Amsterdam, New York has a lot of fun things to do. It can be kind of frustrating for travelers to have so much they want to do in a short amount of time. These activities can be done anytime throughout the day, which is what makes them so great. Check out this list of things to do in Amsterdam!
1. Interact with animals at Adirondack Animal Land
This place is definitely great for kids that love animals. There are all types of animals here, from birds and deer to zebras and kangaroos. There is almost every animal possible here in this place!
Kids will love being able to interact with the different animals, and on the tour, the tour guides tell the visitors a lot of different facts about each animal that they discuss. The deer are actually in their own separate park as they work best on their own, so they have their own little world in the park. They also have a petting area for the kids to take part in. It’s so cool to pet animals that aren’t normally around people.
Adirondack Animal Land
Address: 3554 NY-30, 12025 Broadalbin, NY
Website: Adirondack Animal Land
2. Challenge yourself at Mountain Ridge Adventure
This is a huge area where people can go to zip line. It’s a lot of fun, although it can be a little nerve-wracking if going for the first time. The workers will hook customers up to this harness that hangs with a strong cord to the zip line rope. When customers are ready, they are glided off the edge of where they are standing to enjoy the ride ahead. It’s quite a thrilling experience and almost makes one feel as if they are flying. It’s definitely something to check out for those that are not afraid of heights!
Mountain Ridge Adventure
Address: 300 Weatherwax Rd., 12302 Glenville, New York
Website: Mountain Ridge Adventure
3. Visit Green Hill Cemetery
A cemetery really may not sound that interesting, but this one is pretty nice. Established in 1858, the cemetery is now home to many people of the past. It encompasses 14,860 individual interments marked by monuments, family plots, decorative markers, and just plain old simple stones. It includes four contributing structures: the Church Street entrance gate, upper pedestrian gate and path, receiving vault, and Sanford Mausoleum. Benedict Arnold and his grandson are buried in this cemetery.
Green Hill Cemetery
Address: 23 Cornell St, 12010 Amsterdam, NY
Website: Green Hill Cemetery
4. Learn about local history at Walter Elwood Museum
A lot of people aren’t aware of who Walter Elwood is, so here is a little history about him. He was an educator in the Amsterdam area who had traveled to different areas, always collecting artifacts and historical pieces to bring back with him and research. This museum is a gathering of the pieces that he collected over the years, showing that natural history is just as interesting to learn about as cultural history or any other type of history. This is a great trip for those that love learning new things. The museum also puts on shows of different historical happenings in the area, so be sure to check them out when they are occurring.
Walter Elwood Museum
Address: 100 Church St, 12010 Amsterdam, NY
Website: Walter Elwood Museum
5. Enjoy a calm afternoon at Amsterdam Riverfront
This is just a relaxing place to walk through when in the Amsterdam area. The sunsets are really pretty when the sun is setting on the water. They tend to hold a lot of different concerts here, and they have different food vendors and shops to go through and enjoy. It’s just a peaceful afternoon here if that’s what visitors are looking for.
Amsterdam Riverfront
Address: 1250 Riverfront Center, 12010 Amsterdam, NY
Website: Amsterdam Riverfront
6. Hike through Plotter Kill Preserve
People say these are the best hiking/walking trails in New York, and they are right. There are a lot of different trails to choose from, and some of them are even harder than others for those that like to get their workout in. The slopes can be kind of steep for those that are not used to climbing mountainous areas, and there really aren’t any maps to follow on the trails, so it’s recommended to take a picture of the few maps so that getting back isn’t so hard. It’s a very outdoorsy activity, so for those that are not used to climbing rocks and slopes, it is not recommended. But the gorge is a really pretty view so be sure to check it out when visiting.
Plotter Kill Preserve
Address: 3985 Mariaville Rd., 12306 Schenectady NY
Website: Plotter Kill Preserve
7. Spend an enriching afternoon at Museum of Innovation and Science
Anything anyone would ever want to know about science is in this building. They have space crafts and simulated space travel rides, different computers, and the GOTO Chronos Star Machine, which lets visitors see space and all the stars and planets that are in it, just the way they are supposed to look. It’s pretty cool to see the galaxy above a kid’s head. They also have a lot of different activities to get the kids involved with the science and technology that they wish to portray and share with others. This is definitely a learning experience for everyone who goes here.
Museum of Innovation and Science
Address: 15 Nott Terrace Heights, 12308 Schenectady, NY
Website: Museum of Innovation and Science
8. Have some fun at Imperial Lanes Bowling Center
A family owned bowling center, this is a great way to spend a few hours with friends and family. They have a very clean atmosphere, always cleaning their shoes, the bowling balls, the chairs, the tables, and the bowling lanes themselves. The owners are really nice and can accommodate any special needs that may be needed when here.
They have a lot of cool stuff that goes on at night too. They turn off all the regular lights and turn on the black lights. Everything glows, which makes bowling that much more fun.
Imperial Lanes Bowling Center
Address: 249 Wallins Corners Rd, 12010 Amsterdam, NY
Website: Imperial Lanes Bowling Center
9. Explore Howe Caverns
For those that have never been in any cave before, this is a good one to start with. There is this really cool tour that people can take for a small fee where the workers suit visitors up in cave wear. They are then taken into the cave as if they were really there in the 1900s when they would dig up minerals and such. There is no artificial lighting in this part of the cave as there would not have been any lightbulbs in there when they were originally digging. It’s a neat experience to go through, but it is not suitable for small children.
Howe Caverns
Address: 255 Discovery Dr, 12092 Howes Cave, NY
Website: Howe Caverns
10. Check out Via Aquarium
This is a nice little aquarium to spend a few hours of a day in. The fish are always kept nice and the tanks are clean and filtered well for the fish to live in happily. They have eels, sharks, lobsters, all kinds of saltwater fish like clown fish, and seahorses, which is the only animal on earth where the male is the one to give birth to the babies.
They also have turtles, starfish, and jellyfish. The aquarium also has exhibits where visitors can actually touch different animals, as long as their hands are clean of course. This is a very educational experience as well as a fun one, so be sure to check it out.
Via Aquarium
Address: 93 W Campbell Rd, 12306 Schenectady, NY
Website: Via Aquarium
Amsterdam NY has so many things to do
Amsterdam NY has so many things to do, it can be hard to choose which ones to visit first or which ones to give more time to. Whatever visitors of the area may find to do, they will all have a great time.
Where to stay in Amsterdam, New York
Amsterdam is a city with a rich history in trades and manufacturing industries. With the excellent education it has for its children, the city has produced several notable individuals who became leaders in their own fields. Today, visitors enjoy exploring Amsterdam for the many things it shares. Filled with activities involving nature, sports, history, and science, Amsterdam is a great place for active families with inquisitive children to visit. For the best Amsterdam experience, be sure to book the best accommodations that will not only give you a bed for a night but will also serve as a venue to enrich your stay. You can find historically themed hotels with astonishing decors and ultra-comfortable rooms. There are also fully furnished homes that are just walking distance from attractions. Large groups that are up for some fancy experiences will definitely enjoy the bigger stays available.
Here are our top recommendations on where to stay: