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| Sights to see in upstate NY |
Exploring the great Adirondacks is, without a doubt, one of the top things to do in upstate NY, and the good news is that you can enjoy outdoor pursuits in the Adirondacks Mountains all year round!
During the summer months, you can enjoy everything from hiking and climbing to kayaking; while in the winter months you can enjoy outdoor pursuits such as ice fishing, ice climbing, skiing, cross country skiing and snowshoeing.
There are many great spots in upstate New York where you can base a vacation in upstate New York, but if you’re a true winter sports enthusiast you'll want to head to Lake Placid.
If you don’t mind remote spots, the town of Lake Placid is one of the best places in upstate New York to enjoy sports pursuits like rock and ice climbing, snowmobiling and skiing since the town is located nearby Whiteface Mountain.
Winter & Summer Sports
Adrenaline-rushing sports are other popular things to do in upstate NY, and Syracuse (see places to visit in Syracuse NY) and Finger Lakes are probably two of the best winter and summer spots in upstate NY to enjoy water sports. Both Syracuse and Finger Lakes are located near many great lakes such as Lake Ontario where you can enjoy a ton of watersports and boating opportunities.
Albany and Plattsburgh are two other popular winter and summer spots for an outdoors vacation in upstate New York, particularly the town of Plattsburgh since it's a short drive north of the Adirondacks Mountains.
Plattsburgh is also overlooking the majestic Lake Champlain where you can enjoy sailing, fishing and kayaking during the summer months, as well as ice fishing and ice boarding during the winter months.
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| Places to Visit in Albany NY |
Hiking & Backcountry Camping
Backcountry camping and hiking are two other popular things to do in upstate NY, and there isn’t a better place for enjoying primitive camping and finding hiking trails than within the Adirondacks High Peaks.
There are lots of camp areas where you can set a tent or lean-tos within the Adirondacks, though you’re only allowed to camp out in designated areas.
On such designated area where you can set up a tent is around Heart Lake. If primitive camping isn’t your thing, there are other backcountry lodging options within the Adirondacks such as the Adirondack cabins on Heart Lake, Keene Valley and Lake Placid lodges.
When it comes to hiking in the Adirondacks, you'll find both easy and moderate trails such as Buck Mountain Trail which boasts easy to moderate marked hiking trails.
The Adirondacks also boasts many mountain trailheads such as Whiteface Mountain and Heart Lake, which is one of the easiest trailheads to follow to access the highest peaks of the Adirondacks.
Attractions of Interest
Another of the popular things to do in upstate NY include exploring some of the the region's top attractions, which include:
Ausable Chasm
Ausable Chasm is one of the most top 10 natural wonders in the USA, and Ausable Chasm is sometimes referred to as "Grand Canyon’s little brother" because of its stunning sand rock formations and rapids!
In fact, whitewater and tube rafting is another of the popular things to do in upstate NY since the Ausable River waters pass through the gorge. You can also enjoy hiking through the gorge to see the majestic rock formations of Ausable Chasm up-close.
By the way, if you’re wondering where this place is, the Ausable Chasm is located a short drive south of the town of Plattsburgh.
Howe Caverns
Visiting Howe Caverns is another of the top things to do in upstate NY, especially if you’re basing your vacation in nearby Albany, Schenectady or Utica.
Howe Caverns are located near the village of Cobleskill and are simply stunning and awe-inspiring caves. If you’ve never been to an underground cave before, you wouldn’t want to miss a visit to this amazing attraction since you can enjoy various types of tours in Howe Carverns such as a lantern tour, or a boat ride along the caves' lake.
The Wild Center
If you're looking for more family-friendly attractions, visiting the Wild Center in Tupper Lake is another of the top things to do in upstate NY with kids.
The Wild Center is located in the heart of the Adirondacks so, you can enjoy a ton of outdoor activities, as well as seeing the indoor exhibits about Adirondacks’ wildlife.
You can also book guided nature walks at the Wild center during the summer months, and snowshoeing excursions in winter.
Fort Ticonderoga
Fort Ticonderoga is an 18th century French fort located just outside of Ticonderoga town. If you’ve never been to a fort before, you’ll enjoy visiting Fort Ticonderoga since you're allowed to explore the different areas of the fort such as the barracks, store room and powder magazine.
The fort opens between May and October, though it’s best to visit the fort during the summer months since most of the pioneer demonstrations and live reenactments are held during this time.
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