20 GORGEOUS PLACES TO VISIT IN NEW YORK STATE

BY IRINA GONZALEZ

MAY 21, 2014

New York City is a wonderful place to visit (or shoot a movie in!), and an even more wonderful place to life if

you happen to find yourself so lucky. But when we think “New York," we tend to forget that the city is just one

small part of a larger, even more amazing state.

While travel to Brazil may not always be in our price range, there is tons of natural beauty right here in the U.S.

To inspire you to travel this year, we’ve gathered the 20 most gorgeous places to visit in New York State—from

Riesling wine country in the Finger Lakes region to the Montauk Point Lighthouse, it’s time to get out there!

Saranac Lake

Peaceful and gorgeous -- that’s the perfect way to describe this part

of the Adirondacks in upstate New York. This view, from

the Ampersand Bay Resort & Boat Club, is breathtaking in the

middle of winter, but even better in the summer. (We know, hard to

believe.) Head into town and have a lovely meal at Freestyle

Cuisine, then walk around and shop or get a coffee at Left Bank

Cafe. Be sure to check out the Winter Carnival for extra fun in

February.

Hudson Valley

Home to a ton of cute little towns along the Hudson River,

running north to south down the eastern edge of New York State,

there is more to do here than you can imagine. From visiting

Madava Farms in Duchess County, home of organic maple syrup

Crown Maple, to checking out Mohonk Mountain House in Ulster

County, a National Historic Landmark, you can easily get there

from New York City.

Crane Mountain

Love to hike? Then head straight to Crane Mountain in the

Adirondacks, which is known for gorgeous hiking trails during the

spring, summer and fall. There are gorgeous views heading up to the

highest summit, and even a natural stone bridge over Putnam Brook.

Just remember that the mountain is a steep, rocky hike, which might

not be the best idea if you’re traveling with young children—but it's

definitely a gorgeous hike with friends or a loved one (we can see the

Instagram opportunities now).

Mirror Lake

Located in Lake Placid, home to the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics

(you know, “Miracle on Ice”), Mirror Lake is a lovely place to visit.

In the summer, you can stay at the right-on-the-water resort Mirror

Lake Inn or try one of the many small country bed and breakfasts

around. Then, indulge in whitewater rafting, rock climbing, fishing,

boating, bikinig, hiking, and even bird watching. The whole family

will have something to do.

Lake Placid

The main area around Lake Placid is gorgeous in the winter, too. Stay

at the gorgeous (and huge) Whiteface Lodge, where you can cozy up

to a fireplace or try their outdoor hot tub. For some winter-time fun,

everyone who knows the area heads over to Whiteface Mountain for

a day of skiing or snow boarding. If that’s not for you, you can also

enjoy a spa day at Whiteface Lodge or even the Mirror Lake Inn.

Finger Lakes

The Finger Lakes region of upstate New York is known for the natural

beauty of the multiple small lakes—as well as for making some of the

world’s best riesling. A popular thing to do here is take a wine tasting

tour along one of the Finger Lakes wine trails. This “adults only” trip

is idea for a girl’s weekend or a romantic couples getaway. Stay at a

luxurious bed and breakfast or spa, and the pampering will continue all

day.

Montauk

At the very end of East Hampton stands the Montauk Point Light,

which is the first lighthouse in New York State and the fourth oldest

lighthouse in the U.S. It’s worth visiting Montauk just for that, but

there’s plenty to do in this little town. In the summer, there’s plenty

of surfing and fishing going on, lots of great dining options

(seafood!), fun cruises for family and kids, and lots of great

landsports like horseback riding and tennis.

Barton Mines

Located in Lake George, Barton Mines is where the world’s largest

garnet deposit lives. If you’re a fan of the red little stone, you can take

a Garnet Mine Tour from late June through Labor Day. If that’s not

really your thing, then simply head over to one of the inns or cabins on

Lake George, or try the Dude Ranch or camping options. There’s lots

to enjoy any season of the year, including the Six Flags Great Escape

Lodge & Indoor Waterpark.

Catskills

The Catskill Mountains are one of the most beautiful parts of the state,

but there’s more to do in the Catskills than simply hike. Stay at the

Emerson Resort & Spa and you’ll have a weekend to unwind at their

spa, have a nearby picnic, hop on the Catskill Mountain Railroad, try

whitewater rafting at Town Tinker Tube Rental, ride horses at the

Ashokan Riding Club, listen to music at the Woodstock Playhouse or

even check out art at The Arts Upstairs.

Hamptons

The Hamptons, a group of villages and hamlets in the South Fork of

Long Island, New York, are a popular seaside resort where many

vacation over the summer. The area, also known for the gorgeous

beaches, is ideal for any kind of break—whether you’re going on a

romantic getaway or a family trip. There’s great dining and fun

nightlife, too, if you’re planning a trip with friends. The ideal place to

simply relax? Definitely.

Athens, NY

Located along the Hudson River, this historic little river village has

been around since 1805. If you’re a history buff, then this is the place

to go. The town has more than 300 buildings on national and state

historic registers, making it feel as if you’re walking through a

museum of American architecture. Plus, the small and friendly

community has plenty of artisans that are worth checking out if you’re

in the area.

Long Island

Besides Montauk and the Hamptons, Long Island has plenty more to

offer for visitors. In the summer, head to the beach or try one of the

winery tours. You can listen to concerts at Jones Beach or enjoy the

ferry to Fire Island. The best part, though, is strolling through one of

Long Island’s many villages and small towns, which offer one-of-a-

kind shops, boutiques and even restaurants serving local food.

Saratoga

Known for the famed race course, which is fun to check out,

Saratoga has a lot to offer. The city of Saratoga Springs has fun

shopping and cute restaurants, including Circus Cafe which is known

for its fresh cotton candy (yum!) and live entertainment at night.

There’s also fun things like hot air balloon rides, casinos, art

galleries, farms that you can visit, kayaking in the summer and

snowboarding in the winter, and so much more.

North Creek

Another beautiful little town in the Adirondacks, North Creek is a

great place to relax and unwind. Stay at The Copperfield, where you

can enjoy dinner in their restaurant or head over to the nearby Garnet

Hill Ski Lodge for a great meal. During the day, tour the Hyde

Collection art museum for a view of a beautiful home, American art

and seasonal exceptional exhibitions. In the winter, head to Gore

Mountain for ski time.

Cooperstown

Homeplace to The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, big

baseball fans will definitely want to visit this treasured historic site.

Set on Otsego Lake, which many people love for swimming and

fishing, the beautiful town also has The Farmer’s Museum and The

Fenimore Art Museum, a historic Main Street and a vast choice of

restaurants. Stay at the beautiful Otesaga Resort Hotel and go on a

candlelit ghost tour at night.

Southern Tier

This region refers to the counties of New York State that are west of

the Catskill Mountains and along the northern border of

Pennsylvania. One of the best reasons to visit this reason is for the

South Tier Brewing Company located in Lakewood, NY. They have

tours, live music and many more fun events throughout the year. If

you’re a true beer fan, head over to taste some of their different

types of brews, ales and seasonal beers.

Howe Caverns

It isn’t a trip to upstate New York without a look at this beautiful

cave, the Howe Caverns, which you can tour and see all of the

natural underground beauty. You can also try some of their high

adventures, like a 4 tower zip line or the rock wall. They even have

overnight packages, some of which are set seasonally to summer or

autumn, as well as packages for families, couples and foodies. Is

there a better way than this to explore such natural beauty?

Binghamton

Located in the area known as South Tier, Binghamton is a fun little city

to visit. There are a surprising amount of cultural activities, including

art museums, a science center, a philharmonic and more. There’s also

pretty city parks and carousels, a baseball field, a golf course, a zoo and

many seasonal events that often draw big crowds. The best is their First

Fridays art walk, which features 30-40 rotating venues downtown and is

“the place to be gorgeous”.

Ogdensburg

Almost nobody knows about this tiny little city located at the mouth of

the Oswagatchie River on the bank of the St. Lawrence River. The cute

little town is so close to Canada that you can practically throw rocks to

the next country. Instead of crossing the border, though, explore the

local marina, restaurants, Frederic Remington Art Museum and do some

shopping—or simply walk around and soak in the town’s history.

Buffalo, NY

The Japanese Gardens in this New York State city aren’t the only

reasons to visit. Set on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of

the Niagara River, Buffalo features architectural masterpieces by Frank

Lloyd Wright and others, world class modern art at the Albright-Knox

Art Gallery and Grammy Award-winning music at the Buffalo

Philharmonic Orchestra and touring Broadway productions at Shea’s

Performing Arts Center.

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