New York Outdoors

New York outdoors has amazing diversity. You can walk the busy streets of the Times Square in the Big Apple or hike the beautiful mountains and soak in some nature. New York city is full of landmarks. The Brooklyn Bridge which is one of the first cable suspension bridges, New York’s tallest building the Empire State Building. Standing at the foot of Brooklyn Bridge you can see wonderful views of downtown Manhattan. Visiting the Statue of Liberty is a highlight of New York city and can easily be reach by taking a year-round ferry from Battery Park. The 843 acre Central Park in Central Manhattan is home to a lake, ponds, woodlands, zoo, formal garden and a castle.

The Erie Canal was at one time an important way of transporting agricultural and industrial products to New York City port. The canal is still maintained and is 363 miles long and has 57 locks. You can see the story of the construction of the canal and what life was like in a canal town at Erie Canal Village, a living museum. Take a tour through some historic mansions in the Thousands Islands area. This was an exclusive vacation spot at one time and you can see the huge Boldt Castle built by George Boldt in the early 1900’s.

An outdoor vacation to the Adirondack State Park is sure to be something to remember. The park is one of the largest protected areas in the U.S. and covers 6 million acres. Within it’s boundaries are over 3,000 lakes and 30.333 miles of rivers and streams. In the area, you will find Lake Placid where both the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics were held. There you can cross country and downhill ski in the wintertime and climb Mt. Marcy in the summertime.

In western New York, you will find the Finger Lakes region with deep gorges, abundant forests, lakes and waterfalls. Taughannock Falls at Taughannock State Park has a waterfall 215 feet high, one of the highest in the Eastern United States. Not to be outdone is the famous Niagara Falls. People come from all over the world to see this spectacular site.

National Parks, Areas and Sites

Appalachian National Scenic Trail - covers 14 states from Maine to Georgia.
Castle Clinton National Monument - tours available. Once a fort, Castle Clinton has changed often during the years.
Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network - over 160 parks, refuges, museums, historic communities and water trails in the Bay watershed.
Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site - her home Val-Kill Cottage.
Ellis Island National Monument - once the nation's main immigration area.
Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor - historically significant canal way in the U.S.
Federal Hall National Monument - this site was home to the first Congress, Supreme Court, and Executive Branch offices.
Fire Island National Seashore - sightseeing, hiking, and wildlife-viewing.
Fort Stanwix National Monument - living historical fort.
Gateway National Recreational Area - wildlife refuge, holly forest, ocean dunes and coastal uplands.
General Grant National Memorial - Grant's Tomb, the final resting place of the General and memorial to his life and accomplishments.
Governors Island National Monument - National Park Ranger led programs, special events, self-guided activities.
Hamilton Grange National Memorial - Alexander Hamilton's home reopening in 2011.
Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site - Springwood the lifelong home of America's only 4-term President.
Lower East Side Tenement Museum National Historic Site - the history of the Lower East Side.
Martin Van Buren National Historic Sites - tours available.
National Parks of New York Harbor - 10 national parks includes 27,000 acres.
North Country National Scenic Trail - covers 7 states.
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site - Home of Theodore Roosevelt.
Saint Paul's Church National Historic Site - 18th century stone church, cemetery and remnants of a village green.
Saratoga National Historic Park - site of a major British army.
Statue of Liberty National Monument - The site of the Statue of Liberty.
Theodore Roosevelt's Birthplace National Historic Site
Theodore Roosevelt's Inaugural National Historic Site
Upper Delaware Scenic & Recreation River - sightseeing, boating, camping, hunting, fishing, hiking, and bird watching.
Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site - tour historic house, hike, carriage tours and picnicking.
Women's Rights National Historic Park - Guided tours and ranger-led programs.http://home.nps.gov/applications/parksearch/state.cfm?st=ny