Seabreeze
4600 Culver Road | 585-323-1900
seabreeze.com
Not so big that you can’t see and ride everything in a single visit, and not so small that you feel like you’re at the local fireman’s carnival. Seabreeze has everything from kiddie rides to thrilling adult and family rides. And don’t forget the waterpark! Pro tips: Bring a wagon, bring a well-stocked cooler, and arrive early enough to snag a table in one of the picnic areas to use as home base.
Genesee Country Village & Museum | Hamlin Beach State Park | Letchworth State Park
But you've got to see this . . .
Olcott Beach Carousel Park
5979 E. Main St., Olcott | 716-778-7066
olcottbeachcarouselpark.org
Nestled between cherry orchards and Lake Ontario in the heart of Niagara County’s fruit belt, about an hour’s drive west from Rochester, this tiny amusement park is a vestige of a bygone era with bygone prices. The nonprofit park bills itself as a “vintage kiddy park” and is open from Memorial Day through Labor Day. The park features about a dozen lovingly-restored pint-sized rides and games from the 1920s through the 1950s that recall the heyday of homey seaside resorts before sprawling theme parks drove them to the brink of extinction. In the background, a 1930s Wurlitzer band organ hoots out tunes as repetitive as the surf. The attractions cater to children no taller than 52 inches, and each costs just 25 cents to ride or play. There is no entry fee. Take little ones with $20 in your pocket and you will be a richer person by the end of the day. — DAVID ANDREATTA
