2013 Top 20 Places to Take Kids in Greater Rochester

1. National Museum of Play at the Strong

Ranked by Child magazine as one of the top 10 children's museums in the country, the National Museum of Play certainly deserves the #1 spot in our poll. In addition to the many traveling exhibitions that make their temporary home at Strong Museum, the Museum features Can You Tell Me How To Get to Sesame Street?"; a restored carousel, a Wegmans Super Kids Market; their wonderful Dancing Wings Butterfly Garden; and Reading Adventureland.

2. Seneca Park Zoo

Seneca Park Zoo strikes the perfect balance for many of us parents: It's small enough to "do in a day" -- you can spend enough time in each area that the kids can really learn about the animals -- but it's inexpensive enough that you don't necessary feel the pressure to do "do it all" in one visit. So we can spend a couple of hours and return another day in the same season to focus on a different area. Also, the Zoo is enjoyable both in summer and in winter. The warmer seasons are more popular with zoogoers, but winter is great there, too: There are a several indoor areas that are popular with kids, especially if they love snakes.

3. Rochester Museum & Science Center / Strasenburgh Planetarium

Thanks to the efforts of RMSC Education Director Calvin Uzelmeier, Planetarium Director Steve Fentress, and many others, the Rochester Museum & Science provides unparalleled science education and opportunities to learn about the world around us. Wonderful exhibits, hands-on activities, camps, classes, shows and festivals, and traveling exhibits. Gorgeous giant-screen films about nature and space, many of them produced at the Planetarium, keep kids and adults coming back to learn more.

4. Seabreeze

Seabreeze is the amusement 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 Jackrabbit (the fourth oldest operating coaster in the country), classic family rides such as the Carousel and Train, and some great rides for the under-8 set such as the Kiddie Swings. 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 here for current rates.

5. Kango Play Center

Kango Play Center, on Jefferson Road in Henrietta, is an active indoor play focused on kids 10 and under, including climbing structures and a jungle gym, bounce houses (including one for the very youngest kids only), gentle roller skating and trike riding rink, a pizza cafe and some amusement games such as skee ball. Kango Play Center is adjacent to Kango Academy, a preschool. They have birthday parties and summer camp as well.

6. TYKEs Theatre (Theatre Young Kids Enjoy)

Inspiring families with best-loved fairy tales, favorite bedtime stories and children’s books... all seen through the magic of live theatre, TYKEs's season typically runs from November through April or May. Professional actors present great shows to families and also to schoolchildren. Performances take place in the Hart Theater at the JCC, 1200 Edgewood Avenue in Brighton.

7. Lollypop Farm

Lollypop Farm is maintained by the Humane Society of Rochester and Monroe County and located in the Hamlet of Egypt off of Route 31. It provides a free opportunity to introduce kids of all ages to all kinds of farm animals and pets. The Humane Society at Lollypop Farm is committed to building lifelong bonds between people and animals through education, community outreach programs, and the prevention of cruelty. Inside, Lollypop Farm houses dogs, cats, and other small animals that are ready for adoption, as well as a Family Learning Center where families can learn about pet care together. Outside, take a walk through the Farm's pastures of horses, llamas, goats, deer, geese, ducks, and chickens. Stroll to the nearby playround and have a picnic lunch!

8. Local Library

Of course, the Monroe County Library is not really ONE place, it is 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.

9. Genesee Country Village & Nature Center

Genesee Country Village and Nature Center is located about a half-hour to Rochester's southwest in Mumford. The Village features 59 restored houses, businesses, and places of worship from the 19th century. A stroll through the village (especially on one of their event days such as Laura Ingalls Wilder Days, War of 1812 Encampment, and Civil War Reenactment) brings parents and kids alike back to the 1800s. The GCV's Silver Base Ball Park is the only place where you're likely to hear "Fine hurl, sir!" meant as a polite compliment. The GCVM also features a nature center.

10. Bounce-It-Out

Bounce-It-Out, an indoor play center meant mostly for kids age 10 and under, is, as its name implies, filled with giant inflatable bounce structures. Features birthday parties, a cafe, and lots of relaxation for parents while kids play and play and play. Located across from Pittsford Plaza on the north side of Monroe Avenue. Go ALL the way around to the back of the "Blockbuster" building to find it.

11. Jump Club

This ndoor PLAY center in Brighton at Winton Place is located at the east end of Brighton-Henrietta Townline Road. Jump Club features extremely active, bouncing play, with large inflatable jumping and climbing structures. Fantastic exercise, guaranteed to tire kids out. Jump Club also opens up at special times for play exclusively for kids with autism and other spectrum disorders, and their families. Birthday parties are their specialty, and the facility also features a cafe and a separate enclosed area for toddlers. High-speed internet and comfy chairs for parents to use while their kids are playing.

12. Jungle Jolt

 Jungle Jolt, located in Webster, is the Rochester area's newest addition to indoor fun. In only 7 months of operation it has leaped onto the KidsOutAndAbout Top 20 list at #12!

13. Wickham Farms

 A corn maze in the fall, a jumping pillow, mini-golf, batting cages, great ice cream, and a delicious farm market make Wickham Farms a popular family fun destination for an hour or two on a spring, summer, or fall afternoon. They host birthday parties and special educational annual events like CowapaMOOza, which celebrates National Dairy Month. In 2012, they started a new CSA (Community-Supported Agriculture) from which participants receive weekly shares of produce and can even pick some of their own vegetables right at the farm. Wickham Farms is the only local venue where an employee has the title "Director of Fun." We approve!

14.Brown's Berry Patch

 Once again, Brown's Berry Patch, located 40-50 minutes the west of downtown Rochester, makes the KOAA Top 20 list. It's a bit of a trip, but apparently the "delicious fun" of the place triumphs over travel time for lots of families. Late spring, summer, and fall, it has lots to offer kids and families for several hours of low-cost fun. Pick-your-own fruit: Strawberries, raspberries, cherries, blueberries, apples, pumpkins, and more! Then for a small additional fee, play in the Barnyard Adventure. My kids' favorites? The huge slide that parents and kids go down together. And the pedal carts (grown-up and kid-sized) that you can pedal through the corn maze. And the jumping pillow. And the goats. And the bunnies. And...

15. Stokoe Farms

Stokoe Farms is a short hike to the southeast 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. 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 to watch Santa parachute for the start of the Christmas Tree season.

16. New York Museum of Transportation

 A newcomer to the Top 20 Things to Do with Kids list but in no way a newcomer to the Rochester area, the New York Museum of Transportation in Rush is open all year on Sundays only, from 11-5. Mid-May through October, trolley rides operate every half-hour from 11:30-4:30. A 1-hour excursion on a full-size rail line includes a guided tour at the neighboring Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum, featuring a restored country train depot and a wide assortment of railroad equipment on display. The museum's exhibit spaces feature a collection of antique trolley cars, a steam locomotive, fire truck, ambulance, operating model railroad, many other vehicles, and numerous exhibits of photographs and artifacts pertaining to local transportation history.

17. Darien Lake Amusement Park

 Darien Lake Amusement Park is a bit of a hike (about an hour west of Rochester, south of Batavia), a bit more expensive than closer amusement parks, and targeted to a slightly older crowd than the average KOA reader's kids. But there's no question that for a day or two (overnight accommodations are available in a hotel and campground) of excitement, stimulation, and variety, nothing beats Darien Lake. It is a theme park and water park that also brings top-notch performing artists each summer. They're also open weekends in October for a frightful good time at Halloween!

18. YMCA

Like the libraries, we did not ask folks to vote for specific Ys. But knowing that the Y is very special to many families in our area, we merged all of the Ys into one category. Lots of readers wrote in comments about their local Y, however, especially Bay View in Webster, Eastside in Penfield, and Southeast in Pittsford.

19. Rochester Red Wings baseball

 There's nothing like a baseball game for great, inexpensive, family fun. The Red Wings may be a minor league team, but Frontier Field — a deluxe and nicely contained facility—is a major league hit with parents. The Rochester Red Wings are the Triple-A team for the Minnesota Twins. A Red Wings game is not only great baseball, but it's an event that involves many different organizations in the community, as sponsors of inter-inning contests and fun.

20. Rochester Children's Theatre

Rochester Children's Theatre operates out of Nazareth College; all productions take place in the beautifully renovated Nazareth College Arts Center’s Callahan Theatre. The 2013-2014 season will be their 23rd season. RCT offers year-round (Fall, Winter & Spring Semester) Conservatory Workshops for ages 6-14 and a Summer Musical Theatre Conservatory for ages 8-12. Their Plays on Tour program brings literature and curriculum-based theatrical productions into Rochester area schools, providing access to arts education for students in grades K - 10.

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