New York is often known as the city that never sleeps, but there’s so much more to the state to explore outside of the Big Apple. Upstate New York is home to majestic mountains, plenty of lakes, and charming small towns. You’ll also find numerous festivals, historical museums, a wide variety of art, trendy wineries, and more to visit. Of course, there are also iconic attractions like the National Baseball Hall of Fame and, of course, the awe-inspiring Niagara Falls.
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If you haven’t been yet or would like to see more, here are 20 of the best things to do in upstate New York.
Conesus Lake
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Conesus Lake is the westernmost of the 11 Finger Lakes and attracts many visitors every July 3rd for the traditional “Ring of Fire” celebration, when thousands of flares are lit around the lake and fireworks are set off overhead. The nearby village of Lakeville is home to Little Lake Brewing, a stop on the Livingston Libation Loop, which features wineries, cider breweries and craft breweries in the county. While you’re in the area, don’t miss the colorful street murals and art scattered throughout nine villages along the 90-mile self-guided Inspiration Trail.
Cooperstown
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The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is just one of the quaint village’s worth-visit attractions. Built on land once owned by novelist James Fenimore Cooper (the town is named after the writer’s father, William), the Fenimore Art Museum displays a fine collection of American writing. Opera lovers come from far and wide for the annual summer Glimmerglass Festival. Visitors to nearby Howe Caverns (about 38 miles east) can enjoy spelunking and cave exploration at the second most visited natural spot in New York State.
Letchworth State Park
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Known as the “Grand Canyon of the East,” Letchworth State Park features a dramatic canyon carved out over centuries by the Genesee River. Dozens of camera-worthy waterfalls are located where the river tumbles dramatically along shale, limestone and sandstone cliffs. The cliffs reach their highest point at 550 feet. The nation’s first Autism Nature Trail designed for people on the autism spectrum features eight signposted sensory stations over a one-mile loop.
Niagara Falls
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In addition to the iconic Niagara Falls, the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Centre is also worth a stop. The village of Niagara Falls’ accessible location and closeness to the border make it a great place to learn more about Niagara Falls’ important role in the Underground Railroad. The centre is located in the 1863 Customs House, near the old International Suspension Bridge where heroes like Harriet Tubman led people across the border to freedom in Canada. The museum’s permanent exhibit, “One More River to Cross”, received a 2019 Award of Excellence from the American Society for State and Local History.
Jamestown
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Located on the southwestern edge of Chautauqua Lake, Jamestown is best known as the hometown of comedian Lucille Ball. If you’re interested in the arts, stop by the National Comedy Center Museum. For a more intellectual experience, head to the renowned Chautauqua Institute, less than a 30-minute drive along the lake. Each summer, it hosts speakers, performers, and programs focused on “the highest exploration of human values and the fulfillment of life.”
Ellicottville
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About an hour’s drive south of Buffalo, this quaint village in the foothills of the Allegheny Mountains is full of charm, as evidenced by its well-preserved and restored 19th-century homes and buildings. It’s also a place where Western New York sports enthusiasts and skiers can mountain bike, hike or slalom on the 60 slopes and runs at the neighboring Holiday Valley Resort.
Seneca Falls
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This historic site at the north end of Cayuga Lake is thought to have been the inspiration for the town of Bedford Falls in Frank Capra’s film, It’s a Wonderful Life. (There’s even a museum dedicated to the film.) But it’s most notable for the important role it played in the women’s rights movement, hosting the first Women’s Rights Convention in 1848. The town’s annual Convention Day, held every July, draws huge crowds, and the Women’s Rights National Historical Park is also worth a visit. You can also toast the suffragists with a wine tasting on one of the nearby Finger Lakes Wine Trails.
Skaneateles
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Meaning “long lake” in Iroquois, this affluent town is another central New York destination known for wine tasting and fall foliage, and is also a popular destination for avid cyclists who ride the 32-mile loop around the lake. Every year, starting Thanksgiving weekend, the town hosts a Dickens Christmas celebration with live entertainment, carriage and wagon rides, and Dickens characters.
Lake George
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Few lakes in New York state are known for scuba diving, so many visitors are surprised to learn that certified divers can explore 18th-century shipwrecks, including the oldest warship in North America, at the bottom of Lake George. This Adirondack town gets packed with vacationers every summer, but there are plenty of winter activities to enjoy, including snowshoeing and a family-friendly carnival held each February.
Saranac Lake
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For centuries, the Adirondack Mountains have attracted city dwellers, including tycoons like the Guggenheims and Vanderbilts, who owned the rustic yet luxurious estates known as Great Camps. Once Rockefeller’s Great Camp, The Pointe still welcomes guests with all-inclusive accommodations that recall the era, including black-tie dinners. The resort is near the village of Saranac Lake, surrounded by mountains and lakes, and home to charming boutiques, galleries and restaurants.
Ithaca
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Ithaca is not only a top-notch university town, but also a natural paradise with breathtaking canyons, parks, and Taughannock Falls, three times the height of Niagara Falls. The city also offers plenty to do, including botanical gardens, boat tours, wine trails, and self-guided discovery trails showcasing local history, astronomy, and earth science. Ithaca is also rumored to be the birthplace of the ice cream sundae.
Watkins Glen and Montour Falls
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In upstate New York, many destinations are defined by their proximity to the state’s lakes, including Watkins Glen, located at the southern end of Seneca Lake. Best known for its legendary auto racing history, Watkins Glen International Track has been the site of countless races, from the Grand Prix to NASCAR to Formula 1. It’s also a great starting point for exploring the Seneca Lake Wine Trail, which runs the entire length of the lake and is the largest wine trail in the Finger Lakes.
Saratoga Springs
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Saratoga Springs is a popular vacation destination for good reason: a day at the famous Saratoga Race Course or Saratoga Spa State Park, a National Historic Landmark, has a classic old-world feel, and the city also has a thriving arts scene, with great productions at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Spa Little Theatre and other venues.
Thousand Islands
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The US-Canada border meanders along the St. Lawrence River, zigzagging through the spectacular Thousand Islands where the river joins Lake Ontario. The archipelago is made up of around 1,800 islands, ranging from small and rocky to large and lush. Tourists flock here every summer and fall to enjoy the views of picturesque lighthouses and dramatic homes, including the never-before-inhabited Boldt Castle. On the nearby mainland, visit towns like Clayton and Cape Vincent, or stop off at Sackets Harbor, a designated New York State Heritage Area.
Pittsford
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An affluent community in upstate New York, idyllic Pittsford sits on the banks of the Erie Canal. In summer, tourists and locals flock to the historic downtown for its antique shops and boutiques. Dine at Sean’s Place overlooking the canal, spend the day browsing the shops, then line up for homemade ice cream at Pittsford Farms Dairy & Bakery. Other attractions include nearby Mendon Ponds Park and the Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, about a 15-minute drive away.
Ausable Chasm
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Au Sable Chasm is a two-mile sandstone canyon carved out 500 million years ago in the Eastern Adirondack Mountains, not far from Lake Champlain and the Vermont border. It’s another great place to see waterfalls (especially Rainbow Falls) and explore the Adirondacks on numerous hiking and adventure trails. It’s also close by, about an hour’s drive north, to the North Star Underground Railroad Museum, which tells the story of slaves seeking freedom at the Canadian border.
beacon
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Dia Beacon is a renowned contemporary art collection that has brought much attention and tourism to this city on the Hudson River – and with it, the many other galleries, shops, cafes, breweries and antique stores that line its charming Main Street. Trek to the top of Mount Beacon or book a boat tour to Pollepel Island (known locally as Bannerman Island), where Native American communities believed to be haunted by hostile spirits.
Wyndham
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About a three-hour drive from New York City, this mountain town welcomes adventure seekers with plenty of endorphin-pumping activities, including skiing and snowboarding on peaks like Windham Mountain. This “Jewel of the Catskills” has a charming Main Street lined with charming boutiques, bistros, and galleries. The Wilder Windham Hotel offers pickleball courts, a heated pool, and wine tastings every weekend.
Buffalo
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Don’t let Buffalo’s notorious winter weather put you off: the city continues to grow as a tourist destination with the restoration of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House, the historic carousel on the Buffalo Waterfront and a major expansion of the Buffalo AKG Museum of Art (formerly the Albright-Knox Art Museum).
Sylvan Beach
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While we’re covering towns in New York’s Finger Lakes region, we couldn’t resist mentioning Oneida Lake and the village of Sylvan Beach. This is the perfect place for a classic Upstate summer getaway, with a day at an old-fashioned amusement park, kayaking or stand-up paddle boarding, or just relaxing lakeside with a glass of local wine. Spending your days on the water is another great way to spend your time. Rent a cottage at The Cove at Sylvan Beach, where each cottage comes with its own private pontoon boat.
