When people want to see and learn about animals they usually go to their local zoo. While this is without a doubt a great way to spend the day as a family, there is another, lesser-known alternative to zoos - nature centers. These facilities focus on both animals and the environments around them, giving visitors a more well-rounded experience. Nature centers can be found throughout the country and The Empire State is no exception. Check out this list of some of the best family-friendly nature centers in New York State.

1. Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery & Aquarium

Roughly one hour east of Manhattan, in - aptly enough - the hamlet of Cold Spring Harbor on Long Island, you’ll find this first nature center. The combined hatchery-aquarium boasts 10 "live exhibits." The Walter L. Ross III Aquarium Building is home to more than 30 different species of New York State-native freshwater fish including bowfins and Long Island brook trout. The Fairchild Exhibit Building includes fish local to The Empire State, as well, but also lays claim to the largest living collection of native amphibians in the Northeast. When you are done with the facility’s exhibits, head to the trout pond to, for an additional fee, try your hand at fishing. The hatchery recommends you bring your own pole and bait but there is fishing equipment on hand if you require it. Admission to the hatchery is $7 for adults, $6 for seniors, $5 for children ages 3-12, and free for children ages 2 and under. To learn more, check out the facility’s Facebook page.

2. Montezuma Audubon Center

In Upstate New York, between the cities of Rochester and Syracuse, is the Montezuma Audubon Center which sits on 198 acres of forest, wetland, and grassland habitat. This nature center, which is home to 200 species of birds, offers guided birding tours on which visitors have the opportunity to see and hear all different types of birds from sandhill cranes to black terns and bald eagles. While at Montezuma, you can also paddle down one of several waterways on the property in one of the center’s kayaks or canoes. Alternatively, you can hike on your choice of trail from the 1.9-mile Warbler Way to the shorter 0.3-mile Crusoe Creek Trail. Whichever activity you choose, you’re sure to be awestruck by the beautiful surroundings around you! Admission itself is free but there is a fee for guided tours and canoe/kayak rentals. For more information about the facility, check out Montezuma’s website or the nature center’s Facebook page.

3. Teatown Lake Reservation

The final nature center on our list is Teatown Lake Reservation located 75 minutes north of downtown New York City in northern Westchester County. When you first arrive at Teatown, make sure to stop in at the visitors center where you can pick up a map of the facility’s 15 miles of varied trails which can be used for hiking, jogging, or - in the wintertime - even cross-country skiing. Also at the visitors center are a gift shop with outdoor-themed books and children’s items and enclosures featuring raptors, opossums, snakes, and turtles. Activities at Teatown beyond the visitors center include a visit to Cindy’s Garden which features a rotating variety of wildflowers, shrubs, and ferns; a "pond scooping" session during which children can learn about underwater life; and guided hikes on the aforementioned trails. Admission costs $7 a car and can be paid for at kiosks in the parking lot. While the visitors center exhibits and personal use of Teatown’s trails are included in the price of admission, additional activities - such as the guided hikes - are not, requiring an additional fee to be paid. To learn more about the facility, visit Teatown’s website or the nature center’s Facebook page.

A visit to a nature center is an excellent, educational way to spend the day as a family. You can hike the facility's trails, learn about animals native to the area, and become more informed about the environment around you. The Empire State has dozens of places where you can do just that - many of them just a short drive from one of New York State's major cities. So next time you're in New York City or Rochester, be sure to pay one of these oft-overlooked attractions a visit. And when you're done, be sure to check out this unique Long Island ice-cream-and-milkshake shop. Have you visited any of the nature centers on this list? Let us know about your experience in the comments!