Everyone I know loves a theme park, and when it comes with the name 'Six Flags,' even better! The 1,200-acre amusement park and resort in Corfu, New York, is no exception. It features an adventure park, water park, campground, and lodging, making it the perfect place to call 'home' for a few days while experiencing all the area has to offer. 

Go Art has been developing the cultural life in Genesee and Orleans counties since 1962. I've visited a few times over the past several years and was pleased to see what they've been up to recently. They believe that art, music, and performance classes are a large part of our daily lives, and I agree. They have a curriculum specifically tailored to children, a teen center that runs various classes – and they even offer events geared toward adults.  

I was most fascinated with a 'play me a tune' music garden, the staff members created in the alleyway. The space is filled with various instruments that children and others passing by can use to play a melody. While there, a group of kids happened to be outside and treated me to a few minutes of inspirational songs.    

Settler's Family Restaurant is a great place to try when you're in the area and crave a great breakfast. It's a family-owned business, and when I was there, construction workers, girlfriends, couples, and families filled the booths and tables in the spacious dining room. 

I looked over the menu intently. I'm an eggs-over-medium kind of girl, but I decided to try a dish I'd never even heard of before - it was delicious! Eggs in a nest consisted of crispy hash browns, with two fried eggs in the center, topped with melted cheddar cheese and crumbled bacon.  The serving was enormous - I couldn't even eat it all. As they say, I left a happy camper.

Do you like Jell-O? I love Jell-O! I remember the jiggly-sweet treat from when I was a kid. My mom would make it from so many fruity flavors, and my sisters and I would top it off with whipped cream, enjoying each squishy mouthful. I had no idea there was a Jell-O Museum – and it's filled with all kinds of fun facts about the dessert my generation grew up with. After roaming around in the upstairs section of the building, wander downstairs where you can view all kinds of old wagons and carriages in the museum's transportation exhibit.  

Right around the corner, I found another attraction well worth the visit. There's a pretty little gazebo, manicured lawn, and a Statue of Liberty – although a much smaller version, at the edge of Oatka Creek. The Boy Scouts of America donated this replica, and it's cool to see. I bet the kids would love a photo standing in front of it. Can you say 'selfie-op'?

I grew up in a small town called Franklin, Massachusetts. It was walkable, and my family and I often wandered in and out of stores along the main roads on a Saturday afternoon. Downtown Batavia is the same – with plenty of stores for both children and adults to enjoy. 

There are men's clothing shops, women's clothing shops, and even Adam Miller Toys and Bicycle Store that offers everything BUT a battery-operated toy for the kids in our lives. (Say What??) The Batavia Bootery has provided a fantastic family selection of shoes and boots at reasonable prices for the past several years. What I loved most was seeing how they still measure feet like the shoe stores of yesterday. There's a theatre, a Hemp CBD store, coffee shops, and more than a handful of great places to grab a meal while you're in town over the weekend.  

A brother-sister team owns and runs an upscale jewelry store called Vallee Jewelers, and they've filled each case with a stunning selection of rings, watches, necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and more. With two full-time professional bench jewelers on site, you can even have your dream piece designed and made by them.

A few minutes down the road, I found a historical museum with groups of families and students on supervised tours. I was there by myself and joined one that was in progress. The Holland Land Office Museum offers a plethora of information and artifacts covering Genesee County and insight into how critical players of the time surveyed and developed the land, which affected everyone around them – including the Native Americans. 

Directly beside the museum, you can view and walk along Batavia's Honorary International Peace Garden – a beautiful demonstration of peace with partners worldwide promoting the sentiment. Volunteers do the upkeep, and the team is opening another section as we speak. I visited Dublin's Peace Garden a few years ago and was surprised to learn they are part of the same group! I'm impressed with how beautiful and peaceful this garden is, and I intend to learn more about the organization. 

A great candy shop in the area is called Oliver's. OMG, I could smell the chocolate from the parking lot! Not only did I try French Creams for the first time, but I also sampled sponge candy. They're both delicious! It's a family-owned business, and it was fun to watch children walking around, pointing out this, that, and the other thing they wanted mom and dad to buy and bring home.

An excellent place to stop for lunch is Sweet Betty's. It reminds me of the '50s restaurants, with a black-and-white checkerboard floor, several well-spaced tables, and a long white counter for belly-up-to-the-kitchen options. They offer popcorn while you wait, and several people happily munched away on the treat while chefs worked on their menu choices. Although the menu listed many tempting items, I went with the 3-cheese toasted sandwich with chips on the side. Don't pass on it if you love cheese like I love cheese – it's fabulous! 

For dinner, I visited an old railroad station, which has since become a charming eatery named the D&R Depot Restaurant. It seemed to be a favorite of local families. When I asked what the waitress would recommend, she was spot-on in suggesting the chicken pot pie. I hadn't had one in ages, and it was one my mom would have been proud to call her own. They didn't skimp on anything either; vegetables, chunks of chicken, and creamy sauce were simmering when the dish arrived at my table.       

Stop by Northwoods Alpacas before jumping on the highway when you leave town. According to their owner's website, 'these World-Class Alpacas have outstanding conformation, easy-to-handle temperaments, and high-quality elite fleece.' The animals are so stinkin' adorable; the kids will love petting them for a few minutes while you shop for Alpaca items in the little store at the end of the driveway. Shopping here is by appointment only, so call and arrange a visit — you'll be glad you did.

Listen, weekends with family are important. God knows we need more of them. Planning a road trip takes some effort – but New York State is more than willing to help with the task, filling a few days with time well-spent surrounded by the people we enjoy most, loved ones.