10 Best Things to Do in New York State

New York City is the most visited state capital and the most populous city in the United States. Packed with iconic attractions, you could very easily spend weeks exploring just the city without ever straying into the rest of the state. Be sure to visit the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, Brooklyn Bridge, Central Park, Times Square and dozens of other well-known landmarks.

It’s not just about famous places in New York, New York. A melting pot of cultures, the Big Apple has a famously diverse dining scene, amazing nightlife and first-class shopping, with options right across the budget spectrum in every regard.

Niagara Falls comprises 3 waterfalls, namely Horseshoe Falls, American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls. The largest of them is Horseshoe Falls and it’s on the Canadian side of the border. The other 2 are on the US side. You should make your visit to the falls early in the morning to enjoy a magical moment to yourself before the crowds start to arrive.

You can book a 20-minute tour on one of the boats that take you to the foot of Horseshoe Falls to truly feel the raw power of nature, but be ready to get wet! Hornblower Niagara Cruises and the Maid of the Mist are the most popular companies that offer this thrilling trip.

The Hamptons is a chain of small and rural communities at the eastern end of Long Island, to the east of New York City. It’s famously the retreat of the rich and famous, for when they want to escape the bustle of the Big Apple. It’s also where you’ll find some of the state’s best beaches.

Aside from a peaceful escape and the excellent beaches, The Hamptons has a few interesting, kid-friendly museums, wineries and historical landmarks, be sure to check out Montauk Lighthouse and the Children’s Museum of the East End, as well as Cooper’s Beach and East Hampton Main Beach, of course.

The Adirondacks is a spectacular part of New York, containing over 10,000 lakes, about 46 peaks and about 9,375 square miles of stunning scenery. There are countless hiking trails through the region and the protected Adirondack Park, as well as plenty of places to try canoeing, kayaking and paddleboarding.

Among the top attractions in the Adirondacks is Ausable Chasm – a beautiful, narrow, 2-mile-long gorge that is sometimes known as “The Grand Canyon of the East”. The waterfalls here are spectacular, and you get a great view of the gorge from the bridge that spans it.

Howe Caverns is among New York’s most famous natural sites, second in visits only to Niagara Falls. Located in the Howes Cave, 156 ft below Schoharie County, you can join an 80-minute tour to see the underground lakes and amazing limestone structures.

The Howe Caverns is an especially family-friendly place, with a rock wall, ropes course, zip line and more. There are also extended tours available, some of which last as long as 2 hours and enter parts of the cave where artificial lights have not been installed.

The Thousand Islands dot a 50-mile stretch of the St. Lawrence River, on the border with Canada. Some are little more than tiny outcrops of rock, but some have houses on them while others are home to grand castles and mansions. It’s best to take a boat trip and hop around the visitable islands to get the most out of the expansive region.

Among the most famous landmarks within the Thousand Islands is Boldt Castle. The 6-storey, 120-room Rhineland-style structure was originally going to be a Valentine’s Day gift, but the intended recipient sadly died before construction was completed. Even so, it remains a very romantic destination.

Lake Placid is, as the name suggests, a peaceful spot in the Adirondack Mountains of northern New York. The 2,170-acre body of water is bordered by a village of the same name, which has hosted the Winter Olympic Games twice and so has extensive sports facilities. It’s also home to an excellent dining and shopping scenes, especially along the main tourist strip.

While the area is certainly a fantastic winter destination, it is arguably more beautiful in the summer. Take a hike around the lake and photograph its mirror-like surface reflecting blue skies and the greenery covering the surrounding hills. It’s a great spot for trout fishing, too.

The legendary village of Sleepy Hollow lies in the bosom of one of those spacious coves which indent the eastern shore of the Hudson, about 40 minutes’ drive from Manhattan. Made famous by Washington Irving’s 1820 short story of wandering schoolteacher Ichabod Crane and his encounter with the Headless Horseman, the village itself is small, historical and decidedly quaint.

A must-visit in Sleepy Hollow is Irving’s final resting place, just a short walk from an old church and nearby bridge, both of which played important roles in his story. On the other side of the bridge is a modern sculpture of the “Galloping Hessian of the Hollow”. Check out the old lighthouse on the river and Kykuit (John D. Rockefeller Estate) – both attractions aren't related to the legend, but worth a visit. 

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is a mecca for fans of America’s pastime. Established in 1936 in Cooperstown, the museum part contains about 40,000 artefacts, 140,000 baseball cards and millions of books, newspaper clippings and photos in the library.

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum spans 3 floors, with highlights including a room for baseball movie memorabilia, one specially designed for young children and another devoted to just ballparks. The most famous part of the facility is the Plaque Gallery, where you’ll find the list of inductees to the Hall of Fame.

Watkins Glen State Park is a beautiful spot containing 19 waterfalls in a relatively small area of just 778 acres. The star attraction is a 400-ft-deep gorge cut by Glen Creek, which contains many of the most beautiful waterfalls. This area, in particular, looks like somewhere out of The Lord of the Rings.

Getting around the park is pretty easy thanks to well-established paths and beautiful stone bridges. It even connects to the 800-mile-long Finger Lakes Trail. Hopefully, you like stairs because there are 832 of them around the park.