New York’s Must-See Attractions

While you’re taking in the outdoors in Buffalo, be sure to check out Tifft Nature Preserve. Build a bond with nature at Beaver Lake Nature Center in Onondaga County. There are ten miles of trails for you to navigate and it’s open year-round. Rent canoes or kayaks in the summer and go skiing and snowshoeing in the winter.

Shop, dine, or just go for a stroll along the quaint Armory Square neighborhood along the west side of downtown Syracuse. History buffs have to take a trip to the northern part of the state and experience Fort Ticonderoga. The fort formerly known as Fort Carillon played a particularly crucial role in the American Revolutionary War and is a treat for all students of history.

Arrange a tour of the Hart-Cluett Mansion in Troy to get a feel for life in a 19th-century New York Mansion. To truly appreciate the spiritual heritage of the Empire State as well as 17th-century architecture, head out on Route 9 and see the Old Dutch Church of Sleepy Hollow.

Just north of the Bronx, in Mount Vernon, is St. Paul’s Church. Not only is St. Paul’s one of the oldest parishes in New York, but it was also used as a military hospital following the Battle of Pell’s Point during the Revolutionary War. Of course, no visit to New York involving military appreciation would be complete without a trip to the United States Military Academy in West Point.

New York is especially knowns for its outstanding tradition of artistic contributions. Visit the Catskill home and studio of 19th century painter Thomas Cole, who founded the Hudson River School of painting. Take a short drive south of Albany and go on a tour of the 36-room mansion of the eighth American president at the Martin Van Buren National Historic Site.

While you’re visiting homes of former presidents, head out to Cove Neck on Long Island and see Sagamore Hill; former home of Theodore Roosevelt. Just north of Poughkeepsie is Hyde Park where you’ll find the national historic site commemorating the lifelong home of 32nd President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The national historic site of FDR’s wife Eleanor Roosevelt is also in Hyde Park so your itinerary will be full. In Upper Manhattan, you’ll find the resting place of 18th President Ulysses S. Grant and his wife Julia at General Grant National Memorial.

America’s first immigration station can be found at the national monument known as Castle Clinton in Battery Park, Manhattan. Be sure you check out the iconic Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island while honoring this history. Or treat yourself to a day of amusement parks and beach fun at Coney Island in Brooklyn.

No trip to the city of New York would be complete without getting an in-person look at the 102-story skyscraper known as the Empire State Building in midtown Manhattan. Make sure you carve out time to check out legendary Big Apple must-sees such as Times Square, Wall Street, Rockefeller Center, and Grand Central Station and see what makes the City that Never Sleeps keep ticking.

One of the first American theme parks, Santa’s Workshop, is a great activity for the whole family so get up to Wilmington and make a day of it. If you’re looking for strictly grown-up thrills, put your poker face on and double down at The Turning Stone Casino in Verona, New York.

It goes without saying that New York is a vibrant destination where history is celebrated, nature is respected, and adventure is encouraged.