I-81 corridor Harrisburg to Canada

In Harrisburg, PA you could swing into Pizza Boy for bottles/crowlers/growlers. Really short detour off the interstate.

In Watertown, NY (yes, you read that correctly) hit up BottleCaps. 5-10 minute detour off 81 that has a nice shop and usually some good growler fill options.

 

Binghamton - Brewpubs Water Street and Galaxy in downtown or Food & Fire (BBQ + 40 taps) in Johnson City. Sam the Beer Man bottle shop is right off of 81, if you are looking to take away.

Syracuse - World of Beer in the mall (50 taps, KBS and Grimm Cloudbursting and Catch Wave just went on tap), Dinosaur BBQ (not always a great tap list, but it's iconic), or Empire Brewpub.

 

Conyngham and Breaker in PA are convenient but hours might be limited.

 

We just spent a relaxing three hours at Troeg's today. Sat on the patio with a friend and her two small children. Snacked on red beet eggs, octopus taco, house made chips with crime fraiche and roe and the cheese plate. Lots of interest things on the "snack bar" menu. Watched them smoking andouille that goes in a noodle dish. Hop Knife now on tap. Crowlers at the bar, cases, sixes and swag in the store.

 

Troegs is very family friendly,,it also sits right next to Hersheypark and its Chocolate World...beer for dad...chocolate for kids.

Farther North in Wilkes-Barre Breaker Brewing has some very quality beers. Their hours are a bit limited and not the easiest place to find, but it's less than a mile off I81.

 

If you wanted to take the scenic route when you hit Binghamton head an hour west to Corning. There is a nice brewpub downtown, as well as the amazing Corning Museum of glass.

You could go NE from there up through Ithaca, the Ithaca brewery has a great cafe/tasting area at the Brewery. Traveling up the east Said of Cayuga Lake will allow you to pass a few more brewpubs and at least two distilleries. You could rejoin I81 around Syracuse. That route will be longer but oh so much more scenic. Numerous state parks in that area as well that you could stop and take a quick hike with the kiddos to burn if f some energy....lol

 

Many good suggestions in this thread (troeg's, food and fire, galaxy, bottle caps etc). I would also put J. Ryan's on this list. Best beer bar in Syracuse area (69 taps) with decent (and inexpensive) bar food and is kid friendly. Depending on your plans, and willingness to deviate from 81, prison city brewpub in auburn has also been crushing it lately. If you decide to go to Ithaca (their brewery might be the most kid friendly brewpub I have ever been to) then make sure to check out Finger Lakes Beverage company - an absolutely top notch bottle shop.

 

There's a newer brewery that was decent just south of downtown Syracuse, called Willow Rock. It's just a couple of minutes off I-81 at the 481 exchange (exit 16?).