A curated list of genuinely cool, legitimately weird things to do in Upstate New York… all researched and saved to the TLJ Weird & Wonderful Map so you don’t have to.
Let’s be honest… Upstate New York is quietly one of the most bizarre, beautiful, and underrated parts of the Northeast.
It has the world’s largest kaleidoscope, a miniature Route 66, a teddy bear museum inside a 200-year-old Catskills farmhouse, and a full-scale replica of the Starship Enterprise… just to name a few.
And that’s before we even get to the caves, the diamond mines, and the toilet gardens…
Below, you’ll find 20+ stops worth pulling over for in Upstate New York organized by vibe, packed with visiting information, and written for the parents who loves a little weird in their life.
World Records in Upstate New York You Can Actually Visit
Upstate New York has a surprising number of legitimate, certified, actually-in-the-record-books world records.
These aren’t just some backyard claims… these are the real deal.
World's Largest Kaleidoscope
~ Mount Tremper, NY
Built inside a 60-foot grain silo at the Emerson Resort & Spa in the Catskills is the world’s largest kaleidoscope, certified by the Guinness Book of World Records in 1997.
You lean back in “standing chairs”, the lights go down, and for eight minutes, the silo transforms into something genuinely hard to describe… imagine yourself at a Phish show.
What you need to know:
Location: Emerson Resort & Spa 5340 Route 28, Mount Tremper, NY
Hours: Thursday-Monday 10am-5pm
Cost: $5/person, children under 12 are free (free for resort guests)
Shows run every 20-30 minutes
The show might be scary or boring for toddlers and little ones due to the darkness and sounds.
They have a charming gift shop of all things kaleidoscope so make sure you set expectations for souvenirs in advance.
"Gnome Chomsky," Third-Largest Garden Gnome in the World
~ Kerhonkson, NY
At 13.5 feet tall, Gnome Chomsky isn’t technically the world’s largest garden gnome anymore (he once held that title and now sits at #3)… but he’s still worth a stop.
Plus, he happens to live in front of Kelder’s Farm, a family farm packed with 35+ attractions for kids. Mini golf, a jumping pillow, a petting zoo, pick-your-own produce, and a gnome the size of a car… not a bad stop while heading to Upstate New York.
What you need to know:
Location: Kelder’s Farm 5755 US Route 209, Kerhonkson, NY
Hours: 10am-6pm (days vary) Open seasonally April- November
Cost: Flex Day Tickets start at $17.95/per person (includes 35+ activities)
Plan to spend 2-3 hours playing on the farm or 5-10 minutes taking a quick photo with Gnome Chomsky.
Kelder’s Farm hosts festivals and events throughout the season so check the calendar for the next seasonal event.
World's Largest Nipper (the RCA Dog)
~ Albany, NY
Standing 28 feet tall on top of a warehouse in Albany, Nipper is the famous RCA Victor dog… blown up to an absurd scale.
He’s been on this roof since 1958 and is one of Albany’s most beloved landmarks. No admission. No tour. Just pull over, look up, and marvel at something that’s been there for 65+ years
What you need to know:
Location: Nipper stands on top of 991 Broadway, Albany, NY
Cost: Free
Nipper is visible from street 24/7.
Perfect for a quick photo stop.
World's Largest Indoor Roller Rink
~ Latham, NY
If your kids have never roller skated let alone in 50,000 square feet of pure 1950s nostalgia, let’s fix that immediately.
Guptill’s Arena in Upstate New York has held the Guinness World Record for largest indoor roller rink since it opened in 1951, and somehow, miraculously, it’s still going.
Disco lights, rental skates, and a rink so big it made the record books.
What you need to know:
Location: Guptill’s Arena 1085 New Loudon Rd, Latham, NY
Hours: Fri 6:30-9:30pm, Sat 1-4pm & 6:30-9:30pm, Sun 1-4pm
Cost: ~$20 admission, $5 skate rental
Socks are required to roller skate.
Check schedule before visiting as hours change seasonally.
Guptill’s Arena has a small arcade and restaurant on-site.
Only Metal Kazoo Factory in North America
~ Eden, NY
Since 1916, the Original American Kazoo Company in Eden, NY has been the only manufacturer of metal kazoos in North America.
It’s part working factory, part free museum, and part DIY experience.
The $5 “make your own kazoo” experience is genuinely one of the better factory tour experiences and fun things to do in Upstate New York.
What you need to know:
Location: Eden Kazoo Factory 8703 South Main St, Eden, NY
Hours: Factory operates Tuesday-Thursday (closed January & February)
Cost: Free factory tour ~ Make-your-own kazoo: $5
Allow 30-60 minutes to explore this hidden gem in Upstate New York
World's Largest Five and Dime
~ East Aurora, NY
Opened in 1930, Vidler’s 5&10 in the charming village of East Aurora is the World’s Largest Five and Dime spanning two floors and four connected 1890s buildings, stuffed floor-to-ceiling with 75,000+ items.
This is not a quirky museum… Vidler’s 5&10 is a functioning five-and-dime store with actual prices that make you wonder if you’ve time traveled.
What you need to know:
Location: Vidler’s 5&10 676-694 Main St, East Aurora,NY
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 9am-6pm; Sunday 11am-5pm
Cost: Free admission (up to you how much you spend)
Plan to spend at least an hour at Vidler’s… this place is HUGE.
Don’t miss the 10-cent popcorn machine near the front, or Sandy the mechanical horse who’s been giving rides to children since the store opened.
World's Largest Pancake Griddle
~ Penn Yan, NY
On the exterior wall of the Birkett Mills in Penn Yan, NY is a 28-foot, 1-inch cast iron pancake griddle weighing over 10 tons.
On September 27, 1987, they used it to make the world’s largest pancake: a 28-foot-wide pancake that weighed 4,050 lbs. The record has since been broken, but the griddle remains… mounted on the exterior of the building.
What you need to know:
Location: 1 E Main St, Penn Yan, NY
Hours: 24/7 visible from the street
Cost: Free
Fun fact… Birkett Mills is the world’s largest producer of buckwheat products, and you can pick some up inside. They also have an amazing selection of specialty and organic products.
This is a quick photo stop 5-10 minutes
Pull Over... You Need to See These Upstate New York Roadside Oddities
The best roadside attractions exist because somebody had a wild idea and nobody stopped them from bringing it to life.
These are the best things to do in Upstate New York when you need a quick stop.
The Fork in the Road
~ Milan, NY
In 2000, sculptor Steve Schreiber planted a 31-foot steel fork at the literal intersection of Routes 308 and 199 near Milan, NY.
It is exactly what it sounds like.
A giant fork. In the road.
What you need to know:
Location: Intersection of Routes 308 & 199, Milan, NY
Hours: 24/7 visible from the street
Cost: Free
There’s a grassy triangle to pull over, stretch your legs, and think of all the reasons someone built this.
A quick 5-10-minute stop.
Life-Size Vine Elephant
~ West Winfield, NY
Artist Elizabeth Schoomaker built a full-size elephant entirely out of wild grapevines and willows… truckloads of them on her private property in West Winfield, NY
The original Vine Elephant was damaged and rebuilt in 2024, and now she’s added even more sculptures for company.
What you need to know:
Location: 377 S Rd, West Winfield, NY (private property)
Hours: 24/7 visible from the street
Cost: Free
Be respectful… it’s someone’s home
A quick 5-10-minute stop.
Toilet Gardens of Potsdam
~ Potsdam, NY
In 2004, a local man got into a dispute with the city over code violations on his properties. His response was to fill vacant lots with toilets… dozens of them, all planted with colorful plastic flowers.
The city took him to court. He won (twice), and the toilet gardens remain to this day.
What you need to know:
Location: There are 3 Toilet Garden locations
82 Market St + 79 & 85 Maple St, Potsdam, NY
Hours: Dawn until dusk
Cost: Free
Funny quick stops around Potsdam, 10-15 minutes total
A documentary called Potty Town was made about these toilet gardens.
This might be one of the weirdest Upstate New York things on this list…
Mini Route 66
~ Speculator, NY
In the early 2000s a retired New Jersey man built his own miniature Route 66 in Upstate New York.
Seven tiny replica buildings were built as a tribute to his wife as a memory to their honeymoon road trip.
There’s a general store, gas station, church, schoolhouse, post office, barbershop, and ice cream parlor, all fully furnished inside with vintage details.
What you need to know:
Location: Speculator Ball Field & Pavilion, NYS Route 30, Speculator, NY
Hours: Dawn until dusk
Cost: Free
Next to the mini buildings is a playground, picnic area, and nature trail (perfect road trip stop)
Plan to spend 10-15 minutes peeking in the buildings (you can’t go inside) plus, time for the playground.
If your family loves weird roadside gems? You’ll love this collection of Weird Road Trip Stops Across the Northeast.
Cool and Unusual Nature Stops in Upstate New York
There’s no shortage of gorgeous outdoor experiences when heading north… but these are the cool things to do in Upstate New York that nature has given us and feel like true hidden gems.
Howe Caverns
~ Howes Cave, NY
New York’s second most-visited natural attraction and by far one of the most impressive cave experiences in the Northeast.
Howe Caverns in Upstate New York takes you 156 feet underground for a 90-minute, 1.25-mile guided walk that ends with a boat ride on an underground lake.
The boat ride on the Lake of Venus alone is worth the price of admission.
What you need to know:
Location: Howe Caverns 255 Discovery Dr, Howes Cave, NY
Hours: Open daily year-round, hours vary by season
Cost: Adults $29.50+, Kids 5-12 $19.50+, Under 5 free
Bring a jacket… it’s chilly in the cavern year-round.
Closed-toe shoes are required, and the cave doesn’t allow bags, backpacks, or strollers.
The Cave-aged cheese in the gift shop is a crowd favorite.
Herkimer Diamond Mines
~ Herkimer, NY
There’s something deeply satisfying about being told you get to keep what you find… especially when it comes to gemstones.
At the Herkimer Diamond Mines, your family can dig for genuine quartz crystals (called Herkimer Diamonds because they’re found only in this region) in 500-million-year-old dolostone rock.
You keep everything you find.
What you need to know:
Location: Herkimer Diamond Mines 4626 State Route 28, North Herkimer, NY
Hours: Mid-April through October, Open daily 9am-5pm
Cost: Adults $19 (add $3 Fri-Sun), Kids 5-12 $16 (add $2 Fri-Sun), Under 5 free
Digging is fully exposed, wear closed-toe shoes, bring sunscreen, hats, and extra water.
Plan to spend 2+ hours at Herkimer Diamond Mines (you’ll lose track of time)
Hammer rental is included, but pro tip: a $10-$20 rock hammer and cheap chisel you bring will serve you way better… they’ll help you split rocks along their natural seams, not just pound them into dust.
There is an on-site jeweler to turn your finds into one-of-a-kind jewelry.
6-Story Treehouse at Cayuga Nature Center
~ Ithaca, NY
The TreeTops structure at the Cayuga Nature Center is a staggering six stories tall and might be the most impressive student-built treehouse in the Northeast.
With five miles of trails and a pay-what-you-wish donation model, Cayuga Nature Center is one of the best things to do in Upstate New York when you want something more than just a hike.
What you need to know:
Location: Cayuga Nature Center 1420 Taughannock Blvd, Ithaca, NY
Hours: Daily, year-round, dawn to dusk
Cost: Donation based, pay what you are able
From the parking lot to treehouse is only about 0.2 miles, so it’s very manageable for little kids
Head to the top of the treehouse and you’ll be treated to a bird’s-eye view of Denison Falls, a 21-foot waterfall in the gorge below… most people don’t even know the waterfall is there.
Expect to spend at least an hour exploring the nature center.
Planning a longer trip? These Upstate New York Getaway Ideas are worth planning your trip around.
Blueberry Treehouse Farm & Café
~ West Falls, NY
Less than 30 minutes south of Buffalo is an organic blueberry farm that’s somehow evolved into one of the coolest places to eat in Western New York.
Blueberry Treehouse Farm & Café is a multi-level treehouse restaurant built into the woods, with fire tables, live music on Thursdays, and pick-your-own organic blueberries.
The nature playground and roaming chickens are an extra fun bonus.
What you need to know:
Location: Blueberry Treehouse Farm 1897 Davis Rd, West Falls, NY
Hours: Open seasonally, June-October, hours vary
Cost: July & August $8/pp (includes 1 non-alcoholic drink, 1 popsicle, $1 off ice cream or $5 off alcohol)
Blueberry Jams: Most Thursdays in the summer they host Blueberry Jams… a family-friendly evening with live music and food trucks from 6:30-8:30pm that is genuinely worth planning your night around. $10 adults, $5 kids
You can pick-your-own organic blueberries during July and August
Blueberry Treehouse Farm is very dog friendly (leashed) and welcomes furry family members.
Weird & Wonderful Things to Do in Upstate New York
These unexpected things to do in Upstate New York don’t fit neatly into ANY category… and that’s exactly what makes them worth visiting.
Star Trek Original Series Set Tour
~ Ticonderoga, NY
Inside one of the most unexpected places in downtown Ticonderoga is a full-scale, CBS-licensed recreation of the Starship Enterprise set… built over 14 years by James Cawley, a Ticonderoga native.
The bridge, Captain Kirk’s quarters, Dr. McCoy’s office, the transporter room… you get to see all of it.
Built from original blueprints and hundreds of hours of research from the original 1966-1969 Star Trek episodes.
What you need to know:
Location: 112 Montcalm St, Ticonderoga, NY
Hours: Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 11am-4pm (hours expand for the summer season)
Cost: Ages 14+ $24, Ages 5-13 $12, Under 4 free
You’ll find easy and free parking on site.
Even if you’re not a Trekkie, the behind-the-scenes stories about how they faked the original effects with 1960s technology are worth the trip alone.
If your family is looking for a fun place to eat nearby, Burleigh’s Luncheonette is a 1950s style diner is just across the street.
Gourdlandia
~ Ithaca, NY
Gourdlandia is a Finger Lakes stop that grows over 100 varieties of gourds and turns them into extraordinary things you can use… lamps, drums, clocks, nightlights, bowls.
Tour the gourd garden, browse the studio shop, or sign up for a weekend workshop to make your own gourd lamp (among other things).
At Gourdlandia kids can grab free gourd seeds to grow at home, which is genuinely one of the better free souvenirs on this list.
What you need to know:
Location: Gourdlandia 77 Rachel Carson Way Ithaca, NY
Hours: Monday 9am-1pm; Friday & Saturday 1-5pm (check updated schedule online)
Cost: Free to browse the shop and gardens
Creative gourd workshops start at $40
Only 10 minutes from downtown Ithaca
Den of Marbletown (Teddy Bear Museum)
~ Kingston, NY
The Den of Marbletown in the Catskills isn’t just a teddy bear museum… it’s a 200-year-old farmhouse where every room is filled with a lifetime of collections.
Steiff bears, vintage dollhouses, figurines, and curiosities around every corner.
For families visiting Den of Marbletown the second floor is the real highlight… a kids’ playroom packed with toys, games, and dollhouses, and a psychedelic bear room with a bear cave that is exactly as wild as it sounds.
What you need to know:
Location: Den of Marbletown 1 Basten Ln, Kingston, NY
Hours: Thursday-Monday 11am-5pm (closed Tuesday & Wednesday)
Cost: Adults $14, Kids 12 and under $8
They have a small on-site café of baked goods along with coffee, iced tea and lemonade.
The playroom alone is worth adding to your Catskills Vacation.
Fort Stanwix National Monument
~ Rome, NY
Fort Stanwix is a full-scale reconstruction of a 1758 British fort… and it’s one of the best free things to do in Upstate New York.
The National Park Service runs it beautifully, and the cannon demonstrations are the kind of thing that makes kids suddenly realize history is cool.
What you need to know:
Location: Fort Stanwix 112 East Park St, Rome, NY
Hours:
Apr-June, Tue-Sat 9am-5pm
July&Aug, Wed-Sun 9am-5pm
Sept-Dec, Tue-Sat 9am-5pm
Cost: Free
Check the NPS website for cannon demonstration times and historic events.
Free parking on site and in nearby public lots.
On-site gift shop and indoor displays.
The Mystery Spot
~ Lake George, NY
Hidden in plain sight in the center of downtown Lake George sits the Lake George Mystery Spot.
Located next to the Lake George Visitor Center, and marked with a brass X, you’ll find a circular platform where something genuinely unexplainable happens…
You stand on the X, say something outloud, and you hear your own voice echo back… but only you can hear it.
Friends and family standing three feet away hear nothing.
Some scientists attribute it to the curved stone creating a unique whispering effect, others say it is part of a Native American legend.
What you need to know:
Location: Behind the Lake George Visitor Center, 1 Beach Rd Lake George, NY
Cost: Free
Look for the brass X on the circular platform and try it out
This is a quick and easy 5-10-minute stop in downtown Lake George.
ALL the Weird Things to Do... Mapped for you
All of these weird museums and wonderful things to do in Upstate New York… and 400+ more across the Northeast are saved on the TLJ Weird & Wonderful Map.
Download and save it so you always have it ready for your next family adventure.
If you like your family adventures with a little dash of weird… you’re going to love checking these things off your summer bucket list.
Happy Travels…
