Exploring Educational Adventures in Upstate New York

One of the things that I LOVED about school was taking field trips. It got me out of class and I got a chance to see what the world had to offer. Field trips were and are the stuff of legends, giving kids a chance to learn outside of the classroom.

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They provide memories that we carry with us for the rest of our lives. Here's the thing, field trips don't just have to happen at school. You can have your own getaway while making it educational too.

E-conolight found the best places in the United States for families looking for an educational getaway and two places in New York landed on the list.

The Best Field Trips in New York

Albany: Where History Comes to Life

Albany is the capital of New York and has a lot of history and attractions. You can start at the New York State Capitol building and continue to the Albany Institute of History and Art. .

One really great thing about Albany is that there are many kid-friendly public libraries. Since Albany is the capital of New York, that means there are always a lot of activities going on to help your kids learn about democracy and civic engagement. It's more fun then it sounds.

Poughkeepsie: Affordable and Fun

If you don't want to spend a lot of money, E-conolight says that Poughkeepsie is a great place to take your kids on an educational trip. Poughkeepsie is in the Hudson Valley and offers a lot of inexpensive and fun activities that kids and parents will both like.

One of the great things about Poughkeepsie is the high number of fire and police stations, that can give a sense of safety and security during your visit. Kids will love the chance to interact with local heroes and learn about the important work they do.

Best of Both Worlds: Albany and Poughkeepsie

If you wanted, you could start your day learning about New York's history and government in Albany before making the short hour and a half drive to to Poughkeepsie.

If you are looking for other places to take a field trip, here are other places to explore while you learn at the same time.

Is This the Best Museum in Upstate New York? Here Are 25 Reasons Why We Say YES!!

The rarest military medal in the U.S. (given only once). The story of the "Newspaper Weight King" of Upstate New York. A vintage Lion costume from The Wizard of Oz. Who remembers "Grasshopper Shoes" from the 1950s? Or the most famous "Exploding Guitar" in music history.

In this writer's opinion The New York State Museum in Albany is without a doubt the best historic museum in the state. With an uncountable number of items in its collection, one could easily spend a couple of days visiting here (and it is free!). Topics range from the dinosaurs and wooly mammoths that crawled our state in the Ice Age, all the way up to the largest and most comprehensive exhibit about the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. And there is a lot of fun stuff along the way. Check out this list for some great and weird surprises you can find at this treasure in our state's capital.

As you peruse this list of 25 of (maybe) the most interesting things in the museum, you might say to yourself "Wait, it is just an old cup," or "OK, so we all had little Kewpie Dolls," and what's the big deal? You will see that they (and all of the others) have fantastic back stories to them and all indeed really were big deals.

With tens of thousands of items to choose from, this writer really likes these 25. I mean, really likes them!

Gallery Credit: Chuck D'Imperio

14 Things to do in Poughkeepsie if You’re Under 21

This list doesn't just pertain to anyone under 21. These are 14 recreational activities around Poughkeepsie that are mostly inexpensive and accessible to all.

Gallery Credit: Conor Walsh

Filed Under: Albany, Binghamton Buzz, Poughkeepsie

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