For a different type of fort experience, check out the reconstructed Fort Stanwix National Monument on East Street. This fort was where Revolutionary War patriots stood strong throughout a 21-day British siege in August 1777. The education center houses a timeline exhibit, audiovisual presentations, a bookstore and a museum collection storage area for 450,000 objects. Admission is free.

Call (315) 336-2090, or visit Nps.gov/fost.

When the fishing slows down, visit the Rome Sports Hall of Fame and Museum on the Rome-New London Road. Housed here are the Richie Evans NASCAR racing car and Jerry Cooks NASCAR memorabilia, plus powerboats driven by champion Dave Packer and sports exhibits including Olympic memorabilia. Call (315) 339-9038 for details.

Just a bit farther down the pike is more family fun in Utica. At Union Station, the Adirondack Scenic Railroad offers train rides from Utica to Old Forge. Call 1-877-508-6728, or visit Adirondackrr.com.

The Children's Museum on Main Street has plenty of hands-on interactive exhibits and programs. Visit Museum4Kids.net for details, or call (315) 724-6129.

The family jogger will want to stop by the National Distance Running Hall of Fame, which pays tribute to distance runners and also houses memorabilia from the history of distance running. For more information, visit DistanceRunning.com, or call (315) 724-4525.

The family animal lover won't want to miss the Utica Zoo on Steele Hill Road. Meet the bears, sea lions, gibbons, snow leopards, tigers and many endangered species. Log on to UticaZoo.org, or call (315) 738-0472.

LONG ISLAND
With the wide-open Atlantic Ocean on one side, Long Island Sound on the other, and family fun packed everywhere in between, New York's Long Island is an ideal family fishing vacation destination.

Long Island's extensive state park system offers affordable family fun in several locations.

Heckscher State Park in East Islip, about mid-island on the southern shore, has 69 campsites for vehicles under 11 feet high, a boat launch, a playground, hiking and biking trails and swimming in either Great South Bay or in the campground pool.

Call (631) 581-2100, the state reservation line, or visit the state park's Web site at LiCamping.

Minutes north is the Connetquot River State Park Preserve in Oakdale. There are 3,473 acres of land and water reserved here for game birds, fish and animals. Deer and waterfowl are plentiful. Careful observers can expect to see rare birds nesting and rare plants as well.

Fishing is allowed by permit only, and there are over 50 miles of hiking trails. Call (631) 581-1005 for details.

Check out what's playing at the Airport Playhouse in Bohemia, where live theater includes everything from new Broadway releases to children's productions.

For more Airport Playhouse information, call (631) 589-7588, or visit AirportPlayhouse.com.