The eyes of the world are often focused on New York City with its famed streets, art and iconic markers. There's Broadway, the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge and the Empire State Building to name a few. But there is an altogether different New York that lies beyond its urban borders. Niagara Falls in Western New York is the largest waterfall in America, and the Niagara River thunders over the falls and down into a state full of natural beauty and opportunity.
One hundred miles east of Niagra is one of the state’s 180 state parks. Letchworth State Park is known as the home of the Grand Canyon of the east. With its 600-foot rock walls and tumbling waterfalls, it’s easy to see why. Just a little further east are 11 long, narrow, finger lakes. The Finger Lakes Region is a breathtaking area perfect for hiking, boating and freshwater fishing. A paddle, an old red canoe, a thermos of coffee and some tackle are all that's needed for a morning on the water. Almost 8,000 lakes including coasts on Lake Erie and Lake Ontario are a huge part of what makes New York State special.
Adding to the mystique of this diverse state are the Adirondacks Mountains. Over 200 backcountry hike-in, lean-to sites makes backpacking here a rugged and unique experience. Mount Marshall Loop Trail through Indian Pass contains 3,405 feet of changes in elevation over just 16 miles. Trails in the Adirondacks often include ladders, rock scrambles and views of mountain lakes and pristine valleys. Whitetail deer, black bear, grouse and small game have been hunted in wilderness areas throughout the range for generations, as well as waterfowl in its abundant rivers and lakes.
Just a few hours outside of New York City, the Catskill Mountains are a retreat from the fast-paced hustle and bustle of city life. The forests around the Catskills are home to whitetails, wild turkeys, Peregrine Falcons and countless other wildlife and plant species.
Skiing is popular here with New York's snowy winters. Ice fishing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing and horseback riding are all popular ways to enjoy sparkling white trees and frosty forest floors.
Apples are grown in the state’s eastern Hudson Valley. Empire, McIntosh, and Honeycrisp apples paint the valley from late summer into fall with dots of maroons and reds. On 55,000 acres of orchard land, New York produces the second most apples of any state.
New York is a mix of old and new. In New York City, the Empire State Building towers over a city filled with fast-paced highways and the latest technologies. New York’s rural landscapes, mountains and sprawling hardwoods offer incredible wildlife habitat and endless adventure. On roads less traveled, there's a slower pace to each day, a pace that provides farming, apple picking, fishing, hunting and time spent making memories with family in the beautiful countryside.
