Visit The state of New York State

Visit The state of New York

Where to go and what to see in The New York State

The state of New York is known as the Empire State, and with good reason. As one of the original thirteen colonies that formed the United States, it has long been counted among the most populous and most influential states.

New York is a state of superlatives. Of course everyone knows the most celebrated city in the world, New York City, and it's certainly a premier travel destination, but the state is so much more than just one famous metropolis. Go beyond the concrete canyons of Manhattan and you'll find a large state with a variety of attractions.

From the magnificent Niagara Falls, to the farms and wineries of the Finger Lakes; from the untamed wilderness of the Adirondacks, to the large and small cities scattered throughout the state; every corner of New York has something you can't find anywhere else.

The natural beauty of the New York state is diverse, from the incomparable Niagara Falls and the Grand Canyon of the East, Letchworth Park, to the mountainous terrain of the Catskills and the Adirondacks, perfect for hiking and camping. The numerous waterways of the New York state include Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, the Erie Canal, and the Hudson River, all of which see regular boat traffic throughout the summer months.

Oenophiles can visit one of the top wine regions in the country in the Finger Lakes; the entire region is dotted with small towns and villages of historic character, with almost 100 wineries in between. The region produces perhaps the best Rieslings outside of Germany, and Finger Lakes ice wines are growing in popularity.

None of the upstate cities compare to New York City in profile or in prominence, but each of them has a selection of first-class attractions and amenities sufficient to support tourism, without the crowds and frenetic activity of their larger neighbor.

Visit the state New York by plaine International travelers will almost certainly come in via one of New York City's airports; while the major upstate cities have airports that can accommodate international flights, they are now fairly rare. Domestically, travelers will usually be coming from hubs such as Chicago, Atlanta, Charlotte, Philadelphia, or Boston. Flights into the smaller airports will likely connect through the larger ones. New York City - The Big Three John F. Kennedy International Airport   Newark Liberty International Airport . LaGuardia Airport   Large upstate airports Buffalo Niagara International Airport   Greater Rochester International Airport Syracuse Hancock International Airport   Albany International Airport   New York City metro area smaller airports Long Island MacArthur Airport Westchester County Airport Stewart International Airport Southern Tier regional airports Greater Binghamton Airport Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport Elmira-Corning Regional Airport Jamestown, Saranac Lake, Plattsburgh, and Niagara Falls have very small airports with only a few scheduled flights each day. General aviation airports are scattered throughout the state.

Visit New York state By car

The route you take depends on where you're coming from:

• From Lower Ontario, Toronto, and points west (including Detroit): Take the QEW; it ends at the Peace Bridge (US$3/CA$3) and puts you on I-190 in Buffalo. You could also take the QEW to the 420 (for the Rainbow Bridge (US$2.50 Canada-bound only) to Niagara Falls) or the 405 (for the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge (US$3.25 Canada-bound only) to Lewiston). Both of these will connect up with I-190 as well. Visitors from the Detroit area sometimes cut across Lower Ontario rather than going south around Lake Erie.
• From Ohio and Western Pennsylvania: I-90 becomes the New York State Thruway (see Get around for details) at the PA-NY border. I-86 splits off shortly before the border, allowing you to avoid tolls.
• From Pennsylvania and New Jersey: U.S. 219 heads north near Olean, headed for Buffalo. U.S. 15 connects with I-86 in Corning; you can continue north on NY 15 or I-390 to Rochester. I-81 connects with NY17 in Binghamton, headed for Syracuse. I-84 passes through the lower part of the state. I-95 is the major east coast route and passes through New York City.
• From New England: I-95 connects Boston to New York City; I-90 does the same to Albany. More northern routes are rare.
• From Quebec: Autoroute 15 is your route south from Montreal; it becomes I-87 at the border.
• From Eastern Ontario: Highway 401 passes close to the border at the Thousand Islands; take Highway 137 to the Thousand Islands Bridge to pick up I-81.

Visit New York state By train

There are many trains that go through New York, especially through Pennsylvania Station in New York City.

• From New England:
  • Acela Express is a high-speed train connecting Boston, Providence, and New Haven to New York City
  • Northeast Regional is a train that also follows the same route but cheaper
  • Lake Shore Limited goes from Boston to Albany and Buffalo
  • Ethan Allen Express comes from Vermont to New York City via Albany
  • Vermonter is a train from Vermont to New York City via Springfield and Hartford

• From other states in the Mid-Atlantic
  • Acela Express is a high-speed train through New York City from Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, D.C.
  • Northeast Regional is a train from Virginia that follows the same route as Acela Express but cheaper
  • Keystone Express comes from Harrisburg to New York City
  • Pennsylvanian goes from Pittsburgh to New York City

• From the Midwest
  • Lake Shore Limited goes from Chicago through Cleveland, Buffalo, and Albany to New York City.
  • Cardinal comes from Chicago via Cincinnati and Washington, D.C.

• From the South
  • Carolinian goes from North Carolina through Virginia to New York City
  • Palmetto, Silver Meteor and Silver Star go from Florida to New York City
  • Crescent goes from New Orleans to New York City via Atlanta

• From Canada
  • Adirondack goes from Montreal to New York City via Albany
  • Maple Leaf comes from Toronto through Buffalo and Albany to New York City

Where to go and what to see in The New York State