Best Vacation Destinations-Sightseeing Attractions-Places To Visit/See In Upstate New York State (Syracuse: amusement park, hotels)

[grdnrman]

Below is my list of quality vacation attractions/places for visitors to Upstate New York State to consider while travelling across Upstate NY areas. This list includes general basic information and photos about each attraction/area. You can review the information to determine your possible interest in each sightseeing area and you can do additional research, if necessary, on interesting attractions. The best time-period to visit Upstate New York for great-weather vacations is from June 1st through September Labor Day. Most vacation attractions are fully operating during that several month period; some attractions may operate on a reduced schedule outside of the June to September period even though the weather would remain pleasant and enjoyable.

You can request additional travel guides, brochures, maps, and other information from sources such as: New York State, local area tourist associations, AAA and (Canadian) CAA, phonelines, and websites. These sources offer lots of free materials and their representatives are happy to help you plan an enjoyable vacation trip.

I have posted information below on what I consider 6 of the best quality vacation destinations/attractions/places located across the Upstate New York regions. This post is one page of several pages that I will post about best travel attractions. Check back for additional information pages.

NIAGARA FALLS-NY & ONT CANADA>>>
The Falls = (AAA rated gem attraction)
Information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niagara_Falls
www.niagara-usa.com
Photos:
http://www.niagarafallslive.com/phot...gara_falls.htm
Maid of the Mist Boat Cruise <(AAA rated gem attraction)
http://www.niagarafallslive.com/niag...f_the_mist.htm
Speed Jetboat Ride
http://www.niagarafallslive.com/niag...l_jetboat_.htm
Prospect Point Park Observation Tower=NY State
http://www.seyeneco.com/pages/pictur...2-picture.html
Skylon Tower <(AAA rated gem) <(Ontario)
www.niagarafallslive.com/Skylon_Tower.htm
Queen Victoria Park Flower Gardens Canadian Side of Falls <(AAA rated gem attraction)
http://www.niagaraparks.com/garden-t...oria-park.html
http://www.niagaraparks.com/garden-t...ral-clock.html
http://www.niagaraparks.com/garden-t...showhouse.html

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THOUSAND ISLANDS-NY & St. Lawrence River; Alexandria Bay, Clayton, Chippewa Bay, & Cape Vincent>>>
Information:
www.visit1000islands.com/visitorinfo/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thousand_Islands
Photos:
Boldt Castle <(AAA rated gem attraction)
www.boldtcastle.com/visitorinfo/
Skydeck Tower
www.1000islandsskydeck.com/home.php
Boat Cruise
www.1000islands.com/unclesam/
Singer Castle=Chippewa Bay-NY a few miles north (of Alex Bay) off Rt. 12
www.singercastle.com/seiten/a_photos.html
www.singercastle.com/seiten/a_photos14.html
www.singercastle.com/seiten/a_photos2.html
www.singercastle.com/seiten/a_photos6.html
Antique Boat Museum
750 Mary St. @ Rt. 12N
Clayton, NY .... Ph. 315-686-4104

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COOPERSTOWN-NY>>>
Information:
www.visitingcooperstown.com/welcome.html
http://newyorktraveler.net/a-trip-to-cooperstown-ny/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cooperstown,_New_York
www.city-data.com/city/Cooperstown-New-York.html
Photos:
Village
www.visitingcooperstown.com/gallery14.html
www.visitingcooperstown.com/gallery3.html
Farmers Museum <(AAA rated gem Attraction)
www.farmersmuseum.org/farmers/visit/experience
Baseball Hall of Fame <(AAA rated gem attraction)
http://www.visitingcooperstown.com/b...alloffame.html
http://baseballhall.org/
Fenimore Art Museum <(AAA rated gem attraction)
http://www.fenimoreartmuseum.org/fen...sit/experience
Hyde Hall House Museum-Built in the early 1800's. Located north of Cooperstown near Glimmerglass State Park, EAST shore of Otsego Lake.
www.hydehall.org/
www.hydehall.org/history
Otsego Lake-Cooperstown
www.visitingcooperstown.com/otsego.html

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LAKE GEORGE-NY>>>
Information:
http://newyorktraveler.net/lake-geor...iconderoga-ny/
www.lakegeorgeguide.com/
www.lakegeorgeguide.com/directory/?c=89
www.lakegeorgeguide.com/directory/?c=138
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Ge...age),_New_York
www.city-data.com/city/Lake-George-New-York.html
Photos:
Lake View
www.city-data.com/picfilesv/picv11462.php
www.city-data.com/picfilesv/picv7139.php
Cruise Boat Harbor
www.city-data.com/picfilesc/picc3583.php
Steamboat Cruise
www.city-data.com/picfilesc/picc3584.php
Sagamore Resort Inn
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sagamore
http://calhotels.us/photos.php?122269?auto/122269jpg

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GENESEE COUNTRY VILLAGE & MUSEUM <(AAA rated gem), Mumford-NY>>>
Information:
www.gcv.org/historic-buildings/village-homes
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genesee...age_and_Museum
Photos:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ge...tryvillage.jpg

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CORNING-NY>>>
Information:
www.cmog.org/
www.gafferdistrict.com/
Photos:
Corning
http://www.smalltowngems.com/browset...gnyphotos.html
Glass Museum <(AAA rated gem attraction)
http://corningmuseum.photosandpictures.net/main.php
Gaffer Shopping District
www.gafferdistrict.com/trails_chocolate.php
www.gafferdistrict.com/historicpreservation.php
Rockwell Museum of Western Art <(AAA rated gem attraction)
111 Cedar Street
Corning, NY
www.rockwellmuseum.org/

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I will post information and photos about additional Upstate New York State quality vacation destinations/attractions in the future. Check back to read those suggested places.

grdnrman

[grdnrman]

This is page 2 of my list of best places to vacation/visit in Upstate New York. The best time-period to visit these places is between June 1st and September Labor Day of any year; most of these attractions are fully operational during those months=maybe on a reduced schedule during other months.

Some of these attractions have been rated as "gem" (very good or exceptional) places to see/visit by AAA/CAA.

LAKE PLACID-NY>>>

1.) Shops & restaurants in downtown Lake Placid.
2.) Mirror Lake=(in the village) and Lake Placid lake.
3.) Whiteface Mountain & highway to Mtn. summit-northeast of the village
4.) Santa's Workshop-North Pole NY.
5.) Adirondack Scenic Railroad=Lake Placid to Saranac Lake.

The Village
Information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Placid,_New_York
Photos:
Lake Placid village on Mirror Lake among the woodlands.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:La...e_Mountain.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:La...irror_Lake.jpg
www.panoramio.com/photo/14990233
http://www.smalltowngems.com/browset...nyphotos6.html
http://www.smalltowngems.com/browset...dnyphotos.html
Photo lake = Lake Placid:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lake_Placid.jpg
Whiteface Mountain & Summit Highway <(AAA rated gem)
Information:
http://www.lake-placid-area-guide.co...-mountain.html
Photos:
http://www.adirondackscenicbyways.or...l-highway.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wh...id_Airport.JPG ,, (Wintertime)
Santa's Workshop, North Pole-NY:
This place is not a "glitzy" big-time attraction like Disney World. Santa's Workshop northeast of Lake Placid is a low-key, retro, small park meant especially for younger children where they can ride the Candy Cane Train or the other Kiddie rides. Wander through Santa's Village and see candy being made, the glass-blower making glass items, see the colorful gingerbread buildings, pet the tame animals, and see the Rheindeer. You can send picture post cards to friends with a North Pole-NY post office insignia postmark.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sa...th_Pole_NY.jpg
http://theimaginaryworld.com/sw09.jpg .. (North Pole Entry)
http://theimaginaryworld.com/sw07.jpg
http://theimaginaryworld.com/lands224.jpg
http://theimaginaryworld.com/sw05.jpg
http://theimaginaryworld.com/sw08.jpg
Adirondack Scenic Railroad - Lake Placid to Saranac Lake-NY
http://www.lakeplacid.com/do/family-...cenic-railroad

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OLD FORGE-NY & FULTON CHAIN OF LAKES>>>

IMO>>The Old Forge lakes/mountains area is a fun and very enjoyable Adirondack Mountain area although the mountains here are not as spectactular as around the Lake George or the Lake Placid areas=just my opinion.
The Village
Information:
www.oldforgeny.com/
www.oldforgeny.com/what.html
Fulton Chain of Lakes
www.oldforgelakecruises.com/
Amusement Park-Enchanted Forest & Water Safari
www.watersafari.com/

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THE EMPIRE STATE PLAZA, Albany, NY (State Capitol Buildings)>>>

Photos:
http://www.bluffton.edu/~sullivanm/e.../empiresp.html
Aerial View NYS Government Buildings
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:EmpirePlaza17.jpg
The Egg (Performing Arts)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Egg_(building)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_Egg.JPG
New York State Museum
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_State_Museum
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ne...tionCenter.JPG
New York State Capitol Building-Albany
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_State_Capitol
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:NY...olPanorama.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Nyscapct.JPG

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HOWE CAVERNS <(AAA rated gem attraction)>>>
Ph: 518-296-8400 -- www.howecaverns.com/history
Howes Cave-Cobleskill NY
http://www.howecaverns.com/news-and-...imedia-gallery

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SARATOGA SPRINGS-NY>>>

The City
Information:
http://www.city-data.com/city/Sarato...-New-York.html
Photos:
www.city-data.com/picfilesc/picc25623.php
http://www.smalltowngems.com/browset...snyphotos.html
www.city-data.com/forum/21252859-post8.html

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I will post information and photos about additional Upstate New York State quality vacation destinations/attractions in the future. Check back to read about those suggested places.

grdnrman

[galee]

Great post! Thank you for all that you do.

Galee

[grdnrman]

Originally Posted by galee

Great post! Thank you for all that you do.

Galee

Thank you Galee for your/the above thoughtful post to me. I always appreciate it when people find that my posts are helpful and informative to the readers of City-Data. It means a lot to me when readers express the value/support of what I post through either a written "thank you" such as yours above or through "(+) rating this post positively" response to any post.

[TheCalifornianWriter]

Wow, this is fantastic grndrman! I had been somewhat pre-occupied and unable to see the thread, but now that I've seen it, I'm convinced that your words will be instrumental in my vacation.

Anyway, thanks again...my trip is getting ever nearer and I can't wait.

[TheCalifornianWriter]

I also really dig the options you put up; so many to choose from!

But, really, where else can you see beautiful old castles and mansions on islands throughout a river?

[grdnrman]

This post lists additional attractions/sightseeing places to visit when you travel to New York State's upstate region.

June 1st to September Labor Day is the best time-period to visit these attraction because the weather should be nice and these vacation attractions are usually fully open during these months; a reduced open schedule might be in effect during other months.

Some very good attractions listed in this post include: a huge Antique Car Show at Syracuse (open ONE July weekend only), city of Canandaigua which has an abundance of Victorian style homes/buildings for visitors who like to see those, the village of Seneca Falls which played a big part in early Women's Equal Civil Rights, information with photos about 3 gorgeous quality Inns (Sagamore Resort on Lake George plus Geneva-on-the-Lake Villa Resort AND Belhurst Castle Resort both at Geneva-NY) to stay/visit if you are interested in very exceptional breath-taking Inn Resorts, and other vacation places information.

NATIONALS CLASSIC-ANTIQUE-STREET ROD CAR SHOW>>>
Syracuse-NY -- NY State Fairgrounds
Held Only = Friday July 20, Saturday Jult 21, and Sunday July 22, 2012.

A three-day, once-a-year Car Show to be held at the New York State Fairgrounds, just off Interstate 690 in Syracuse, NY. There are over 7000+ cars on display from 40 U.S. states and 5 Canadian ptovinces.
Information & Photos:
www.rightcoastcars.com/syracuse-nationals.php
Examples of cars on display:
http://www.rightcoastcars.com/albums...img_5697_2.jpg
http://www.rightcoastcars.com/albums...img_5678_2.jpg
http://www.rightcoastcars.com/albums...s/img_5994.jpg
http://www.rightcoastcars.com/albums...s/img_6077.jpg
http://www.rightcoastcars.com/albums...s/img_6966.jpg
http://www.rightcoastcars.com/albums...s/img_6597.jpg
http://www.rightcoastcars.com/albums...s/img_7239.jpg
http://www.rightcoastcars.com/images...s/IMG_0194.htm
http://www.rightcoastcars.com/images...s/IMG_0197.htm
http://www.rightcoastcars.com/images...s/IMG_0215.htm
http://www.rightcoastcars.com/images...s/IMG_0241.htm
http://www.rightcoastcars.com/images...s/IMG_0236.htm
http://www.rightcoastcars.com/images...s/IMG_0251.htm
http://www.rightcoastcars.com/images...s/IMG_0206.htm

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WOMEN'S EARLY CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT>>>
SENECA FALLS-NY

Information:
http://www.nps.gov/wori/historycultu...ls-in-1848.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seneca_Falls_Convention
http://npg.si.edu/col/seneca/senfalls1.htm

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GENEVA-NY>>>

Information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geneva,_New_York
www.city-data.com/city/Geneva-New-York.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Geneva,NY_copy.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:GenevaNYCity2011.jpg
Gorgeous Villa Accommodations/Resorts:
Geneva-On-The-Lake-Inn <(AAA rated 4 Diamond resort)
www.genevaonthelake.com/index.html
http://www.genevaonthelake.com/villa...n_history.html
www.genevaonthelake.com/guest_comments.html
Belhurst Castle = (beautiful castle building & location)
http://www.fingerlakes.org/things-to...elhurst-castle
www.city-data.com/picfilesc/picc58646.php
Museum:
Rose Hill Mansion Museum <(AAA rated gem attraction)
www.genevahistoricalsociety.com/Rose_Hill.htm
Review/Comments Geneva-Finger Lakes Region Attractions:
http://stripedpot.com/2011/10/01/the...r-of-new-york/

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CANANDAIGUA-NY>>>
This small city has over 300+ homes/buildings within the "Victorian" catagory of several styles of Victorian architecture structures.

Information:
The City
http://www.livingplaces.com/NY/Ontar...igua_City.html
www.city-data.com/city/Canandaigua-New-York.html
Historic District
http://www.livingplaces.com/NY/Ontar..._District.html
North Main Street Historic District
http://www.livingplaces.com/NY/Ontar..._District.html
Museums
Sonnenberg Mansion & Gardens Museum <(AAA rated gem attraction)
http://www.sonnenberg.org/store.asp?...20&catid=19990
http://www.sonnenberg.org/store.asp?...13&catid=19990
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:So..._New_York..jpg
http://www.sonnenberg.org/store.asp?...14&catid=19990
http://visitfingerlakes.com/listings...historic-park/
Granger Homestead & Carriage Museum <(Opens for tour season June 1, 2012)
http://www.grangerhomestead.org/inde...sit/publictour
http://www.grangerhomestead.org/inde...xplore/mansion
http://visitfingerlakes.com/listings...rriage-museum/
Victorian Homes & Buildings in Canandaigua
www.city-0data.com/picfilesc/picc48984,php
www.innonthemain.com/
www.bellarosebb.com/
www.oliverphelps.com/
Canandaigua Lake Boat Cruises
http://www.steamboatlandingonline.com/
Captain Gray's Boat Tours = city pier #2
Canandaigua = Ph. 585-394-5270
Canandaigua Lady Boat Cruise Photo
http://www.visitfingerlakes.com/imag...AIGUA-LADY.jpg
http://www.canandaiguawinetrail.com/view_the_trail.php

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DARIEN LAKE AMUSEMENT PARK & RESORT <(AAA rated gem attraction)>>>
Darien Center-NY = Ph. 585-599-4641

www.godarienlake.com/
http://en.Wikipedia.org/wiki/Darien_...me_Park_Resort

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SKANEATLES-NY>>>

A lovely, well maintained, countryside village on the north shore of (Finger Lake) Skaneatles Lake a few miles southwest of Syracuse. There's a village center park right on the lake. Unique shops, boutiques, and restaurants in the center of the village. Some mansions, Victorian & colonial & regular style homes line the tree shaded streets. There are boat and dinner boat cruises available on the Lake. Many big name people from across the country do and have visited this lovely village when they are in the Syracuse area.
Information:
www.city-data.com/Skaneatles-New-York.html
Photos:
http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/ph...language_en-US
www.city-data.com/picfilesc/picc24849.php
http://www.smalltowngems.com/browset...snyphotos.html
www.city-data.com/forum/91246-post1.html
www.city-data.com/forum/1762330-post1.html
Lake Boat Cruises
Mid-Lakes Navigation Company
11 Jordon Street
Skaneatles = Ph. 315-685-8500 OR 800-545-4318

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That concludes my vacation destination/sightseeing attraction ideas for today. I have 2 or more vacation suggestion post pages yet to add to this topic. Check back in the future to read about more ideas.

grdnrman

[galee]

Hi again,

Would you incude some tourist attractions in the Catskills? That's where my husband and I have a second home. One place that comes to mind is Bethel Woods Performing Arts Center. They've got a great line-up this summer and a museum that's a tribute to the 1960s.

Galee

[daydreamin71]

grdnrman, I like how you seem to be grouping attractions somewhat together by region, or at least along what would be a typical travel route through the area. Great help for those from out of state, and for those of us who live here, but have forgotten or tend to take it for granted (as I do sometimes).

[grdnrman]

My computer was running very slow when I wrote/entered page 3 of this post so I ran out of time to make corrections or delete any non-working Link Lines. I was not able to delete any non-working Link Lines once the editing time ran out. I'm sorry for any inconvenience. Below are the corrections.

Listed under CANANDAIGUA-NY>>>

Granger Homestead & Carriage Museum
(Opens for tour season June 1, 2012)
http://www.grangerhomestead.org/inde...sit/publictour

Victorian Homes & Buildings
www.city-data.com/picfilesc/picc48984.php

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Listed under SKANEATLES-NY>>>

Photos & Information:
http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/ph...language-en-US
(The village is located on the lake-edge at the north end of Skaneatles Lake, shown here hidden among the treed landscape at the bottom of the photo.

www.city-data.com/forum/17623230-post1.html

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