The Definitive Guide To Uncovering New York’s Best Attractions — Small Towns, Gorgeous Parks, Museums, And More!

Not everyone from New York is from New York City. Some of the best places to visit are the state's many small towns and quaint villages. Speculator is a small town, located in Adirondack Park, that you must visit when you are looking for a weekend getaway. It is in Hamilton County and is just north of Speculator Mountain. It has a population of around 364 residents, and it was once a popular vacation destination in the Victorian Era. It bills itself as an "All Season Vacationland" with a public beach on the north shore of Lake Pleasant. The surrounding Adirondack Mountains are breathtaking in any season, which is a great reason to include Speculator in your summer vacation plans.

If you are a lover of vintage memorabilia and antiques, or perhaps you want to add to your toy trolley or Harry Potter collection, we have found the place for treasure hunting enthusiasts. The Found Flea Market in Ithaca has everything you need to satisfy your craving. It is a collection of 40 local dealers who all bring their wares to sell in this shop. It is an antique mall where the inventory is constantly changing, and you never know what you might find. The store is in an old factory that is 7,000 square feet, so there is plenty of room to explore. That is not all it has to offer. Every third Sunday of the month the Found Flea Market in Ithaca holds a flea market that attracts more than 70 local vendors. This is one that you will want to explore this summer and see what treasures you might find.

If you want an enjoyable afternoon for the whole family, the Omi International Arts Center in Columbia County is an excellent choice. This sculpture park is a 60-acre outdoor space that has a wide range of contemporary and modern art on display. You can stroll the grounds and see sculptures that include giant deer, a gang of squirrels, and interactive displays. You can enjoy over 80 pieces of art in both open fields and wooded areas. The Omi International Arts Center is a sculpture park that you must include in your summer plans.

New York is home to some beautiful waterways and scenery. You can book a cruise or a boat tour on the Hudson or take a boat tour around the whirlpool at Niagara Falls, but the one that is our favorite is Erie Canal Cruises. The Erie Canal once played an important role in commerce throughout New York. Now you can take a relaxing cruise along the canal with some gorgeous views along the way. You will get to make your way through sets of locks that are over 100 years old and get a feel for what life was like back in the days of the canal boats. You can take cruises from 90 minutes long to 4.5 hours long. On the longer cruise, enjoy a tour of the General Nicholas Herkimer home and farm where reenactors will tell you stories of the past. Erie Canal Cruises is an excellent destination for your summer vacation fun.

The Finger Lakes region of New York is beautiful and has some of the most gorgeous landscapes. While you are there, you might want to slow down the pace a bit and enjoy a trip to the Windmill Farm and Craft Market. This market is located just outside of Penn Yan and sits on 40 acres. The market has ample parking and special parking designated for horses and buggies. This large, open-air market has four main indoor buildings, outdoor shops, and four main streets. You can find local crafts, produce, and homemade treats along with friendly people and a great atmosphere. Many of the items that you will find are Amish-made or homemade in the local area. Windmill Farm and Craft Market is an experience to add to your summer vacation plans.

New York has some of the most beautiful scenic railways and train rides in the country. You can find lines in the Adirondacks, Catskill, Finger Lakes, and Cooperstown. All of these railways offer a unique adventure that takes you through some of the most beautiful scenery that the state has to offer. If we were to pick a favorite, it would be the Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley Railway. This railroad began in 1869 and passes through rich farmland, lush forests, and wetlands. They have a guest engineer program where you can even take the throttle of the train. If you have any railroad buffs in the family, the Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley Railway is an experience that you will not want to miss.

Crossing the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge can be an adventure in itself. This bridge holds two records. It is the tallest bridge in New York, and it is the longest suspension bridge in the entire Western Hemisphere. The bridge is 693 feet tall and connects Staten Island to Brooklyn. It spans nearly 13,700 feet and is an impressive piece of architecture. Nearly 200,000 cars cross it every day. It has seven lanes on the top deck and six lanes on the lower deck. The Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge is a beautiful sight at sunset, so be sure to book your trip so that you get the best view.

New York City is known for its museums and cultural events, but you do not have to go to the Met to see some interesting sights. You could always stop by for a visit at the Jell-O Gallery in Le Roy, the National Bottle Museum in Ballston Spa, or the House of Frankenstein Wax Museum in Lake George. You could always visit the Catamount People's Museum in Catskill that features, you guessed it, an enormous cat sculpture. We know if you are reading this section, you are into the bizarre, so the Morbid Anatomy Museum in Gowanus might be what you are looking for an afternoon out. This museum is not for the weak at heart, and some of the exhibits might make you have nightmares. If you are into this sort of thing, this little gem will not disappoint those who want a few unique New York museums on their itinerary.