Category: New York Top List USA
Source: https://top-list.co/top-best-small-towns-to-visit-in-new-york-v1975.html
- Saratoga Springs
- Skaneateles
- Greenport
- Ithaca
- Woodstock
- Lake George
- Cold Spring
- Lake Placid
- Kingston
- Ellicottville
Saratoga Springs
One of upstate New York’s most charming small towns and top vacation destinations is Saratoga Springs. It feels like you’re strolling through a postcard when you walk through this charming town. This exciting historical and cultural center is located minutes from Albany and is a short drive from most Northeast locations.
Grand Victorian homes with verandas are decorated with lovely porch swings. The streets are lined with tall, lush trees, and perfectly manicured gardens are overflowing with vibrant blossoms. Each of your senses will be delighted by this beautiful setting. Trying to find calm right now? It can be found on the side of the town’s famous bubbling spring. For a relaxing afternoon out, bring a picnic or grab a bite to eat at one of the charming local cafés or restaurants. Next, check out one of the many museums in the area. You’re sure to discover one that interests you, from the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame to the National Museum of Dance and Hall of Fame.
Saratoga Springs
Skaneateles
The village of Skaneateles, Iroquois meaning “long lake,” is the location to enjoy the beauty, luxury, and hospitality of the Finger Lakes. It is nestled on the shores of Skaneateles Lake, one of the country’s cleanest lakes, and is regarded as the region’s “Jewel”.
Skaneateles is home to a bustling residential and business community and thousands of tourists annually. Historic Victorian and Greek Revival homes have charming rocking chairs on their front porches, adding to their attractiveness. Visit East Genesee Street if you need to indulge in some retail therapy. This region is filled with unique local shops, trendy galleries, and delicious restaurants, making it one of the best small towns in New York. The most well-known landmark in the community is Skaneateles Lake. It offers a captivating view all year long and is the best location for water sports in the warmer months.
Skaneateles
Greenport
In this charming fishing village, you’ll be able to smell the sea before you see it. Greenport, on the North Fork of Long Island, is a welcoming town. Many of its beautiful restaurants serve up local, fresh food, and the people there are kind and helpful.
In this small New York town, sailboats bob serenely in the distance, giving a tranquil atmosphere. Small farm stands are dotted across the countryside and sell healthy snacks that are perfect for nibbling on as you travel along the scenic, winding roads. Greenport has a more relaxed and rustic feel in stark contrast to its more glitzy and affluent neighbor, Hamptons. For foodies who love the farm-to-table concept and like sampling delectable dishes and wines from local producers, Greenport cuisine is the top choice. There are also pristine, sandy beaches, unique art galleries, antique stores, and charming homes perfectly arranged in rows.
Greenport
Ithaca
Locals from New York love visiting Ithaca because of its outstanding dining and arts scenes. Some of the top restaurants in New York State may be found there, as well as numerous galleries and year-round live musical performances.
Ithaca is much more than just a charming college town; it is home to Cornell University. This loved small town in New York State has a beautiful ambiance formed by historical structures. Ithaca Commons, a shopping center with a variety of restaurants and entertainment options, is located in the center of the city. Additionally, there are plenty of museums to satisfy your academic interest. The immense natural beauty in the area is a major tourist attraction. Hikes in the spectacular gorges that surround the area are popular among outdoor adventurers who visit here. The waterfalls here are so stunning that your camera will beg you to snap pictures.
Ithaca
Woodstock
Located at the base of the Catskill Mountains, Woodstock is much more than just a quiet small town. In all honesty, this village in upstate New York has become a household name. Since the 1960s, Woodstock has become a household name all over the world as a symbol of love, peace, art, and community.
Woodstock has developed into a haven for music enthusiasts even though it wasn’t the original site of the renowned music festival in 1969 (it was held almost 60 miles away, in Bethel). This adorable village, located in Ulster County’s Catskill Park, has just over 6,000 residents. Tie-dye and music thrive on Tinker Street, which is lined with unique shops selling anything from antique postcards to hippie wear to jewelry. With dozens of galleries, boutiques, educational institutions, temples, nature preserves, hiking trails, and outdoor markets, it still maintains its avant-garde aesthetic today. Visitors find themselves completely immersed in another world, where the emphasis is on local, small businesses, and homegrown, just 90 miles north of New York City.
Woodstock
Lake George
The picturesque community of Lake George, which is nestled at the base of the magnificent Adirondack mountains, is worth at least a weekend trip. There is nothing more magical than experiencing the season’s color palette in the small towns of the Lake George area.
Known as the “Queen of the American Lakes”, with its 109 miles of shoreline and over 300 islands, Lake George has been a vacation paradise for almost two centuries. Lake George takes full advantage of its vast and beautiful surroundings. A popular summertime destination for water activities is the town’s sparkling lake, which is surrounded by adorable shops and restaurants to satisfy any palate. There are plenty of attractions and enjoyable activities at Lake George. Among other enjoyable activities, you can boat, swim, go whitewater rafting, or SUP. Horseback riding and hiking are year-round activities.
Lake George
Cold Spring
From Grand Central Station in New York, you may travel by rail in about one hour to Cold Spring, a well-liked vacation spot for city folk looking to relax. This adorable historic town, best known for its charming 19th-century buildings located beside the Hudson River, makes it simple to find tranquility.
From botanical gardens to historic mansions, a thriving Italian art institution, and plenty of public green spaces, Cold Spring is a regional highlight in the Hudson Valley, with plenty of tourist attractions to explore. Visitors often spend their weekends in this renowned small New York town’s waterways during the summer, kayaking, swimming, fishing, and SUPing. Then they go to the town’s charming heart, which is home to restaurants with unique personalities and the friendliest staff in the area. Shopping enthusiasts will enjoy getting to know the owners of the small boutique shops. This is the ideal destination for a day trip from New York City given its proximity to the Big Apple (it is only 50 miles north of NYC).
Cold Spring
Lake Placid
The Adirondack Mountains in New York State are breathtaking. The Adirondacks, which cover six million acres, are in fact the location of the largest park in the lower 48 states. It covers 5% of New York State. The village of Lake Placid is located in the Adirondacks.
Lake Placid has an incredible beauty that is difficult to match, being surrounded by the massive Adirondack mountains and situated on the crystal-clear lake of the same name. It was chosen to host the winter Olympics twice (1932 and 1980). Lake Placid has a lot of outdoor activities available throughout the year. There is almost never an opportunity to become bored here. Lake Placid is a magical place all year round, but it really shines in the spring, summer, and fall with scenic hiking. Main Street shopping and dining, brilliant fall foliage, and convenient access to the breathtaking. And untainted beauty of the Adirondack Park is made up of 6.1 million acres of trails, rivers, streams, wildlife habitat, and more.
Lake Placid
Kingston
Ninety miles north of NYC, the Hudson River Valley town of Kingston, NY is situated at the base of the Catskill Mountains on the Rondout Creek. Much of Kingston’s appeal is being at the epicenter of “Upstate” culture in the Hudson Valley.
Kingston is regarded as one of the best small towns in New York for a variety of reasons. The dynamic Uptown area, which is dotted with trendy shops and old buildings; the Midtown neighborhood, which has more shops and a theatre; and the waterfront Downtown center, where you can enjoy trolley rides, boat excursions, and museums, are some of its main attractions. This waterfront location, which is located on the Hudson River, is a must-see during the warm spring and summer, which are the busiest times of year to visit Kingston. Live music, weekend visitors, and sightseeing boat trips will all be available at this time.
Kingston
Ellicottville
Traveling about is made simpler by a town’s size. Instead of driving, go to the streets of the quaint village of Ellicottville. You can walk to two ski areas, the wonderfully soothing Ellicottville Oasis Spa, and a tonne of quirky shops and restaurants.
Ellicottville, you know you are heading for a destination full of the best ski resorts, beautiful sights, and other great outdoor activities. Visitors flock to this area during the winter months to zip down the slopes at the exclusive HoliMont Ski Resort and Holiday Valley, where you can also take horse-drawn sleigh rides to up the romance. The neighboring Griffis Sculpture Park, where visitors may wander around (and sometimes climb) approximately 250 enormous and incredibly amazing steel sculptures, is also very popular during the warmer months. Hiking and golf are also extremely popular during this season. Plan for pampering yourself at Ellicottville Oasis Spa, with massage therapy, manicures, pedicures, and every other treatment you can imagine.
Ellicottville
