Family Fun Day: Berkshires and the Capital Region

Thanksgiving weekend we went to Western MA to visit family and even got together with some friends in the Capital District of NY.
As usually I found some inexpensive (and some free) things to do in our free time.

The New York State Museum in Albany is free to the public.  We usually like to donate a few dollars when we visit, but $5 is well worth it. 

Checking out the moose

 There are lots of different exhibits to look through and enjoy.  Even a discovery and play area.

Garrett having fun with blocks

A traction engine, just like Trevor

 And yes, a replica of the stoop from Sesame Street was among the displays of different areas of New York City.

 Garrett enjoyed the train.

A genuine strap hanger

There is also the Berkshire Museum in Pittsfield, MA.  Because we have a membership to our local Museum of Science we got the member rate at the museum here.   Most museums do have a passport program that will allow you to use your membership from your home museum for other museums you may visit.

That's a mighty large bone

 The Berkshire Museum features a small aquarium section in the basement.

Can you tell he loves fish?

Ben says Moray Eels are creepy

Garrett had fun petting the Horseshoe crabs at the touch pool. I love how unafraid he is.

Even the gems and minerals are pretty cool to look at.

We all had fun walking around the museums.  Even if you don't live in a larger area you can still have a family day out without breaking the bank.