Kid's Activities in Syracuse, New York

• Syracuse, New York is in Onondaga County, approximately 75 miles east of Rochester. Visitors and residents of Syracuse can find a variety of activities for kids in the city. Among these are special museums that offer exhibits geared toward children. Area performing arts groups also produce special shows for children throughout the year, including puppet shows.

Museum of Science & Technology

• The Museum of Science & Technology offers a variety of hands-on exhibits meant to appeal to children aged 2 years and older. In the Discovery Cave, kids can dig for dinosaur bones and view the Coral Reef Adventures fish tank. The Flight and Space area provides simulators of the interiors of rockets and planes. An on-site planetarium hosts star shows daily. The Museum of Science & Technology also has an IMAX theater that shows educational and first-run family films.

  The Museum of Science & Technology is open Wednesday through Sunday. The museum closes Mondays and Tuesdays and on most major holidays. General admission is $6 as of October 2010. Children and senior citizens receive admission discounts. IMAX movies and other shows require the purchase of an additional ticket for an added cost. The nearest parking is along the street in metered spaces or in the two pay lots behind the museum.

The Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park

• The Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park opened in 1914 and has grown since that time from a four acre space to 45 acres. The zoo serves as home to more than 900 animals, including penguins, red pandas and snow leopards. At the domestic animal barn, children can pet and interact with farm animals like sheep and guinea hogs. Live shows and demonstrations occur throughout the day.

  The Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park is open seven days per week, year round with the exception of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Admission prices vary throughout the year with discounted rates available during the winter months. Children and senior citizens receive discounts off admission. Strollers and wagons are available for rent. The zoo has free, on-site parking.

Open Hand Theater and Mask and Puppet Museum

• The Open Hand Theater was built in 1890 serves as home for the puppet theater group, which began in 1980. The group presents a number of productions each year at the site, called the Main Stage. Geared toward children, these puppet shows typically include folktales, legends or fables from around the world.

  The Open Hand Theater also features a Mask and Puppet Museum inside its facility. The collection consists of items from around the world with a large number of pieces from Indonesia, China, India, Bali and Vietnam. A section of the museum also displays puppets and memorabilia from the Open Hand Theater's past performances.

  The Open Hand Theater's Mask and Puppet Museum is available to tour on Fridays by appointment. Visitors can also tour the facility before and after performances. Admission is free to the museum. The nearest parking is along the street.