New York may be known best for housing NYC, but it’s more than home to the largest city in the USA. If you drive up and away from the stress of the city, you’ll find that this state has so many things that people overlook when they shouldn’t! Upstate New York is home to beautiful parks, incredible zoos, and spaces that feel like a breath of fresh air that you won’t find anywhere else.
These are the top things to find in upstate New York that you don’t want to miss!
Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park.
At home in Buffalo, the Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park is located on the shore of Lake Erie. This park is the best type of vacation destination for families since it combines education, the fascinating world of military ships, beautiful clear water, and the hospitality and niceness of the people of Buffalo.
You can walk through ships that have seen battle, take a guided tour through a museum, and enjoy the fresh air and a low number of tourists besides you. Although this isn’t a huge tourist spot, it’s an educational and fun space you’ll want to come back to.
Herkimer Diamond Mines.
Although many don’t think of New York as a place where diamonds are mined, the Herkimer Diamond Mines aims to change that. These stones aren’t diamonds in producing double-terminated quartz crystals, but they’re worth more than most other precious stones. Take a short tour of the mines, enjoy learning about how to spot a real or fake, and get up close and popular with thousands of dollars of Herkimer Diamonds.
Midway State Park.
This hundred-year-old park was initially started as a picnic park to be enjoyed outside of the railway. It’s now a beautiful stretch of greenery that feels like a breath of fresh air when you want to get away from the stress of the day. Summer concerts are played here, and you can get to know the locals here better than anywhere else. There’s nothing like relaxing and having a picnic in the park in the middle of a busy trip.
Rosamond Gifford Zoo.
This 43-acre zoo is home to elephants, penguins, and dozens of other species. Although the NYC zoo may be more famous, the Rosamond Gifford Zoo feels more personal since fewer people corral away from the animals. You can walk through a safari trail that allows you to step out beneath the animals. Getting to have fun seeing all of the wildlife and relax for a while ensures that Albany houses for sale don’t stay on the market for long. This zoo works hard on conservation and ensuring a future for these animals. You’ll want to be a part of it.
Get to know these areas and meet a side of New York that isn’t just the city and busy schedules. You can enjoy a laid-back vacation while still getting to sightsee and have fun for your entire family.