Lake Chautauqua, New York with kids

I should start this by saying we're very fortunate to have close friends who own a lake house there, so we've gone here several times and lodging is free. That being said, even if that's not the case for you, I'd definitely recommend the area to any families within driving distance. It's a lovely little area with actually quite a lot to do.

Looking out at Lake Chautauqua

We've gone to Chautauqua in 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2024. In 2018, it was with a baby boy, a 3yo boy, and a 16yo boy. In 2019, it was with a 1yo boy, 4yo boy, 5yo girl, 6yo girl, 8yo boy, and 10yo girl. In 2020, it was with a 2yo boy, 5yo boy, and we met up with our friends who had a 3 or 4yo boy. In 2024, we went with a 6yo boy and 9yo boy. So we've been there with all the ages kids, and they've all enjoyed it! We've always gone in summertime, but I know there's skiing and winter fun activities nearby too...

What to do around the area? First off, you cannot ignore the water. We went kayaking or canoeing on every trip. If you're not fortunate enough to know people with a house right on a canal that feeds into the lake or with kayaks and canoes to use, you can still rent a boat/kayak/canoe to get out on the water yourself. It's beautiful, and the kids love the experience.

Second, if you have little ones, Midway Park was a lot of fun. It's a small, older amusement park. Definitely not for older kids, but great rides for little ones.

Fun Slides at Midway Park near Lake Chautauqua

For outdoor adventures, I strongly recommend the Skinny Dip Falls Trail and Panama Rocks. The trail, contrary to its name, did not include any skinny dipping! Rather, it was a gorgeous wooded trail that opened out into a creek with giant rock slabs straight up that were awe-inspiring and beautifully unexpected. Panama Rocks is so much fun to explore with the kids. They can climb up high, wedge through tight little spaces, and there's often scavenger/treasure hunts to engage them in as well. Our kids (and my nieces and nephew) have loved the times we've gone there.

You can't visit the area without a detour to the Chautauqua Institution. You could just explore the beautiful grounds and gardens or play at the playground there. There's also different educational events, lectures, and concerts, so check the schedule online.

Finally, for food options I'd suggest Big Tree Ice Cream because what kid doesn't want ice cream during their fun outdoorsy summer trip? And also, Southern Tier Brewing. I know that may sound like an odd suggestion for a blog about trips with kids/family, but they have a great outdoor area where the kids can run around and play and sometimes there's live music too. They serve food, so you can all have dinner there, and the kids can have a blast while you enjoy one of their delicious beers. It's busy inside, and with kids, I'd absolutely recommend outdoor seating only.

Enjoying frozen treats after a day out on the water