Winter Staycation Ideas in Glens Falls: Fun for the Whole Family
Kid-Friendly Things to Do in the Winter: Indoors & Out
Families looking for fun things to do together when the weather is cold and the kids are at home can check out the following winter staycation ideas in the Glens Falls area!
Take a Winter Walk at Meadowbrook Preserve or Gurney Lane Recreation Area
For families who like to stay active but may have little ones who aren't ready to tackle a High Peak or nearby mountain, check out the Meadowbrook Preserve and Gurney Lane Recreation Area, both of which are in Queensbury.
The Meadowbrook Preserve is a 44-acre park with a 1.5-mile trail system that includes interpretive, informative signs about local plants and other wildlife along the way. The 150-acre Gurney Lane Recreation Area has five trails ranging from 0.3 to 1.2 miles each, and there's even a small hill for snow tubing! Speaking of which....
Fly Down a Hill Snow Tubing at West Mountain, Crandall Park, or the Lake George Rec Center
West Mountain's snow tubing park is great for all ages and ability levels. There are no height or age restrictions, however, all tubers over the age of three must be able to sit up alone and by themselves in a snow tube; those under three can ride with a parent on the shorter lanes only.
Tubing tickets at West include the tube, but if you have your own, you can can check out a small hill at Crandall Park (or Gurney Lane Recreation Area, pictured above) or a giant hill at the Lake George Rec Center.
Explore Local Trails By Snowshoeing at Cole's Woods or Up Yonda Farm
Snowshoeing is a fun and inexpensive way to enjoy the winter - you don't need to be athletic or even outdoorsy to give this one a try, and kids as young as three can snowshoe. However, you know your child, and if you think you'll be carrying them after the first five minutes, consider putting them in a kid carrier backpack or pulling them behind safely in a tube.
If you are ready to get everyone snowshoeing, there are trails at Cole's Woods and rentals are available at Inside Edge Ski & Bike across from the park. You can also check out guided and self-guided snowshoeing tours at Up Yonda Farm in Bolton Landing; they do offer rentals for tours and during business hours.
Bring the Whole Family Ice Skating at Crandall Park or on Beach Road in Lake George
When Crandall Park's pond is officially frozen over, the public is welcome to ice skate, although there are no rentals. Follow Crandall Park on Facebook to check the status of the pond.
Alternatively, you could check out the new ice skating rink on Beach Road in Lake George. Ice skating is free, and rentals are just $5. This is a synthetic ice rink, meaning that we don't need to rely on cold temperatures in order to enjoy ice skating.
Bonus suggestion: Dynamite Hill Recreation Center in Chestertown has an ice rink, but no rentals, and is about 30 minutes from Glens Falls; they also have a snow tubing hill, but they do get busy. If you have your own skates, we recommend checking out the close-by Crandall Park first.
If You Have Older Kids: Try Something New at Adirondack Axe
Have teens who need to get out aggression? Could you stand to relieve some stress yourself? Kids 10 to 17 years of age and up can participate in the fun at Adirondack Axe, provided their parent or guardian is present and held responsible for them.
Axe throwing businesses have been popping up in the Capital Region in recent years, but Adirondack Axe is the first in the North Country, which opened in January of 2020 in Queensbury. Come see if you and the fam can "stick it!"
If You Have Younger Kids: Get Energy Out at The Fun Spot or Skyzone
These places do get busy when kids are out of school, but they're perfect when it comes to indoor fun near Glens Falls where kids can roller skate, play laser tag, and jump around on trampolines!
The Fun Spot offers skating, laser tag, an indoor playground, an arcade, and even an virtual reality video game experience. Skyzone is all about the trampolines with freestyle bouncing, dodgeball, and foam pits. Both are in Queensbury.
Browse a Funky, Independent Bookstore in Hudson Falls or Saratoga Springs
Got bookworms in the family? Bring the whole gang to an independent bookstore for a decidedly different experience than a larger, chain store bookstore. (If your children are old enough, send them off to find the kids books while you browse on your own!)
The Village Booksmith in Hudson Falls and Lyrical Ballad Bookstore in Saratoga Springs each look like a quaint, unassuming bookstore from the outside, but when you step in you'll find room after room of books spanning all genres.
Bonus tip: Northshire Bookstore is close to Lyrical Ballad Bookstore in Saratoga, and the entire second floor is for kids. This is a popular one! We've suggested the two above bookstores for options that are a bit more off the beaten path, but they're all fantastic.
Visit Local Museums for History, Art & Kids Fun
The Hyde Collection and Chapman Museum are excellent to show kids incredible paintings, sculptures, and local history. Just make sure they're well behaved at the the Hyde, which has priceless works of art!
At the Chapman, introduce the kids to the captivating backstories of those who used to live in the Glens Falls region and Southern Adirondacks. There are lots of touchable exhibits, and they might be able to find a vintage Nintendo or an old typewriter to play with! Keep an eye out for kids crafting events at this museum.
Of course, the World Awareness Children's Museum is a fabulous choice for those with younger kids. Take a trip around the world without leaving Glens Falls as you dine in a Mexican kitchen or French cafe, experience a Japanese tea room, and even explore the Adirondacks while camping.
Bonus tip: They offer free admission on the second Sunday of the month.
Reserve Tickets for Downhill Skiing or Snowboarding at West Mountain
It doesn't get more family-friendly than at West Mountain, our local ski resort. They have 100% mounted snowmaking and 100% lighted trails for day and night skiing and snowboarding - for all ages and abilities.
Rentals are available in addition to lift tickets, and each offer discounted prices for youth. As mentioned above, they also have a snowtubing park!
<< Back to the Staycation Guide
