Check Out Some Of The Finger Lakes Hikes & Waterfalls
There are several state parks, a national forest, and outdoor areas to take a hike in the Finger Lakes. If youre not sure what one to do, check which state park is closest to where youre staying. Hikes across the Finger Lakes range in difficulty so you should be able to find something that suits you.
We recommend hiking in Buttermilk Falls State Park to see some beautiful gorges and waterfalls. Or checking out Finger Lakes National Forest which has over 30 miles of trails and stunning pastures where cattle graze depending on the season.
Check Out The Breweries In Buffalo
The micro-brewery scene is constantly growing in New York state. Buffalo has really seen a boom in the past decade and a lot of the beers arent found outside of Western New York so make sure you check out a few.
Stop at Big Ditch Brewing Company and drink an ale or an IPA and eat some snacks. Stop at Thin Man Brewery for a hazy IPA and check out their huge rotating tap list. If you have the time, check out Resurgence Brewing Company, Community Beer Works, and the other couple dozen breweries in the area.
Have An Exquisite Meal
Enjoy a fantastic meal at the Oak & Vine at Springside gastropub located at the Springside Inn. Start your meal with the rich and delicious French Onion Gratinee or the house specialty, Cheese Soufflé. Im ashamed to admit I had both, and they were equally impressive.
For dinner, the Filet Mignon is hard to beat. Another palatable option is the Maple Glazed Salmon with rice pilaf and vegetables. Be sure to save room for a slice of homemade cheesecake. Oak & Vine was one of the best meals of my upstate New York trip.
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Visit Harriet Tubmans House
Harriet Tubman spent the latter part of her life in Auburn, New York. Her home is now a United States National Park. You can visit her home and go on a tour. There are two guided tours a day and you must book ahead of time. As of March 2022, the tours are outside, and people are not allowed inside the buildings on the property. That might change in the future so definitely check when youre making an appointment for the tour.
Go and learn all about the amazing abolitionist, political activist, and first woman to lead a military operation in the United States.
Llama/alpaca Hiking & Farm Experience
Its time to pet some soft, cuddly llamas and alpacas. This is a great way to get some hands-on time with animals and learn all about camelids from educator and homestead owner, Andrea.
Take a stroll with some of the llamas and alpacas through pastures and fields in either a private group or a large tour. You can even get a llama selfie in a perfect countryside setting.
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Learn About The Fox Sisters
A really cool thing to do in upstate New York is to learn about the Fox Sisters . They were the founders of the Spiritual Movement. These three New York sisters used rappings to convince one another that they were communicating with spirits.
The Fox Sisters were solely responsible for the creation of modern Spiritualism. You can find the sisters transported family cottage at the Lily Dale Assembly, where it fits perfectly. You may be surprised at how their story ends.
Upstate New York: A 10/10 Vacation Destination
With a two-week road trip behind us, Howard and I got a good dose of the beauty and attractions in this amazing part of the country. I didnt expect my road trip to upstate New York to have so much great history and scenic beauty. I was truly blown away.
There are literally hundreds of things to do in upstate New York, but these 50 should give you a place to start.
Happy travels.
Thanks to a host of partners for making this trip a reality, including The Finger Lakes, Rochester, Niagara, The Catskills, and Haunted New York. As always, opinions and reviews are 100% mine and unbiased.
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Best Places To Visit In Upstate New York + Hidden Gems
When it comes to New York State, many only think of New York City: an immense urban metropolis. However, the vast State of New York also expands into flowing hills, roaring rivers, breathtaking mountains, cute towns, and rushing waterfalls. Beneath all its natural beauty also lies important facets of history, tied deeply to the land and its people. Want to experience this for yourself? Here are 31 of the uniquely best places to visit upstate New York.
Museum Hop In Buffalo
Check out all the museums in Buffalo. One of the best things to do in New York state is to soak up all the history. Buffalo is no exception. Stop at the Buffalo Museum of Science for a few hours and channel your inner child when looking at all the dinosaur fossils. Then check out the Buffalo History Museum and learn about the development of the Western New York frontier.
Make sure to wander into the Albright-Knox Art Gallery which actively collects and exhibits contemporary art that reflects our present culture. Pop into the Museum of disABILITY History, a rare and unique museum about people with disabilities and their treatment and role in history. If theres time, check out Frank Lloyd Wrights Martin House, Buffalo Harbor Museum, and more.
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Sleep On A Canal Boat
Rent a canal boat on Skaneateles Lake with Mid-Lakes Navigation and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Erie Canal. Be the captain of your own canal boat complete with sleeping, dining, and showering facilities, and everything you need to enjoy a unique 3, 4, or 7-night stay. The boats come with bicycles to use when visiting the canal towns along the route.
Old Macdonalds Farm Sackets Harbor
Old MacDonalds Farm has a lot more to it than the song says!
Everyone in the family will find something they love at the farm youll be spoiled for choice.
You can visit with over 200 friendly farm animals, jump around in the bounce house, take a hayride around the farm, play 9-hole mini golf, and check out the Reindeer Christmas Village year round.
If you visit the farm in the fall you can also wander through the two corn mazes and pick your own pumpkins.
No matter what time of year you go, the freshly made on-site ice cream will always be a good idea.
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Things To Do In Upstate New York In Fall
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Are you planning a trip to Upstate New York in fall? If youre anything like me, youve been waiting all year to see those autumn leaves in action!New York is such a large state with lots of big cities and small towns and it can be overwhelming to know where to start researching for your trip and unless youve got about six months of unlimited time, you dont want to waste a moment.
Whether youre a history buff, an art aficionado, a nature lover, or a little bit of all three, weve created a guide packed with over 20 unique ways to explore the great state of New York in autumn.
So if youre taking a quick day trip from NYC or are finally crossing Niagra Falls off of your bucket list, weve got it covered.
You may also like our chock-full things to do in NYC this fall guide and NYC fall festivals article.
Chittenango Falls & State Park
Chittenango Falls
Wondering where to go upstate New York to see a waterfall? Look no further than Chittenango State Park. Here, a 167-foot waterfall towers above the river onlookers can catch a glimpse from the top of the falls, or from a footbridge across the way. There are many short hikes throughout the parks area, and more ambitious hikers can combine trails to make longer routes. After a hike, and a few photo ops, have a picnic and enjoy the beautiful scenery.
Chittenango Falls is just a 15-minute drive from Green Lake State Park . The perfect day trip filled with: hikes, New York lakes, cute towns, and waterfalls. And if you love antiques, head over to Syracuse Antiques Exchange in Syracuse, just 25 minutes away.
If youd like to stay within walking distance of Chittenango Falls then you should take a look at this 1-bed apartment, where you can relax in a private jacuzzi tub after youve been hiking around the falls. If youre travelling as a larger group, you could consider The Brewster Inn which is only a 10-minute drive from Chittenango falls. Here, you can book a room with views over Lake Cazenovia, enjoy a continental breakfast and spend the evening relaxing by the lake whilst drinking wine.
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Camp Fireworks And Celebration In Lake George
The Lake George area offers a plethora of activities to celebrate Memorial Day. Starting Friday, the YMCA Camp Chingachgook hosts its family camp on Lake George. Activities include canoeing, hiking, archery, rock climbing, arts and crafts, nature walks, campires and more. The weekend ends Monday after lunch.
On Saturday, the Lake George Memorial Day Parade will kick off on Westbrook Road at 11:30 a.m. and head north on Canada Street to Shepard Park.
After the parade, take the kids to Splashwater Kingdom, which opens for the summer. The new Buccaneer Beach kids’ area makes its debut.
For adults looking to get away from the young ones, buy a $50 ticket for the Lake George Shoreline’s Rock the Boat Fireworks Cruise. The ride includes live band with dancing, appetizers, open beer, wine and soda bar, and an excellent view to see the fireworks at night. The boat departs at 9 p.m. and returns at 10:30 p.m. Reservations are required.
On Sunday and Monday, head over to Veteran’s Park in Crown Point for the Crown Point Memorial Day Celebration. The celebration will include a grand fireworks display, parade, live music, food, vendors, and more. Visit the Lake George website for a full schedule of events.
Summer 2022 & Annual Catskills Events & Festivals
Whether you’re a local New Yorker celebrating for a night, visiting for the day, or vacationing for a week, Greene County’s summer event schedule is packed with live music, cultural festivals, and seasonal celebrations.
The Great Northern Catskills offer family-friendly festivals and events, and arts and cultural performances that take the stage and the audience by storm. Just two hours north of Manhattan, the breathtaking landscape of the Catskills await. Current Catskills top attractions and featured eventslisted at the bottom of this page are sure to delight you in any season! Dont forget to find one of our great local restaurants during your trip to the area.
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Corning Museum Of Glass Corning
Not only is the Corning Museum of Glass a top-rated museum with half a million visitors annually, but it is also the most comprehensive collection and leading library on glass and one of the top glassworking schools in the world.
As a visitor, you can get hands-on at the Innovation Center to learn the science and technology within the world of glass, watch a hot glass or flameworking demo, and even make glass yourself!
Despite the delicate nature of glass, this museum caters to all ages and has programs geared to younger visitors so everyone can find something to enjoy here as you explore 3500 years of the history of glass.
Warm on a cold fall day by blasting glass with a hot flame!
Want to see what its like before you go? They live stream their events showing things like guest demonstrations and new techniques.
Hike The Chimney Bluffs Along Lake Ontario
Commonly known to local Central New Yorkers as The Bluffs, Chimney Bluffs State Park is a beautiful park along the shores of Lake Ontario. Visiting this park was one of our favorite things to do in Oswego when we studied there! Come on a sunny day to see how the dramatic spikey bluffs pop up along the waterfront.
You can walk above The Bluffs on a myriad of trails. Students from some of the nearby universities, like SUNY Oswego, often spend time here in spring-fall to soak up the little bit of warmth before winter and chilling temperatures take over Central New York.
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Upstate Ny Day Trips: Museums
Dedicated to the art, history and science of glass, this museum was founded in 1951 by Corning Glass Works and currently has a collection of more than 45,000 glass objects, several of which are more than 3,500 years old. The sites galleries include pieces by artists, such as Klaus Moje and Josiah McElheny, as well as examples of Asian, European and American glassmaking. Subject matter includes glass in nature, origins of glassmaking, glass of the Romans and glass in the Islamic world.
Also known as the Milton J. Rubenstein Museum , this Syracuse site in Armory Square features multiple exhibits, a gift shop and a domed IMAX movie theater. Some of the permanent displays include Earth Science Discovery Cave, Life Sciences, Science Playhouse, Technotown and the Lockheed Martin Flight and Space exhibit.
International Boxing Hall of Fame
Honoring boxers, trainers and other contributors to the sport, this Canastota museum is one of two recognized international boxing halls of fame. Ceremonies are held every year to honor new inductees, which are handled by the Boxing Writers Association of America. Categories at the museum include retired boxers whose last bout was no earlier than 1943, boxers who fought between 1893 and 1942, pioneers whose last bout was before 1892, observers and non-participants.
Best Things To Do In Upstate New York
Beautiful nature abounds in Upstate New York not only is the area home to several stunning mountain ranges, but it also offers sparkling rivers, caves, amusement parks, lakes, cascading waterfalls, and miles and miles of hiking trails. There are plenty of things to do on a rainy day as well why not check out the Baseball Hall of Fame, visit the historic home of Harriet Tubman, or learn about the history of racing at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. Be sure to call the attractions and restaurants ahead of your visit to confirm current opening times.
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Tour The Clara Barton House
Does the name Clara Barton ring a bell? It should. Clara dedicated her life and energies to help others in times of need in both the United States and abroad. The Clara Barton House was created in 1974 to interpret the life of this teacher, nurse, and humanitarian who also founded the American Red Cross. It is a US National Park, toodont forget to stamp your passport.
This is just one of the unique places to visit in upstate New York.
National Warplane Museum Geneseo
The National Warplane Museum is a museum that focuses on WWII, Korean War, and Vietnam-era aircraft and equipment, as well as the stories of those who served in those wars.
The collection includes seven planes, one searchlight, and one amphibious truck the museum also hosts a slew of events throughout the year, including an airshow.
You can even schedule a ride in a historic aircraft to slip back a few decades and get a fantastic birds eye view of the spectacular land underneath at the same time.
This New York museum hosts a number of events including musicals so check the website calendar to see whats on during your fall visit.
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Lake Placid Olympic Museum Lake Placid
You dont have to be a die-hard sports fan to love the Olympics, and the Lake Placid Olympic Museum is the perfect place to relive a little of that glory.
Here you can explore the history of the two-time winter Olympic host through the artifacts, photographs, exhibits, and videos.
Exhibits include Lake Placid Medals, Quest for Speed, History of Whiteface, Miracle on Ice, Sliding Sport, Olympic and Parade Uniforms and more.
Athletes still train year-round at the Olympic Center, so keep your eyes peeled and phone charged to snap a selfie with any familiar faces when you visit.
Taughannock Falls State Park Trumansburg
Taughannock Falls State Park is named for its gorgeous 215ft waterfall , but thats only one of many things that make this park so unique.
Depending on whether you take a gorge or rim trail, youll find amazing views from up above the falls to see the park in all its wondrous fall color or from below at the end of the gorge trail.
Whether youre hiking in a group or on your own, take advantage of their cell phone tour by calling 607-216-6062 to learn about the history and ins-and-outs of the park.
Dont miss the view of Taughannock Falls from the Falls Overlook, its the most popular spot for a reason.
You can also stay in a cabin or on the campsite to truly immerse yourself until it shuts for the season in mid-October.
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