and the signature Sunflower Spectacular Festival in August, while the Fall Harvest is filled with apple picking, pumpkin picking, and fresh fall foods. Guests can save by buying tickets online, and season passes are also available!"

The YMCA of Greater Rochester is a cause-driven Association whose goals are transformational work, impactful partnerships, and innovative program development. We are proud to be a place where families can come together to splash the day away, spend time exercising through fun in our indoor play spaces and making memories that will last lifetime! The Y is focused on strengthening our community, committed to being a catalyst for change and collaboration, and dedicated to ensuring our mission-critical services are equitably accessible to all.

TYKEs is honored to rank as the #1 children’s theatre and one of the top places in town to bring kids for more than a decade. Now entering its 18th season, TYKEs captivates families with beloved plays and musicals brought alive on stage by adult professional actors. TYKEs strives to inspire an appreciation of the arts, literary awareness, and social skills while teaching key life lessons. Performances, school field trips, after-school classes and special programs take place in the warm, welcoming Hart Theater at the JCC in Brighton. Plus... join us for How I Became a Pirate at TYKEs KidStage theatre camp this summer! Our exciting new 2022-23 season opens November 12th.

Lollypop Farm has been helping animals and people in the Greater Rochester area since 1873. Through programs like adoption, foster care, community outreach, humane law enforcement, and humane education Lollypop Farm works together with the community to help save thousands of pets every year. The Lollypop Farm campus rests on 134 acres outside of Fairport, New York and is a wonderful place for families to visit. Check out the story walk and see farmyard friends or enjoy a hike on the nature trails. Lollypop Farm also offers opportunities for children to learn alongside animal friends including Pet First Aid & CPR, Shelter Helpers, Scout Programs, Petacular Birthday Parties, Summer Camp, family friendly special events and more!

The JCC is a vibrant community center with state-of-the-art fitness, theatre, aquatics, and an array of programs and services for all ages. The JCC is the place for total wellness and provides sports and fitness programs, wellness services, early childhood education, before & after school care, summer camps, celebrations of Jewish holidays and traditions, and activities. The JCC is open and welcoming to all in the community.

The Rochester Red Wings are a minor league baseball team based in Rochester, New York. The team is the Triple-A Affiliate of the Washington Nationals and they play at Innovative Field, located in downtown Rochester. Whether it’s a catching a game with friends or family, Red Wings baseball is guaranteed fun! With fireworks following Friday and Saturday home games and some of the best ballpark food you can find – don’t miss any of the action this Summer!

Go-Karts! Bumper Cars! Mini Golf! Video Arcade! Birthdays! Come on down to Rochester's #1 place for affordable family fun!

Ladybugs Play isRochester's premier spot for kids six and younger to play, explore and have fun. Come climb on the loft, play in the kitchen, create on the magnetic wall, fly through Whoosh, tumble in the gymnastics area and so much more! With a designated space for 18 months and younger and a convenient café, we've got you covered - because playtime should be fun for everyone! In addition to open play, we also offer PRIVATE birthday parties, drop off programs and family friendly events.

Bristol Mountain Aerial Adventures offers 3 exciting experiences for kids (and adults!) ages 4+ to get outside, create memories, build confidence, and have an adventure! Watch your child gain confidence at the Kids Adventure Park with 2 courses specifically designed for kids aged 4-7. Conquer the Aerial Adventure Park (ages 7+), a series of 7 challenge courses interwoven within the forest canopy featuring unique elements and ziplines. Or, soar through the trees on the 3-hour guided Zipline Canopy Tour featuring over 5,000ft of ziplines. Plan your family’s next adventure today!

Altitude Trampoline Park, Rochester, New York, is the sixth indoor trampoline park in the Altitude Trampoline Park family. The largest indoor park in the United States, Altitude offers high-energy and exciting entertainment activities throughout the 50,000 sq. ft. facility which houses 24,000 sq. ft. of interconnected wall-to-wall trampoline attractions. Altitude is a fresh, new entertainment option for groups and individuals to have healthy and active fun.

Six Flags Darien Lake is about an hour west of Rochester, south of Batavia. It's New York's largest family-friendly attraction. Theme park, water park, campground, hotel. Offering thrill rides, family rides, kids' rides, water park rides, and entertainment. Rides include the Predator, the Viper, Rolling Thunder, and the Ride of Steel. The water park features the Swirl City Slide Complex, the Big Kahuna, the Brain Drain, Flotation Station, the Tornado, and Crocodile Isle, their 600,000-gallon wave pool.

Mendon Ponds Park is a county park located southeast of Rochester, New York within the suburban towns of Mendon and Pittsford. At over 2500acre, it is the largest park in Monroe County. It was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1967 in recognition of its unique glacial geology.GeographyMendon Ponds contains a number of unique glacially created land structures, including a kettle hole known as the "Devil's Bathtub", eskers, a floating sphagnum moss peat bog, and kames. At the northernwestern end of the line of other glacial ponds and lakes near the "Devil's Bathtub," there is a sphagnum moss peat bog, where the build-up of moss has created a floating island in the middle of the lake. Due to the acidity buildup and lack of decay caused by the sphagnum moss, the bog is home to a number of carnivorous plants, including sundew and pitcher plants.

Ranked by USA Today as one of the top museums for families in the country, The Strong is the only museum in the world dedicated to the study and exploration of play.The museum is home to the world’s largest collection of play-related artifacts, as well as the internationally recognized National Toy Hall of Fame and World Video Game Hall of Fame. The museum featuresmore than 100,000 square feet of exhibits—including Can You Tell Me How To Get to Sesame Street?"; Wegmans Super Kids Market; the magicalDancing Wings Butterfly Garden; andReading Adventureland. Learn more at museumofplay.org.

Mendon Ponds Park is our area's most famous park. Fabulous sledding, cross-country skiing, and snowshowing in the winter--especially along theBirdsong Trail near the nature center, and wonderful hiking, picnicing, kite flying, and other recreation in the summer, it offers plenty of opportunities for families to get out and active together at no cost. The Nature Center features Wild Wings,is a not-for-profit educational organization for permanently injured raptorsthatare unable to survive on their own in the wild. Eagles, owls, hawks, falcons, and more are displayed for viewing! Take your camera!

TYKEs is honored to rank as the #1 children’s theatre and one of the top places in town to bring kids for more than a decade. Now entering its 18th season, TYKEs captivates families with beloved plays and musicals brought alive on stage by adult professional actors. TYKEs strives to inspire an appreciation of the arts, literary awareness, and social skills while teaching key life lessons. Performances, school field trips, after-school classes and special programs take place in the warm, welcoming Hart Theater at the JCC in Brighton. Plus... join us for How I Became a Pirate at TYKEs KidStage theatre camp this summer! Our exciting new 2022-23 season opens November 12th.

The YMCA of Greater Rochester is a cause-driven Association whose goals are transformational work, impactful partnerships, and innovative program development. We are proud to be a place where families can come together to splash the day away, spend time exercising through fun in our indoor play spaces and making memories that will last lifetime! The Y is focused on strengthening our community, committed to being a catalyst for change and collaboration, and dedicated to ensuring our mission-critical services are equitably accessible to all.

Stokoe Farms is a short hike to the southwest of Rochester, in Scottsville, and it is especially noteworthy that they made our Top 20 list when they are only open for fall family fun for seven weeks from mid-September through the end of October, plus a long weekend at the beginning of August for summer fun on the farm. Stokoe Farms sure makes an impression on families, though: Hours of farm-fresh fun in the corn maze and a wide variety of outdoor active activities. Kids can play in the straw fort and slide down a huge slide, pet a large number of animals, and chomp on delicious cider donuts. Thousands of families then return the weekend after Thanksgiving for the start of the Christmas Tree season.

Seabreeze is the amusem*nt park and water park closest to home, located right on the shore Lake Ontario at the top of Route 590 to the East. Seabreeze has both thrilling adult rides such as the Jack Rabbit (the fourth oldest operating coaster in the country), classic family rides such as the Carousel and Train, and some great rides for theyoungest thrill-seekers. The waterpark section of Seabreeze has "liquid fun for everyone"--includes adult and kiddie slides, wave pool, lazy river, and more. It's not too big, and not too small, and it's a very good price (rates vary per ticket type;click herefor current rates.

The Rochester Red Wings are a Triple-A baseball team based in Rochester, New York. The team plays is the top minor league affiliate of the Washington Nationals. The Red Wings play at Frontier Field, located in downtown Rochester. Whether it’s a catching a game with friends or family, Red Wings baseball is guaranteed fun! With fireworks following Friday and Saturday home games and some of the best ballpark food you can find – don’t miss any of the action this Summer!

Open year-round for indoor fun, and seasonally for outdoor fun, Clubhouse Fun Center Henrietta is located on Jay Scutti Blvd; Clubhouse Fun Center Greece is located on Ridge Road West. Clubhouse Fun Center features arcade games, birthday parties, go karts, and a fabulous mini golf course. Bring your kids, or the whole family! You can join their e-club and get exclusive specials.Like them on Facebookfor exclusive coupons.

For the past decade, TYKEs is honored to rank as the #1 children’s theatre and one of the top places in town to bring kids.TYKEs captivates families with beloved plays and musicals brought alive on stage by adult professional actors, and alsoTYKEs strives to inspire an appreciation of the arts, literary awareness, and social skills while teaching key life lessons.Performances, school field trips, after-school classes and summer camp take place in the warm, welcoming Hart Theatre at the JCC in Brighton.

The YMCA of Greater Rochester is a cause-driven Association whose goals are transformational work, impactful partnerships, and innovative program development. We are proud to be a place where families can come together to splash the day away, spend time exercising through fun in our indoor play spaces and making memories that will last lifetime! The Y is focused on strengthening our community, committed to being a catalyst for change and collaboration, and dedicated to ensuring our mission-critical services are equitably accessible to all.

Immerse yourself in the incredible world of science, space, history, culture, at the RMSC Museum & Science Center and RMSC Strasenburgh Planetarium.You can follow your curiosity from the depths of the oceans to the edge of the universe and push the limits of your imagination to create never-before-seen inventions. When you visit Museum & Science Center, you’ll have access to more than 200 interactive exhibits and live science demonstrations. At the Strasenburgh Planetarium catch a star show,featured films, and laser shows on the 65-foot Planetarium dome.

The largest festival of its kind in North America began over 120years ago and continues to be inspired by the magnificent lilac collection at Highland Park in Rochester, NY — 500 varieties of lilacs on more than 1,200 bushes. The festival runs 10 days in mid-May.