New York City may lure travelers with its gleaming lights and non-stop excitement, however, stepping outside the five boroughs reveals a more relaxed agenda in the Empire State.
Art lovers can find immersive outdoor museums and themed gardens, and adventure seekers can go for an Olympic-sized thrill ride or hike well above the tops of the tree canopies. Those looking for the high life can pop into castle-like mansions, while others can kick back at the site of a famous music festival.
Moreover, the curious – whether it’s a love for baseball, an appreciation for glass, or a penchant for chicken wings – will find ways to fulfill those desires. After all, the activities here are as varied as the regions, ensuring everyone leaves with a New York state of mind.
1. Enjoy art sculptures at Storm King Art Center
Storm King Art Center, located a 60-mile drive north of New York City, is renowned for its dramatic sculptures and stunning topography. Nearly 90 works are displayed across the museum’s 500 acres, featuring breathtaking woods, fields, meadows, and hills – the natural setting playing a crucial role in the site-specific displays and oversized art pieces.
2. Celebrate women’s rights at national parks
New York State has a profound connection to the women’s suffrage movement. Seneca Falls hosted the 1848 Women’s Rights Convention, and the town’s Women’s Rights National Historical Park stands as a testament to the hard work and sacrifices of these American pioneers.
Other noteworthy sites include the Harriet Tubman National Historic Park, which encompasses the abolitionist icon’s home, church, and grave, and Hyde Park’s Val-Kill, also known as the Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site, where visitors can stroll along the grounds that the First Lady frequented daily.
3. Ride a coaster along an Olympic bobsled track in Lake Placid
Fortunately, no Olympic training is necessary to experience the bobsled track used in both the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid. In 2020, the nation’s longest mountain coaster, the Cliffside Coaster, was unveiled at Mt Van Hoevenberg. Visitors can strap into a vehicle and speed through the exhilarating twists and turns of the course while an audio system shares commentary about Olympians coasting down the same path.
4. Make your own glass at the Corning Museum of Glass
Situated in the Finger Lakes, the Corning Museum of Glass showcases the world’s most extensive collection of glass, featuring more than 50,000 objects spanning 3500 years of history. Additionally, it serves as a leading library on the material and one of the foremost glassworking schools. Visitors can engage with the craft by making their own glass, whether creating a glass-blown ornament or a sandblasted sculpture.
5. Mansion hop along the Gatsby Gold Coast on Long Island’s North Shore
Amidst the suburban sprawl of Long Island lies a world of opulence. In Huntington, explore Oheka Castle’s French-style estate and gardens, recognized from several films and celebrity weddings, then continue to the Vanderbilt Mansion’s museum and planetarium in Centerport, or marvel at the Guggenheim Estate at the Sands Point Preserve, famously known as East Egg from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s literary classic.
6. Spot the converging tides from Montauk Point Lighthouse
If Montauk is indeed The End, then Montauk Point Lighthouse, the oldest in New York State dating back to 1796, offers a glimpse of what lies beyond. Perched at the eastern tip of Long Island, the view from the top encompasses both the Atlantic Ocean and Block Island Sound, showcasing the confluent tides of the two bodies of water – a natural phenomenon worth witnessing.
7. Tour Cooperstown’s National Baseball Hall of Fame
The National Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum resides in a small Central New York town with just one stoplight – fitting for a museum boasting over 40,000 three-dimensional artifacts that reflect a simpler, slower-paced life alongside the history of America’s favorite pastime.
8. Get a read on herbs at the Cornell Botanic Gardens
Encompassing over 500 acres of gardens and natural spaces, the Cornell Botanic Gardens presents a unique side of the Ivy League campus. Visitors will discover an enchanting herb garden with themed beds, including one organized by literary references in poetry and folklore, such as The Scarlet Pimpernel.
9. Dine on international cuisine at the Culinary Institute of America
The Culinary Institute of America offers students the chance to refine their craft by serving eager diners. Located on a 170-acre campus alongside the Hudson River, the institute features restaurants that cater to various tastes, including American Bounty, Bocuse Restaurant, Ristorante Caterina de’ Medici, and the Apple Pie Bakery Café.
10. Wander over Opus 40’s earthwork sculpture in Saugerties
Dubbed the Stonehenge of North America, the 6.5-acre earthwork sculpture Opus 40, created by artist Harvey Fite over nearly four decades, strikes a captivating balance between enchanting and mysterious. Designed to honor ancient Aztec and Mayan cultures, this sculpture park and museum hosts concerts, theatrical events, and nature walks amidst its stunning environment.
11. Take a bike tour through the buffalo wing history of Buffalo
The story of Buffalo wings is legendary: Anchor Bar co-owner Teressa Bellissimo crafted the iconic dish in 1964 for her son’s friends. Using chicken wing parts typically saved for stock, she deep-fried them with a secret sauce, thus making her Buffalo restaurant the self-proclaimed home of the original Buffalo wing.
Consequently, Buffalo Bike Tours offers a Wing Ride from May through October to delve into the city’s chicken wing history, with tastings at various local wing spots.
12. See a frozen Niagara Falls
Mother Nature roars over Niagara Falls, with 3160 tons of water cascading every second. The magic intensifies during certain weather conditions when surface water freezes, creating a stunning spectacle of ice that can stack up to 40 feet thick, yielding spectacular photography opportunities.
13. Sail along the Canadian border through the Thousand Islands
Uncle Sam Boat Tours has been navigating through Canada’s Thousand Islands from Alexandria Bay, New York, for nearly a century. The cruises take guests along the St Lawrence River, offering views of historic castles and modern mansions, with a recommended stop at the unfinished Boldt Castle, featuring a drawbridge and Italian garden. Adventurers can also choose to paddle the river for a more hands-on experience.
14. Complete the Fire Tower Challenge in the Adirondacks
Scattered across various summits in the Adirondacks are 25 fire towers that once served forest rangers. No longer used for their original purpose, they now offer aerial viewpoints, granting hikers an unprecedented perspective of the sprawling mountain panoramas. Those who manage to check them all off their list will earn a coveted patch, marking their accomplishment.
15. Find peace, love, and music at Woodstock
Now known as the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, the Catskills site of the 1969 Woodstock Festival resides a 58-mile drive southwest of its namesake town. Visitors can reflect on the momentous events of the 1960s at the festival-themed museum or immerse themselves in musical bliss at the 16,000-person outdoor amphitheater.
This article was first published Feb 27, 2022 and updated Oct 3, 2023.
