Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I've never been to Indian Lake or Tupper Lake. They are on my list for sure. Loon Lake also I've heard is beautiful. I definitely plan to start introducing my wife to the Adirondacks soon as that's the only part of the state that would convince me to stay here for retirement.
I absolutely love the Adirondacks. People think I'm crazy when I say this, especially due to my political leanings, but having lived in Colorado and spent extensive time all over the west/Midwest, Upstate NY is to me the most beautiful part of our country.
Funny that you mentioned Colorado because when I did the google images of Saranac and there were pics where the mountains in the background were snow covered I said to myself "their little downtown area with the snow-covered mountain backdrop looks similar to some of the small mountain towns in Colorado like Steamboat Springs", although the Rockies are much higher than the Adirondack mountains. I visit Colorado somewhat often too. Back to NY, from certain angles and in certains places, the Adirondacks mountains are pretty high and in other places they look like big hills. I usually only go upstate during the summer. I don't like cold weather and try to avoid going in the winter. I used to think like you saying upstate NY is the most beautiful part of the country. Then one day I had to go to PA. After that, I had to repent and ask for forgiveness.
My tops for the most beautiful areas in the country on the EAST COAST:
#1 Pennsylvania aka Pennsyltucky (yes upstate NY is beautiful until you go thru rural PA mountainous areas - beats NY)
#2 NY state
WEST/SOUTHWEST:
#1 Colorado
#2 New Mexico
The other areas of the country have some nice looking places but none compare IMO to what I've listed. I left out the Pacific NW because it's been so long since I've been that I don't remember much anymore.
CA isn't counted because traffic is terrible, especially in southern CA and the cost-of-living is way too high in northern CA which I hold against THEM and why I won't mention San Francisco as being near the top of my most beautiful places in the country list.
I've never been to Indian Lake or Tupper Lake. They are on my list for sure. Loon Lake also I've heard is beautiful. I definitely plan to start introducing my wife to the Adirondacks soon as that's the only part of the state that would convince me to stay here for retirement.
I absolutely love the Adirondacks. People think I'm crazy when I say this, especially due to my political leanings, but having lived in Colorado and spent extensive time all over the west/Midwest, Upstate NY is to me the most beautiful part of our country.
I wouldn't love to live there but I love visiting.
We try camping at a different lake every time we go up there when we can. So many great lakes.
I do agree with you about Vermont. True, it is like NIGHT and DAY crossing the bridge (the way we went to Vermont) from NY-VT. Vermont is very green both in nature and regarding recycling/concern for the environment, very clean, very intelligent progressive people, and it just has a refreshing energy that I don't pick up in other states not even MA can hold a candle to Vermont.
Well that's what you get when you have a state the size of a large county and only three times the population of Yonkers. And two whole senators to represent it.
Thankfully, I don't go to school upstate! I go upstate to enjoy the peace/scenery/beauty/tranquility/fresh air/etc... Thankfully, I also just visit, lol.
One other thing....
....when I was younger, I didn't appreciate upstate as much as I do now that I'm older (and wiser ). I suppose if you are young and from the city....upstate and the woods and mountains might be too 'boring' and not as 'lively' as city living. Since I've lived in the city the majority of my life....I tend to favor peaceful and tranquil areas over the crowded and busy streets.
Visiting is definitely different than living here year round lol. I suppose it's a nice enough place for a weekend getaway, but to live here there are a lot of disadvantages
Honestly I spent sometime in South America, and after seeing all the beautiful nature there, the nature here in the Northeast US lost its luster. The hills are nice and all, but they don't compare with the snow-capped Andes. I got spoiled by South America lol
Visiting is definitely different than living here year round lol. I suppose it's a nice enough place for a weekend getaway, but to live here there are a lot of disadvantages
Honestly I spent sometime in South America, and after seeing all the beautiful nature there, the nature here in the Northeast US lost its luster. The hills are nice and all, but they don't compare with the snow-capped Andes. I got spoiled by South America lol
Wow, sounds nice! I suppose I should get out of NY (the states) more often huh, lol!
Wow, sounds nice! I suppose I should get out of NY (the states) more often huh, lol!
Lol you really should! The good part about South America is that once you pay the plane ticket, you can stay there really cheaply. I assume you are out of the age range of hostels, but even if you stay at hotels it is still going to be very affordable. You can very easily stay in Peru or Colombia for under $50 a day (I traveled on a budget so I did it below $20). In NYC $50 is not even enough to cover half of the hotel room for one night
Upstate NY is absolutely beautiful, and the people have a pioneer type way about them, very independent. I am from downstate, live in Texas, but own a farm in Sullivan County. The people there have helped with anything, any way that they can. Contractors tell me not to pay them until my summer rental season kicks in. There is a very rural and old-fashioned help-your-neighbor atmosphere. When a child wandered off into the woods one summer, my guests called 911, and there were dozens of volunteers all over the property in 10 minutes. Found the child. I can't say enough about the locals. The people who have summer weekend homes are plentiful, but they don't share the local attitude. They don't want any development for fear of hurting their mountain playground. (Upstate wanted to secede from the rest of NY, as the politics and attitude are completely different.) Because so many people struggle financially, I wish some businesses would move up to Sullivan county, as we need the tax relief. The governor doesn't help.
It is a lovely, addictive place. Great restaurants, beer gardens, hiking trails, fly fishing, vodka tasting and distillery.
(yes!) And Bethel Woods has fantastic concerts. I just hope that the casino brings some dollars in.
Lol you really should! The good part about South America is that once you pay the plane ticket, you can stay there really cheaply. I assume you are out of the age range of hostels, but even if you stay at hotels it is still going to be very affordable. You can very easily stay in Peru or Colombia for under $50 a day (I traveled on a budget so I did it below $20). In NYC $50 is not even enough to cover half of the hotel room for one night
Much of my heritage is South American. I too get spioled from visiting South America. Keiteur waterfalls in Guyana s far more breath taking than Niagara Falls upstate.
Every governor for the past two decades or so keeps talking about "bringing upstate NY back"; so far nothing really has taken hold in a major way. There have been some successes, but by and large the area continues to depopulate compared to downstate.
The Rochester metro has gained population every census going back as far as I can remember. Now 1.1 million. Most of the other larger metros have stabilized. I enjoy going to NYC. It's an amazing city, but we've got it pretty good upstate too, in a more manageable size.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Funny you mentioned it
). I suppose if you are young and from the city....upstate and the woods and mountains might be too 'boring' and not as 'lively' as city living. Since I've lived in the city the majority of my life....I tend to favor peaceful and tranquil areas over the crowded and busy streets.
