Are we there yet? Kids getaways in the Adirondacks

Adirondack Getaways for kids of every age

ADIRONDACK PARK, NY - For any parent who has ever taken the kids on vacation - no matter how long the car trip or how great the destination - the back seat sentiment is usually an impatient, "Are we there yet" from the moment the car pulls out of the driveway. Luckily, the Adirondacks are right in your backyard and filled with interactive museums, events and attractions. Exploring and having fun are what the Adirondacks are all about. Kids won't be the only ones asking "Are we there yet?"

• Water Safari Enchanted Forest in Old Forge is the state's largest water theme park and has been providing safe, clean family fun for more than 50 years. Or, pop next door to Calypso's Cove where kids can ride go-karts, play miniature golf and grab a snack.

• Hop a train on the Adirondack Scenic Railroad and help solve a murder mystery, stop bandits from robbing the train or take a magical trip the North Pole on the Polar Bear Express.

• Learn about Butterflies at the Adirondack Visitor's Interpretive Center's Butterfly House in Paul Smiths. View chrysalis, talk with a naturalist and explore the nature trails that wind around the center.

• At the Wild Center in Tupper Lake, kids get a truly interactive experience. Along the Living River Trail exhibit, watch otters gamble, journey through a bog, marsh, forest and lake. Climb to the summit of an alpine peak and touch the clouds.

• Walk along the tree canopy at the Adirondack Extreme Adventure Course in Bolton Landing. This high ropes course in the Adirondack wilderness has age- appropriate courses for kids and adults, along with zip lines and instructors to maintain safety.

• From soap making to basket weaving demonstrations, the Adirondack Museum in Blue Mountain Lake is one of the most unique attractions in the Adirondack Park. Kids can help build a lean-to, enjoy a ride on the museum's pond in a vintage skiff, wash clothes the old fashioned way on Wash Day, feed fish, and help raise a barn.

• At the Adventure Racing Family Fun Center in Lake George, go-karts, bumper cars, laser tag and arcade games abound. The center is available for birthday parties, and has an indoor race track and a paintball range.

• Take a trip around the Adirondacks in a hot air balloon with Adirondack Balloon Flights in Glens Falls. Soar above Lake George and enjoy the ride!

• Learn why Doctor Morbid became known as the mad wax maker at Dr. Morbid's Haunted House in Lake George. Lots of scary fun for the whole family.

• For the alien enthusiast in the family, visit Lake George's Alien Encounter museum and haunted research center, and have an up close and personal experience with extra, spooky terrestrials!

• At Avalanche Adventure in Lake Placid, it's all about the outdoors. Enjoy miniature golf, rock climbing walls, indoor caves, and an arcade.

• Starting in July at the Olympic Jumping Complex, watch as athletes from around the world put on an amazing aerial show flipping and twisting into the 750,000 gallon pool during Wet and Wild Wednesdays. On Soaring Saturdays, watch Nordic skiers fly off of the 90-metere tower onto am artificial surface.

• Visit Fort Ticonderoga, a resorted military fortress and experience American history like never before. Throughout the summer, reenactments, guided tours and costumed interpreters allow visitors to step back in time.

The Adirondack Park, named for the Adirondack Mountains that lie within its boundaries, offers some of the best opportunities in the United States for outdoor recreation in a superb natural setting. The wilderness lands of the Adirondack Park are an outdoor-lover's paradise and vacation packages offer a wonderful opportunity for visitors to sample all that there is to see and do in the region.

The official Web site of the Adirondack Regional Tourism Council is VisitAdirondacks.com. Log on for an interactive experience to plan your trip. From a high definition scenic video clip to thousands of visitor images, VisitAdirondacks.com features a comprehensive trip planner with maps and itineraries, package listings, events, activities, restaurants, lodging and more. Or, call 800- 487-6867 for free travel information.