Drive To 5 Incredible Summer Spots Throughout New York On This Scenic Weekend Road Trip

The hot days of summer are here, and while you may not have the time or the finances to take a cross-country vacation, it’s a great idea to set aside a weekend to do a little sight-seeing. Everyone deserves a break now and again, and there are so many spots that just ooze the feeling of summer that it’d be a crime to not check them out before the cooler months come back around! We’ve got a short summer road trip in New York planned for you, enter your starting address on Google Maps.

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New Yorkers are lucky to have nearly 200 state parks in their midst, but one that we're particularly fond of is Saratoga Spa State Park. You could easily spend a whole day here. It's nearly 2,500 acres, has mineral springs, a bath house, the National Museum of Dance and Hall of Fame, and the Saratoga Automobile Museum. The park features the only actively spouting geysers east of the Mississippi River. There are plenty of trails to enjoy. For more information about the park, check out this article.

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Saratoga Springs is such a cute little town that you may as well spend the whole day there. What's a summer weekend without ice cream? The best ice cream shop in Saratoga is Dairy Haus, which has been in business for nearly 40 years. They have dozens of different flavors of hard and soft-serve ice cream, and all the ice cream is made fresh from scratch on site. Visit their website for hours and flavors.

Saratoga Arms

Saratoga Springs has a variety of fantastic hotels, and if you're looking for a luxury New York hotel, it doesn't get much better than Saratoga Arms. It's an absolutely stunningly renovated 1870 building featuring 31 rooms. The breakfasts are to die for and the views are breathtaking. For more information, visit their website.

Mike Christoferson/Flickr

After a restful night's sleep, wake up early and hit the road to head to Ithaca, home of Buttermilk Falls State Park. There are gorgeous trails to stretch your legs, and of course, the waterfalls are gorgeous. You'll be able to take a dip in the water to cool off, so make sure to bring towels! For more information about Buttermilk Falls State Park, visit the New York State Parks website.

Keuka Spring Vineyards/Google Maps

We'll end the afternoon with a drive through some of New York's most beautiful landscapes. The hour or so of driving will make you fall in love with New York all over again. You can finish up at Keuka Spring Vineyards, a gorgeous winery that has stunning vineyards and a great tasting room.

Ready to hit the road? Tell us your favorite summer spots in New York in the comments!