** Update – Riverside Maple Farms has closed since this was posted.
We recently had a week off for spring break, and when I saw that the kids could make their own maple cotton candy at Riverside Maple Farms in Glenville, we decided to head over!
It was easy to find Riverside Maple Farm, just off Route 5 / Amsterdam Ave in Glenville (Google Maps took us right there).
There was plenty of parking and we headed inside to take a tour.
There is a very nice gift shop with so many different maple items for sale. Besides wanting them all for myself, these make great gifts, especially if you want to find a nice local gift item for an out-of-town gift recipient.
We were able to start with either making our maple cotton candy or the tour, and not surprisingly, we started with the cotton candy. We suited up in caps and gloves, and headed into a room where the machine was running.
The kids were excited to pull out some huge pieces of maple cotton candy (and of course to keep and eat!).
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Next, we headed outside for our tour. We got to see the newly installed solar panels that contribute power to the maple farm operations.
We learned the process of gathering the maple syrup, from older processes to their modern version (which actually applies some suction to the lines).
Inside, it was impressive to see how the 2% sugar raw maple syrup becomes “true” maple syrup!
We also got to sample different grades of maple syrup, from light to dark.
It was fun to learn about maple syrup, try samples, and make our own maple cotton candy. We also got some maple items from the gift shop as well.
Check out our other Things to Do in Albany, NY!
About the Author: Marysa
Busy blogger and mom of two girls. We love traveling and the great outdoors, and are always looking for our next adventure!
I would love to visit Riverside Maple Farms. This looks like so much fun! I do love Maple flavoring also
How neat! This would be a perfect place for kids to explore. It would be so cool to learn more about the syrup and I bet I’d love that maple cotton candy.
OMG how fun is this?? My boys would totally be into vising a place like this.
It is on my bucket list to one day have fresh maple syrup. I would love to bring my family here one day to see the whole operation! so fun!
That is so cool! Looks like a great place to visit. Can’t go wrong with FRESH syrup!
what a fun unique way to spend spring break! your daughter is a lucky gal! i want to do this!
What a fun experience! My kids and I would definitely love getting to help make maple cotton candy, and getting to see where maple syrup comes from! Over here in the West where we live, there are very few maple trees, so syrup isn’t something we’ve ever seen made!
Wow! Riverside Maple Farms looks like an amazing place to visit! I would love to do the maple tasting and make maple cotton candy too! What a fun place for families. If I am ever in Glenville NY I am sure to stop!
I would have to tell my son is he gets to have cotton candy and he would be all for it LOL. Whatever get out that way I would love to go here. I love little towns and what they have to offer.
We love Maple syrup around here so this is something we would love to do. To see where our foods come from is important so that we respect the craft that goes into making great tasting things.
We eat a ton of maple syrup here, so I think we’d love to go on this tour and see more about where it comes from. I’d totally dig some of that maple cotton candy too!
This looks like a lot of fun, especially the sampling! My daughter-in-law’s parents make their own maple syrup. It is really delicious!
Omg that looks like an amazing experience, I would go to make the cotton candy, yum.
The place looks so awesome and so clean. Hands down to the management of this farm. It’s so nice to experience such activity that your having so much fun while learning.
What a fun trip! My grandpa always liked grade B maple syrup the best. He said the flavor was deeper and richer. I want some of that cotton candy!
That looks like a great farm to visit. It’s always fun to visit a farm. We always enjoy visiting one in the fall.
I have always thought the process of making maple syrup sounds so interesting. I would love to visit Riverside Maple Farms.
I would love to visit a maple farm like this someday! I have to look around my area for something similar to this.. looks like fun!
What a fun trip for your family.
This looks like an incredible place, and I am absolutely drooling over everything in the gift shop! We don’t get exposure to this kind of experience here in the PNW!
I love visiting new farms that have DIY products. Really cool and I am sue that maple syrup is amazing
This looks like so much fun, I would love to take my kids so they could see how maple syrup is processed.
never thought about going to a maple farm before!
Wow! This is interesting as I haven’t been to a maple farm.
Also, I am happy to know that they have a nice gift shop. I usually get something to bring for my family. I believe this is the perfect way to share with them the wonderful experience.
Wow! Talk about a fun and creative way to keep the kids entertained during school break! It looks like so much fun.