Suggested Itinerary
2-Day Itinerary
Greene County is a bastion of affordable kid-friendly attractions and old-fashioned family fun. Less than a day's drive from many major Northeast cities, the area is easily accessible for families in need of a respite from their hectic day-to-day routines.
Families can get up close and personal with the exotic and farm animals at Bailiwick Ranch & Discovery Zoo in Catskill or call ahead to Armstrong's Elk Farm in Cornwallville for a rare look at Rocky Mountain elk. At the Round Top Raptor Center, falcons and hawks are the main event. Horseback riding is available at Bailiwick Ranch, K&K Equestrian Center, Lazy S Ranch, Tanglewood Ranch and Windham Equestrian Center.
Active families will love Catskills hiking trails in Greene County and discovering hidden gems like Diamond Notch Falls or Kaaterskill Falls, the highest cascading waterfall in New York State. For 360-degree views of Catskill high peaks, families can ride the Hunter Mountain Skyride during the summer and fall and hike two miles up to the fire tower at the summit. Numerous nature preserves also offer trails and self-guided tours.
When it's time to cool down, head to Zoom Flume Waterpark in East Durham, where there are body slide rides, wild and lazy rivers and water attractions ranging from "The Black Vortex" to "Water Wars." North and South Lakes in Haines Falls and Dolan's Lake in Hunter are great spots for swimming and other family-friendly activities.
For good old-fashioned fun, load the kids in the car and head out for a relaxing night at a drive-in movie at either the Greenville Drive-In or Hi-Way Drive-In in Coxsackie. During summer months, families will get a kick out of going to Purling Roller Rink, a traditional 1950s era roller rink in Cairo. During the winter, ice skating is available at Bear Creek Recreational Park in Catskill. Bowling is a year-round option at Hoe Bowl Lanes in Catskill.
Families with hard-to-please teenagers should check out Mountain Invasion Paintball in Windham or Action Mountain Paint Ball Park in Catskill to see why paintball is one of America's fastest growing sports. Both offer rental equipment and tons of fun for the whole family. Those with a "need for speed" can head to Supersonic Speedway in East Durham where there are go-karts, mini golf, batting cages, shooting gallery, a kiddie ride park and more. Bear Creek also offers mini golf, a driving range, paintball and more.
Countless Catskills family resorts in Greene County offer large pools and many kid-friendly activities right on premises. Pollace's, for example, offers mini-golf, pony rides, hayrides, train and trolley rides, craft classes and every game imaginable. Villa Vosilla. Gavin's Golden Hill Resort, Sunny Hill and Wolff's Maple Breeze Resort are just a few others that offer special children's programs and activities in the old-school tradition that allows parents to relax while their kids are kept busy.
Greene County also has more than a dozen campgrounds in the Catskills where families can do everything from pitch a tent to roll in with their RV. Many offer pools and all kinds of activities for kids, ranging from volleyball to shuffleboard.
