The long wall of the Catskill escarpment across the valley, seen from Olana

Family Activities

5 places 5 towns $16 one-time

The five entries here reflect what makes the Hudson Valley distinctive as a place to bring children: animal sanctuaries where rescued creatures thrive on open acres, museums housed in unexpected buildings (a 110-acre refuge for farm animals in Saugerties, an 85,000-square-foot warehouse of motorcycles in Newburgh), and outdoor theater under the Highland sky in Garrison. Bear Mountain State Park and its Trailside Museums occupy a gentle stretch of the Appalachian Trail, where injured and orphaned wildlife, including black bears and bald eagles, live within reach of a paved walking path. Poughkeepsie offers a children's museum built directly onto the waterfront. These places invite unhurried time: a picnic on sanctuary grounds, an afternoon watching Shakespeare, or the kind of wandering that makes sense when kids are learning.

What we thought of each of these 5 places is in the guide. $16 for all 460 places.

Family Activities 5 places

Saugerties

Catskill Animal Sanctuary

Catskill Animal Sanctuary in Saugerties: 110 acres where 150-plus rescued animals live freely, from slaughterhouses, hoarding situations, or failing farms.

Cost: $$ (tours, day passes; prices vary by option)
Hours: Sat–Sun 10am–3pm (Apr–Nov); weekday group tours by appointment
Season: April–November
Access: Accessible (outdoor tours)

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Free to read

Top pick Garrison

Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival

Even with a real roof now, the show plays against the same Hudson Highlands view that put this festival on the map; the new 451-seat Scripps Theater Center is built from timber and glass around that backdrop, not against it. Get there early enough to picnic on the lawn as the light drops over the water before curtain, and book ahead: King Lear and As You Like It run in rotating repertory this season and both sell out most weekends.

Cost: Tickets $40–$75 (lawn seating cheapest); $15 student matinees
Hours: June–October season (hours vary by performance)
Season: June–October
Access: Grounds accessible; theater seating includes ADA spots; contact box office for needs

Heads upSeason runs June–October only. Advance ticket purchase strongly recommended (performances sell out). Bring layers (evenings cool). Picnicking allowed; BYO or pre-order. Limited parking; arrive early or use shuttle (if available). Weather-dependent (rare cancellations).

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Newburgh

Motorcyclepedia Museum

Motorcyclepedia Museum in Newburgh holds 650 motorcycles, from Indian bikes to Easy Rider choppers. Eight galleries trace a century of riding culture.

Cost: $15 adults; $10 Thursday evenings, seniors 65+, veterans/military, and students 12-18; $5 ages 7-11; free 6 and under
Hours: Fri–Sun 10am–4pm (Fri), 10am–4pm (Sat–Sun); closed Mon–Wed; Thu 4pm–8pm
Access: Wheelchair accessible, two floors with elevator

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Bear Mountain

Bear Mountain State Park & Trailside Museums and Zoo

Bear Mountain Trailside Museums: rescued animals (bears, coyotes, eagles) along a paved Appalachian Trail stretch past four stone museums from 1927.

Cost: $
Hours: Daily 10:00 AM - 4:30 PM (April 1 - October 31); 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM (November 1 - March 31). Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas. Park parking: $10/vehicle. Trailside admission: $1 suggested donation.
Season: year-round
Access: Fully paved trail from parking (20-minute walk); accessible via wheelchair; hilly terrain within zoo

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Poughkeepsie

Mid-Hudson Children's Museum

Mid-Hudson Children's Museum in Poughkeepsie has climbing walls, hands-on exhibits, and a glass elevator that drops to the Hudson River promenade below.

Cost: $-$$
Hours: Tue-Fri 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM; Sat 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM (some Saturdays 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM for special events); Sun 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM. Closed Mondays.
Season: year-round
Access: Wheelchair accessible; accessible restrooms; elevator access

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Quartz cliffs rising from the still blue water of Lake Mohonk

In the guide

We rated all 5 of these.

The names and the practical detail above are free. The guide adds what we thought of each place, how we rated it and what to watch out for, including the ones we'd tell you not to bother with. It does the same for the other 455 places in the other categories.

You pay once. Access doesn't expire, and anything we add or correct later is included.

Towns covered

Bear MountainGarrisonNewburghPoughkeepsieSaugerties

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