Fun time with the kids. Seeing Santa and being on the train. Golden ticket and Hot Chocolate made…read morethe day

Amazing model train layout! Biggest in Nee York and it is just mind blowing. I could spend the…read moreafternoon just looking at that. The artifacts all around are fun. There is so much to look at. If you like trains you should see this place.

I went to my first Ripley's believe it or not in Clifton Hill in Niagara Falls, ON. I loved it and…read morewas enjoying learning about the interesting facts around the world and truly learning about the history of Niagara Falls, seeing the amount of people who tried to go over the falls and all their antics. Definitely a must go to if you're in the area. Right after we went to Kelsey's for dinner so really cool to be able to not have to walk too far for food!!

My first time in Canada was awesome! We visited the Hill near the falls and the attractions there…read more We went to Louis Tussaud's which my fiancee really enjoyed. My favorite part was trying to guess who the faces belonged to on the walls. I would bring friends here.

This is an awesome place to come abd look around because there is SO much cool stuff to see but I…read moream reviewing this as a wedding venue. I was in a wedding there this past weekend and everything went so smoothly. The getting ready areas were very fun (the men got ready in the Firehouse toom and the girls got ready in the Marilyn Monroe room). The only issues we had were that the lighting was too dim for getting ready - we remembered to bring a separate makeup mirror with bright lighting options which saved us. The outlets were also difficult to find. It was a very cool and unique space to get ready in and the men were set up with a pool table in theirs. The wedding photos are not in yet but I just know that they are going to look phenomenal. We took photos in many different places around the venue (its huge) and I can't wait to see how they came out. Definitely more unique than youd typically expect for wedding photos! The bride had a positive experience with staff in getting everything ready and organized leading up the big day. Everything went as planned and it looked beautiful. Some exhibit pieces were in the way during the ceremony and they made arrangements to move them to make more space. The only issue we ran into was the heat. The AC was on but I dont think it was directed into the getting ready spaces, and when there were large groups of people around in the main room it was still too warm. Not a deal breaker but something to consider if being too warm on your wedding day is a concern for you.

Mardi Gras by Jazz 90.1 catered by Madeline's Catering . Ambiance 10…read moreNew Orleans cuisine 10!

We just spent 2 full days at the Strong National Museum of play and there was an entire exhibit we…read moremissed! This place is so expansive and so well-done, I can't say it enough. My kids are 6, 4, and 2 and each of them had a genuinely wonderful time. My husband and I did as well. We brought our lunch both days and ate in the cafeteria. We brought our stroller in with us all around which was helpful for toting around all the stuff you need for 5 people. I really can't complain about a thing. There were employees all over the place cleaning up constantly and taking care of the exhibits while also not interfering with the kids and their play at all. On friday and Saturday they have extended hours into the evening which is what lead us to come when we did. We were happy to have extra time each of those days and stayed well beyond 4pm which is the closing time the rest of the days. If you are considering giving this place a go, check it out for sure!!!

We don't stop playing because we get old, we get old because we stop playing…read more.. This place is big! I spent over four hours here, and could've easily spent more. This place reminded me of the Exploratorium in San Francisco, , except instead of interactive exhibits highlighting scientific principles, these interactive exhibits were all about play! Play for both the kids, and the grown-ups. They had a ropes course for the younger kids, and another one for older kids and the grown-ups. For the kids, they had a scale model of a local grocery chain, where the kids could either "work", or "shop", right down to the working checkout lanes. They had a Sesame Street exhibit...., A butterfly habitat, and and All kinds of different indoor and outdoor play areas. I can still hula hoop! (for a whole five seconds...). They also had all of the exhibits on toys, games, and video games. This is the home of the national toy, Hall of Fame, and the national video game Hall of Fame. it was so cool seeing toys from my childhood, and a wide range of video games and pinball machine machines that are playable. The price to get in is very reasonable, and they also offer a military/veterans discount, and memberships to the museum, which offer free museum admission. There is a parking garage attached to the museum, with a small charge for parking, and there is a also a small charge for the ropes course, the butterfly habitat, or to play the video games/pinball machines. (4 tokens for a dollar, and every machine only takes one token...) This is an absolutely fun museum for kids of all ages. Thanks!!!

Wow! This house is a hidden gem. Built in the 1850s, the house features three floors of exhibits…read moreand a cupola. The furniture and decor was intentionally acquired to only feature pieces from the late nineteenth century, including East Lake furniture and a few other pieces original to the home. The volunteers were friendly and knowledgeable, and led guided tours throughout the house. The tour is 1 hour and costs $8/adult. I highly recommend visiting the house!

I love octagon houses and this is a rare opportunity-- Newstead Historical Society, 1870 Octagon…read moreHouse, leave message 716-542-7022. Gift Shop. Trolley car ride available between the Octagon and Knight-Sutton Historic House Museum. Director_RTOH@newsteadhistoricalsociety.org $12 a person - group of one to five people $10 a person - group of 6 or more people. In depth tours available. membership@newsteadhistoricalsociety.org * collections@newsteadhistoricalsociety.org * https://newsteadhistoricalsociety.org/rich-twinn-octagon-house/ Another is the 1856, Camillus Octagon House (5420 West Genesee Street, 13031, near Syracuse, Rte 5, 315-488-7800, https://octagonhouseofcamillus.org/special-events/ https://octagonhouseofcamillus.org; octagonhouseofcamillus@gmx.com), FREE! donations welcome! 5 floors, great views from cupola, open FREE on Sundays 1-5 PM (OR by app't) for guided tours in Spring-Fall or, rent for your family functions! rest room off 1st floor kitchen, informative website (floor plans, info on Fowlers, phrenology, listing of FREE events (special FREE event in Nov--inc great chances on specially, often themed, decorated, lighted, 3 ft trees, 2nd weekend of Nov; home made food available (pie by the slice, 6 sugar cookies, coffee, hot chocolate to eat at Grandma's table!), stories, with live music inc choirs & pump organist (moi!), gold octagon ornaments $6) Not to be missed! Near the Camilus Erie Canal Park, http://eriecanalcamillus.com/boat.htm, (680) 800-5298, 5750 Devoe Road, Camillus, NY 13031. Open Sundays, 1, 2, 3 PM, Wed's, 1, 2, 3PM precisely for inexpensive historic, narrated vintage boat rides (45 min) with music over aqueduct (wheel chairs accomodated!), special cruises upon request for your family gatherings! with walk/bicycle paved way (Adult $5, 5-12 aged $3PM, under 5 FREE, max $15.00 per family!); historic fully stocked air conditioned Sims General Store, exhibits, costumes for kids' dress up, quaint inexpensive gift shop, original Canal big tools, wonderful doll house!, lock keeper's house, bugle, and original wooden lock from the Canal, school tours, please ask for the small, water recreation of how a lock works without electricity!, map of 362 mile Canal (365 days in a year! easy way to remember!mo, the original Erie Canal w/ path (there were 3 Erie Canals!), the new walk/bicycle way, FREE Towpath Day in August!, modern rest rooms ! Also see the Camillus Martisco Station Railway Museum, http://www.townofcamillus.com/default.aspx?PageID=85 MAKE A DAY OF IT

Our tour guide, Jessica, was lively and knowledgeable, providing the history of the cave and the…read moremain man behind it, an inventor who held many patents including fire extinguishers. The tour included an underground boat ride with cool, clear water dripping from above; kisses from the cave. Wear comfortable shoes and remember to ask for the AAA discount.

I was intrigued by this attraction, but was unfortunately a bit underwhelmed…read more You start the tour with a bit of a walking tour learning about the area and its history, then you take a boat ride into the "cave" The cave is really more like a tunnel than an actual cave and is completely man made. The tour guides, however, are wonderful and informative. They have a lot of great information and are personable and engaging. It is worth a visit to learn some interesting facts and try something new and unique, but don't come expecting a cool cave experience. As long as you set your expectations, you won't be disappointed and have a more enjoyable experience.

If you are in Batavia (or exploring sights along the NYS Thruway), this is a must! A wealth of…read morehistorical information and objects, with the oldest being a Revolutionary War drum. The gibbet used for hanging the condemned is in a room of its own, viewable through a piece of plate glass. The giftshop lady gave a wonderful tour!

A hidden gem located five minutes south of I-90 in Batavia, this museum offers a wealth of…read moreinformation about various topics related to Batavia specifically and Western New York generally, including the namesake land company, the rise of the anti-masonic movement (the first third party in U.S. history), local veterans from past wars, local commerce, and unsolved murder mysteries. At times the organization of the exhibits and placement of the text cards can make things a bit difficult to follow, but the wealth of information offered more than compensates for these minor concerns. The gentleman running the gift shop was very friendly and helpful

I loved my visit to the ROM. I didn't get to see all of it, but what I did see was impressive…read more Starting with the dinosaur skeletons and then on to the antiquities, it was really enjoyable. We had a 4 year old with us so we spent a lot of time on the 2nd floor with the bees and the bats and the animals, but I enjoyed it just as much. The play area they have set up for the kids is brilliant, it engages the kids while also getting them involved in 'art' and 'design'. We made a bee out of pipe cleaners and then played in the garden area. I plan on coming back to Toronto next year and I want to come back to see what I missed.

Toronto Review 7/Many: I went to the Royal Ontario Museum as the first of many museums/exhibitions…read morewe did in the city. Apparently, tickets are cheaper if you book them online, but they were reasonable enough, with the typical discounts for seniors or kids. We added both the special exhibits, and for those interested, I would recommend one (Psychedelics) but not the other (Bees.) The first floor included the first special exhibit, "Bees: A Story of Survival," which was a collaboration/moving exhibition by the National Museums Liverpool along with Wolfgang Buttress. The exhibit covered bees in many ways, including their habits, conservation, and other topics. This was all presented in a series of corridors with many touch screens, though one of them wasn't working right. The rooms overall were pretty dark, with the whole exhibit being pretty abstract, including hives large enough for us to walk through, among other things. In the background, there was a mix of classical music and the sound of bees, but I couldn't really hear the bees, which might be a good thing, honestly. Overall, it was a bit of a letdown as it was just a bit too abstract for my liking, which was a bit of a buzzkill. Soon after, we beelined (okay, I'll stop) to the other exhibit, which was on the 4th floor. The other, much better exhibit, was "Psychedelics: Art, Culture. Science." It was a bit hard to find, as it was through an extra door which probably needs a label, but once inside, it was excellent. It was quite large and included various methods cultures have used to consume said substances, some music and other things created by said cultures, and many paintings/albums inspired by psychedelics. The exhibit also included a video portraying a "trip," which was unique and quite loud. It also ended with a nice artwork by Brian Blomerth (or should I say blometh for this exhibit/I kid,) who also has a rather trippy homepage. Outside of the two special exhibits, we went through a variety of things before getting hungry. Another exhibit I enjoyed was "Shokkan: Material Encounters in Japanese Art," which included some touchable objects and some good details and facts that I wasn't personally aware of. There was also a room that went over the various fauna and flora of Crawford Lake, and otherwise we checked out some general things. The other exhibits included suits of armor/weapons, a good mixture of dinosaurs, a more general Asian gallery (which unfortunately had a lot of background noise as they were working on another room, so we left,) and a small exhibit on Judaica. A particular highlight of the rest was a section going over various periods of European history, ranging from Baroque to Renaissance to semi-modern styles, including examples of rooms, architecture, music, and other things. While not my favorite thing we did on the trip, this was an excellent museum overall. I can see why it's so popular, and I would go back to see other exhibits so I could see the rest of the museum.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3BLAFoKTqw&t=5s…read more I've always been fascinated with trains, trucks, old cars that go back in history. And many times I've wanted to go and see this museum. So on 9/19/2021 they were holding a special event for old fire trucks, I headed out there. They had an assortment of vehicles going back in time. The old trolley car which you can ride on, fire trucks, roadway machinery, an original Greyhound bus, and more. I was impressed. Good for the history buffs, and families. And I give special credit to the men and women who donate their time to make this happen.

Really surprisingly nice. Don't confuse this one with the Rochester and Genesee Valley Railroad…read moreMuseum. It wasn't cheap, $27 for me and 1 kid. But there is a lot to see here and admission comes with a really nice ride on the tram. They have a couple cars from the old Midtown monorail which brought back a lot of memories. Lots of cars and engines you can climb on, and a lot of the bells still work. Some other neat old antique vehicles as well. All the people that were working/volunteering were super nice as well. Overall great way to spend an afternoon.

Poler's is Medina's one true respite from the world outside and the grind of daily life. There's…read moreabsolutely no judgment here, just neighbors and strangers chatting away over pints, throwing darts and watching the game. Delicious burgers complement the casual vibe. This historic pub has been a friendly and welcoming haven since 1902.

Stopped in with a larger, family group after the Polar Express. The barmaid, and even a patron were…read morenice enough to gather up a few high tops and find a space for us. Everyone's food was good, my Rodeo burger was perfect, juicy, tasty and a healthy amount of fries! The barmaid was also the server and she was on point. Even though it's more a bar atmosphere, the place was clean, friendly, and they even had a few games to entertain my kids. I would recommend this place and look forward to returning the next time I'm in Medina.