Page 34 - Dutchess Tourism 2024

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DUTCHESS COUNTY DESTINATION GUIDE
5Kid-Approved Adventures
Family vacations are fun for everyone in Dutchess County, where imaginations are free to soar and the memories last a lifetime. From water slides and drive-in movies to alpaca farms and accessible parks, we’ve got it all. With all sorts of kid-friendly events and attractions, the excitement never ends!
1 Trevor Zoo (Millbrook)
From red pandas to lemurs and wallabies to bobcats,
you’ll find more than 170 exotic and indigenous animals representing 70 different species from five different continents — including 11 endangered species — at this AZA-accredited zoo. Established in 1936 at the Millbrook School, it’s the only zoo in America located on a high school campus, and students care for the animals as part of a one- of-a-kind educational experience. The zoo is open every day (except for a few holidays).
2 SplashDown Beach (Fishkill)
“America’s Biggest Little Water Park” features outdoor
water slides and attractions suitable for kids of all ages. Nearly six stories tall and more than 600 feet long, the Arctic Mammoth is one of the biggest raft rides in the Northeast. Little ones love the Shipwreck Lagoon, an area filled with interactive fountains, geysers and dumping buckets.
Get your pulse racing on The Megalodon raft ride or the Humunga Half-Pipe (New York’s only zero-gravity half-pipe). Or cool off and relax as you float down the Croc Creek Wavy Lazy River in your own tube. Open Memorial Day to Labor Day.
3 Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum (Poughkeepsie)
Located on the picturesque Poughkeepsie Waterfront, the Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum will ignite and inspire the next generation of critical thinkers, problem solvers and innovators. The fun and educational experience is perfect for kids 12 and younger. With the “Science Revealed!” exhibit, children and families can engage in a full-body physical exploration of motion, air, forces, fluids and electricity. In “Early Learning Junction,” kids ages 4 and younger can develop skills they’ll need for school.
4 Hudson Valley Renegades (Wappingers Falls)
Watch future stars of Major League Baseball sharpen their skills with the Class-A affiliate of the New York Yankees
in the South Atlantic League. Home games at Heritage Financial Park (formerly Dutchess Stadium) feature all sorts of family-friendly activities and entertainment, from live music and games to fireworks shows. In 2023, 10 former Renegades made their big-league debuts, including top Yankees prospects Anthony Volpe, Jasson Dominguez and Austin Wells. Season April to September.