11 Enchanting Spots In New York You Never Knew Existed

With a state as large and diverse as New York, it's not hard for enchanting places to remain hidden or stay overlooked by the majority of our residents and visitors. While earlier this year I spoke of underrated places to take your out-of-town guests, below a list has been put together of places you yourself may not be aware of or have yet to cross off of your bucket list. Let's take a look and see how many of these spots you already knew existed.

1. Onondaga Lake Park - Liverpool

Right near Syracuse in the village of Liverpool there's a stunning park that's remained a hidden gem to many. What some consider to be the "Central Park of Central New York", Onondaga Lake Park is perfect to visit all year round and features four beautiful trails. If you've never taken a visit out to this park, then planning a trip to see the Lights on the Lake holiday display should be added to your upcoming agenda!

How to get here: 106 Lake Drive Liverpool, NY 13088

2. The Cloisters - New York City

Like something out of a Harry Potter movie or simply any magical far away land, The Cloisters in Manhattan is a museum that will surprise and fascinate you. Now a part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Cloisters features European medieval architecture and outdoor landscapes along the Hudson River that will steal your breath away.

How to get here: 99 Margaret Corbin Drive New York, NY 10040

3. Split Rock Falls - Elizabethtown

When it comes to waterfalls, you can find a variety of them all throughout New York. But, there's one waterfall up in the teeny tiny town of Elizabethtown in the Adirondacks that's simply perfection. Split Rock Falls can be found along the Boquet River, a gorgeous waterfall to see all throughout the year and a favorite swimming spot during the summer. As always, if you decide to explore here you should use caution.

How to get here: Click here, for directions and to view the parking area near Split Rock Falls.

4. Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Site - Oyster Bay

Open daily from 9AM to 5PM, this magical piece of Long Island can only be fully appreciated once you see it in person. One of the only remaining Gold Coast estates on the North Shore, the historic site still has its original buildings and over four hundred acres of land. Made up of gorgeous hiking trails, beautiful gardens and rolling hills, you won't believe what's before your eyes while you're exploring Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Site.

How to get here: 1395 Planting Fields Road Oyster Bay, NY 11771

5. Fillmore Glen State Park - Moravia

With nearly two hundred state parks across New York, it's easy for some of our best locations to get lost in the shuffle. In the small village of Moravia out in Cayuga County, this state park of the Finger Lakes features beautiful waterfalls, hiking trails, campsites and so much more. A wonderful oasis that's refreshing to explore, Fillmore Glen State Park is open all year long.

How to get here: 1686 Route 38 Moravia, NY 13118

6. Windham Mountain Resort - Windham

With winter approaching and some of our favorite outdoor attractions closing for the year, the time to plan a trip to a magical place like Windham Mountain Resort is right now. The resort is tucked away within the Catskills and makes for the perfect weekend getaway during our colder months.

How to get here: 19 Resort Drive Windham, NY 12496

7. Omi International Arts Center - Ghent

New York is home to a ton of mind-blowing sculpture parks that should be on your bucket list, but there's one out in the small town of Ghent that you may not have heard of. South of Albany, Omi combines nature and art to create a unique experience for those who decide to visit.

How to get here: Address: 1405 Route 22 Ghent, NY 12075

8. John Brown Farm State Historic Site - Lake Placid

The town of Lake Placid is home to so many historic and adventurous locations that it's hard to check off everything from your bucket list in just one trip. One of the places you may not have visited yet? The John Brown Farm State Historic Site. The site was declared a National Historic Landmark back in 1998 and is not only a place that's filled with important history, it's also one of the many beautiful outdoor areas in the Adirondacks that looks too stunning to be real.

How to get here: 115 John Brown Road Lake Placid, NY 12946

9. Carpenter Falls - Moravia

Dropping down nearly one hundred feet, Carpenter Falls is one of the most beautiful waterfalls you'll find near Central New York. Right next to the Bahar Nature Preserve, the trail to get to the waterfall is short but often slippery, so you'll want to be sure you're wearing a sturdy pair of boots!

How to get here: Appletree Point Road, Moravia NY 13118

10. Singer Castle - Chippewa Bay

Up amongst our Thousand Islands and the St. Lawrence River, there's a little known castle on the water that's worth taking a trip to see. Right near our country's border on Dark Island, Singer Castle is the only remaining castle on the river. Today, you can tour the castle and learn more of its history all while soaking in the underrated and unbelievable views of the Thousand Islands.

How to get here: 1136 Route 6 Chippewa Bay, NY 13623

11. Avalanche Lake - Adirondack

When it comes to lakes, some of our most beautiful bodies of water can be found up in the Adirondacks. Avalanche Lake is right up amongst our High Peaks, sitting between Avalanche Mountain and Mount Colden. For most explorers, they'll view the lake by taking a trail from the Adirondack Loj, to find out more information about this hike click here.

So, how many of these locations have you already visited? What other places would you add to this list? For more bucket list inspiration, you'll want to read about The Ultimate List Of New York's Oldest Attractions That You Need To Visit!