As much as I would like to try NY City, just to say I did, the Finger Lake Region is where I actually have a great desire to visit.
The Finger Lakes is one of the best kept secrets for vacationers. I only went through NY City twice...and then not by choice. I went through NYC when I shipped oiut toEeurope, and when I came home at discharge...that was enough..
I do recall one young, black trooper's remark as we passed by the Empire State building..
He blurted out.." New York, New York...this M__________r so big, they had to name it twice, New York..New York.."
...But back to the Finger Lakes.. They are just east of where I live and are involved in grape/wine production, due to the seasonable weather
provided by the lakes. Large hills between lakes are a great place for vineyards. Many B&B rooms in the countryside.
I consider Letchworth state park (best state park in the USA) to be the beginning of the Finger lakes area.
Many attractions ..Glen Curtis museum, Corning Glass museum, etc.
Only part I don't bother with is Ithaca..home of Ithaca college and Cornell U., which comprise most of Tompkins county population.. usual college
attitudes.
Watkins Glen at the foot of Seneca Lake is an attraction...along with it's fotmula 1auto races in the summer... The Glen itself is worth the trip..
https://www.fingerlakes.org/attractions/watkins-glen-state-park Wintert sports are great throughout, if you happen to like them. Skiing..Ellicottville is about 12-14 miles SW my house.. It has perhaps, the best
slopes in the east. It has many other things going, year around, but it is a "tourist" town, and rather cheesy. My son does much real estate photos there, since there are millionaire "cabins" there..
Those millionaires (both American and Canadians) don' bother us much though..they just take interstate highways to and from E-ville.
To set minds at ease...the NY residents outside NY City, do not have that "Don Rickles, wise guy" attitude... They are like good old midwest people.
Just stay away from the southeast corner..
Below, see the slopes..and a "ski cabin" along with it's wine cellar.