Applewood Orchards

If you’re heading to Rensselaer Falls for apple picking, the playground here is a genuinely solid bonus — not an afterthought. Kids in the 2-to-10 range have plenty to keep them busy while the adults do the orchard thing, and the facilities are actually clean, which isn’t something you can say about every farm attraction in the North Country. Picnic tables make it easy to set up lunch right there, and parking is straightforward. They do seasonal events too, so it’s worth checking what’s happening before you go — some weekends get a lot busier than others.