Vacationing in New York

[Kimkimba]

My dh and I are trying to decide where to vacation for our 25th anniversary in early June. We want to drive from Philly.

We were thinking New York state - not Manhattan area as we’ve been there enough. So maybe Niagara Falls, Catskills, Finger Lakes, etc. Has anyone been to these and have any suggestions? We’re active but laid back. We’re vegetarians but love food.

 

[adkkev]

I suggest heading to the Lake Placid area in the Adirondacks. Plenty of things to do there and in the surrounding area.

 

[Her Dotness]

Like you, I've little upstate experience since DH grew up in Brooklyn and still has family in Staten Island.

I recall thoroughly enjoying the drive up the Taconic State Parkway that I did solo years ago. Lovely country.

I'd like to eat at one of the Culinary Institute of America's restaurants in Hyde Park someday and then see the Roosevelt historic sites. Maybe you'd enjoy that?

 

[PollyannaMom]

I grew up in the Finger Lakes, and it's very nice there at that time of year. If you like wine, there are lots of tours, and if you're up for light hiking, Watkins Glen State Park is gorgeous!

Keuka Lake Wine Trail

Watkins Glen

 

[rlk]

Letchworth State Park in Western NY is beautiful and is referred to as the Grand Canyon of the east.

 

[SLThomas318]

Hudson river valley is great… lots of little towns and locally owned restaurants, breweries, and wineries. We also stayed at the coolest, super themed hotel in Roxbury in the catskills called The Roxbury.

 

[DisneyConvert]

Spent most of my life in NJ, and comments above are good.

Many old, industrial cities that made up quite the "Empire" 100+ years ago.
Some of them have transitioned well, some are struggling.
Buffalo literally is a city that has ruins of a civilization that has gone away.

I found the towns of Catskill & Auburn worth visiting . . . maybe an ErieCanal boat tour?
Binghamton has some nice places too.

 

[JaxDad]

The Finger Lakes region is literally “gorgeous.” We have visited the area a few times, including last summer. You can base in Watkins Glen or Ithaca. There are beautiful state parks, lots of restaurants, wineries, and various activities. As you’re vegetarians, you could visit the Moosewood Restaurant in Ithaca, but there are options everywhere. We combined one Finger Lakes trip with Niagara Falls one year and had a great time at each. There are wonderful vacation spots throughout Upstate New York.

 

[firefly_ris]

Buffalo - Riverworks, Zoo, https://buffalohistorytours.com/ , https://www.buffaloharborcruises.com/ , Canalside, Lockport Cave & Underground Boat tour https://lockportcave.com/ , Frank Lloyd Wright Martin House https://martinhouse.org/

Letchworth State Park in Mount Morris NY

Niagara Falls

https://www.visitbuffaloniagara.com/

 

[Pooh2]

We went to Niagra Falls last year when we could not cross the border.
The State Park and falls were wonderful, the area outside the park was kind of trashy.
The restaurants had very long waits and were short staffed.
Glad we went to see the falls but it's a one and done for us.
Fingerlakes area was wonderful!
Lake George was much cleaner than Niagra.

 

[firefly_ris]

We went to Niagra Falls last year when we could not cross the border.
The State Park and falls were wonderful, the area outside the park was kind of trashy.
The restaurants had very long waits and were short staffed.
Glad we went to see the falls but it's a one and done for us.
Fingerlakes area was wonderful!
Lake George was much cleaner than Niagra.

Yes Falls themselves are beautiful and I enjoy the state park area. City of Niagara Falls has some good restaurants but they are not in tourist areas and you need to know the town to get around there, a lot of shady areas. That's why I always recommend bundling a trip to the Falls with Buffalo and/or Letchworth as to me it does not merit its own standalone vacation.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

We loved Buffalo as well as Old Fort Niagara when visiting Niagara Falls.

You could also visit the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.

 

[Sinder]

https://www.mohonk.com/?utm_source=googlemybusiness&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=business+listing

 

[PollyannaMom]

We loved Buffalo as well as Old Fort Niagara when visiting Niagara Falls.

You could also visit the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.

We enjoyed the baseball hall of fame a few years ago, and I think Howe Caverns is not too far from there. I remember going as a kid, and it was so cool!

 

[mjkacmom]

https://www.mohonk.com/?utm_source=googlemybusiness&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=business+listing

I really wanted to go back there someday, holy price increase! I know we didn’t pay $1000 a night.

 

[mrs. magoo]

So you have some great suggestions on this thread. I live in Western NY and I am assuming if you are driving you will be coming up 81. My son lives in Philly. That would bring you up to Syracuse. I would drive the extra 1.5 to the Old Forge area in the Adirondacks. Fourth Lake is my favorite place in the world. I would seriously rather go there and any other place. That being said we used to have cottage on Canandaigua Lake and it was lovely in the Finger Lakes. Coming up 81 you would just hop on the thruway to get to these places. Seneca Lake has so many wineries if that is your thing and my father loves to stay at the Aurora Inn - https://innsofaurora.com/ when he visits the wineries. He has many restaurants in Skaneateles that he loves to visit. I would be happy to suggest other things for you if you want to come to my part of the state.

 

[Sinder]

I really wanted to go back there someday, holy price increase! I know we didn’t pay $1000 a night.

Yes it’s definitely expensive, it’s an all inclusive price now so at least that price includes meals.
I wanted to go for our 25th this past year but we ended up going to WDW instead.

If you just want to hike the grounds you don’t need to stay there but IMO if you just want to hike and enjoy the grounds there are much better places in NY for that kind of stuff.

 

[mjkacmom]

Yes it’s definitely expensive, it’s an all inclusive price now so at least that price includes meals.
I wanted to go for our 25th this past year but we ended up going to WDW instead.

If you just want to hike the grounds you don’t need to stay there but IMO if you just want to hike and enjoy the grounds there are much better places in NY for that kind of stuff.

It’s only 1 1/2 hours away from here, I keep meaning to tell my young adult daughters to go fir the day, they enjoy scenic hikes with photo opportunities.

 

[Sinder]

It’s only 1 1/2 hours away from here, I keep meaning to tell my young adult daughters to go fir the day, they enjoy scenic hikes with photo opportunities.

I live about 30 minutes from there but haven’t been in years. It is definitely worth visiting at least once if you are close

 

[Breezy_Carol]

We went last year with DD and her family. Rented a VRBO in Auburn, NY right on one of the Finger Lakes. We went to state parks in the morning and wineries in the afternoon. It was very nice.

We found Ithaca to be far more expensive than the surrounding area. I went to Ithaca College so did have to make a visit there.