I'd take you to Museum Village which is "a living history museum committed to the exploration, interpretation and preservation of 19th century life." Located on Route 17M in Monroe at the intersection of two major highways - Route 17 and the New York State Thruway (I-87). About an hour from NYC by car.
Museum Village has 20 exhibit buildings on its property and visitors can shop in a 100-year-old general store, see a real Mastodon skeleton, dip a candle, step inside a 200-year-old log cabin, sit in a one-room schoolhouse, and watch a broom, coverlet or wagon wheel being made. And you can do this all in one day!
The docents or tour guides are dressed in authentic costumes and actually go about their tasks as if they were living in the 19th century.
Visit the Museum any day in May and June, and you'll see busloads of school children there--it makes a great class trip. Visit on your own, and you can tour with a small group or tag along with one of the school groups (don't worry they are chaperoned). In addition, the Museum hosts a number of crafts classes like fiber arts, candle making, spinning and print making which are open to the community for a small fee.
The Museum is open daily in late May through November; weekends it can vary, so check their informative website. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, $5 for children (8-15) and the littlest ones are free!
There is a snack bar on the grounds for light fare; however, if you're completing your visit in the late afternoon, save your appetite and dine at Opus Terrace Steakhouse, The Velvet Monkey, Rhodes Tavern North,
or Tulcingo Mexican Deli which are all within a short driving distance and all are located on Rte 17M. Check my posts--I've reviewed these restaurants and they are some of my local favorites.
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