The call of the wild is heard loud and clear the minute you set foot in Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park. This incredible 36-acre zoo houses nearly 1,000 animals in some truly impressive natural habitats and attractions. Among the many exotic birds, lions, tigers and monkeys, the zoo is best known for its widely recognized Humboldt Penguin Breeding Program.
Nature and history intertwine to create something special at the Camillus Erie Canal Park. This 300-acre park is located between Albany and Buffalo, at the midpoint of the Erie Canal. The expansive area features seven miles of trails that are used for hiking, mountain biking or horseback riding in the warmer months of the year and snowmobiling and cross-country skiing in the winter. Also, don't miss the chance to stop into Sim's Store Museum which is a replica of an actual canal-side store that can be found in the center of the park.
You may have memories of your kids' first drawings or finger-paintings when you take them to the Museum of Young Art. This is a gallery that highly encourages the creative process in the children who visit. The kids get to choose the medium in which they would like to work and, along with input from their teacher or guardian, they can create their masterpiece that is either inspired by a specific lesson or whatever muse may strike them after wandering through the various exhibits and attractions. All the lessons are planned by a certified art teacher and approved by the executive director.