Away from the Crowds in New York

Catskill Animal Sanctuary in the Catskills of New York State is where visitors can enjoy 300 goats, pigs, chickens, sheep, and other barnyard residents. The place opened in 2001 as a rehabilitation center for neglected or abused farm animals. With great care these creatures can be adored and cuddled.

Located near Cooperstown, Glimmerglass State Park is among the most popular Central New York attractions.

It is home to the oldest covered bridge in the US, the Hyde Hall Bridge, dating back to 1825. Among the best hiking trails are the Blue Bird Trail and the Covered Bridge Trail. The Glimmerglass Lake is featured in the “Leatherstocking Tales” by James Fenimore Cooper.

The Hyde Hall mansion overlooks the bay. Within the park are a beach, picnic areas with pavilions, and a playground.

Located in the town of Manlius, Green Lakes State Park is a scenic park with a golf course. It features the largest stand of old-growth forest in Central New York. The park is centered on two small lakes, Green Lake and Round Lake, with an unusual blue-green color. Its Round Lake has been designated a National Natural Landmark.

At its northern end, Green Lake has a sandy swimming beach, lawns for sunbathing, and a building with changing facilities and a concession stand.

In Schoharie County in NY State you’ll find the Howe Cavern. This is the largest show cave in the Northeastern US. Visitors take elevators down to the main passage, a large phreatic tube. Guides lead visitors parallel to the River Styx, a subterranean river, passing by speleothems with such names as The Sentinels and Titan’s Fireplace. After passing through Titan’s Temple, the largest chamber in the cave, visitors embark on a boat ride.

In Cohoes, Overlook Park has one of the most stunning waterfalls in New York. Visitors also enjoy the nearby Falls View Park with a 192-foot-long pedestrian bridge that spans the School Street Power Canal.

The Storm King Art Center features art in nature. It is an open-air museum near New Windsor. There is a rotating contemporary sculpture collection with about 100 artworks. They are set up all around the property.

The permanent collection is situated throughout the grounds in four main areas: the North Woods, Museum Hill, the Meadows, and the South Fields.

In the Catskills, in New York State, you’ll find Sundown Wild Forest. It offers hiking trails, waterfalls, and trout streams. It is a favorite of hikers, anglers, and mountain bikers. The surrounding forest is lovely.

Popular trails lead to the Red Hill Fire Tower, providing stunning panoramic views of the Catskill high peaks and Rondout Reservoir.

The Adirondack Mountains are a massif of mountains in Northeastern New York. These mountains challenge hikers, and one of the most popular challenges is the Tupper Lake Triad, with trails spanning Mount Arab, Coney Mountain, and Goodman Mountain. Visitors also enjoy Tupper Lake.

Located in Saratoga Springs, Yaddo Gardens offers a lovely Italian-style rose garden, an ivy-covered Tudor mansion, idyllic pools, and a lending library.

The gardens were modeled after the classical Italian gardens in the Trasks in Europe.

You can see many statues and sculptures on the estate, among them a sundial with the inscription, "Hours fly, flowers die, new days, new ways, pass by, love stays." You can take a self-guided walking tour.

Take the Seneca Lake Wine Trail with more than 35 wineries dotting Lake Seneca in the Finger Lakes region. Wine has been produced here since the late 1800s. These wineries receive top prizes for their special wines, such as Riesling, Pinot Gris, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot.