February and April spring breaks in Buffalo can be brutal if the kids are trapped indoors the whole time. Here are some fun things to do to fight cabin fever:
Adventure Landing: You know those places with all the video games that gives out tickets? Then, the tickets can be redeemed for useless junk you don't really want? This place is great for that because it's small and CHEAP. There are some great packages on their website, and $20 in tokens is about all you need for a family. So, it's a reasonably priced place to go with less stress than the bigger (more expensive) places.
Aquarium of Niagara: Admission is $15 for adults and $11 for kids (if you have a zoo membership, there's a discount). This is a very, very small aquarium which is a great size for young kids. At the same time, the upstairs observation area for shows has railings with gaps so big it made me terrified for little ones! If you can hold on to them tight enough, it's a fun place to visit for a couple of hours. There are often Groupon deals and even special passes you can get for the touch tanks.
Billy Beez (in Walden Galleria Mall) -- $15-$16 dollars per kid -- This gets you UNLIMITED time in the play area, which is humongous! You can even leave and come back later. My kids play for about 4 straight hours. If you bring another adult, you can take turns "watching" the kids while the other adult gets to go shopping (alone) in the mall. (I say "watching" because no one is really able to even see their kids. You just know they're in there somewhere having fun!)
Bowling: Although it's not as common as it used to be, it's still fun! Check Groupon for some really good deals!
Buffalo Battleground: This one is fun for older kids!
Buffalo Museum of Science: Adults $13 and children are $10. There are a quite a few exhibits here for all ages. The specialty exhibits, however, sometimes cost a little more.
Build a Machine Fitness: $10 for a "drop in" class or $5 on free for all Fridays. This is a ninja warrior course where your most rambunctious kids can run around and burn energy by climbing, jumping, swinging, etc. while you sit back and relax. It's definitely worth checking out.
Buffalo Botanical Gardens: Admission is $11 for adults and $6 for kids 3-12. Even if your kids aren't into flowers or gardening, the greenhouse is warm and bright. It makes it feel like spring inside. There are some hidden areas with checker boards and a bridge over a small fish pond, too. If your kids are old enough to enjoy reading, this is a great place to do that!
Dave & Buster's: Look, this one is CRAZY expensive for a family with kids. Well, it's crazy unless you have a Groupon. If you do, the deal's pretty sweet.
Explore & More Children's Museum: Admission is $7 per person. This is a great place to take preschoolers. My first grader, however, was completely bored after an hour.
Lazertron: This one is good for older kids. Groupon has some good deals!
Niagara Climbing Center: Day passes are between $6-$13, depending on the age of the kiddos. Grades 1-12 are the target audience for this adventure!
Sky Zone: Single day tickets are about $16 for 60 minutes of jumping around. This is pretty expensive, even though it's super fun and wears out the kids. Check out Groupon for awesome deals for the 2-hour jump passes. Also, they have special days/times for toddlers, teens, and kids with sensory needs.
Theatre of Youth: Tickets are usually around $20 per person (cheaper seats and more expensive seats are available). The shows are geared for kiddos and the entire theatre is sensory friendly! What's unique about this theatre is that it's fairly small and quiet, the shows are usually only an hour long and don't have an intermission. So, it's a good experience for young theatre-goers.
