NEW YORK: THE EMPIRE STATE
BY CLAY LARROY
In
the world of traveling,
there are plenty of great resources available to both new and experienced
travelers alike. There are many websites, guides, books, videos, and other
resources available. By writing this blog I hope that I am providing valuable
information about wonderful vacation destinations. When you want to
plan a vacation contact me!
There is only one New York City. There's no doubt the buzzing US
metropolis is one of the highlights of the state. Yet, look a little further,
and within a day's drive or less, visitors can find fine beaches and seascapes;
quiet, forested mountains; quaint, small towns; and plenty of historical
sightseeing, set out into 10 distinct regions.
Long Island, a short train ride east of Manhattan, is the largest
island adjoining the continental USA. A popular destination for native city
dwellers, it also features the celebrated seaside resort of The Hamptons. Many
celebrities, including musician Billy Joel, actor and comedian Jerry Seinfeld,
tastemaker Martha Stewart and Harry Potter author
J.K. Rowling have summer homes here.
To New York City's immediate north is the Hudson Valley, named
after the 17th century explorer, Henry Hudson. Flowing through the region is
the scenic Hudson River, which inspired an eponymous mid-19th century art
movement, with many towns perched on dramatic overlooks enjoying beautiful waterside
views. The Hudson Valley is also the homeland of many of the farmers that
supply New York City's popular markets.
Heading north, find The Catskills, Central New York, and
Adirondack regions. The Catskill and Adirondack mountain ranges straddling
these three regions are popular for outdoor sports, hiking, camping, hunting,
fishing and skiing. Adirondack Park is the largest state park in the USA at 2.4
million hectares (6 million acres), trumping the likes of the Everglades, the
Grand Canyon and Yellowstone... combined. There are also plenty of indoor
attractions, including the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
The Finger Lakes region pushes into the western part of the state
and is comprised of 11 slender lakes. Find resorts, campsites, water recreation
areas, fine lakes and woodland scenery aplenty, not to mention more than 1,000
waterfalls, the famed, historic Erie Canal and Lake Ontario – one of America's
five "Great Lakes." This is the state's prime wine-producing region
and more than 100 wineries run tastings and vineyard tours. In warmer months,
the scenic Finger Lakes region is a haven for cyclists.
New York State's capital, Albany, lies in the Capital-Saratoga
region, north of the Hudson Valley and in the eastern part of the state. The
region is best known for Saratoga Springs – a leading spa and horse racing center
since the late-19th century.
The lakes and rivers of the Chautauqua-Allegheny region are a center
for outdoor recreational activities, Amish communities, Native American
reservations and wineries.
The Thousand Islands-Seaway region boasts a scenic route
stretching 700km (454 miles) past Lake Erie, the Niagara River, Lake Ontario
and the St. Lawrence River. This area is also starting to challenge the Finger
Lakes region as the seat of wine-making in New York.
Finally, there's Greater Niagara, known for the thundering Niagara
Falls that straddle New York and Canada. This natural wonder is 12,000 years
old, and attracts millions upon millions of visitors every year.
Things
to see and do in New York State
Adirondack Park
Experience America's
largest wilderness reserve outside Alaska: the Adirondack Park (www.visitadirondacks.com).
Explore miles of sandy beaches and secluded swimming holes, and take to the
lakes with a spot of windsurfing, boating and fishing. There are also nine ski
areas and hundreds of trails for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
Bethel Woodstock Museum
Relive the days of the
1969 Woodstock Music and Arts Festival, the most famous rock concert in
history, at the Bethel Woodstock Museum (www.bethelwoodscenter.org/Museum) at Kauneonga
Lake. Woodstock today is a haven of art and craft galleries and shops.
Bronx Zoo
Learn about the world of
nature at world-famous Bronx Zoo (www.bronxzoo.com).
Go for a stroll in the New York Botanical Garden (www.nybg.org),
which encompasses over 101 hectares (250 acres), 50 gardens and a landmark
conservatory.
Brooklyn Bridge
Walk across the Brooklyn
Bridge, beautiful by night and bustling with people by day. Across the river,
explore Brooklyn Heights by foot.
Catskill Mountains
Discover the beautiful
Catskill Mountains (www.visitthecatskills.com). From the lush greenery
of the southern Catskills to the dramatic, unspoiled peaks of the north, there
is plenty to enjoy, whether seeking excitement or the perfect spot for a
tranquil stay.
Central Park
Rollerblade or jog through Central Park (website: www.centralparknyc.org),
New York's most famous park, created in 1856. John Lennon fans may pay their
respects at Strawberry Fields. During summer, the park hosts
afternoon and evening concerts. -
Chinatown
Visit Manhattan's thriving
Chinatown (www.explorechinatown.com), which extends from Canal
Street into Little Italy (www.littleitalynyc.com)
and the Lower East Side. This labyrinth of narrow streets is crammed with
Chinese stores and restaurants and home to over 100,000 residents.
Coney Island
Eat candyfloss at Coney
Island (www.coneyisland.com),
see freaks and wonders at the circus sideshow or walk along Brighton Beach (www.brightonbeach.com),
full of Russian shops and restaurants.
Culinary Institute of
America
Have lunch at the Culinary
Institute of America (www.ciachef.edu), one of the world's great cookery
schools. Visitors can sample the cuisine at one of the restaurants on its
campus, the American Bounty Restaurant, Ristorante Caterina de Medici or
Escoffier Restaurant, as well as two cafes.
Empire State Building
Ride a lift up to the
observatory on the 86th floor of the Empire State Building (www.esbnyc.com),
where you can see for approximately 80km (50 miles). When the 102-storey New
York landmark was completed in 1931, it was the tallest building in the world.
Erie Canal
Tour the five enormous
locks of the Erie Canal on the Lockport Cave Tour (www.elockport.com),
which travels through a tunnel blasted out of rock in the 19th century, and
ends in an underground boat ride.
Financial District
Walk through the Financial
District, past Wall Street and the New York Stock Exchange.
George Eastman
Roll back the clock from
the world of satellite images and digital photography to the day when George
Eastman invented the Kodak camera and roll film in 1892. Visit his house in
Rochester, and tour the International Museum of Photography (www.eastmanhouse.org).
Greenwich Village
Explore the artsy and
upmarket Greenwich Village (website: www.nycgv.com)
and SoHo (website:www.sohonyc.com), a melting pot for art, literature
and music for decades, with plenty of galleries, cafes, boutiques and loft
spaces.
Hudson River Valley
Explore the national
heritage area of the Hudson River Valley (www.hudsonrivervalley.com),
originally inhabited by Native Americans, then settled by the Dutch. A retreat
for the wealthy in the mid- to late-19th century, it is now popular year-round
for outdoor activities.
Hunter Mountain
Enjoy the snow at Hunter
Mountain (www.huntermtn.com)
ski resort in the Catskills, known as 'the snowmaking capital of the world'.
Over 50 trails on three mountains cater for everyone from beginners to
experienced skiers.
Lake Placid
Ski Lake Placid (www.lakeplacid.com).
Explore the winter playground by ski, snowmobile, snowshoe, dogsled or
horse-drawn sleigh.
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Tour the Metropolitan
Museum of Art (www.metmuseum.org), one of the greatest museums in
the world. Egyptian, Roman and Greek Art, along with Oriental paintings, modern
art and ancient glass, feature in some of the museum's many collections.
National
Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
Visit the National
Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown (www.baseballhall.org).
Also home of the Doubleday Field and numerous trading card and memorabilia
shops, this vibrant village is situated on the shore of Otesgo Lake.
New York City
Most visitors to the state
will be heading here, to New York City. The fast-paced pulse of the city and
its ever-changing landscape mean you'll need a lifetime to explore it all, but
that's part of its beauty. Major tourist attractions are mainly located in
Manhattan - the Empire State building, Central Park and Times Square are
must-sees. Other essential visits include the Staten Island Ferry and the
Statue of Liberty (the interior is closed for renovations until Dec 2012 but
Ellis Island remains open). There are also plenty of quirky gems to be found in
the artsy quarters of Greenwich Village, Chinatown on the Lower East side, and
hipster hangout Brooklyn.
New York State Museum
Tour Albany's New York
State Museum (www.nysm.nysed.gov), the country's oldest and
largest state museum, which portrays the urbanisation of New York City and has
lifelike dioramas on Native Americans, gems and birds.
Niagara Falls
Sail into the spray of the
mighty Niagara Falls (www.niagara-usa.com) on the Maid of the Mist Boat
Tour (www.maidofthemist.com),
and gaze in awe at one of the most outstanding spectacles on the North American
continent.
Rockefeller Center
Visit the Rockefeller
Center (www.rockefellercenter.com), famous for its
wintertime ice skating rink. Tour NBC Studios, or ride to the Top of the Rock
observation deck for unobstructed views of the Brooklyn Bridge, the Chrysler
Building and Central Park.
Saratoga Spa State Park
Relax in style at Saratoga
Spa State Park (www.saratogaspastatepark.org), with its 890
hectares (2,200 acres) of woodland, manicured lawns, Georgian architecture and
mineral bathhouses. Float above the countryside on a sunrise or sunset hot-air
balloon flight.
Saratoga Springs
Bet on the horses at
Saratoga Springs (www.saratoga.com), a leading spa and horseracing center
since the late 19th century. Take a walking tour down streets lined with regal
Victorian mansions. See harness racing, summer polo matches or the country's
most prestigious thoroughbred racing in late July and August.
Staten Island Ferry
Take the Staten Island
Ferry from Battery Park for a view of the classic New York skyline, and cruise
past the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island (www.statenislandusa.com).
The Verrazano-Narrows Bridge connects Staten Island with Brooklyn.
Statue of Liberty
Ride to the observation
platform atop the 46.5m- (151ft-) high Statue of Liberty (www.nps.gov/stli),
in the middle of New York Harbor. See the Wall of Honor (www.wallofhonor.com)
on Ellis Island, commemorating over 600,000 immigrants to the United States.
The Hamptons
Head to the Hamptons
(www.hamptons.com)
for a mix of culture, restaurants, historic sites, nightlife, shops and
recreational activities. Visit the seaside resort of Montauk, with its
lighthouse, wildlife and ocean beaches.
Times Square
Enjoy the now
'family-friendly' Times Square (www.timessquarenyc.org),
with the renovated Biltmore Theater, and the world's largest toy store, with a
18m (60ft) Ferris wheel and life-size Barbie house.
Westchester
County
Enjoy boating, sailing and
watersports in Westchester County (www.thewestchesterway.com),
bordered by the Hudson River and Long Island Sound. Play golf on any of the 40
private and public golf courses, and shop in exclusive boutiques or discount
malls.
REFERENCE SITES:
“The
true New Yorker secretly believes that people living anywhere else have to be,
in some sense, kidding.”
― John Updike
― John Updike
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