11 Ideas For Your Next Family Adventure
11 Ideas For Your Next Family Adventure
Find a new adventure at the Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Library System (CCLS)
Whether you’re new to the region or looking for something new to explore, the Day Adventure Pass program of the Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Library System (CCLS) is the perfect opportunity for your family to discover local attractions in western New York and Pennsylvania! All that’s needed is a CCLS library card to check a Day Pass out from any CCLS member library, including Ellicottville Memorial Library, for free or reduced-price admission to local partner organizations.
To check out a Day Adventure Pass, borrowers must be at least 18 years old and a current CCLS library cardholder in good standing. One Adventure Pass can be checked out at a time for a maximum of seven days and must be returned to the checkout library. Use of the pass is meant to serve as an introduction to each destination but are not intended for repeated use by the same individual or family.
1. Buffalo Museum of Science
The Buffalo Museum of Science (BMS) offers an engaging, hands-on experience for visitors of all ages. Located in Buffalo’s historic Martin Luther King Jr. Park at 1020 Humboldt Parkway, the museum features interactive exhibits on astronomy, dinosaurs, health, geology, and more. Families will love the hands-on science studios, rotating exhibits, and full-dome planetarium shows. May is Messy Science Month, featuring events and exhibits on the “gross side of science.” Don’t miss June, which is Colorful Science Month and guides visitors through the science of color, including the why and the how behind colors in nature and our (and other creatures’) ability to perceive them! The Adventure Pass provides free general museum admission (one-time visit) for up to two adults and two children.
2. Buffalo Zoo
Nearby, the Buffalo Zoo, located at 300 Parkside Ave. in Buffalo, is celebrating 150 years of fun this year! The third oldest zoo in the U.S., the Buffalo Zoo covers 23.5 acres and features a wide range of animals, including amphibians and reptiles, bison, polar bears, giraffes, gorillas, hyenas, lions, meerkats, otters, rhinos, seals, zebras, and more! Explore M&T Bank Rainforest Falls, the Delta Sonic Heritage Farm Children’s Petting Zoo, Kookaburra Korner, and a variety of events throughout the year. Help the Buffalo Zoo celebrate 150 years at a special Birthday Bash, with special animal encounters, birthday treats, historical exhibits, and more on Saturday, May 31st. Learn more at buffalozoo.org. The Adventure Pass provides for the admittance of up to two paying adults and two free youth.
3. The Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame
The Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame is a non-profit organization formed in 1980 to honor Chautauqua County athletes and sports celebrities who have left their mark on their sport and their community. Each year, a banquet is held to induct a new group of honorees into the Hall of Fame. This year’s inductees included Chautauqua County native Nick Sirianni, head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles, who was inducted into the Coaching category. The Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame maintains an exhibit hall in downtown Jamestown at 15 West Third St., and admittance (up to four people, adult and/or child) is free with the Adventure Pass.
4. The Erie Zoo
For over 100 years, the Erie Zoo has delighted and educated visitors of all ages with over 400 animals from across the world. The zoo, which is located at 423 W. 38th St. in Erie, PA, is comprised of seven different areas, each of which features a different group of animals. The historic main building, which was dedicated in 1930, houses many different animals, including lemurs, spider monkeys, tarantulas, sand cats, macaws, lions, and more. The Kiboka Outpost houses an African bird exhibit and offers visitors a unique view looking down on southern white rhinos, zebras, warthogs, and other animals of the Savannah grasslands in Africa. The Adventure Pass provides free admission for children twelve and younger with the purchase of an adult pass.
5. Fenton History Center
The Fenton History Center, located in the Fenton Mansion at 67 Washington St. in Jamestown, is a landmark in Chautauqua County and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Italian villa-style brick mansion was commissioned by a local architect in 1863 for Reuben E. Fenton, a U.S. Congressman in the 1850s, New York State Governor (1865-1869) and a U.S. Senator (1869-1875). The Fenton History Center operates a museum in Fenton’s historic home and includes exhibits about the Fenton family, the history of Jamestown, the Underground Railroad in Chautauqua County and more, as well as elegant period rooms, which showcase remarkable artifacts and examples of Victorian décor. The Adventure Pass admits up to four people (adults and/or children) to the museum.
6. Griffis Sculpture Park
One of the largest sculpture parks in the U.S., Griffis Sculpture Park was created in the early 1960s by artist Larry Griffis, Jr., an American who studied sculpture in Rome following WWII, and returned to the area to create a place where anyone can enjoy the relationship between nature and art, just as he and his family did in Italy. The park, located at 6902 Mill Valley Road in East Otto, is comprised of 450 acres that feature over 250 large-scale sculptures created by Griffis and other international artists placed throughout several miles of hiking trails. Visitors can explore the park’s two sections: Rohr Hill Road site, which is known for towering sculptures in fields and wooded areas just off the road, and Mill Valley Road Site, which has a smoother walking area and several miles of trails through different terrain. The Adventure Pass admits a child (12 and younger) for free with the purchase of one adult admission.
7. The National Comedy Center and the LucyDesi Museum
Discover a full day of laughter in Jamestown, NY! The National Comedy Center celebrates the art and history of comedy with 37,000 square feet of interactive exhibits featuring legends like Johnny Carson and Joan Rivers. Named one of Time Magazine’s World’s Greatest Places, U.S. News’ “25 Top Family Weekend Getaways in the U.S.” and USA Today’s 10 Best New Museums, the Comedy Center utilizes innovative technology to provide each visitor with a curated experience based on their unique taste in comedy. Just blocks away, the Lucy Desi Museum honors TV’s First Couple of Comedy, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, Jr., with recreated sets, original props, and fun hands-on experiences. Don’t miss the 2025 LucyTown Driving Tour or the Lucille Ball Comedy Festival this August, featuring headliners Jon Stewart and Bill Murray. Plan your visit at comedycenter.org and lucy-desi.com. One Adventure Pass admits up to two people (adult and/or child) to both the Comedy Center and the LucyDesi Museum.
8. The Robert H. Jackson Center
Located at 305 E. Fourth St. in Jamestown, the Robert H. Jackson Center is dedicated to the life and legacy of Justice Robert H. Jackson, a Chautauqua County native who served as the chief U.S. prosecutor at the Nuremberg Trials, which prosecuted Nazi war criminals after World War II. Through permanent exhibits, live presentations, research, and scholarship, the Robert H. Jackson Center fulfills its mission to be “a forum for education on and discussion of law and justice issues, as guided by the life and work of Robert H. Jackson.” In addition to artifacts and exhibits that share Jackson’s legacy, one of the center’s permanent exhibits includes Nuremberg Photos by Raymond D’Addario, one of few photographers assigned by the Army Pictorial Service to document the Nuremberg Trials. Learn more at roberthjackson.org. Admittance (up to four people, adult and/or child) is free with the Adventure Pass.
9. Roger Tory Peterson Institute
For those who love to explore the natural world, Jamestown’s Roger Tory Peterson Institute (311 Curtis Street Ext.) is a must-visit. The RTPI celebrates the legacy of the famed artist, ornithologist, and author of the Peterson Field Guide, who was a native of Jamestown. Nestled in a 27-acre preserve, the Institute features rotating nature-themed art exhibitions, educational programming, and scenic walking trails. Explore Peterson’s original artwork and discover how his passion for conservation lives on today. Learn more at rtpi.org. Admittance (up to four people, adult and/or child) is free with the Adventure Pass.
10. Seneca Iroquois National Museum
Located at 82 W. Hetzel Street in Salamanca, the Seneca Iroquois National Museum and Onöhsagwë:de’ Cultural Center invite visitors to explore Seneca history, culture, and art through engaging exhibits. Highlights include a replica longhouse, traditional beadwork and carvings, and exhibits on the Creation Story, Kinzua Dam, and matrilineal society. Discover Seneca art, crafts, and souvenirs, including many handcrafted items, and don’t miss the reopening of On the Mother’s Side on May 30th. Visit www.senecamuseum.org to learn more. Admittance (up to four people, adult and/or child) is free with the Adventure Pass.
11. Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site
One of the most influential U.S. presidents of all time began his presidency at 641 Delaware Ave., Buffalo following the shocking assassination of President McKinley at the Pan-American Exposition on September 6, 1901. The TR Inaugural Site invites visitors to journey back in time to Teddy Roosevelt’s world to discover the challenges he faced, the beginning of his presidency, and his legacy in the very home where he took the oath of office. Explore historically restored rooms and interactive exhibits at the TR Inaugural Site, which is the only National Parks Service site in western New York. Learn more at trsite.org. The Adventure Pass provides for the admittance of up to two individuals with two paying individuals.