10 Things to Do in New York State
When thinking about New York, it’s a given that its famous city comes first to mind, but the entire state has plenty to offer visitors. There is no shortage of things to do in New York. Whether you’re a resident or a visitor, New York provides plenty of opportunities for sightseeing, dining and family-friendly activities. New York also experiences a classic four-season climate, with stunning autumn foliage and cold, snowy winters, making it a real-life playground for outdoor enthusiasts. New York is home to a wide variety of landscapes, ranging from the country’s biggest state park — Adirondack Park — to the Catskills, Hudson Valley, Finger Lakes and Niagara Falls. Beyond that, because it’s been a gateway into America, New York is a destination for immigrants from all over the world.
Planning a trip to the Empire State? In New York, you’ll find stunning state parks, a variety of locally-owned restaurants and businesses and plenty of historical hotspots for all ages and interests.
In This Article
1. Go for the gold at the Olympic Center in Lake Placid.
Lake Placid, New York
This Adirondacks hotspot is home to the Olympic Center, as Lake Placid was the host city for the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympic Games.
Much of the city’s golden history is preserved through the sport, entertainment and conference center, which pays homage to both Olympic games. The center’s central hub is the Herb Brooks Arena (formerly the Olympic Arena), which is famous for hosting the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” hockey match between the United States and the Soviet Union. Want to experience the real thing? The complex offers public skating sessions on its various rinks!
Explore the Lake Placid Olympic Museum, which features artifacts, gear, photos and presentations about the history, athletes and significant moments of the Winter Olympics. Finally, live like an Olympian by exploring other landmark sites around town. At the Olympic Jumping Complex, take the elevator to the top to see a bird’s-eye view of the Adirondacks and check out the 100- and 128-meter ski jumps. Visit Mt. Van Hoevenberg for sliding sports like bobsled, luge and skeleton. Finally, Whiteface Mountain was the home base for several alpine events, and visitors can hit the slopes there, too!
2. Hit a homerun at the National Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum.
Cooperstown, New York
The National Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum is a sacred spot celebrating America’s pastime. This treasure trove of baseball history spans three floors of exhibit space, showcasing more than 40,000 artifacts and exhibits on the game’s influence and history. The museum is also the site of the annual Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony, drawing thousands to Cooperstown each summer.
The collection of photographs, documents and interactive exhibits tells the story of baseball from its early beginnings to the present day. While visiting, stop by the Hall of Fame Plaque Gallery to set your eyes on the bronze plaques of every inductee, from Jackie Robinson to Derek Jeter to Ichiro Suzuki. The museum also highlights baseball’s diverse history, with permanent exhibits dedicated to Latin American players, the women of baseball and legendary Babe Ruth.
3. Be in two places at once at Niagara Falls State Park.
Niagara Falls, New York
Niagara Falls State Park is the oldest state park in the United States. Established in 1885 to protect the falls from commercial exploitation, it is the American counterpart to the Canadian side of the falls. The park was designed by legendary landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, who is responsible for the design of Central Park in New York City – but more on that later!
Today, Niagara Falls State Park is open year-round and encompasses the American side of the Niagara River, including three main waterfalls: American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls and a portion of Horsehoe Falls, which is mainly on the Canadian side. Made popular in pop culture and beyond, the Maid of the Mist Boat Tour is arguably the most famous falls experience. Visitors board a boat, wearing rain gear, that travels directly into the mist at the base of the Horseshoe Falls. Or, take an elevator down more than 175 feet into the Niagara Gorge with the Cave of the Winds, where visitors can stand on the ‘Hurricane Deck’ and be just feet away from the rushing water of the falls! Visitors can even bring their passports and travel across the Rainbow Bridge into Canada.
4. Wander back in time to Woodstock at the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts.
Bethel, New York
The Catskills Region, home of the famed 1969 Woodstock Festival, is one groovy spot. Pay a visit to the city of Bethel in Sullivan County and stop by the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, a major performing arts venue and museum that sits on the site of Woodstock. The property comprises a large outdoor amphitheater, an indoor gallery and a museum.
The Museum at Bethel Woods is an award-winning museum dedicated entirely to the 1969 Woodstock Festival. It highlights the tumultuous times of the 1960s and the festival’s cultural impact through several interactive exhibits. Visitors can live out their Woodstock dreams by catching a show at the Pavilion Stage – the center operates as a concert and festival venue with an event calendar full of performances by headlining acts! Take a stroll through the Festival Field or the Bindy Bazaar Trails, which was the marketplace for food and crafts during the festival. Recently, the center introduced the ability to camp onsite with various accommodation types, including along the historic Woodstock field.
5. Marvel at the historic Mohonk Mountain House.
New Paltz, New York
For over 155 years, this Victorian-era resort and National Historic Landmark in the Hudson Valley has provided rest, rejuvenation and recreation for guests. Set amid the Shawangunk Ridge, the Mohonk Mountain House’s woodsy backdrop and adjacent lake are complemented by interior decor featuring period photographs and antique furnishings. Its guest list has encompassed world and business leaders and celebrities of the day.
Founded in 1869, Mohonk today operates as an all-inclusive resort dedicated to recreation, wellness and natural preservation. Visitors can take in all the spectacular property has to offer, from hiking and biking the 85 miles of maintained trails to water sports, golf, tennis and horseback riding. Mohonk is also home to an award-winning spa and fitness center, where guests can indulge in a heated swimming pool, a solarium and daily fitness classes and meditation sessions. After working up an appetite, guests can enjoy farm-to-table cuisine, relax by one of the fireplaces or spread out on one of the spacious porches with magnificent mountain views. While the whole experience is reserved for overnight guests, day passes are often available for those hoping to visit the property.
6. Be in the room where it happened at the Women’s Rights National Historical Park.
Seneca Falls, New York
Located in the Finger Lakes Region, in Seneca Falls, the Women’s Rights National Historical Park commemorates the beginning of the women’s rights movement in the United States. This National Park Service site was where the first Women’s Rights Convention took place in 1848, when a proclamation, the Declaration of Sentiments, was signed by women and men attending the convention, including Frederick Douglass. It is a multi-site park that tells the story of the convention and the people who fought for women’s equality through preserved buildings and exhibits.
Visitors can stop by the Visitor Center and Museum to view artifacts, interactive displays and the “Waterwall,” which features the names of the men and women who signed the Declaration of Sentiments. The restored Wesleyan Chapel was the site of the 1848 convention, and today the space is maintained to reflect its appearance during the historical event. Take a tour of the home of Elizabeth Cady Stanton, the primary organizer of the convention and one of the most important figures in the women’s rights movement. Or stop by the home of Richard and Jane Hunt, where a small group prepared the first draft of the Declaration of Sentiments days before the convention. Finally, walk the path of women who came before with the Women’s Rights National Historical Park Trail, which guides visitors through Seneca Falls to see markers associated with the movement.
7. You got some ‘splaining to do at the Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum
Jamestown, New York
Comedic actress Lucille Ball is from Jamestown in New York, and her hometown pays homage to her (and her husband!) with the Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum. The “First Couple of Comedy” is celebrated through exhibitions on their lives and careers, with a strong focus on their iconic television show, I Love Lucy, which was the first to feature an intercultural couple and one of the first to work a real-life pregnancy into its storyline.
The museum complex comprises several buildings that house extensive collections of costumes, scripts, photographs and memorabilia from the lives and careers of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz.
While at the museum, visitors can see original costumes, props and scripts used by the cast of I Love Lucy and walk on meticulously recreated sets from the show. Then learn all about their groundbreaking production company, Desilu Studios, which pioneered many techniques used in TV today, like multi-camera live tapings! Of course, there is a museum store where visitors can stock up on merch. The museum ticket also grants visitors dual admission to the National Comedy Center, which features more than 50 immersive exhibits. And, if you time your trip right, attend the Center’s annual Lucille Ball Comedy Festival in August.
8. Learn about the Empire State at the New York State Museum.
Albany, New York
Want to be a part of it? Step around in the heart of it? Learn all about the Empire State at the New York State Museum in Albany, the state capital of New York. The New York State Museum is the oldest and largest state museum in the country and a hub for the state’s natural and cultural history. The museum maps a timeline of significant events throughout the state, and the focus of its exhibits runs the gamut – from native birds and minerals and the splendors of the Adirondacks to objects and artifacts relating to the September 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center.
There are several permanent exhibits throughout the museum, including Black Capital: Harlem in the 20s, Native Peoples of New York, Birds of New York and The World Trade Center: Rescue, Recovery, Response. In addition to the permanent exhibits, there is a series of rotating exhibits and galleries that are sure to excite and educate. The museum hosts extensive programming for adults and children, including Discovery Place, a hands-on learning center for kids. After learning all about New York, visitors can stop by the museum’s fourth floor to take a ride on the full-size carousel that dates back to 1914.
9. Take in 360º views at New York’s oldest lighthouse.
Long Island, New York
Situated at the easternmost point of Long Island, the Montauk Point Lighthouse was the first lighthouse built in New York State and the fourth-oldest active lighthouse in the country. Commissioned during George Washington’s presidency, it is primarily intended to guide ships in the Atlantic Ocean as they approach New York Harbor. During World War II, the U.S. Army moved into the lighthouse and built the large adjacent tower to keep watch for German submarines.
Today, visitors can access the grounds and climb the 137 steps up the tower to take in panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean, Block Island Sound and the entire Montauk peninsula. On clear, sunny days, visitors can often see Block Island and even certain spots in Rhode Island. At the tower’s base is a museum filled with historical artifacts, maritime exhibits, and photographs of the lighthouse and the lives of its many keepers. While visiting the Montauk Point Lighthouse, be sure to spend some time exploring Montauk Point State Park.
10. Take a stroll through the iconic Central Park.
New York City, New York
When in Rome, do as the Romans do, or better yet, when in New York, visit New York City! Designed by landscape architects Frederick Law Olmsted (designer of the Niagara Falls State Park!) and Calvert Vaux in 1858, Central Park is NYC’s most famous park. This 843-acre green space in Manhattan was established to provide an urban oasis in the rapidly growing city and spans from 59th Street to 110th Street, between Fifth Avenue and Central Park West, with various entrance points.
Designated as the most visited urban park in the country, it’s unsurprising that the roster of things to do when visiting Central Park is endless. There are several scenic spots and landmarks sprinkled throughout the park, along with a mix of man-made and natural features, including popular places like Strawberry Fields, a memorial to John Lennon featuring the famous “Imagine” mosaic, and even a castle, called the Belvedere Castle. Other popular spots include the Mall & Literary Walk, Bethesda Terrace and Fountain and Conservatory Garden. And, because it is a park after all, visitors can rent rowboats for a ride at The Lake, ice skate during the winter or explore the dozens of miles of trails for walking, running, cycling and even horseback riding. And for children, the park provides a carousel, numerous playgrounds and the iconic Central Park Zoo.