Family Fun

Liberty Ridge Farm is the Capital Region's premier agritourist destination, capped by its labyrinth of 13-foot-high cornstalks. Enjoy a whole day at the farm with activities for tots, teenagers and adults.

At the family-owned Goold Orchard in Castleton, you can get fresh baked goods and sweet apple cider. The annual Apple Festival on Columbus Day weekend offers 100 juried crafters, music and activities.

In 1842, farmer Lester Howe found cool air blowing up from a hole in the ground in his field. Today you can tour his discovery, Howe Caverns. See this 10-million-year-old cave and ride a boat on an underground lake.

Come to the Iroquois Indian Museum to see a large collection of contemporary Iroquois art and craftwork, major archeological collections, and Iroquois arts performances.

Farms & Culinary

Take a trip along New York's Agritourism Trail and visit the many small farms of this area. Visit with those who produce your food and sample the fruits and results of their labor.

Indian Ladder Farms is a fourth-generation farm just fifteen miles from Albany. A working farm with goods from more than 60 locally produced suppliers, it's also right by the Indian Ladder Trail, which offers a beautiful hike with views of autumn colors.

Set on a former hop farm not far from Cooperstown is the traditional Belgian farmhouse Brewery Ommegang. With five award-winning Belgian-style ales, daily tours and tastings and special events.

You may not know it, but some of the best artisan cheeses you've ever tasted are made right here in New York — many of them at fine dairy farms in the rich agricultural lands of the Central NY/Capital regions. Find out which Artisan Cheesemakers are near your destination and plan a stop for your trip.

Events & Escapes

Built in 1856, the Fly Creek Cider Mill is a water-powered cider mill and farm winery with tours, samples and a restaurant and bakery on premises. The Fly Creek Cider Festival (October 6-7) celebrates autumn's most flavorful beverage at the peak of Upstate's spectacular fall foliage.

Ride into history on the 1869 Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley Railroad as it takes you through a variety of landscapes, including forests, wetlands and agricultural land. And at the beautifully restored Milford Depot, you can view a variety of railroad exhibits and displays.

Saratoga Spa State Park, listed as a national historic landmark, is noted for its diverse cultural, aesthetic and recreational resources, including the nationally-known Saratoga Performing Arts Center, the National Museum of Dance, the Saratoga Automobile Museum, the Gideon Putnam Resort and Spa and the Lincoln mineral baths.

Take a scenic drive along US Route 20 for the Madison Bouckville Antique Fall Flea Market (Oct 6 & Nov 6). Browse dealers from around the Northeast and look for great pre-holiday deals.

Seasonal events in New York State.

Nature & Outdoor Activities

John Boyd Thatcher State Park sits along the Helderberg Escarpment, a rich fossil-bearing formation. Visitors can enjoy a spectacular panorama of the Hudson and Mohawk valleys and the Adirondack and Green mountains.

The Long Path is a foot trail, now wonderfully preserved, from the George Washington Bridge all the way to the Mohawk River on its way to the Adirondacks. Come and take one of the most glorious hikes New York State has to offer.

Come to the Landis Arboretum. These nonprofit public gardens sit on 548-acres of natural scenic splendor that encompasses two Old Growth forests, four ponds, and 40-acres of cultivated and native plants. Tour the forests and take fascinating courses on natural history, botany and horticulture.

Culture & Heritage

Visit the New York State Museum, for both national touring exhibitions and its exciting permanent collection exploring New York's natural and human heritage. Also, see the Empire State Plaza and State Capitol, both located right next door.

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown is probably the best-known sports shrine in the world, housing an amazing collection of exhibits and artifacts from the National Pastime.

At The Farmers' Museum, every visit is a new adventure. Marvel over the history of ice cream; cross the Creamery Green where the Empire State Carousel swirls joyously; linger among the authentic architecture of a 1840s village; or hurry on to milk the cow at the Lippitt Farmstead.

The Erie Canal Village is an outdoor, living-history museum at the starting point of the original Erie Canal. Take our mule-drawn packet boat on a section of the enlarged canal for a taste of early 19th century water travel.

The Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute is a regional fine-arts center serving diverse audiences. Check online for current schedules.

The Fenimore Museum is one of the nation's premier art institutions, home to an exceptionally rich collection of American folk art and American Indian art, as well as important holdings in American decorative arts, photography, and 20th century art.