It is the unique goal of travel adventurers to visit all fifty states in America. To boost this objective, each week we shall explore one state. Alphabetically, the 32nd to visit is none other than New York, abbreviated NY. Regardless of the order in which you explore them, NY, The Empire State is most memorable!
Visit State # 32 – NY
| State Motto | Excelsior (Ever upward) |
| State Flower | Rose symbolism |
| State Bird | Eastern bluebird |
| State Gem | Garnet |
| State Capital | Albany |
| Famous Foods | NY pizza, bagels with lox, NY style cheesecake, lobster rolls, Manhattan clam chowder, pastrami on rye, eggs benedict, General Tso’s chicken, Manhattan cocktail, Thousand Island Dressing, Utica greens, and more. |
New York is known as the Empire State. It is situated in the northeastern USA, between the Canadian provinces of Québec and Ontario and Lake Ontario in the northwest, and the Atlantic coast in the southeast. The state also borders the US states of Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. The St. Lawrence River forms a section of the state’s border with Canada.
The Empire State contains the largest city in New York called “The Big Apple,” or New York City. It is also called “The City that Never Sleeps” due to its vibrant day and nighttime activity. The city is known for its amazing skyline, Broadway performances, famous art, music, and culture, ritzy hotels and restaurants, Central Park, the Statue of Liberty and more. However, the state is extremely diverse, boasting three major mountain ranges to include the Adirondack Mountains, the Catskill Mountains, and part of the Appalachian Mountains.
The Lenape, Mohicans, and Iroquois were native to New York State. The area was initially settled by the Dutch who surrendered the land to the British in 1664. The state was part of the original territory of the U.S. and included a larger area. Portions were sold to create New Jersey and title claims were ceded in 1682 to Delaware and Pennsylvania. New York became the 11th of the original 13 states to join the union in 1788. Though the native Americans helped to shape the culture, such as the Lenape who shared the land and traded with settlers, today few traces of their legacy remain.
Tourists to the state can experience a plethora of things to do, from seeking entertainment in its lively city boroughs like Manhattan to climbing dramatic mountain peaks up north. Whether you choose to sit by quiet streams, fish on rich rivers, swim in the ocean, or hike a rural trail, there is no time to be bored. New York’s Adirondack Mountains in northeastern Upstate New York are breathtaking. Popular destinations include Lake Placid, site of the 1980 Olympics, Tupper Lake, home of the Wild Walk, Saranac Lake, a world-famous health resort town and tourist destination featuring a restored 1920s hotel, and more. As part of its claim to fame, Adirondack Park covers an area larger in size than Yosemite, Yellowstone, Glacier, Grand Canyon, and the Great Smokies National Parks combined – and is the largest park in the lower 48 states. Visitors to the area are often attracted to outdoor recreation in the protected forest preserve. Hiking, boating, canoeing, fishing, swimming, kayaking, birding, nature watching, and camping are some of the many wonderful activities. Mountain climbers often take the challenge to climb Mount Marcy, towering 5,344 feet above sea level and home to Lake Tear of the Clouds, the highest lake in New York State.
The Catskill Mountains are in southeastern New York State, between Albany and New York City. The area is a mix of public and private land and is comprised of 700,000 acres of the Catskill Park. Because of the proximity to New York City, the Catskills draw many visitors. Some top attractions include Kaaterskill Falls, the highest cascading waterfall in New York and considered by the Native Americans as the resting place of the creator, Windham Mountain, a great ski resort featuring 285 skiable acres, The Thomas Cole National Historic Site, once called Cedar Grove and the former home of Hudson River School of Art Founder Thomas Cole, and more.
New York City is filled with fabulous things to do in and around Manhattan. Uptown, visit the Met Cloisters, and check out Central Park and the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine. In Midtown, dine at a Michelin starred restaurant, stroll through Times Square and Rockefeller Center, explore St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the New York Public Library, The Empire State Building, and more. Downtown, take a food tour of the Lower East Side, walk the High Line, tour the Chelsea Market, and visit the Tenement Museum and One World Observatory. These are just a sampling of the many exciting and educational things to do in the city.
Of course, a trip to New York state is not complete without a visit to Long Island. There, visitors can dig their toes into the sand and swim in top-rated beaches on the Atlantic Ocean. Coopers Beach, located in Southampton, offers white sandy beaches ideal for sunbathing with a backdrop of remarkable mansions. Or enjoy a long weekend in the Hamptons and surrounding area where folks can visit quaint towns, shop in boutiques, dine on fresh catch, or relax at beachfront accommodations where they’ll discover why people say I love New York.