Top 20 Places to Take Kids in and Around Buffalo - 2021

Throughout the year, the Buffalo Zoo offers guests fascinating animal exhibits, naturalistic wildlife habitats, beautiful garden areas and several unique areas in which to enjoy an environment that is full of fun, adventure and history. The Buffalo Zoo is open daily rain or shine!

Located in the heart of Buffalo, at Canalside, Explore & More offers children & families four floors to unlock the limitless potential in all of us. PLAY in our immersive, hands-on exhibits while igniting children’s imaginations. LEARN about Western New York's history of innovation while dreaming of new discoveries. EXPLORE diverse cultures and unique experiences.

Play Into Possibilities.

Kelkenberg Farm of Clarence provides fun and memories for all ages year-round. We are a real livestock and horse farm; visit animals up close, pony rides, horse and tractor drawn hayrides, farm market and U-pick. There is fun for everyone every season of the year. Hug baby animals in spring, pick sunflowers in summer, pumpkin pickin’ in fall, sleigh rides in winter,. Come for your birthday, with your school, for pumpkins, or just for fun.

Rolly Pollies is a children’s gym with 3 locations throughout Western New York. For 15 years, Rolly Pollies has specialized in offering developmental gym classes for children ages 4 months thru 9 years old and an Open Play schedule you can count on. In addition to baby and me, toddler, preschool, and school aged gym classes, Rolly Pollies offers active and engaging themed Summer Camp programs, and WNY's best family-friendly Birthday Parties!

A summertime tradition in WNY! Located in Hamburg, NY, the Erie County Fair is produced annually by the Erie County Agricultural Society, a not-for-profit membership organization. Join us August 11-22, 2021 to celebrate the Best 12 Days of Summer. From its roots as a traditional county fair, the fair has grown to feature a half million dollars in free entertainment, rows of shopping vendors, classic to wild and crazy foods, as well as thousands of events from livestock shows to demonstrations and competitions across the grounds. Visit ECFair.org.

Canalside is a growing regional destination and entertainment district, situated on 21 historic acres along downtown Buffalo’s emerging waterfront on the Buffalo River.

Get a little wild this year in Wyoming County at Hidden Valley Animal Adventure. This unique tourist destination is located in Varysburg, NY. Drive yourself through the two-mile trail or book a tour on our Safari Bus. You will encounter majestic bison, beautiful zebra, curious camels, a herd of elk, friendly llamas, adorable donkeys, and others as you giggle and enjoy the animals up-close throughout your tour. You may even get a little tongue tickle from your feeding encounter. Hidden Valley also features a more interactive experience in the small animal adventure petting zoo. Come enjoy the babies, grab a bite to eat at the Trailside Grill and take home a memory from our Trading Post gift shop. It is an experience you won’t soon forget!

Nestled uniquely in a suburban community, Reinstein Woods is a 292-acre nature preserve and education center that offers a variety of opportunities to explore and learn about nature for families and people of all ages. Within it flourishes a complex ecosystem of woods, ponds and wetlands. Aptly named after Dr. Victor Reinstein, our founder and champion, Reinstein Woods is one of only seven nature preserves protected by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). Working together, the DEC and non-profit, Friends of Reinstein Woods, offer guided tours of the woods (available for school, youth and adult groups), special programs each month, including snowshoe and ski adventures, walks on seasonal topics, a fall nature festival and summer camps. From sunrise to sunset, you can explore our 3.5 miles of wheelchair-accessible trails. You’ll likely to cross paths with many species of wildlife native to Western New York, including white-tailed deer, beavers, waterfowl, red-tailed hawks, pileated woodpeckers and majestic great blue herons.

In the shadow of Olcott’s famous Lighthouse is a wonderful vintage amusement park. It features a 1928 style Hershell-Spillman two row carousel. Five vintage kiddie rides, and a wonderful 1931 Wurlitzer band organ. Opens for the season Memorial Day Weekend. Open weekends in June and Wednesdays - Sunday July - Labor Day.

Nestled between the Allegany foothills and the Finger Lakes of New York State is one of the jewels of the New York State Parks system, Letchworth State Park, also known as “The Grand Canyon the of East”. Today this 14,000 plus acre park offers a wide variety of family activities; you can rent one of its 82 cabins or perhaps stay at one of its 270 campsites or experience the beautiful accommodations at the historic Glen Iris Inn. 

Gorgeous and amenity laden, the park is divided into two areas - Red House and Quaker - both located in Salamanca. 

New York State's Coaster Capital, and Western New York's #1 Family Fun Destination!

The mission of the Aquarium of Niagara is to broaden the public’s awareness of aquatic ecosystems. With our community and partners, we celebrate our natural wonders and inspire people to make a difference for aquatic life.

Shea’s Performing Arts Center started out in 1926 as a movie theater built by Michael Shea. Today, we are a campus comprised of three theaters here in the Buffalo Theatre District, intent on bringing the best of live performance through touring productions and local collaborations to Western New York.

Tifft Nature Preserve is a 264-acre nonprofit nature refuge dedicated to conservation and environmental education. Tifft provides educational programming and exciting public events all year round! In addition to 264 acres of restored habitat with five miles of trails and boardwalks for visitors to enjoy, Tifft’s Herb and Jane Darling Education Center provides amenities including educational displays, restrooms and indoor programming and event space.