Welcome to the bigroads.com travel guide to New York! Hopefully this page helps provide some inspiration and tips to help you plan your next trip to New York.
Take note that I build and maintain this website as both a hobby and public service. I take joy in performing travel research and sharing my experiences and adventures. I currently do not make a profit from this website, and you will see no invasive or annoying ads on it. Your constructive feedback about this site and its content is encouraged. Please email me if you have any suggestions or ideas for improvement.
|
New York is a monster to explore. There's just so much to see and do in the state. First you've got New York City, one of the finest cities in the world. Then there's Adirondack Park, one of the most pristine and wild parks in the country. Niagara Falls is found in the western part of the state, and that's one of the world's most famous waterfalls.
And in between all that is hundreds of attractions ranging from the Baseball Hall of Fame to the Finger Lakes wine country to the waterfalls and gorges of Ithaca. If that's not enough, there's also Lake George, Long Island, and Saratoga Springs to keep you busy.
|
TOP 10 ATTRACTIONS IN NEW YORK
|
Are you short on time or struggling to choose something to do or see in New York? Here are my selections for the top 10 attractions or experiences in New York, in no particular order:
✮ Witness the magnificent power and beauty of Niagara Falls in western New York
✮ Enjoy the beaches of Long Island
✮ Drink at some of the more than 100 wineries found in the Finger Lakes Wine Country
✮ Catch a ballgame at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx
✮ Take a ferry to the Statue of Liberty
✮ Explore lower and central Manhattan on foot
✮ Catch a Broadway show in NYC
✮ Take a hike in Adirondack Park
✮ Head to Lake Placid for a few days of skiing or snowboarding at Whiteface Mountain
✮ Visit some of NYC's world-class museums
If I could select only one place to visit in New York, I would choose NYC. It's my second favorite city to visit in the U.S. (after Chicago).
For a list of 10 great attractions in each U.S. state, click here.
|
5-STAR ATTRACTIONS IN NEW YORK
|
Here is my opinionated list of 5-star attractions in New York. I believe each of these attractions should be on your New York bucket list since they are all noteworthy from a national perspective:
Western New York (including Buffalo, Niagara Falls, and Rochester)
✮ Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park, Buffalo - explore 4 decommissioned Naval ships at the largest inland Naval park in the U.S.
✮ Buffalo AKG Art Museum, Buffalo - the best art museum in western New York
✮ Canalside, Buffalo - a public park with hundreds of annual events; part of a Buffalo waterfront revitalization project
✮ Cave of the Winds, Niagara Falls - get up close and personal with Niagara Falls while wearing a waterproof poncho
✮ Darwin D. Martin House, Buffalo - visit a historic home designed by the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright
✮ Eternal Flame Falls / Chestnut Ridge Park, Orchard Park - see a waterfall that has a natural eternal flame (caused by a natural gas leak)
✮ Forest Lawn, Buffalo - one of America's prettiest cemeteries; the final resting place of Rick James
✮ Griffis Sculpture Park, East Otto - a huge and impressive outdoor sculpture park with more than 250 sculptures; several miles of hiking trails
✮ Highmark Stadium, Orchard Park - home of the Buffalo Bills NFL team until their new stadium is completed in 2026
✮ Jell-O Museum, Le Roy - small museum focusing on one of America's most famous and beloved foods
✮ Letchworth State Park, Castile - see three large waterfalls and a deep canyon; one of the best state parks in the U.S.
✮ Maid of the Mist, Niagara Falls - a tourist attraction where a ferry travels up the raging Niagara River and very close to the famous falls
✮ National Comedy Center, Jamestown - features more than 50 museum exhibits about comedy
✮ Niagara Falls Observation Tower, Niagara Falls - enjoy elevated views of the famous waterfalls of Niagara Falls
✮ Niagara Falls State Park, Niagara Falls - walking trails with various viewpoints of the world-famous Niagara Falls
✮ Rock City Park, Olean - has fun hiking trails that visit unique rock formations
✮ Strong National Museum of Play, The, Rochester - an eclectic museum that's popular with families/children
Central New York (including Ithaca, Syracuse, and the Finger Lakes region)
✮ Boat tours on the Erie Canal - single day and multi-day boat tours on the historic and scenic waterway
✮ Buttermilk Falls State Park, Ithaca - features one of the best waterfalls in New York; hiking trails explore the gorge
✮ Chittenango Falls State Park, Cazenovia - features one of the best waterfalls in New York
✮ Corning Museum of Glass, Corning - one of best glass museums in the U.S.
✮ Digging for diamonds in Middleville - bring or rent tools and dig for real diamonds (e.g. Herkimer Diamond Mines or Ace of Diamonds Mine)
✮ Glenn H. Curtis Museum, Hammondsport - a large transportation museum with aircraft, motorcycles, vehicles, and more
✮ Ithaca Falls, Ithaca - one of the best and biggest waterfalls in New York
✮ National Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum, Cooperstown - one of the very best sports museums in the U.S.
✮ Robert Treman State Park, Ithaca - highlights include 12 waterfalls (including 115ft Lucifer Falls), swimming, and nine miles of hiking trails
✮ Rosamond Gifford Zoo - it takes about two hours to explore this medium-sized zoo with more than 700 animals
✮ She-Qua-Ga Falls, Montour Falls - one of the best waterfalls in New York
✮ Taughannock Falls State Park, Trumansburg - visit one of the best and tallest waterfalls in the East; views from inside canyon or on its rim
✮ Watkins Glen State Park, Watkins Glen - a beautiful gorge with a hiking trail that passes by several series of waterfalls
✮ Wineries/vineyards in the Finger Lakes region - the Finger Lakes region is home to more than 100 wineries, breweries, and distilleries
✮ Women's Rights National Historical Park, Seneca Falls - engage in the history of the women's rights movement
Northern New York (including Lake Placid, Old Forge, and the Adirondack region)
✮ Adirondack Park - massive wilderness park with 46 peaks over 4,000 feet tall; one of America's best state-managed nature preserves
✮ Antique Boat Museum, Clayton - one of the top boating museums in the U.S.; has more than 300 unique boats on display
✮ Ausable Chasm, Keeseville - a nature adventure park with via ferrata climbing, whitewater rafting, rappelling, a riverside walk, and more
✮ Boldt Castle and Yacht House, Alexandria Bay - take a tour boat to visit a Rhineland castle and yacht house on Heart Island
✮ Downtown Lake Placid - a lively area in a great mountain town with many shops and restaurants
✮ Enchanted Forest Water Safari, Old Forge - a highly-rated amusement park and water park with more than 50 rides
✮ Fort Ticonderoga, Ticonderoga - visit an 18-century fort that is shaped like a star
✮ Gore Mountain, North Creek - generally regarded as New York's 2nd best ski/snowboard resort (the #1 is Whiteface)
✮ High Falls Gorge, Wilmington - a privately-owned tourist attraction that offers a metal walkway into and over a scenic gorge with waterfalls
✮ Ice Castles, near Lincoln - winter attraction where a giant ice park is created and visitors can walk (and sometimes slide) through it
✮ Lake George - a small lakeshore town with many family-friendly attractions and great water sports; Six Flags Great Escape is nearby
✮ Mount Marcy - take a challenging day hike or backpacking trip up New York's tallest mountain; parking trailhead may require reservations
✮ Olympic Ski Jump Complex, Lake Placid - watch ski jumpers at the 1980 winter Olympics site; also has zip-lining tours and scenic views
✮ Prospect Mountain, Lake George - hike or drive the Veterans Memorial Highway (in season) up to scenic views of the Lake George area
✮ Revolution Rail, North Creek - one of several places in the U.S. where you can go "rail-biking" (riding a mechanical vehicle on a railroad)
✮ Star Trek Original Series Set Tour, Ticonderoga - claims to be the "most accurate reproduction of the Star Trek Set in the world"
✮ Whiteface Mountain, Wilmington - New York's best ski resort; close to the great mountain town of Lake Placid
Eastern New York (including Albany, Cooperstown, Lake George, Saratoga Springs, and the Catskills region)
✮ Art Omi, Ghent - a great and free outdoor sculpture park with hiking trails that lead to more than 60 art sculptures
✮ Bear Mountain State Park, Bear Mountain - features rugged mountains, excellent hiking trails, scenic views, and several tourist attractions
✮ Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, Bethel - an excellent outdoor performing arts amphitheater
✮ Boat tours in Lake George - various boating companies offer sunset cruises, steamboat cruises, fireworks cruises, sightseeing cruises, etc.
✮ Catskill Forest Preserve / Catskill Mountains - the smaller and lesser known of NY's two awesome forest preserves; great hiking and waterfalls
✮ Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library & Museum, Hyde Park - a famous presidential attraction
✮ Howe Caverns, Howes Cave - offers the best guided underground cave tours in the Northeast
✮ Kaaterskill Falls, Haines Falls - one of the best and tallest waterfalls in New York; includes two waterfalls that total 260 feet in height
✮ Minnewaska State Park Preserve, Kerhonkson - a great nature park with lots of trails, rock-climbing, and several waterfalls
✮ Mohonk Preserve, New Paltz - a nature park that includes some of the famous Shawangunk Mountains (a renown rock-climbing destination)
✮ Motorcyclepedia Museum, Newburgh - one of the best motorcycle museums in the U.S.; has more than 600 motorcycles on display
✮ New York State Capitol, Albany - take a guided tour of this historic capitol building
✮ New York State Museum, Albany - a large museum covering many aspects of New York's history, including 9/11
✮ New York Zipline Adventure Tours,
Hunter - excellent zip-lining tours
✮ Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC), Saratoga Springs - a large, half-covered live performance amphitheater
✮ Saratoga Race Course, Saratoga Springs - a famous Thoroughbred horse racing track; the 4th oldest horse racetrack in the U.S.
✮ Saratoga
Spa State Park, Saratoga Springs - diverse park with a performing arts center, several museums, a spa, pools, golf course, and more
✮ SplashDown Beach, Fishkill - a good medium-sized water park; they call themselves "America's Biggest Little Water Park"
✮ Storm King Art Center, New Windsor - a huge outdoor sculpture park with more than 100 art sculptures
✮ Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site, Hyde Park - guided tours of a historic home and self-guided tours of formal gardens
✮ Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park, Poughkeepsie - take a walk or cycle over the world's longest elevated pedestrian bridge
New York City: Upper Manhattan (including Central Park, Upper East Side, and Upper West Side)
✮ American Museum of Natural History - some of the best fossil & dinosaur exhibits in the U.S.; one of NYC's top 5 attractions
✮ Central Park - one of the largest and best urban parks in the U.S.; miles of awesome walking trails, several playgrounds, and other attractions
✮ Frick Collection, The - see 12 rooms of spectacular art
✮ Horse-drawn carriage tours in Central Park - these carriage tours in Central Park are considered a "quintessential New York experience"
✮ Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts - a complex of several stages that produce a variety of performing arts events
✮ Met Cloisters - museum focusing on European medieval art and architecture
✮ Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET) - one of the world's greatest art museums; many would say this is NYC's #1 attraction
✮ Metropolitan Opera, The - one of the very best opera company's in the U.S. (if not the #1)
✮ Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum - the museum gets mixed reviews, but the building exterior designed by Frank Lloyd Wright is fascinating
✮ Strawberry Fields Memorial - a small memorial on the west side of Central Park that is close to where John Lennon was murdered
New York City: Central Manhattan (including Chelsea, Hell's Kitchen, Hudson, Mid-Town, and Times Square)
✮ Broadway - one of the world's most famous theater districts; offers dozens of world-class live performances
✮ Bryant Park - one of New York's best public parks; famous for its outdoor ice skating rink in winter
✮ Carnegie Hall - a famous live performance venue with concerts and orchestra events
✮ Chelsea Market - one of the best food and retail marketplaces in NYC; home of what might just be the #1 taco shop in the U.S. (Los Tacos)
✮ Chrysler Building - walk past this iconic Art Deco skyscraper on the East Side of Manhattan; there are no observation decks in this building
✮ Edge - a 100th-floor observation platform that juts out from the rest of the building
✮ Empire State Building - one of the world's most famous buildings; observation decks are offered on at least 2 floors (reservations required)
✮ Fifth Avenue - one of the world's most famous upscale shopping districts; one of the best sections is close to Central Park
✮ Flatiron Building - a famous NYC building that has a distinctive triangular shape; next to Madison Square Park; no tours are offered
✮ Grand Central Terminal - walk through a massive and famous historic train terminal
✮ Guided food tours - NYC is foodie-heaven, and many companies over guided food tours all over lower and central Manhattan
✮ Guided photography tours - there are several companies in NYC that offer popular photography tours all over lower and central Manhattan
✮ Guided walking tours - there are several companies in NYC that offer popular walking tours all over lower and central Manhattan
✮ High Line, The - an excellent, 1.45-mile long elevated walking path on Manhattan's West Side; one of my favorite walking areas in NYC
✮ Hudson River Greenway - a dedicated 12.9 mile paved path for cycling and walking along the Hudson River and the west side of Manhattan
✮ Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum - an excellent military and maritime history museum; climb aboard a decommissioned aircraft carrier
✮ Little Island - a free and beautiful public park with stunning landscaping on an artificial island; great views of New York City
✮ Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (event) - attend the premier Thanksgiving Day parade in the U.S.; book hotels a year in advance
✮ Madison Square Garden - bills itself as the "world's most famous arena"; home of the New York Rangers (NHL) and New York Knicks (NBA)
✮ Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) - perhaps the finest modern art museum in the U.S.
✮ New York Public Library (Stephan A. Schwarzman Building) - one of NYC's iconic public buildings
✮ Radio City Music Hall - a famous entertainment venue; a fantastic place to see a concert or the famous Rockettes
✮ Radio City Rockettes (event) - billed as "NYC's Favorite Holiday Celebration"; an extremely popular Christmas-themed precision dance show
✮ Rockefeller Center - a "cultural landmark" with shopping, dining, and tourist attractions (e.g. an observation deck and outdoor skating rink)
✮ Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting (event) - a wonderful Christmas-tree lighting event; NYC is amazing around the holidays
✮ St. Patrick's Cathedral - visit an iconic Neo-Gothic-style Roman Catholic cathedral church
✮ Steve Cohen's Chamber Magic - a top-rated magic show near St. Patrick's Cathedral and Rockefeller Center
✮ Times Square - the tourist center of New York City; this area is always crowded and has dozens of stores, restaurants, and attractions
✮ Times Square New Year's Eve (event) - one of the world's largest New Years Eve celebration events
✮ Top of the Rock Observation Deck - three levels on the top of Rockefeller Center offer some of the finest skyscraper views in NYC
✮ Vessel, The & Hudson Yards - a giant art sculpture that sits outside of an upscale mall; combine this with a walk on the nearby High Line
New York City: Lower Manhattan (including Battery Park, Ellis Island, Financial District, Greenwich Village, and the Statue of Liberty)
✮ Boat tours - e.g. sightseeing cruises, architecture yacht cruises, dinner cruises, speedboat tours
✮ Brooklyn Bridge - walk across this famous hybrid cable-stayed/suspension bridge; there are good public parks on the Brooklyn side
✮ Charging Bull sculpture - famous bronze sculpture of a life-sized charging bull in the Wall Street district
✮ Ellis Island - take a ferry to visit this famous historic immigrant inspection and processing station
✮ Ground Zero Museum Workshop - see powerful 9/11 images and artifacts through the eyes of a professional photographer
✮ Guided food tours - NYC is foodie-heaven, and many companies over guided food tours all over lower and central Manhattan
✮ Guided photography tours - there are several companies in NYC that offer popular photography tours all over lower and central Manhattan
✮ Guided walking tours - there are several companies in NYC that offer popular walking tours all over lower and central Manhattan
✮ National 9/11 Memorial & Museum - visit an "incredibly moving tribute to the 9/11 victims"
✮ Oculus Center - a transit hub that is also an artistic/architectural landmark; near the World Trade Center
✮ One World Observatory - on observatory experience located on floors #100-#102 of the One World Trade Center
✮ St. Paul's Chapel - visit the oldest surviving church building in Manhattan; famous for its "Late Georgian church architecture"
✮ Statue of Liberty National Monument - take a ferry to visit this iconic green statue; try to get reservations to climb partway up the sculpture
✮ Tenement Museum - contains two historical tenement buildings; exhibits document the immigrant and migrant experience
New York City boroughs (including The Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens)
✮ Bronx Zoo, Bronx - one of the best zoos on the East Coast; features more than 6,000 species; a typical visit is 2-3 hours
✮ Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Brooklyn - a fairly small but lovely botanical garden in Prospect Park
✮ Brooklyn Bridge - walk across this famous hybrid cable-stayed/suspension bridge; there are good public parks on the Brooklyn side
✮ Brooklyn Bridge Park, Brooklyn - great public parks adjacent to the famous Brooklyn Bridge (which you can and should walk across)
✮ Brooklyn Heights Promenade, Brooklyn - offers great views of Lower Manhattan from a platform and pedestrian walkway
✮ Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn - visit New York City's second largest art museum
✮ Citi Field, Queens - a famous MLB ballpark; home of the New York Mets
✮ Coney Island amusement parks, Brooklyn - there are several small amusement parks and family-fun centers near Coney Island Beach
✮ Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens - a great public park with a large and beautiful Unisphere spherical stainless steel sculpture
✮ Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn - a large and famous cemetery with a Gothic revival entrance; a "peaceful oasis in Brooklyn"
✮ New York Botanical Garden, Bronx - an attractive, 250-acre botanical garden in Bronx Park
✮ New York Transit Museum, Brooklyn - see historic New York City subway, bus, and commuter rail systems
✮ Prospect Park, Brooklyn - a public park that offers a variety of outdoor activities, including a botanic garden and outdoor ice skating rink
✮ Yankee Stadium, Bronx - a historic MLB ballpark; home of the New York Yankees
Long Island
✮ Cupsogue Beach County Park, Westhampton Beach - a popular white-sand barrier beach with great saltwater bass fishing and RV camping
✮ Fire Island Lighthouse, Fire Island - a famous black-and-white striped lighthouse on Great South Bay on the western end of Fire Island
✮ Fire Island National Seashore - a diverse park with shorelines, a maritime forest, a lighthouse, 4x4 driving trails, sand dunes, and hiking trails
✮ LongHouse Reserve, East Hampton - a small but beautiful garden and outdoor art sculpture park
✮ Mashomack Preserve, Shelter Island - 11 miles of coastline with "interlacing tidal creeks, oak woodlands, fields, marshes & underwater lands"
✮ Montauk Point Lighthouse, Montauk - a famous lighthouse next to Montauk Point State Park at the easternmost point of Long Island
✮ Old Westbury Gardens, Old Westbury - visit a historic mansion and formal gardens
✮ Planting Fields Arboretum, Oyster Bay - visit a beautiful historic home museum and an arboretum; fine landscaping by the Olmsted Brothers
✮ Robert Moses State Park, Fire Island - a hugely popular 5 mile stretch of shoreline; often touted as one of the best beaches on Long Island
✮ Shadmoor State Park, Montauk - features ocean beaches, freshwater wetlands, scenic views, and tall ocean bluffs
Are you aware of any other 5-star attractions in New York? If so, please email me at gparsons66@hotmail.com.
For a list of 5-star attractions in neighboring states, click on any of these links:
CT |
MA |
NJ |
PA |
VT
|
BEST TOWNS & CITIES TO VISIT IN NEW YORK
|
These towns and cities in New York are generally regarded as the most interesting to travelers:
✮ Cooperstown / Otsego - a small town famous for its National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum; the town has many historic buildings
✮ Ithaca - a small city known for its waterfalls and gorges; a gateway to the many wineries/vineyards of the Finger Lakes region
✮ Lake George - a small lakeshore town with many family-friendly attractions and great water sports; Six Flags Great Escape is nearby
✮ Lake Placid - a small mountain town in the heart of the Adirondacks; site of the 1980 Olympics; has a lively downtown area; skiing is nearby
✮ New York City - a major city with dozens of world-class attractions and museums; one of the most walkable cities on Earth
✮ Niagara Falls - a small city known for its giant waterfalls; if you cross the border into Canada you'll find many family-friendly attractions
✮ Old Forge - a small town in the western Adirondacks; has many family-fun attractions and there is a ton of outdoor activities nearby
✮ Sag Harbor - a small harbor town on Long Island; features several nature preserves and beaches; excellent boating
✮ Saratoga Springs - a small city famous for its mineral springs and horse-racing events/museums; has a lively downtown area
My favorite major city in New York is New York City - I recommend that first-time visitors spend at least 4-5 nights there. If you enjoy museums, you could easily spend a week or more there.
My favorite small town in New York is Lake Placid - I recommend that first-time visitors spend at least 2-3 nights there. Lake Placid is in the heart of the Adirondack region and there is great hiking, skiing, and sightseeing nearby.
If you want to visit the Adirondacks, stay in Lake Placid or Old Forge.
If you want to visit Niagara Falls, stay in Niagara Falls, NY or better yet, Niagara Falls in Canada. There's a heck of a lot more going on in Niagara Falls in Canada. I think the views of the falls are better there too. The views from the U.S. side are still quite good though.
If you are visiting New York City for the first time and you have five (5) days to spend, here is an itinerary for you to consider:
Day #1 (Upper Manhattan): Visit the American Museum of Natural History and then explore a portion of Central Park on foot, bicycle, or horse carriage
Day #2 (Upper/Central Manhattan): Visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET), and then catch a Broadway show in central Manhattan
Day #3 (Central Manhattan): Explore the middle section of central Manhattan on foot by walking from the southern end of Central Park to the Empire State Building and back using both 5th Avenue and 7th Avenue. Visit a variety of stores and attractions along the way, including Times Square, Rockefeller Center (perhaps including a trip up to the Top of the Rock Observation Deck), and Bryant Park. In total, this is about 3-4 miles of walking.
Day #4 (Central Manhattan): Explore the west side of central Manhattan on foot. Visit the shops of Hudson Yard, see the giant Vessel sculpture, walk the entire High Line trail, stroll some of the fine art galleries of Chelsea, grab lunch in Chelsea Market (amazing tacos!), and explore Little Island. You could also consider visiting Edge (a 100-story high observation deck) and/or the Whitney Museum of American Art. If you have children in tow, also include a stop at the Chelsea Waterside Park, which is a small but great playground.
Day #5 (Lower Manhattan): Take a ferry to visit the Statue of Liberty and/or Ellis Island, visit the National 9/11 Memorial, and then take an elevator up the One World Observatory for amazing views of NYC.
Click here if you'd like to see a complete list of towns and cities that I find interesting across the entire U.S.
|
WHAT IS NEW YORK FAMOUS FOR?
|
Here are some things that New York is famous or well-known for:
✮ bagels
✮ Broadway shows
✮ concert venues
✮ finance/banking industry
✮ glens
✮ horse racing
✮ immigration history
✮ museums
✮ New York style pizza
✮ professional sports teams
✮ sculpture parks
✮ skyscrapers
✮ taxicabs
✮ theater
✮ waterfalls
✮ wineries
Click here if you'd like to explore what other U.S. states are famous for.
|
NATIONAL PARKS IN NEW YORK
|
There are currently no national parks in New York. However, the state is loaded with other federally-managed parks and properties, including:
National Monuments
✮ African Burial Ground National Monument
✮ Castle Clinton National Monument
✮ Fort Stanwix National Monument
✮ Governors Island National Monument
✮ Statue of Liberty National Monument (includes Ellis Island)
✮ Stonewall National Monument
National Recreation Areas
✮ Gateway National Recreation Area
National Forests
✮ Finger Lakes National Forest
National Historical Parks / Other National Parks & Properties
✮ Appalachian National Scenic Trail
✮ Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail
✮ Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site
✮ Federal Hall National Memorial
✮ Fire Island National Seashore
✮ General Grant National Memorial
✮ Hamilton Grange National Memorial
✮ Harriet Tubman National Historical Park
✮ Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site
✮ Lower East Side Tenement Museum National Historic Site
✮ Martin Van Buren National Historic Site
✮ North Country National Scenic Trail
✮ Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
✮ Saint Paul's Church National Historic Site
✮ Saratoga National Historical Park
✮ Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site
✮ Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
✮ Thomas Cole National Historic Site
✮ Upper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River
✮ Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site
✮ Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail
✮ Women's Rights National Historical Park
For more information on New York's national parks, visit the New York page of the National Park Service. For an overview of all U.S. national parks, click here.
|
New York has more than 175 state parks, making it one of the premier state park systems in the country. Of particular note are the fantastic waterfalls found in many of New York's state parks. Also included within the New York state park system are two large and outstanding preserves: Adirondack Park and Catskill Forest Preserve. Here is a list of what I consider to be many of New York's finest state parks:
Western New York (including Buffalo, Niagara Falls, and Rochester)
✮ Letchworth State Park, Castile - see three large waterfalls and a deep canyon; one of the best state parks in the U.S.
✮ Niagara Falls State Park, Niagara Falls - walking trails with various viewpoints of the world-famous Niagara Falls
Central New York (including Ithaca, Syracuse, and the Finger Lakes region)
✮ Buttermilk Falls State Park, Ithaca - features one of the best waterfalls in New York; hiking trails explore the gorge
✮ Chittenango Falls State Park, Cazenovia - features one of the best waterfalls in New York
✮ Robert Treman State Park, Ithaca - highlights include 12 waterfalls (including 115ft Lucifer Falls), swimming, and nine miles of hiking trails
✮ Taughannock Falls State Park, Trumansburg - visit one of the best and tallest waterfalls in the East; views from inside canyon or on its rim
✮ Watkins Glen State Park, Watkins Glen - a beautiful gorge with a hiking trail that passes by several series of waterfalls
Northern New York (including Lake Placid, Old Forge, and the Adirondack region)
✮ Adirondack Park - massive wilderness park with 46 peaks over 4,000 feet tall; one of America's best state-managed nature preserves
Eastern New York (including Albany, Cooperstown, Lake George, Saratoga Springs, and the Catskills region)
✮ Bear Mountain State Park, Bear Mountain - features rugged mountains, excellent hiking trails, scenic views, and several tourist attractions
✮ Catskill Forest Preserve - the smaller and lesser known of NY's two awesome forest preserves; great hiking and waterfalls
✮ Minnewaska State Park Preserve, Kerhonkson - a great nature park with lots of trails, rock-climbing, and several waterfalls
✮ Saratoga Spa State Park, Saratoga Springs - diverse park with a performing arts center, several museums, a spa, pools, golf course, and more
Long Island
✮ Robert Moses State Park, Fire Island - a hugely popular 5 mile stretch of shoreline; often touted as one of the best beaches on Long Island
✮ Shadmoor State Park, Montauk - features ocean beaches, freshwater wetlands, scenic views, and tall ocean bluffs
My favorite state park in New York is probably Letchworth State Park. The canyon scenery and major waterfalls in that state park are spectacular. Take a long day hike there if you can to visit much of the best of the park.
To see my list of the top 100 state parks in the country, click here.
|
BEST WATERFALLS IN NEW YORK
|
New York has hundreds of natural waterfalls, making it one of the very best states in the country for waterfall hunting. Here are some of the best waterfalls in the state:
Western New York (including Buffalo, Niagara Falls, and Rochester)
✮ Eternal Flame Falls in Shale Creek Preserve, Orchard Park
✮ Lower, Middle, and Upper Falls in Letchworth State Park, Castile
✮ Niagara Falls
Central New York (including Ithaca, Syracuse, and the Finger Lakes region)
✮ Buttermilk Falls in Buttermilk Falls State Park, Ithaca
✮ Carpenter Falls in Bahar Preserve, Moravia
✮ Cascadilla Gorge in Cascadilla Gorge Natural Area, Ithaca
✮ Chittenango Falls in Chittenango Falls State Park, Cazenovia
✮ Hector Falls in Hector - visible along highway NY-414; only a few miles from Watkins Glen State Park
✮ Ithaca Falls in Ithaca
✮ Lower Falls in Robert H. Treman State Park, Ithaca
✮ Lucifer Falls in Robert H. Treman State Park, Ithaca
✮ Salmon Creek Falls in Ludlowville Park, Lansing
✮ She-Qua-Ga Falls in Chequaga Falls Park, Montour Falls
✮ Taughannock Falls in Taughannock Falls State Park, Trumansburg
✮ Watkins Glen in Watkins Glen State Park, Watkins Glen
Northern New York (including Lake Placid, Old Forge, and the Adirondack region)
✮ High Falls Gorge in Wilmington
✮ High Falls Park in Chateaugay
✮ OK Slip Falls in the Hudson Gorge Wilderness
✮ Rainbow Falls in Ausable Chasm
✮ Rainbow Falls in Ausable Club
Eastern New York (including Albany, Cooperstown, Lake George, Saratoga Springs, and the Catskills region)
✮ Awosting Falls in Minnewaska State Park
✮ Barberville Falls in Barberville Falls Nature Preserve
✮ Cohoes Falls in Cohoes/Waterford
✮ Kaaterskill Falls in Kaaterskill Wild Forest
✮ Renssealerville Falls in Huyck Preserve, Renssealerville
For a listing of all known waterfalls in New York, visit the World Waterfall Database.
|
BEST SCENIC DRIVES IN NEW YORK
|
Here is a list of the best scenic drives in New York:
✮ High Peaks Scenic Byway - a 30-mile paved route in the Adirondack region from I-87 in North Hudson to Lake Placid using mostly NY-73
✮ Catskill Mountains Scenic Byway - a 52-mile paved route through the Catskill region using mostly NY-28
✮ Cayuga Lake Scenic Byway - an 87-mile paved loop around Cayuga Lake in the Finger Lakes region that uses a variety of roads
✮ Hawk's Nest Highway/NY-97 - a 70-mile paved route from Port Jervis to Hancock; aka the Upper Delaware Scenic Byway
✮ Palisades Scenic Byway - a 42-mile paved route from the NJ side of the George Washington Bridge to Bear Mountain State Park in NY
✮ Prospect Mountain Veterans Memorial Highway - a seasonal 5.5-mile paved toll road to the summit of Prospect Mountain near Lake George
✮ Seven Lakes Drive, Harriman State Park - a seasonal 18-mile paved route from NY-17 in Sloatsburg to US-6 in Doodletown
✮ Shawangunk Mountains Scenic Byway - an 88-mile long series of paved roads that encircle the Shawangunk Mountains
✮ Whiteface Veterans Memorial Highway - a seasonal 8-mile paved toll road that climbs to the summit of Mount Whiteface (4,867')
There may also be a scenic drive or two on Long Island, but I haven't driven out there yet.
For a list of great scenic drives in each U.S. state, click here.
|
BEST OCEAN BEACHES IN NEW YORK
|
New York's Long Island has many great beaches, including these favorites:
Western and Central Long Island
✮ Corey Beach, Blue Point
✮ Fire Island National Seashore beaches
✮ Jones Beach, Wantagh
✮ Outer Beach, Smith Point County Park, Mastic Beach
✮ Overlook Beach, Babylon
✮ Rockaway Beach, Arverne
✮ Robert Moses State Park beaches
✮ Sunken Meadow State Park Beach
Eastern Long Island
✮ Ditch Plains Beach, Montauk
✮ Hither Hills State Park Beach
✮ Kirk Park Beach, Montauk
✮ Pikes Beach, Westhampton Beach
✮ Ponquogue Beach, Hampton Bays
✮ Two Mile Hollow Beach, East Hampton
|
BEST RAIL TRAILS IN NEW YORK
|
Here is a list of some of the best rail trails (or similar cycling paths) in New York:
Central New York (including Ithaca, Syracuse, and the Finger Lakes region)
✮ Keuka Lake Trail
Eastern New York (including Albany, Cooperstown, Lake George, Saratoga Springs, and the Catskills region)
✮ Albany County Helderberg-Hudson Rail Trail
✮ Harlem Valley Rail Trail
✮ Hudson River Greenway
✮ Hudson Valley Rail Trail
✮ North County Trailway - this is part of the Empire State Trail
✮ Wallkill Valley Rail Trail - this is part of the Empire State Trail
The High Line in New York City is also considered a rail trail, but you cannot cycle on it. It's a fantastic walking trail through.
For detailed information on all known rail trails in New York, visit the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy website.
|
BEST AMUSEMENT PARKS IN NEW YORK
|
There are many amusement parks in New York, many of which are found in the eastern side of the state. The best amusement parks in the state include:
Western New York (including Buffalo, Niagara Falls, and Rochester)
✮ Seabreeze Amusement Park, Irondequoit
✮ Six Flags Darien Lake, Corfu
Central New York (including Ithaca, Syracuse, and the Finger Lakes region)
✮ Roseland Waterpark, Canandaigua
Northern New York (including Lake Placid, Old Forge, and the Adirondack region)
✮ Enchanted Forest Water Safari, Old Forge
✮ Santa's Workshop, Wilmington
Eastern New York (including Albany, Cooperstown, Lake George, Saratoga Springs, and the Catskills region; see below for NYC area)
✮ Huck Finn's Playland, Albany
✮ Legoland New York Resort, Goshen
✮ Magic Forest, Lake George
✮ Six Flags Great Escape, Queensbury
✮ SplashDown Beach, Fishkill
New York City area (including Long Island)
✮ Adventureland, Farmingdale (Long Island)
✮ Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park, Brooklyn
✮ Luna Park, Coney Island
✮ Playland Park, Rye (Long Island)
✮ Splish Splash Water Park, Calverton (Long Island)
✮ Zoom Flume Water Park, East Durham
|
New York has many outstanding museums, including several world-class museums in New York City. The best museums in New York include:
Western New York (including Buffalo, Niagara Falls, and Rochester)
✮ Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park, Buffalo
✮ Buffalo AKG Art Museum, Buffalo
✮ Buffalo Museum of Science, Buffalo
✮ Darwin D. Martin House, Buffalo
✮ Frank Lloyd Wright's Martin House, Buffalo
✮ Griffis Sculpture Park, East Otto
✮ Jell-O Museum, Le Roy
✮ Strong National Museum of Play, The, Rochester
Central New York (including Ithaca, Syracuse, and the Finger Lakes region)
✮ Corning Museum of Glass, Corning
✮ Glenn H. Curtis Museum, Hammondsport
✮ National Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum, Cooperstown
✮ Women's Rights National Historical Park, Seneca Falls
Northern New York (including Lake Placid, Old Forge, and the Adirondack region)
✮ Antique Boat Museum, Clayton
✮ Boldt Castle and Yacht House, Alexandria Bay
✮ Fort Ticonderoga, Ticonderoga
✮ Star Trek Original Series Set Tour, Ticonderoga
Eastern New York (including Albany, Cooperstown, Lake George, Saratoga Springs, and the Catskills region)
✮ Art Omi, Ghent
✮ Dia:Beacon, Beacon
✮ Fenimore Art Museum, Cooperstown
✮ Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library & Museum, Hyde Park
✮ Motorcyclepedia Museum, Newburgh
✮ National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, Saratoga Springs
✮ New York State Museum, Albany
✮ Saratoga Automobile Museum, Saratoga Springs
✮ Storm King Art Center, New Windsor
✮ USS Slater DE766, Albany
✮ Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site, Hyde Park
New York City: Upper Manhattan (including Central Park, Upper East Side, and Upper West Side)
✮ American Museum of Natural History
✮ Frick Collection, The
✮ Met Cloisters
✮ Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET)
✮ Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
New York City: Central Manhattan (including Chelsea, Hell's Kitchen, Hudson, Mid-Town, and Times Square)
✮ Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
✮ Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
New York City: Lower Manhattan (including Battery Park, Ellis Island, Financial District, Greenwich Village, and the Statue of Liberty)
✮ 9/11 Tribute Museum
✮ Ellis Island Immigration Museum
✮ Ground Zero Museum Workshop
✮ National 9/11 Memorial & Museum
✮ Tenement Museum
✮ Whitney Museum of American Art
New York City boroughs (including The Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens)
✮ Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn
✮ Museum of the Moving Image, Queens
✮ New York Transit Museum, Brooklyn
|
BEST DAY HIKES IN NEW YORK
|
New York has thousands of miles of hiking trails, and there is good hiking to be found across the state. Here is a list of many of the best day hikes in New York:
Western New York (including Buffalo, Niagara Falls, and Rochester)
✮ Eternal Flame Falls, Chestnut Ridge Park
✮ Gorge Trail, Letchworth State Park
✮ Niagara Gorge Rim Trail
Central New York (including Ithaca, Syracuse, and the Finger Lakes region)
✮ Buttermilk Falls State Park trails
✮ Chimney Bluffs State Park
✮ Rim Trail & Gorge Trail Loop, Robert H. Treman State Park
✮ Taughannock Falls via the Gorge Trail, Taughannock Falls State Park
✮ Watkins Glen State Park trails (e.g. Gorge Trail)
Northern New York (including Lake Placid, Old Forge, and the Adirondack region)
✮ Algonquin Peak, High Peaks Wilderness, Adirondack Park
✮ Ampersand Mountain, High Peaks Wilderness, Adirondack Park
✮ Ausable Chasm
✮ Big Slide Mountain, High Peaks Wilderness, Adirondack Park
✮ Bald Mountain / Rondaxe Fire Tower, Fulton Chain Wild Forest
✮ Blue Mountain Fire Tower, Blue Mountain Wild Forest
✮ Cascade Mountain, Adirondack Park
✮ Dix Mountain, Adirondack Park
✮ Giant Mountain, Adirondack Park
✮ Gothics, Adirondack Park
✮ Haystack Mountain, Adirondack Park
✮ Hurricane Mountain, Hurricane Mountain Wilderness
✮ Jay Mountain, Jay Mountain Wilderness
✮ Mount Arab, Horseshoe Lake Forest
✮ Mount Colden, High Peaks Wilderness, Adirondack Park
✮ Mount Jo, Adirondack Park
✮ Mount Marcy via the Van Hoevenberg Trail, Adirondack Park
✮ Poke-O-Moonshine Range Trail, Taylor Pond Wild Forest
✮ Whiteface Mountain, Wilmington Wild Forest
Lake George area
✮ Black Mountain, Lake George Wild Forest
✮ Buck Mountain, Lake George Wild Forest
✮ Cat Mountain, Lake George Wild Forest
✮ Pinnacle, The
✮ Prospect Mountain, Lake George Wild Forest - you can also drive to the summit/scenic views
✮ Sleeping Beauty Mountain, Lake George Wild Forest
Eastern New York (including Albany, Cooperstown, Saratoga Springs, and the Catskills region)
✮ Anthony's Nose, Hudson Highlands Gateway Park
✮ Awosting Falls, Minnewaska State Park Preserve
✮ Bear Mountain Loop Trail, Bear Mountain State Park
✮ Bonticou Crag and Table Rocks Loop, Monhonk Preserve
✮ Breakneck Ridge, Hudson Highlands State Park
✮ Burroughs Range Loop, Catskill Mountain Preserve
✮ Gertrude's Nose & Millbrook Mountain Loop, Minnewaska State Park Preserve
✮ Harriman State Park trails (e.g. Reeves Brook Loop)
✮ Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve trails (e.g. Bull Hill)
✮ Hunter Mountain, Hunter-West Kill Wilderness Area
✮ Indian Ladder Trail, Thacher State Park
✮ Kaaterskill Falls, Catskill Forest Preserve
✮ Labyrinth Trail, Mohonk Preserve
✮ Overlook Mountain, Overlook Mountain Wild Forest
✮ Panther Mountain & Giant Ledge, Slide Mountain Wilderness
✮ Peekamoose/Table Mountains, Catskill Forest Preserve
✮ Sam's Point, Minnewaska State Park Preserve
✮ Storm King Mountain, Storm King State Park
New York City
✮ Central Park
✮ Walking around Lower and/or Central Manhattan
The highpoint of New York is Mount Marcy (5,344') in Adirondack Park. A challenging day hike or backpacking trip is required to reach the top. Trailhead parking may be limited and reservations may be required.
|
BEST BACKPACKING TRIPS IN NEW YORK
|
New York offers many excellent backpacking opportunities. Some of the premier backpacking trails/areas in New York include:
Western New York (including Buffalo, Niagara Falls, and Rochester)
✮ Allegany State Park, Salamanca
✮ North Country Trail
Central New York (including Ithaca, Syracuse, and the Finger Lakes region)
✮ Finger Lakes Trail
✮ North Country Trail
Northern New York (including Lake Placid, Old Forge, and the Adirondack region)
✮ Algonquin Peak-Indian Pass Loop
✮ Cold River-Seward Range Loop
✮ Cranberry Lake 50
✮ Dix Mountain
✮ High Peaks Loop (Avalanche Lake, Mt Marcy, Mt Basin, Saddleback Mt)
✮ Mount Marcy-Avalanche Lake Loop
✮ North Country Trail
✮ Northville-Placid Trail
✮ Pharaoh Lake Wilderness
✮ West Canada Lakes Wilderness Loop
Eastern New York (including Albany, Cooperstown, Lake George, Saratoga Springs, and the Catskills region)
✮ Appalachian Trail
✮ Burroughs Range Loop (Wittenburg, Cornell, Slide)
✮ Devil's Path
✮ Escarpment Trail
✮ Harriman State Park
✮ Lake George Wild Forest
✮ South Taconic Trail
Long Island
✮ Fire Island National Seashore
A great article about backpacking in NY can be found here.
|
CLASSIC OUTDOOR ADVENTURES IN NEW YORK
|
New York offers many excellent outdoor adventures, including these classics:
✮ Backpacking in Adirondack Park
✮ Backpacking the Escarpment Trail
✮ Backpacking the Northville-Placid Trail
✮ Bouldering in Central Park, New York City
✮ Canoeing/kayaking on the Delaware River
✮ Canoeing/kayaking on the Hudson River
✮ Canoeing/kayaking on the Raquette River
✮ Canoeing/kayaking the Saint Regis Canoe Area
✮ Canoeing/kayaking on the Saranac River
✮ Cycling the Hudson River Greenway
✮ Cycling the Hudson Valley Rail Trail
✮ Day hiking Algonquin Peak, Adirondack Park
✮ Day hiking Breakneck Ridge, Hudson Highlands State Park
✮ Day hiking Cascade Mountain, Adirondack Park
✮ Day hiking Dix Mountain, Adirondack Park
✮ Day hiking Giant Mountain, Adirondack Park
✮ Day hiking Gothics, Adirondack Park
✮ Day hiking Haystack Mountain, Adirondack Park
✮ Day hiking Mt. Marcy, Adirondack Park
✮ Helicopter tours in New York City
✮ Hot air ballooning in Glen Falls, Groveland, Ithaca, Munnsville, Middletown, Queensbury
✮ Ice climbing in the Catskills
✮ Mountain biking at Ausable Chasm
✮ Mountain biking at Blue Mountain Reservation
✮ Mountain biking the Glacier Ridge Preserve
✮ Mountain biking at Gore Mountain
✮ Mountain biking at Greek Peak
✮ Mountain biking the Plattekill Mountain Bike Park
✮ Mountain biking the Windham Mountain Bike Park
✮ Rock climbing all over the Adirondacks
✮ Rock climbing in the Shawangunks (aka "The Gunks"; this place is a world-famous climbing destination)
✮ Skydiving in Albion, Gardiner, Shirley, Weedsport, or West Milford
✮ Tubing Esopus Creek
✮ Tubing on the Delaware River
✮ Tubing the Lower Hudson River
✮ Whitewater rafting the Black River
✮ Whitewater rafting the Hudson River
✮ Whitewater rafting the Moose River
✮ Whitewater rafting the Sacandaga River
|
BEST SKI RESORTS IN NEW YORK
|
There are more than 30 ski resorts in New York. These ski resorts are generally considered the best in New York:
Premier Ski/Snowboard Resorts:
✮ Gore Mountain - 109 trails; 2,537ft vertical drop; 3,600ft summit
✮ Whiteface - 91 trails; 3,430ft vertical drop; 4,650ft summit
Other Notable Ski/Snowboard Resorts:
✮ Belleayre Mountain
✮ Hunter Mountain
✮ Windham Mountain
Whiteface is considered one of the best ski areas on the entire East Coast. It has the most vertical drop of any ski area in the East, and it's close to the attractive mountain town of Lake Placid. Lake Placid is actually one of my very favorite small towns in the U.S.
|
UNIQUE / SPECIALTY FOODS TO TRY IN NEW YORK
|
Here are some unique / specialty foods to try while you are in New York. Most if not all of these can be easily found in New York City. You can find many of them outside of the city as well.
✮ bagels
✮ black and white cookies
✮ buffalo wings
✮ crumb cake
✮ deep-fried hot dogs
✮ fried soft shell crabs
✮ garbage plates
✮ Half-Moon cookies
✮ New York cheesecake
✮ New York-style pizza
✮ pastrami sandwiches
✮ poutine
✮ roast beef / beef on weck
✮ spiedies
For a list of unique foods and mom-and-pop type eateries and restaurants in New York (or any other U.S. state), visit the Roadfood.com website.
For a list of unique foods to try in each of the 50 U.S. states, click here.
For a list of the top-rated beers to try in New York (or any other U.S. state), visit the Beer Advocate website.
|
OTHER KEY NEW YORK INFORMATION
|
Here is some helpful key information about New York:
State Capital:
Albany
Major Airports:
John F. Kennedy and LaGuardia, both of which are close to NYC; there are several other medium-sized airports found across the state
Largest Cities:
New York City (8,930,002), Buffalo (281,757), Yonkers (214,687), Rochester (211,480), Syracuse (149,310), Albany (99,498)
Primary U.S. Interstates:
I-81, I-84, I-86, I-87, I-88, I-90, I-95
State Highpoint:
Mount Marcy (5,344') in Adirondack Park in northern New York; a challenging day hike or backpacking trip is required to reach the top
Professional Sports Teams:
MLB: New York Mets and the New York Yankees
NBA: Brooklyn Nets and the New York Knicks
NFL: Buffalo Bills, New York Giants, and the New York Jets
NHL: Buffalo Sabres, New York Islanders, and the New York Rangers
WNBA: New York Liberty
Funny or Unique Town/City Names:
Handsome Eddy, Horseheads, and Lonelyville
Take note that in general this travel guide intentionally excluded restaurants, lodging/hotels, breweries, wineries/vineyards, and certain other types of attractions (like arcades, ax-throwing, bowling alleys, and escape rooms). These types of places tend to come and go, and keeping up with that would be too challenging. I encourage you to use Google Maps, Tripadvisor, Yelp, and other travel sites that have reader reviews to find the latest and greatest places that I haven't covered here.
|
Niagara Falls in western New York
Giant Uncle Sam in Lake George, New York
welcome sign for Lake Placid, New York
very large Labatt Blue six pack in Buffalo, New York
canoe art in Buffalo, New York
house on a pole at Art Omi in Ghent, New York
Joker stairs in the Bronx, New York
Legoland Hotel in Goshen, New York
Legoland in Goshen, New York
slide in Central Park, NYC
John Lennon Memorial in Central Park, NYC
Statue of Liberty National Monument, New York
Taughannock Falls in Taughannock Falls State Park , New York
Ghostbusters building in NYC
the Vessel in Hudson Yards, NYC
NYC Skyline
Letchworth State Park, New York
Bryant Park in NYC
views from Central Park, NYC
Radio City Music Hall in NYC
Little Island, NYC
High Falls Gorge in Wilmington, New York
Storm King Art Center in New Windsor, New York
I Love Lucy mural in Jamestown, New York
In addition to the information found on my website, I personally recommend purchasing these road trip/travel-related guidebooks. Click on any book cover to read reviews and/or purchase these books on Amazon.com.
 
 
 
 
|
MORE U.S. STATE TRAVEL GUIDES
|
Did you enjoy this state travel guide? If so, here are links to more of my comprehensive U.S. state travel guides:
|
As an Amazon Associates affiliate, this website contains affiliate links. If you choose to purchase any products after clicking any Amazon.com link, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. I only endorse products that I have personally used or those that come highly recommended by trusted peers.
|
|
