There’s plenty to explore this Presidents Day Weekend! From winter festivals to Presidents Day celebrations, historical sites, holiday specials, and more. So take advantage of the long weekend to take a New York State getaway the whole family will be talking about for years to come!

Masks are encouraged, but optional in most settings per New York State guidelines. Individual businesses or attractions may require mask wearing. Call ahead and check websites and social media to make sure attractions and amenities are open and available.

Originally published 12/18/2022

Lake George Winterfest (Adirondacks)

a couple riding on a horse-drawn carriage through the winter wonderlands of lake george

Credit: @mannixmarketing_lakegeorgechamber on Instagram

Every winter, Lake George transforms into a glittering winter wonderland and the Lake George Winter Carnival is its crowning jewel. Sit back and relax on a horse-drawn carriage ride (pictured) that takes you through snowy forests before landing at a secluded field to enjoy hot chocolate and s’mores over an open fire. On Saturday, end the night with a vibrant fireworks show over the lake. Head out to nearby West Mountain and get out on the snow with alpine and cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, or take a moving magic carpet ride uphill for snow tubing! Explore a snow-capped fantasyland at Lake George Winter Realms, as you walk on mesmerizing trails, gaze up in awe at ice sculptures, and more.

Ice Skating and Innovation in Downtown Schenectady (Capital-Saratoga)

A pair of skaters skating on an ice rink. One skater has black tights and white skates and the other has purple pants and black and silver skates

Skate the day away and enjoy incredible views of downtown Albany at the Empire State Plaza Ice Rink. Glide on over to Druthers Brewing Company to warm up with popular pub foods and beverages. Escape the cold and explore the latest interactive exhibitions about physics and engineering while playing a game of mini golf at the Museum of Innovation and Science (miSci). Learn about the cosmos in an immersive 30-foot dome at the museum’s Suits-Bueche Planetarium, an official NASA Space Place.

Free Fishing and Resort Specials in Sullivan County (Catskills)

a man and a child cross-country skiing in the catskills

Credit: @mtntrailsxc on Instagram

From February 17-18, it’s Free Fishing Days across New York State! No fishing license is required on select Free Fishing Days, however, all other freshwater fishing regulations still apply. For popular ice fishing waters in Sullivan County and park regulations, see here.

The Villa Roma Resort in Callicoon is also celebrating Presidents Day Weekend with special rates starting at $75 per night for children aged 4-12 and $225 for adults. The resort features virtually every indoor and outdoor activity and amenity for the whole family to enjoy, including ski hills, an indoor pool and sauna, sports complex, game room, spa and salon, dining and lounges, and more. 

Fun and Games in the Carousel Capital of the World (Central New York)

The multicolored front of the discovery center building in Binghamton

Come one, come all, to Binghamton, the Carousel Capital of the World! Beyond its collection of antique merry-go-rounds that transport you back to yesteryear, this charming city nestled among rolling hills in the southern tier of New York State offers family fun around every corner throughout the year. This Presidents Day Weekend, The Discovery Center of the Southern Tier (pictured) will be decked out in red, white, and blue for the Monday holiday. Play, explore and imagine with crafts and activities, and learn about former Presidents. Head to the nation’s fifth-oldest zoo at Ross Park, a 90-acre zoo with more than 100 exotic animals on display. Throughout the holiday weekend, children 12 and under get free admission with the purchase of an adult ticket. Enjoy vintage video games ranging from 1974 to today at Robot City Games, the state’s largest arcade! 

Mayville Winter Festival (Chautauqua-Allegheny)

President's Day Winter Festival - Ice Castle - Mayville Lakeside Park on Chautauqua Lake

The postcard-perfect village of Mayville is a welcome retreat, with views of the northern end of Chautauqua Lake on one side, and rolling countryside on the other. Every year in February, the village hosts its annual Presidents Day Weekend Winter Festival in Lakeside Park, featuring an ice castle constructed with ice blocks from Chautauqua Lake, scheduled activities for kids and families, food trucks, a beer and wine tent, local craft vendors, horse-drawn carriage rides, a DJ, and more.

Winter Break at Corning Museum of Glass (Finger Lakes)

A glass sphere from the Corning Museum

Credit: @corningmuseumshops on Instagram

The Corning Museum of Glass is keeping kids and families entertained all winter break-long from February 17-24 with a jam-packed schedule of family-friendly activities. On February 18, the museum is hosting Marvelous Marble Day – a gallery-wide scavenger hunt for marbles. Other activities include You Design It; We Make It, where you can submit a unique design for selection to be created live in the glassmakers' studio at the museum, a Make Your Own Glass (or snowperson) workshop, and much more. Check out the full schedule of activities here.

Explore Presidential History in Buffalo (Greater Niagara)

An old cannon sitting in front of Old Fort Niagara in the snow

Credit: @jonnyzhong on Instagram

For Presidents Day Weekend, Old Fort Niagara recounts the major campaigns on the New York frontier during the American Revolution. Held within the Visitor Center, Old Fort Niagara will be open all weekend long, with The Winter Warriors event from February 17-18. 

While in Buffalo, take a tour of the city where Theodore Roosevelt began his presidential journey. Visit (or take a virtual tour of) the site of Theodore Roosevelt’s inauguration at the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site and learn about one of America's most well-known and influential presidents through interactive exhibits, historically-restored rooms, and an extensive collection of artifacts and documents related to the late president.

Family Fun at Mohonk Mountain House (Hudson Valley)

The view of Mohonk Mountain House lodge from across the lake in winter

Credit: @nyclife___u on Instagram

Mohonk Mountain House is offering a fun-filled weekend experience for the whole family from February 16-19. Enjoy live music and entertainment every night, along with roasted marshmallows at the lodge’s fire pits, kids crafts, indoor archery, snow tubing, and more!

In nearby Hyde Park, take a tour of the home of the 32nd President of the US at The Home of Franklin D Roosevelt National Historic Site. Learn about the four-time elected president at the nation's first Presidential Library & Museum and explore over a thousand acres of gardens and picturesque walking trails.  

Come Play at the Long Island Children’s Museum (Long Island)

Copy of Long Island Children's Museum

Credit: Long Island Children's Museum

The Long Island Children's Museum will have an exciting lineup of events, crafts, and activities all Presidents Week long, offering families the opportunity to play and learn together across 14 interactive exhibits, animal encounters, art spaces, and more. For more family-fun museums, the Cradle of Aviation Museum is just a short walk away down Museum Row. The Air and Space Museum takes visitors on a journey throughout over 100 years of aerospace history, and is home to over 75 air and spacecraft, a state-of-the-art planetarium dome theater, over 30 hands-on exhibits, and more! 

Looking to add some presidential history to your weekend itinerary? Take a trip to Sagamore Hill National Historic Site in Oyster Bay and tour the home and grounds of the 26th president Theodore Roosevelt. The Old Orchard Museum is open Thursday-Sunday.

Take a Museum Tour of New York City (New York City)

The ship turned museum USS Intrepid

Credit: @usa.fotos on Instagram

Take your pick of museums to explore across the city this Presidents Day Weekend! The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum is holding its annual family-friendly festival Kids Week from February 17-24, welcoming children of all ages and interests to learn more about STEAM (science technology, engineering, arts, and math) through workshops, live demonstrations, interactive exhibits and presentations, including arts and crafts with the renowned Blue Man Group (only on February 21). New York City’s most popular family-friendly museums are open throughout the weekend and school vacation week, including the American Natural History Museum, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Plan a Snowy Adventure in Watertown (Thousand Islands-Seaway) 

A child in a blue and yellow jacket and helmet with goggles is standing on skis and holding ski poles at the top of one of the Dry Hill Ski Area's slopes with a view of the resort and snow-covered trees below in the distanceCredit: @emburgess8 on Instagram

Spend a day out on the slopes at Watertown’s Dry Hill Ski Area. Show off your skiing or snowboarding skills on 35 skiable acres of trails varying from beginner to advanced runs. For those who don’t ski or snowboard, make high-flying memories down the snow tubing hill. On Friday from 6pm-9pm, treat the family to an evening of entertainment with the Hill’s exciting lineup of live music. Warm up indoors with a visit to the Jefferson County Historical Society and learn about the history of the Thousand Islands and Watertown. 

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