Fun ideas for children in the Catskills.
With 6,000 square miles of natural wilderness and parkland, the Catskill Mountains were considered "America's First Wilderness." Just 100 miles of New York City, the Catskills are also a popular destination for families. From national parks and mountain resorts to water parks and paint ball, there are plenty of activities for children in the Catskills of New York.
Balliwick Ranch and Discovery Zoo
Located in Catskill, New York, the Balliwick Ranch and Discovery Zoo offers kids opportunities for horseback riding, animal watching and paintball. Yes, this entertainment venue also features a 5-acre forest paintball playing course complete with bunkers and a structure. If your children prefer riding adventures, the ranch offers a variety of horse trail rides, from beginner to expert. You can book a short ride, a 1-hour ride all the way to an 8-hour trip to the top of the mountain with panoramic views of the Hudson Valley as a payoff. The Discovery Zoo is a good place to explore both exotic and farm animals. There are petting and feeding areas for your children to interact with the animals as well as a playground and bouncer.
Bailiwick Ranch & Discovery Zoo
118 Castle Road
Catskill, NY 12414
518-678-5665
www.bailiwickranch.com
Windham Mountain Adventure Park
This ski and snowboarding resort offers a family-friendly atmosphere and opportunities for the whole family to experience a mountain adventure. Located in the Northern Catskills, just a two-hour drive from metro New York, Long Island and New Jersey, Windham Mountain Adventure Park offers the Catskills' highest vertical experience with enough fun to keep your children entertained too. The resort offers spacious rooms, eateries, game room for kids, an in-house movie theater and a fitness area. There are also tubing and skating opportunities as well as a children's learning center. At the center, you can drop off your children while you ski or you can have them take lessons as well for children ages 4 through 12.
Windham Mountain Adventure Park
South St.
Windham, NY 12496
518-734-4300
www.windhammountain.com
Zoom Flume Waterpark
If you are looking for a summer getaway to the Catskills, you'll want to make time to visit the Zoom Flume Waterpark, the Catskills' largest water park. Located in East Durham, NY, this water park features giant water slides, some as long as 300 feet. You can also challenge the "10,000 gallon-a-minute rapids" while rafting down a 600-foot chute. For the adventurers in your group, check out the Thrilling Black Vortex, which twists and turns in total darkness, or plunge down the Mighty Anaconda and Thrill Hill. There is also a giant lagoon activity pool, lazy river and many more attractions for the entire family to enjoy. Young visitors can have fun in the Pelican Pond with miniature versions of the water slides.
Zoom Flume Waterpark
91 Shady Glen Road
East Durham, NY 12423
518-239-4559
http://www.zoomflume.com
Tags: your children, Adventure Park, Flume Waterpark, Mountain Adventure Park, Ranch Discovery, Windham Mountain, Windham Mountain Adventure
