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!

Originally published 12/18/2022

Celebrate the Lake George Winter Carnival (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. Carnival activities include motorcycle and ATV races on the ice, a dog talent contest, polar plunge into the lake, chowder cook-off and 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! Or head to nearby Gore Mountain, home to the sixth-greatest vertical drop in the east and the most ski-able terrain in New York State.

Aquatic Adventures and Innovation in Downtown Schenectady (Capital-Saratoga)

MiSci

Journey through over 45 Exhibits showcasing the wonders of our oceans, rivers, and local freshwater habitats at Via Aquarium. You can even hand-feed a stingray or slither into an interactive reptile show. Once you've worked up on appetite, head 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 15-16, it’s Free Fishing Days across New York State, making it a great time to check out Sullivan County’s popular ice fishing spots! No fishing license is required on select Free Fishing Days, however, all other freshwater fishing regulations still apply. 

Bundle up for skiing and snow tubing, or play inside on an all-inclusive Catskills getaway to Villa Roma Resort in Callicoon, where you can enjoy special rates for Presidents Day Weekend. With shuffleboard, bocce ball, ping pong, pickleball, an inflatable fun land, bowling, fitness center, spa and salon, dining and lounges, there’s enough fun to go around for the whole family.

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

Two dogs wearing red, white, and blue hats sit on a floor next to a person in athletic shoes. A stuffed animal dog is in the background.

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. On February 17 from 11am-1pm, The Discovery Center of the Southern Tier (pictured) will celebrate Presidents' Day with a fun-filled day dedicated to presidential pets! Learn about the furry, feathered, and sometimes even exotic companions that have lived in the White House throughout history. Enjoy interactive activities, pet-themed crafts, and exciting surprises for the whole family. 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, there is buy-one get-one admission. Enjoy vintage video games ranging from 1974 to today at Robot City Games, the state’s largest arcade!

Revel in the 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, fireworks, and more.

Glide into 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 15-22 with a jam-packed schedule of family-friendly activities. On February 16, the museum is hosting Marvelous Marble Day – a gallery-wide scavenger hunt for marbles. Other activities include viewing the Glass Snow Family, a Make Your Own Glass (or snowperson) workshop, and much more. Check out the full schedule of activities here. If you're looking for recreation in the form of scenic skating, the Nasser Civic Center Ice Rink in Corning is covered by a large roof, so you can see the trees, and farther back, mountains, while you skate.

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 15-16. 

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 (advanced reservations highly recommended).

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 all-inclusive weekend experience for the whole family from February 14-17. 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 exhibits, 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 15-22, 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 like making ectoplasmic slime with the NYC Ghostbusters.. 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. Stomp into Zoo New York to see animals native to New York State, including wolves, eagles, bears, lynx, a wolverine, otters, and much more!

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