Are you looking for things to do with kids in Westchester this summer? There are so many kid-friendly activities in Westchester from biking to hiking to visiting farm animals!
Enough to keep your kids active and off their screens this summer! Below you will find outdoor things to do with kids in Westchester this summer.
We’ve also included a few indoor activities as well for days when it’s too hot to be outside.
Outdoor Things to Do with Kids in Westchester
Go Biking with Kids at the Bronx River Parkway
Take your kids biking this Sunday! Bronx River Parkway is closed to vehicular traffic on Sundays from 10am-2pm.
During Bicycle Sundays, the Bronx River Parkway will be closed to automobile traffic and is open exclusively for bicyclists, in-line skaters, scooters, walkers and joggers from Exit 22 at the Westchester County Center to Exit 4 at Scarsdale Road in Yonkers.
The round-trip distance is 13 miles. Westchester County’s Bicycle Sundays will be held every Sunday from May through September. Admission is free.
Bring the Kids to a Farm in Westchester
Bring the kids to a farm and spend the afternoon visiting the pigs, chicks and sheeps at Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture.
Tickets are required for admissions to Stone Barns during visiting hours on Wednesdays to Sundays from 10am to 5pm.
Starting May 1st, $20 day passes are required for general campus access on Saturdays and Sundays and can be paid in-person at the gatehouse.
Stone Barns Center members can park one vehicle on campus for free.
You can also visit your local Westchester library to borrow a Free Stone Barns Weekend pass.
Passes are redeemable Wednesday through Sunday for complimentary parking for one vehicle and access to our campus, as well as a 10% discount on all retail purchases.
There are maps available for self-guided tours, and locate the animal groups at Stone Barns Center.
Stone Barns Center also offers several downloadable activity sheets for children that you may print prior to your visit.
Kayak with Kids in Westchester
Spend the afternoon kayaking with kids in Westchester.
Rent kayaks from Hudson River Recreation.
Kayaks are available for rent from four Westchester kayak launch locations- Croton River, Rye Beach, Croton Point Park and Tarrytown Lakes.
You can rent single kayaks, tandem kayaks, canoes and Stand Up Paddle Boards from Hudson River Recreation.
Hobie Pedal Boards are also available for rent in some Westchester locations.
It’s a great way to introduce kayaking to young children or beginner kayakers who are looking for a relaxing afternoon of paddling.
If you prefer a guide, you can book kayak tours from Hudson River Recreation.
Kayak lessons and Stand Up Paddle Board lessons are also offered.
You should book your kayak rentals or tours in advance as they do sell out.
Hudson River Recreation Westchester Locations:
- Croton River – Echo Canoe Kayak Launch: 18 Veterans Plaza, Croton-On-Hudson, NY
- Rye Town Park – 95 Dearborn Avenue, Rye, NY
- Croton Point Park– 1 Croton Point Ave, Croton-On-Hudson, NY
- Tarrytown Lakes Park– Tarrytown, New York
Bring the Kids to an Amusement Park in Westchester
For old-fashioned amusement park fun, bring the kids to Rye Playland Park!
Think bumper cars, house of mirrors, dragon coaster, log flume and go-karts.
Younger kids can enjoy Kiddyland rides like boat ride, carousel, and a kiddy coaster.
Rye Playland Park is open everyday.
You can buy your Rye Playland Park tickets online.
Westchester residents can get a discount on Rye Playland Park tickets.
Rye Playland Park at 1 Playland Parkway, Rye, New York
Spend the Day with the Kids at the Beach in Westchester
Spending the day at the beach is a fun, outdoor activity with kids in Westchester.
Take the kids to the Beach at Rye Playland Park this summer.
Beach admissions is $9.99 each.
Beach admissions for Resident with WC Park Pass is $5.99 each
You can buy your Rye Playland Park tickets online.
Rye Playland Park at 1 Playland Parkway, Rye, New York
There is also an adjacent beach that is run by Rye Town Park where non-residents can buy a beach pass for the day.
The Rye Town Park beach fee for non-residents 12 and older is $15 on weekdays, $20 on weekends and $25 on Holidays and the daily parking fee is $15/car on weekdays, $25/car on weekends and $35/car on Holidays.
Rye City, Rye Brook, Port Chester or Rye Neck residents can buy daily beach passes and season beach passes to Rye Town Park at a discounted rate.
Rye Town Park is at 95 Dearborn Avenue, Rye, NY
Visit a Nature Center in Westchester
A visit to the Greenburgh Nature Center is a fun, outdoor activity with kids in Westchester.
The Greenburgh Nature Center is at 99 Dromore Rd. Scarsdale, NY.
If you want to stick with outdoor activities with the kids, there are a lot of outdoor things to do at the Greenburgh Nature Center.
Your kids will enjoy visiting the sheep, goats and chicken in the barnyard.
Or checking out the eagles, hawks, owl and raven.
There is even a Native American Village replica complete with a life-sized wigwam!
There are trails for hiking and all the trails at the Greenburgh Nature Center are less than a mile long so it is very manageable for hiking with kids.
And of course a visit to the Greenburgh Nature Center is not complete without spending time at the Nature Discovery Playground.
The Manor House hours is from Tuesday–Sunday, 10am – 4pm.
The grounds of the Nature Center are open daily from dawn to dusk.
Manor House Admission Fees (*grounds are free), $7 for adults & children ages 2 and up; $6 for seniors and free for members and children under 2 years old.
Holders of Town of Greenburgh Unicards and Westchester County Parks Passes are entitled to half-price admission. Discount is only valid for general admission.
If you are looking for outdoor things to do with kids in Westchester, a visit to Greenburgh Nature Center should be on your list!
Go Hiking with Kids in Westchester
Take your kids hiking in Westchester.
Bring your kids to Rye Nature Center and explore the trails.
There are several trails at Rye Nature Center and all of them are less than a mile long, making it a very easy and manageable hike with your kids.
Your kids will enjoy exploring the grounds at Rye Nature Center.
Don’t forget to check out the pond at Rye Nature Center, home to turtles, frogs and dragonflies!
The grounds, trails and playgrounds at Rye Nature Center is open daily from dusk to dawn daily. Don’t forget the bug spray! Rye Nature Center at 873 Boston Post Road, Rye, NY
Take Your Kids to a Lazy River in Westchester
Want to spend your afternoon floating down a lazy river in Westchester?
Bring your kids to Tibbetts Brook Park in Yonkers, NY.
Tibbetts Brook Park has a large aquatic complex, home to a lazy river!
There is also a splash pad and pools with lap lanes!
If you are looking for an outdoor activity with kids that is perfect for hot summer days, then definitely bring the kids to Tibbetts Brook Park.
You have to be a Westchester resident to use the facilities at Tibbetts Brook Park and there are parking and swimming fees.
Tibbetts Brook Park at 355 Midland Avenue, Yonkers, NY.
Take Your Kids to a Water Park in Westchester
Spend the day with your kids at a water park in Westchester County.
Wilson’s Waves is a water park located in Wilson’s Woods which is one of the oldest parks in Westchester County.
Your kids will love sliding down the 18 foot high water slides.
What about swimming with the 3 foot waves at the wave pool at Willson’s Waves!
If you have younger kids, they will enjoy running around the water playground’s fountains and sprays!
Your kids will have a blast spending the day at this Westchester County water park!
You have to be a Westchester County resident to enter the park and there are parking and swimming fees.
Wilson’s Waves is in Wilson’s Woods Park at East Lincoln Avenue, Mount Vernon, NY
Watch an Outdoor Movie with Kids in Westchester
Bring the kids to watch an outdoor movie in Westchester County.
Every last Thursday of the month from May to September, you can catch an outdoor movie on the lawn at Ridge Hill.
The outdoor movies at Ridge Hill are free and seating is on a first come/first served basis.
Come early with your blankets and lawn chairs.
There are food trucks and games starting at 7pm and the outdoor movies start at sunset.
Your kids will enjoy watching an outdoor movie under the stars!
The Ridge Hill Outdoor movies are all kid friendly (see below for outdoor movie schedule).
Ridge Hill is located at One Ridge Hill Boulevard Yonkers, NY. Outdoor movies is at South Lawn, corner of Market Street and Lembo Street near Whole Foods Market
Ridge Hill Outdoor Movie Schedule
- July 27th: Sonic the Hedgehog 2 | Start Time – 8:30pm
- August 31st: Thor: Love and Thunder
- September 28th: Ghostbusters: Afterlife
Take the Kids to a Sculpture Garden in Westchester
Take a stroll in the beautiful grounds at PepsiCo’s Global Headquarters in Purchase, NY.
Admire the various sculptures by renowned artists like Joan Miro, Henry Moore, Max Ernst, and more.
Don’t forget to check out the koi fish in the pond.
Pack lunch, sit at a picnic table and enjoy the scenery.
The PepsiCo sculpture garden is free and open to the public from April 1 to November 19 on Saturdays and Sundays from 10am-4pm.
PepsiCo Sculpture Gardens at 700 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase, NY.
Great Hudson River Fish Count/ Blue Team Event at Center for the Urban River at Beczak.
Bring your kids to the Center for the Urban River at Beczak in Sarah Lawrence College.
Come for a full day of learning and fun activities on August 5, 2023.
There will be organized science activities throughout Harbishaw Park!
All River Explorers programs are led by educators from the Center for the Urban River at Beczak.
Registration to the Program is required.
Spend the Day at LEGOLAND New York
Spend the day with the kids at LEGOLAND New York. Located an hour away from Westchester County, it’s an easy summer day trip!
Treat the kids to LEGOLAND New York Resort. Make it a long weekend and stay overnight at the onsite Lego Themed hotel.
Kids ages 2 through 12 and their families can ride, climb, splash, and build their way through seven themed lands.
Transform into a Minifigure on the world-premiere LEGO Factory Adventure Ride, master the art of Spinjitzu on LEGO Ninjago the Ride, save the kingdom on the Dragon Coaster, and explore awesome LEGO built cities in MINILAND!
Buy your Legoland Theme Park admission tickets online- it’s cheaper online! Walk in admission ticket per person is $94 while an online admission ticket per person is $54.
Family Vacation Packages are also available for $87 per person.
LEGOLAND New York Resort is located at 1 LEGOLAND Way, Goshen, NY.
Indoor Things to Do with Kids in Westchester
Take a break from the heat and bring your kids to these fun indoor activities in Westchester County this summer.
Bring Your Kids to a Children’s Museum in Westchester
Take a break from the summer heat, and bring the kids indoors to Westchester Children’s Museum.
Younger kids will love the hands-on exhibitions.
Kids can build roller coasters, experiment with the wind tube and there is even a toddler section for the little ones.
Westchester Children’s Museum is open for play 7 days a week from 9am to 5pm.
Westchester Children’s Museum is now cashless, please buy admission tickets in advance or bring a credit card to the admission desk
Westchester Children’s Museum at 100 Playland Parkway, Rye, NY
Take Your Kids to a Planetarium in Westchester
Bring your kids to watch a planetarium show at the Hudson River Museum.
Planetarium shows are available on Saturdays and Sundays at 12:30pm, 2pm and 3:30pm.
The 12:30pm and 3:30pm planetarium shows are geared towards younger kids while the 2pm planetarium show is darker and more suitable for older kids.
In addition to their weekend screenings, planetarium shows are also offered on select holidays and during school breaks, known as School’s Out, Stars Are In (SOSI). Check their calendar for updates.
Tickets for the planetarium shows can be purchased in advance.
Hudson River Museum at 511 Warburton Avenue, Yonkers, NY.
Journey to Colonial America at Philipsburg Manor
Step into life in 1750 New York- tour the manor house, check out the working gristmill, learn about the life stories of the Philipse family and the enslaved community.
If you have kids learning about Colonial America, the Philipsburg Manor is definitely worth a visit.
Philipsburg Manor is located at 381 N Broadway, Sleepy Hollow, NY.
Discovery Centers at John Jay Homestead
Make learning history fun! At John Jay Homestead, six historic buildings house hands-on, interactive Discovery Centers, each focusing on a distinct theme.
The Discovery Centers, which are designed as interactive exhibitions and exploration places, allow families and their kids to learn about life on the Jay Farm in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries in a fun and engaging way.
May through October:
- The Carriage Barn Education & Visitor Center is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10am to 4pm.
- The Red Barn Discovery Center is open on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 10am to 4pm and Saturdays from 9am to 4pm.
- The Summer Kitchen is closed for the installation of the fire suppression system in Bedford House.
- The Potting Shed is currently closed for re-programming.
John Jay Homestead is located at 400 Jay Street (Route 22) in Katonah, NY
Go to the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk for FREE
Looking for free summer activities with kids?
Maritime Aquarium will be participating in Connecticut’s “CT Summer at the Museum” admission program again this year from July 1 to September 4.
Free admission to all Connecticut residents 18 and younger, as well as one accompanying adult in each group (proof of residency required).
To avail of Free Admission to “CT Summer at the Museum”, check out Maritime Aquarium Museum’s website for details.
Maritime Aquarium Museum is located at 10 North Water Street Norwalk, CT
Are you looking for more free things to do in Westchester County? Did you know you can borrow museum passes from your local library and go to museums for FREE? Check out our Library Museum Pass Guides
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