New York

Any recounting of the attractions to be found in the State of New York is bound to leave something out.  How can you give a capsule description that does justice to a state that encompasses the wild beaches on the far tip of Long Island, includes the whirlwind of activity and culture that is New York City, revels in the tranquility of the Catskills, encompasses the natural wonders of the Adirondacks and Finger Lakes region, and ends with the roar of Niagara Falls?  There’s just too much state to take in all at once.

The city’s a destination in itself, and probably more than you can do in one trip.  It’s said that it takes a lifetime to truly know the city.  But there’s so much more to the state than just the city.

The beaches of eastern Long Island, out by the Hamptons, are well known as a playground for the ultra-rich.  Here are mansions and estates on the water that rival anything you might find in Newport RI.  The dunes of the farthest eastern section, Montauk, are relatively unspoiled and house the fourth oldest working lighthouse in the US, commissioned by President Washington in 1792 – but did you know that you’ll also find the oldest working cattle ranch in the country there?  Deep Hollow Ranch has been in continuous operation since the 1800s and trail rides and a Texas-style barbecue are standard attractions.

Go north from the city and in short order you’ll find yourselves in the Catskills, long a vacation resort for the city dweller looking for peace and quiet.  The hotels whose dinner entertainment provided the launching pad for an entire generation of comics and entertainers are still there, but the dairy farms that long provided the staples of the local economies are abandoned for the most part, leaving in their wake a landscape of open meadows and tall hills that teem with deer (watch out driving at night, as entire herds of 50-60 deer are not uncommonly found in the roads).

Farther north, above the Hudson River Valley, you’ll find the Adirondacks.  These mountains offer kayaking, white water rafting, hiking, and rock climbing.  Out west, south of the historic cities of Syracuse, Ithaca, and Rochester, you’ll find the Finger Lakes region.  Glaciers in the last Ice Age carved long, narrow gouges into the land, leaving behind perfect lakes that serve as yet another natural destination for those looking for an outdoor getaway. 

In the west of the state you’ll also find Buffalo, a city with a thriving art scene and close proximity to the natural wonder of Niagara Falls, a legendary destination for honeymooners (and barrel enthusiasts – visit the museum there for a look at the elaborate and sometimes poignant equipment people have used to try and make it over the Falls intact). 

There’s so much to see in New York State that it’s hard to think of it as one destination.  It’s easy to fly into almost any of the major cities from almost anywhere, so it’s easy enough to make New York State and its many regions a destination for more than one trip. 

• New York City
• Hudson River Valley
• Adirondacks
• Finger Lakes
• Lake Placid
• Brooklyn Museum
• Bronx International Wildlife Conservation Park (Zoo)
• Saratoga Springs
• The Catskills
• Thousand Islands Seaway
• Long Island
• And More...