10 Undeniable Differences Between The Eastern And Western Parts Of New York
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Lea Monroe
Author
It’s widely known throughout New York that our state is made up of handfuls of different regions, all of which stand out on their own with their unique landscapes, cuisine, traditions, local attractions and amazing residents. Two areas of our state that specifically feel like different worlds, see if you’ve noticed all of the differences that come with living in the eastern half of our state versus the west!
Every area of New York is all too familiar with what it feels like to live in a winter wonderland, but we can't deny the fact that Western New York sees significantly harsher weather than our eastern half. Get pummeled with lake-effect snow storms and icy conditions, Western New York takes home the cake for this category.
Ah, one of the many differences that often tear our residents apart! When it comes to football you'll obviously find the western half of our state rooting for the Buffalo Bills while most commonly you'll find our eastern residents cheering on the New York Giants.
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During the summer you'll frequently find residents that live in the eastern half our state heading up north to visit dreamy destinations like the Adirondacks, while more commonly you'll find our Western residents taking lakefront vacations to either Lake Ontario or even out along Lake Erie.
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Travel all the way from Western New York to visit your family in areas like the Capital Region and when you ask one of your relatives for some pop, you might be met with a confused look on their face. Generally speaking, those of us who live out in the western half of New York say "pop" while our friends in the east call it soda.
This is something that can be said for just about anywhere in New York, but all of our different regions tend to put their own little spin on the general Northeast accent. Pluck a random resident out of Western New York and even areas like the Finger Lakes and compare the way they sound to someone who lives near the border of
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In the eastern half of New York you'll tend to find more Stewart's Shops along the roadside, as compared to Western New York where you're more likely to stop for gas and snacks at a Valero.
During the summer, every region has that amazing outdoor music venue that everyone visits during the season at least once. Out in Western New York you'll often find us singing along to our favorite artists at Darien Lake Performing Arts Center, while those who live in the east like to head to SPAC.
Ask a resident of Upstate New York what a garbage plate is and they most likely won't be able to come up with the correct answer. While our residents of the east know exactly what wings are and how to recreate them, certain other regionally-known dishes are totally unfamiliar to us. While Western New Yorkers are hoarding away Beef on Weck, our residents of the east have their eyes on things like mini hot dogs and maple syrup.
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Some of New York's biggest cities like Buffalo and Rochester can be found out in Western New York, while out in the east you'll find smaller cities like Saratoga Springs and Troy.
Out in Western New York you'll find historic fun spots like Seabreeze Amusement Park that's a must-visit, while those who live out in the eastern half our state like to head to places like the Great Escape.
When it comes to differences between the eastern and western half of our state, which things stand out to you the most? Share with us what you think in the comments! While our regions may have their differences there are always things we can agree on, for instance – these 11 Things Everyone In New York Should Avoid At All Costs.
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