New York: Things to Do and See

New York State is too large to be a single list. Select the region that most interests you.

Things to See in New York City

1. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art is included among the three largest museums in the World and the largest art museum in the United States. This museum has a large and finest collection of drawings, paintings, manuscripts, sculptures from different cultures of the World. The museum is also home to collections of musical instruments, costumes and accessories, and antique armaments and armor from around the Globe. There is a collection of around 2 million artworks spanning more than 5000 years.
2. Museum of Modern Art, New York: This is one of the highly visited museums in US known for its antique display and exhibitions. The museum has collection of modern and contemporary art, including works of architecture and design, painting, sculpture, photography, drawings, prints, illustrated books and artist's books, film, and electronic media. The interior of the building is so captivating and artistic making it an additional worth visiting place.
3. American Museum of Natural History: The American Museum of Natural History is one of the largest and most visited museums in the world. The museum is home to a collection of 32 million specimens of plants, fossils, minerals, rocks, meteorites, animals, and human cultural artifacts. It is highly appreciated by the scientists and researchers all over the world for its unique and innovative collection.
4. Central Park: Central park is located at the center of Manhattan in New York City and is spread over 840 acres of land. This is a beautiful park consists of gorgeous trees, lakes, walking tracks, ice-skating rinks, the Central Park Zoo, a wildlife sanctuary, an outdoor amphitheater, and many more. Every year, about thirty-five million tourists visit this place and enjoy the wonderful landscape and the good part is that there is no entrance fees for this park.
5. Top of the Rock: Rockefeller Center's multifloor observation deck, the Top of the Rock, on the 69th–70th floors of the building provides views that rival those from the Empire State Building. Reserved-time ticketing eliminates long lines. Indoor exhibits include films of Rockefeller Center's history and a model of the building. Especially interesting is a Plexiglas screen on the floor with footage showing Rock Center construction workers dangling on beams high above the streets; the brave can even "walk" across a beam to get a sense of what it might have been like to erect this skyscraper. A Sun & Stars ticket ($40) allows you to visit twice and see the city as it rises and sets in the same day. website
6. Empire State Building: completed in 1931 this 102 floor skyscraper has been an American cultural icon with is art deco style and dominance on the NYC skyline. It was the tallest building in the world from its completion until 1970. today visitors to the building can enjoy the panoramic views from two observation desk. The main deck on the 86th floor and another smaller deck on the 102nd floor. website
7. Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island: The Statue of Liberty National Monument is a United States national monument located in the U.S. states of New Jersey and New York. Ellis Island, located in Upper New York Bay, was the gateway for millions of immigrants to the United States as the nation's busiest immigrant inspection station from 1892 until 1954 comprising Liberty Island and Ellis Island
8. Time Square: Times Square is a major commercial intersection and a neighborhood in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue and stretching from West 42nd to West 47th Streets
9. Grand Central Station: Grand Central Terminal is a commuter railroad terminal at 42nd Street and Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City
10. High Line: The High Line is a 1.45-mile-long New York City linear park built in Manhattan on an elevated section of a disused New York Central Railroad spur called the West Side Line
11. Guggenheim Museum: The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, often referred to as The Guggenheim
12. Radio City Music Hall: Radio City Music Hall is an entertainment venue located in Rockefeller Center in New York City. Its nickname is the Showplace of the Nation, and it was for a time the leading tourist destination in the city
13. The Cloisters: The Cloisters is a museum located in Fort Tryon Park in the Washington Heights section of Upper Manhattan
14. Coney Island: Coney Island is a peninsular residential neighborhood, beach, and leisure/entertainment destination on the Atlantic Ocean in the southwestern part of the borough of Brooklyn
15. Staten Island Ferry: The Staten Island Ferry is a passenger ferry service operated by the New York City Department of Transportation that runs between the boroughs of Manhattan and Staten Island
16. Madison Square Garden: Madison Square Garden is a multi-purpose indoor arena in Midtown Manhattan in New York City.
17. Bronx Zoo: The Bronx Zoo is located in the Bronx, a borough of New York City, within Bronx Park. It is among the largest metropolitan zoos in the world, and is the largest in North America, with some 6,000 animals. website
18. New York Botanical Garden: The New York Botanical Garden is a designated national landmark botanical garden located in the Bronx, New York City. It spans some 250 acres of Bronx Park and is home to the Pfizer Plant Research Laboratory
19. St Patrick's Cathedral: The Cathedral of St. Patrick is a decorated Neo-Gothic-style Roman Catholic cathedral church in the United States and a prominent landmark of New York City
20. 911 Memorial & Museum: National September 11 Memorial & Museum is the principal memorial and museum, respectively, commemorating the September 11 attacks of 2001 and the World Trade Center bombing of 1993
21. China Town: Chinatown, Manhattan is a neighborhood in Manhattan that is home to the largest enclave of Chinese people in the Western Hemisphere
22. Bryant Park: Bryant Park is a 9.603-acre privately managed public park located in the New York City borough of Manhattan
23. Brooklyn Bridge: The Brooklyn Bridge is a hybrid cable-stayed/suspension bridge in New York City and is one of the oldest bridges of either type in the United States. Completed in 1883, it connects the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn by spanning the East River
24. Frick Collection: The Frick Collection is an art museum located in the Henry Clay Frick House. It houses the collection of industrialist Henry Clay Frick.
25. Chrysler Building: The Chrysler Building is an Art Deco style skyscraper in New York City, located on the east side of Manhattan in the Turtle Bay area
26. Brooklyn Botanic Garden: Brooklyn Botanic Garden is a botanical garden in the borough of Brooklyn in New York City. Founded in 1910 and located in the Prospect Park neighborhood, the 52-acre garden
27. Washington Square Park: Washington Square Park is one of the best-known of New York City's 1,900 public parks. At 9.75 acres, it is a landmark in Manhattan in the neighborhood of Greenwich Village, as well as a meeting place and center for cultural activity
28. Battery Park: Battery Park is a 25-acre public park located at the Battery, the southern tip of Manhattan Island in New York City, facing New York Harbor
29. Central Park Zoo: The Central Park Zoo is a small 6.5-acre zoo located in Central Park in New York City. It is part of an integrated system of four zoos and the New York Aquarium managed by the Wildlife Conservation
30. Carnegie Hall: Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park
31. Yankee Stadium: Yankee Stadium is a stadium located in the Bronx, in New York City. It is the home ballpark for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball, and will also be the home of New York City FC of Major League Soccer
32. New York Transit Museum: The New York Transit Museum displays historical artifacts of the New York City Subway, bus, commuter rail, and bridge and tunnel systems under the administration of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority
33. Little Italy: Little Italy is a neighborhood in lower Manhattan, New York City, once known for its large population of Italians. Today the neighborhood consists of only a few Italian stores and restaurants
34. Morgan Library & Museum: The Morgan Library & Museum, formerly the Pierpont Morgan Library, is a museum and research library.
35. New York Hall of Science: The New York Hall of Science is a science museum located in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in the New York City borough of Queens, in the section of the park that is in Corona
36. Governors Island: Governors Island is a 172-acre island in Upper New York Bay, approximately 800 yards from the southern tip of Manhattan Island and separated from Brooklyn by Buttermilk Channel, approximately 400 yards
37. Metropolitan Opera House: The Metropolitan Opera House is an opera house located on Broadway at Lincoln Square in the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City. Part of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, the theater opened in 1966
38. Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum: The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum is a military and maritime history museum with a collection of museum ships in New York City. It is located at Pier 86
39. One World Trade Center Observation Deck:  Located on floors 100-102 the new One World Trade Center observatory will get the opportunity to experience unparalleled panoramic views after traveling up to the 102 for in 'sky pods' in less then a minute. website

Things to See on Long Island:

1. Main Beach East Hampton: Beach provides the perfect blend of nature and built environment. Wealthy summertime residents flock here to the beaches protected by a conservation easement, dating back over 300 years. Main Beach is a great place for star-spotting, since many actors and actresses frequently visit this beach for its idyllic setting in a small village. The big, wide sandy beach made of quartz has towering sand dunes and beautiful clean and clear blue water. The best way to get around this beach is on bicycle in order to avoid parking and to take in the beautiful vista.
2. Shelter Island: Located between Long Island's North and South Forks, Shelter Island is just a short ferry ride from either tip of the Island. Walk along the beach, rent a bike or boat and explore the New England-like feel of this laid-back island
3. Sag Harbor: Sag Harbor is a village in the "Hamptons," Suffolk County, New York.  The village is situated for the most part within Southampton, as well as within East Hampton.  The "downtown" includes Main Street, the Whalers Church, Whaling Museum, and Old Burying Ground;  downtown Sag Harbor is characterized by the windmill that sits atop the tourist information center.  Sag Harbor, founded in 1707, was once a whaling village and port, and was mentioned in Moby Dick by Herman Melville.  Sag Harbor today has an active harbor.
4. Orient Point:
5. Fire Island: Fire Island is located right off the coast of Long Island by Robert Moses State Park. No cars are allowed on Fire Island so it is a great place to go to walk along the boardwalk, take in beautiful scenery or climb to the top of the old light house.
6. Visit a Vineyard: There are hundreds of vineyards in Long Island. Many are open to the public to tour or enjoy some yummy wine!
7. Sunken Meadow State Park:
8. Old Westbury Gardens: The former estate of financier John S. Phipps, the mansion and 200-acre expanses of Old Westbury Gardens are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. You can take a tour of the sumptuous mansion with its rich wooden panels and fireplaces, decorated ceilings and artwork. The formal gardens include statuary like the pair of 18th century French sphinxes that seem to stand guard over the entrance to the sprawling greenery. website
9. Gilgo State Park:
10. Oheka Castle: Does the opening scene of the Orson Welles classic, Citizen Kane, look familiar? If so, you might have been to Oheka castle, the former estate of a wealthy financier, Otto Herman Kahn. Built in 1919 to resemble a French chateau, the castle was the scene of soirees where the likes of legendary opera singer Enrico Caruso entertained guests. The lush gardens were designed Frederick Law Olmsted, the designer of New York City's Central Park. website
11. Christeen:
12. The Hamptons:
13. Sagamore Hill National Historic Site: Once Known as the Summer White House. It is the former estate of our nation's 26th president, Theodore Roosevelt. You can now take a guided tour of the impressive 23 room mansion where the former president entertained guests and heads of state. website

Things to do in Western NY

1. Graycliff Estate: Built from 1926-1931, the Graycliff Estate sits at the
   edge of Lake Erie, where the 70ft limestone cliffs served as inspiration for Wright’s work. Stop by and get behind-the-scenes Master Architectural tour of a Frank Lloyd Wright house. 
2. Niagara Falls: Niagara Falls is the collective name for three waterfalls that straddle the international border between Canada and the United States; more specifically, between the province of Ontario and the state of New York.
3. Darien Lake Theme Park Resort: Darien Lake is a theme park resort located between Buffalo and Rochester.

Things to do in the Finger Lakes

1. Finger Lakes: The Finger Lakes are a pattern of lakes in the west-central section of Upstate New York in the United States. This region is defined as a bioregion. They are a popular tourist destination.
2. Secret Sidewalk: A mile west of Ontario Beach Park, in the little hamlet of Charlotte, is the most idyllic street you’ve ever seen. Though it’s technically Rochester, it feels like you’ve landed in Monet’s Garden at Sainte-Adresse in northwestern France. The Secret Sidewalk is a public walkway, but the residents who live in those big lakefront homes from the early 20th century would prefer their slice of paradise remain off the tourist checklist, so keep your cool, don’t take selfies, and just enjoy your Abbott’s Frozen Custard with the rest of the locals.
3. Morgan Samuels Inn: While the 1810 mansion is close to Letchworth State Park, Watkins Glen, and the Finger Lakes’ cheese, wine, and beer trails, you’ll find it hard to stay away from this soul-stirring setting for very long
4. Letchworth State Park: known as the “Grand Canyon of the East.” It harbors three spectacular waterfalls, where you’re guaranteed to see rainbows. Whether you hike along the 66 miles of trails, take an air balloon ride, or kayak down the roaring Genesee River, this is one for the New York sightseeing bucket list.
5. McGregor Vineyard: Located off the beaten wine trail overlooking the bluff of Keuka Lake, McGregor’s perch is so stunning you’d stay and drink the wine even if it were bad. Fortunately, it’s really, really good. Bring a picnic, grab a bottle of Black Russian Red, and watch the light dance across the lake until they kick you out, which they won’t.
6. Lockwood Lavender Farm: On a hillside overlooking Skaneateles Lake (pronounced skinny-atlas), is the 120-acre Lockwood Lavender Farm and New York’s own piece of Provence. Grazing sheep, baby goats, and endless rows of lavender amounts to a purple dreamscape worthy of back-to-back Instagram posts.
7. Watkins Glen State Park: With 19 waterfalls and 200ft cliffs Watkins Glen will leave you spellbound with its breathtaking scenery. Located outside the village of Watkins Glen, New York, south of Seneca Lake in Schuyler County in the Finger Lakes region.
8. Rainbow Falls: Get this gorgeous place to yourself by coming early in the morning, when the busloads of tourists haven’t yet arrived. There are 200ft cliffs and 19 waterfalls, including the famous Cavern Cascade, but the most jaw-dropping spot to soak it all in at Watkins Glen State Park is the Rainbow Falls Bridge.
9. The Corning Museum of Glass: The glass collections at this offbeat museum are intriguing, but it’s the striking new 100,000sqft Contemporary Art + Design Wing that has out-of-towners (and non-glass gurus) planning a trip to the Finger Lakes for more than just wine and waterfalls

Things to do in Central NY

1. Thousand Islands: The Thousand Islands constitute an archipelago of 1,864 islands that straddles the Canada-U.S. border in the Saint Lawrence River as it emerges from the northeast corner of Lake Ontario.
2. Whittaker Falls: In a little unheard of town tucked away at the end of Whittaker Park, you’ll discover a waterfall inside a waterfall inside a waterfall. Pack your camping gear because you won’t find a more breathtaking -- and crowd-free -- spot to pop a tent. Just be prepared to wake up at night when nature calls, again and again.

Things to do in The Southern Tier

Things to do in Northern NY

1. Adirondack Balloon Festival:
2. Adirondack Mountains: The Adirondack Mountains are an unusual geological formation located in the northeastern lobe of Upstate New York
3. Wild Walk:  Nestled 45ft up in the Adirondack forest at The Wild Center (the first LEED-certified museum in New York), the permanent High Line-inspired Wild Walk exhibit reopens Memorial Day weekend and is the only elevated treetop trail in the state.

Things to do in the Capital District

1. Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site: The Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site preserves the Springwood estate in Hyde Park.
2. Howe Caverns: offers guided cavern tours every day of the year except Thanksgiving and Christmas Days. Traditional Tours include a quarter-mile boat ride on the Underground Lake of Venus. website
3. New York State Capital: The New York State Capitol is the capitol building of the U.S. state of New York. Housing the New York State Legislature, it is located in the state capital city Albany as part of the Empire State Plaza on State Street in Capitol Park.
4. The Pavilion at the Sagamore Resort: The Sagamore Resort has been around for over 100 years, but you’ll be forgiven for not knowing about this hidden gem, perched on Green Island in the middle of six-million-acre Adirondack Park. Come summer, the most picturesque place in the state to have a mid-afternoon cocktail (like a refreshing Country Thyme Lemonade) is the upper deck at the resort’s Pavilion restaurant.
5. Yaddo Gardens: Yaddo Gardens is where New Yorkers can go to finally understand the true meaning of peace. Part of an artists’ community that’s situated on a 400-acre estate dating back to 1900, Yaddo is a closely guarded local secret, so expect to stroll by sculptures and rose bushes in the company of Saratogans and resident artists. And since this is the closest thing to The Shire outside of New Zealand, you will sense the urge to frolic or hug a tree. Don’t fight it.

Things to do in the Catskills

1. The Devil's Path: You will sweat in places you didn’t know you could sweat from, but it’ll be worth it for the spectacular views from various summits like Twin Mountain, Indian Head, and Plateau Mountain. With over 14,000ft of elevation change, this 25-mile trail is considered by many to be the toughest hike in the East. (Duh, it’s called Devil’s Path.)