Deb;
Following MSP's advice, I would like to offer some beautiful places to visit in NY state:
1) The Finger Lakes...especially now, late summer, early fall...
Grape harvest is going on, and if you have a taste for fine wine ( I don't), some of the best in the world, I am told ,is made here.
The lakes and scenery are beautiful. Ithaca and Geneva are nice, small , cities that have most anything one would want.
2) The Adirondacks; winter or summer...always beautiful
Lake Placid, lumber museum etc. picturesque small towns. Much local lore and color...
3) Leatherstocking country:
The land of "The Last of the Mohicans", and the setting for many James Fenimore Cooper's writings; hence the term "Leatherstocking".
Baseball hall of fame, the Farmer's museum (with the "Cardiff Giant")
both on the shores of Lake Glimmer Glass, thne home of "The Deerslayer".
4) The Southern Tier:
Follow the route of I-86 (old rt. 17) from about at Livingston Manor west. My experience tells me that the "Big Apple" attitude sometimes extends as far as Livingston Manor.
Travelling I-86 is a joy for sightseers, especially with fall colors coming on. Suggestions...Glass museum at Corning, Glen Curtiss air museum at Hammondsport.
Enter the "enchanted Mountains" area around Olean (my part of the state).
The people in the western region of the state (outside the big cities) with their friendliness and traditional values are much like "heartland" America.
Side tours from I-86: at Painted Post, take a side tour on rt 417 to the tiny hamlet of Woodhull and buy some of the finest cheddar cheese in the world . Golden Age cheddar beats all of the rest ( my opinion) that I have tried....and I am from a family of "cheddar chasers". Most of the milk in Golden Age cheese is from Amish farms.
At places like Woodhull,
Belvedere and Randolph tours of Amish country are always interesting.
Recommend the Randolph, Leon, Conewango valley area.
Salamanca, on the reservation...Seneca Nation museum, and if is "your cup of tea"( not mine), The new Casino (on I-86)....cheap gas, tobacco and booze.
Chautauqua...the institution and the lake that has summer sports and great ice fishing.
Rt 60 north will take you to Lily Dale a whole village dedicated to the "spiritualist" experience. Lily Dale is called the world center of Spiritualism....every home has a "medium".
To be bruitally frank, as a Born-again Christian, I refer to the place as "Silly Dale"....but for those interested, it may be enjoyable.
There are many other places in NY State that are highly interesting; lakes George & Champlain, Forts Ticonderoga, Niagara and many more.
All these things taken together, overlaid with much History from the French & Indian war, and the Revolution....makes for interesting travel,
OUTSIDE the Big Apple..
No worry about hurricanes either!