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1. Legoland New York and Legoland Discovery Center

Tap into your inner architect, run around the play space, and view the changing exhibits at Legoland Discovery Center in Yonkers, which also has an indoor playground and large Duplo area for littles. Or take a drive to Goshen's Legoland New York for the full theme park experience, including a water playground in the summer.

2. Playland Park

Experience Westchester’s Rye Playland—over 90 years standing—including Kiddyland, which features more than 20 rides for tots and preschoolers.

3. Visit a Children's Museum

Stimulate your child's curiosity and imagination at the Westchester Children’s Museum, or head north to the Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum and take advantage of FREE admission nights. Both frequently host special events, as well.

4. Hudson River Museum

Visit a planetarium that offers shows for younger gazers (including those who might be scared of the dark). The Hudson River Museum also offers family science and art workshops every weekend as well as Free First Fridays and special holiday events. 

5. Take in a Show

Take in a family-friendly live show at Emelin Theatre, which offers live productions for kids throughout the year, including an annual production of Nutcracker Dream. The Center for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck also offers a Saturday morning family series with shows for kids ranging from animal shows to live theater, magic, dance, and puppetry. 

6. Bear Mountain State Park

Savor the fall foliage, explore the zoo, go sledding, take a hike, ice skate, and ride the animal carousel at Bear Mountain.

7. Hudson Highlands Nature Center

The Hudson Highlands Center hosts tons of nature programs for kids throughout the year, including butterfly day, kids' fishing day, and more. Kids can indulge in nature play in Grasshopper Grove throughout the warmer months or visit the animals in the nature museum year-round.

8. Visit a Local Farm

Visit the farm animals and exhibits at Muscoot Farm and Stone Barns Center. Check their calendars for events throughout the week geared toward preschoolers, such as Muscoot's Little Explorers program on Tuesdays, and special events like Holiday Lights on the Farm.

9. Go Swimming

Soak up the summertime resources like splash pads, county pools with fun water attractions, and beaches. 

10. Get Muddy!

Get filthy at the Muddy Puddles Mess Fest at Kiwi Country Day Camp and support a charitable cause while hurling mud pies, spinning splatter paint, and other sloppy fun, with special guest Peppa Pig. The Hudson Highlands Nature Center also hosts an annual celebration of International Mud Day in June.

11. Go to the Fair

Visit one of the area's many annual fairs, including the Dutchess County Fair, which offers rides, farm animals, food, and quirky entertainment like racing pigs, or the Orange County Fair, which offers the same plus monster trucks and circus performers.

12. See the Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze

Visit the Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze at Van Cortland Manor and marvel at more than 7,000 incredibly detailed pumpkin sculptures, with everything from traditional grinning jack-o'-lanterns to inventive sculptures of dinosaurs.

13. Y Healthy Kids Day

Root, root, root for your favorite…rubber ducky at Y Healthy Kids Day in Sleepy Hollow, and enjoy inflatables and other family fun afterward.

14. Meet the Easter Bunny

Have breakfast (or lunch…or a train ride…) with the Easter Bunny and join a community egg hunt.

15. Barton Orchards

Spend a day at Barton Orchards and feed the animals in the petting zoo, harvest produce, navigate a corn maze, and climb aboard the wooden play structures designed in the form of vehicles. The farm also offers food and a taproom for adults.

16. Go to a Book Fair

Celebrate the creators of beloved children’s literature and enjoy a day of assorted other attractions at the Chappaqua Children's Book Festival or the Warwick Children's Book Festival.

17. Celebrate Fall 

Savor fall with pumpkin picking and apple picking. You’ll often find added attractions like pony rides, bouncy houses, hay rides, and other seasonal fun. Check out our Fall Activities Guide for the best fall festivals, hikes, and other ways to enjoy the season.

18. Frosty Day

Celebrate Frosty Day in Armonk and enjoy a parade, mini-train rides, entertainment, refreshments, and assorted offerings from the many downtown businesses that participate—all FREE.

19. Holiday Light Displays

Get in the holiday spirit with a driving tour of holiday light displays in Westchester. One house in New Rochelle is especially interactive. Also, check out our must-do holiday experiences in Westchester and the Hudson Valley.

20. Ring in the New Year!

On New Year’s Eve Day, get your festivity at a decent hour at the Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum's New Year's at Noon featuring a balloon ball drop, or at the New Year's Eve Celebration at the Westchester Children's Museum.

21. Winter Sports

Learn to ski, go snowtubing, or sled down one of the many snow-covered hills in Westchester and the Hudson Valley with a snow buddy. Winter is also the time to savor the flavor of locally made maple sugar and see how it is made at one of the many maple sugaring festivals.

22. Art Workshops

Let the creative juices flow with age-appropriate art experiences at Oodle Monkey Art,  Scribble Art Workshop, or Creative Corner, to name a few.

23. Lasdon Park & Arboretum

Check out the flower gardens, fountains, dinosaur garden, and more at Ladson Park & Arboretum, which is free to visit and which also offers kids' arts & crafts workshops and an annual indoor holiday train show. 

24. Indoor Play Centers

Explore all the nooks and crannies of our county to keep kids stimulated (and you from getting cabin fever): Bookmark our Indoor Activities Guide for the best indoor playgrounds, play cafes, and other things to do on a rainy (or snowy) day. 

And don’t forget to keep tabs on our Event Calendar, which is constantly stockpiled with fun and enriching events, many of which are FREE!

This post was originally published in 2015 and has since been updated.