Top 20 Places to Take Kids in and Around Buffalo - 2023
Every May and June, thousands of local parents, grandparents, and caregivers weigh in on their favorite local places to take kids as a great way to launch into summer and put together a summer bucket list. This is our page to showcase the Top 20 winners for 2023 in the Buffalo area. (Click here for the full list of nominees.)
Of course, there are literally hundreds of wonderful places to take your kids in our area, not just this year's winners! Browse through this site, check out our lists (especially our Everything that's Free list), and sign up for our fabulous weekly e-newsletter so you get it all in your in-box every Thursday morning!
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1. Buffalo Zoo
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!
2. Whitworth Ferguson Planetarium
At the Whitworth Ferguson Planetarium at Buffalo State University guests explore the universe through immersive programs about topics in astronomy and planetary science. Whether a program for kids and families, an evening public program, a school visit, a birthday party, a laser music experience, or a program about the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse, your experience at the Whitworth Ferguson Planetarium is out of this world!
3. Explore & More Children's Museum
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.
4. Buffalo Museum of Science
The Buffalo Museum of Science is a non-profit educational institution dedicated to the study and interpretation of the natural and physical sciences and the quest to FIND WHY. In addition to its engaging hands-on science studios, the Museum offers special traveling exhibits, camps, and year-round programs and events for curious guests of all ages and interests.
5. Kelkenberg Farm of Clarence
Kelkenberg Farm of Clarence provides old-fashioned fun for all ages year-round. We are a real livestock and horse farm where you can come visit the animals up close, take a hayride around the farm, pony rides (for children), jump on our giant bounce pad, u-pick, and MORE! There is fun for everyone every season of the year; hug baby animals in spring, cut sunflowers in summer, pumpkin picking in the fall, and sleigh rides in winter! Come for your birthday, with your school, for pumpkins, or just for fun!
6. My Local Library
Of course, the libraries in the Buffalo area are not really ONE place, but 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. They're proud that locals voted them to the best places to take kids this year!
7. Erie County Fair
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 each August to celebrate the Best 12 Days of Summer! From its roots as a traditional county fair, the fair has grown to feature classic to wild and crazy foods, a mile long midway, a variety of vendors to shop for Fair Deals, over 120 free shows daily, plus livestock shows, demonstrations and competitions across the grounds. Find more information at ECFair.org.
8. Rolly Pollies
Rolly Pollies is a children's gym with 3 great locations throughout Western New York. Locally and family owned and operated for 18 years, Rolly Pollies specializes in motor skill development for children ages gym 4 months - 9 years old. Rolly Pollies offers active and engaging gym classes, Summer Camp programs, Messy Baby Sensory Classes, Music Classes, Montessori Programs, WNY's best Birthday Parties, and an Open Play schedule you can count on! Free trial classes are always available.
9. Aquarium of Niagara
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.
10. Olcott Beach Carousel Park
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.
11. Allegany State Park
Gorgeous and amenity laden, the park is divided into two areas - Red House and Quaker - both located in Salamanca.
12. Canalside
Canalside is at the heart of downtown Buffalo's waterfront revitalization. Located at the 1825 terminus of the Erie Canal, the site's storied history is just as exciting as its future! Canalside hosts hundreds of events throughout the year, many of which are free or low cost to the public. You'll find concerts and festivals, summer fitness classes, ice skating, children's programming, history tours, and outdoor winter activities.
13. The Warrior Factory
The Warrior Factory Buffalo is an indoor obstacle park that offers a new and innovative way of putting the fun back into fitness. Modeled after the hit TV show “American Ninja Warrior,” our guests can play in a safe and challenging environment with a wide range of services that cater to all ages and abilities. We live by our motto of "Building Strength Through Obstacles" by encouraging participants to test themselves physically and mentally.
Voted Best Destination for a Child’s Birthday & Best Family Fun Winter Activity by Best of WNY. Voted Best Summer Camp, Best Indoor Attraction, & Best Destination for a Child’s Birthday by Best of 716.
14. Hidden Valley Animal Adventure
Escape to the wild as you get up close and personal with over 300 animals and 40 different exotic species including zebra, bison, camel, ostrich and more!
15. Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are western New York's professional football team, playing in Orchard Park, slightly west of Buffalo. Go Bills!
16. Buffalo Bisons
The Buffalo Bisons, the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays.Come out to Coca-Cola Field for the absolute best quality sports and family entertainment experience and value in town!
17. Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum
The Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum is a premier national historic site and community resource for family recreation and learning that fosters an appreciation for the unique heritage of the carousel in the Niagara Region.
18. Reinstein Woods
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. 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.
19. Darien Lake Amusement Park
New York State's Coaster Capital, and Western New York's #1 Family Fun Destination!
20. The Great Pumpkin Farm
This Buffalo-area fall festival has zillions of pumpkins, hayrides, corn maze, mining for gems, cow train, jumping pillows, zombie paint ball train, amusement rides, great food, Halloween gift & decoration store, bakery, magic show, chicken show, face painting, crafts, contests, loads of entertainment and other children's activities.
Winners in Special Categories
In the second part of our survey, we asked readers to select their favorites in three categories. Here were their choices.Top Arts Educator: Shea's Performing Arts Center
The Shea’s Performing Arts Center Department of Arts Engagement and Education seeks to facilitate multiple opportunities for everyone in Western New York to experience arts engagement, arts integration, and arts education. This is accomplished by offering a variety of programming designed to build community through shared arts experiences, connect art forms to educational objectives in a structured learning environment, and to develop the principles of the artistic process.
Top Sports Educator: Rolly Pollies
Rolly Pollies is a children's gym with 3 great locations throughout Western New York. Locally and family owned and operated for 18 years, Rolly Pollies specializes in motor skill development for children ages gym 4 months - 9 years old. Rolly Pollies offers active and engaging gym classes, Summer Camp programs, Messy Baby Sensory Classes, Music Classes, Montessori Programs, WNY's best Birthday Parties, and an Open Play schedule you can count on! Free trial classes are always available.
Top STEM Educator: Buffalo Museum of Science
The Buffalo Museum of Science is a non-profit educational institution dedicated to the study and interpretation of the natural and physical sciences.
