New York State Trip: From Manhattan to Niagara Falls
♦ Routes (free): Detailed travel itineraries in USA
New York City serves as a starting point for many for visiting the famous Niagara Falls located on the border of New York State and Canada at a distance of about seven hours of driving (660 km) from Manhattan.
Between these two famous tourist sites are scattered many tourist sites including picturesque and peaceful towns, large cities rich with interesting museums, rivers, lakes, waterfalls, caves and as befits the USA also large-scale amusement parks. Everyone can find attractions to their liking. The visit to this route is especially recommended from late May until early September, when the weather in the area is pleasant and all tourist sites are open.
Recommended hotels in New York:
In central Manhattan:
San Carlos Hotel New York 4-star hotel with family suites, kitchenette, dining area, spacious rooms. Includes continental breakfast (kosher available). In the hotel vicinity there are additional kosher restaurants. Free internet.
3-star hotel, rooms for 2-6 guests, includes breakfast and free internet. Refrigerator, work desk. Located 5 minutes walk from the Empire State Building.
Hotel Belleclaire 4-star hotel, rooms and suites for 2-6 guests, located 3 blocks from Central Park. Free internet.
The New Yorker Hotel 4-star hotel, rooms and suites for 2-6 guests, located 2 minutes walk from Madison Square Garden. Free internet.
Renwick Hotel 4-star hotel belonging to the Curio collection of Hilton, rooms for 2-4 guests, located 3 minutes walk from Grand Central Station. In every room refrigerator, microwave, coffee kettle, desk writing, safe, free internet.
TRYP by Wyndham Times Square South 3-star hotel, rooms for family up to 8 people, located 5 minutes walk from Penn Station.
In South Manhattan near Wall Street and Ground Zero:
4-star hotel, suitable for 2-5 guests, full breakfast buffet included in the price, in the suites there is a kitchen, near Ground Zero, gym, free internet.
Hotel search on Booking in the Manhattan area map:
Booking.com
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In New York you can buy a combined ticket for several famous attractions at a discount:
CityPASS
- New York - 6 recommended attractions in one ticket.
Albany capital of New York state
When leaving Manhattan towards the north, the scenery changes rapidly from skyscrapers and busy streets to a green and peaceful valley where the Hudson River flows. The capital of New York state, Albany, the largest in the cities of the valley, is located at a distance of less than three hours drive (250 km) from Manhattan (on Highway number I-87) and it is highly desirable to dedicate to it at least a full day. The city was founded almost 400 years ago by Dutch fur traders and has a modern and impressive government structure center which constitutes a contrast to the picturesque surroundings of the Hudson river. The city is considered a cultural center and contains museums, theaters and historical buildings.
A giant complex of 11 government structures, conventions and culture named "Rockefeller Empire State Plaza". Governor Nelson Rockefeller Empire State Plaza dominates the skyline of the center city. The complex includes two rows of skyscrapers and between them a reflection pool. Exceptional in its structure is an oval building called "The Egg" which serves as a performance hall.
The sites most worthy of a visit in the complex are the Capitol building of New York state (where guided tours are conducted several times a day) and the New York state museum which contains diverse multimedia displays telling the history of New York state starting from the dinosaur era, through the days of the Indians and the development of the large metropolis in New York city, including stories of the immigration waves in the different periods. One of the most impressive displays is dedicated to the firefighters of the state of New York who lost their lives in the Twins disaster. The highest building in the complex is called "Corning Tower". It is recommended to go up to its observation terrace and overlook the city and its surroundings. In this building is also found the recommended visitor center of the city as well as an impressive art collection.
An experiential way to tour in Albany is by an amphibious bus having a shape that evokes a giggle called "The Duck" Albany Aqua Ducks . Half of the tour is driving on the roads of the historical city, between the important buildings and for the rest of the time the bus turns into a boat sailing peacefully in the river waters.
♦ Recommended hotels in Albany
Staybridge Suites Albany Wolf Rd-Colonie Center, an IHG Hotel
2-star suite hotel also suitable for families, in some of the suites there is a kitchenette. Close to the airport, free shuttle to the airport.
Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Albany Airport
3-star hotel with rooms and suites, also suitable for families. Close to the airport with free shuttle service to the field during the day. Indoor pool, gym. Free parking, free internet (cables).
Courtyard by Marriott Albany Airport
3-star hotel, also suitable for families, free internet and parking. Close to the Albany airport.
4-star hotel close to the city center, the hotel in a special 19th century building which was elegantly renovated and located in the historical district of the city. There are also rooms with a kitchen or kitchenette. Parking (near the hotel, for a fee, reservation required). Free internet.
♦ Car rental from the reliable and convenient Booking site: Booking.com
"Howe" stalactite caves
At a distance of 45 minutes drive west from Albany (65 km), on highway number I-90 and afterwards I-88, are located the "Howe" stalactite caves Howe Caverns which were discovered already in the year 1842 by a local farmer named Lester who noticed that during summer days instead of seeking shelter in the shade, his cows rest regularly at the edge of the field. When he went to check what the reason was he discovered a hole in the ground from which a cool breeze blows. When he entered carefully into the hole he was amazed to see a giant cave containing labyrinths full of magnificent stalactites and stalagmites and an underground river flowing in it. In the cave are conducted guided tours of 80 minutes starting with a descent in an elevator to a depth of about 60 meters under ground afterwards walking on a brick path following the underground river between beautiful stalagmites and stalactites. The tour ends with sailing in the underground "Venus" lake. The cave is open to visitors in every day of the year and the temperature in it is constant: 12 degrees Celsius. In one of the underground halls called: "Bridal Altar" are conducted every year many weddings. In the cave is also conducted an action tour including climbing and crawling in an underground passage inside the caves.
Soccer museums and cars in the towns along the way
Continue west on highway I-88 until the town Oneonta where "The Soccer Hall of Fame" is located The National Soccer Hall of Fame . For the car lovers it is recommended to stray from the main travel path and drive about an hour on road number 23 to visit the town Norwich where the classic car museum is located Northeast Classic Car Museum , where 125 antique cars are displayed, some of them rare and most prestigious (in the museum the largest display in the world of Lincoln cars).
Finger Lakes and Ithaca
A drive of about two more hours westward will lead you to the beautiful university town Ithaca ,where the prestigious Cornell University resides. Ithaca sits at the lower end of Cayuga Lake, the longest of all 11 Finger Lakes. These narrow and long lakes stretching north to south were created following the retreat of glaciers in the last ice age. Ithaca constitutes a wonderful starting point for trips in the Finger Lakes which are a paradise for nature and active recreation lovers. It is recommended to visit in the beautiful Cornell University. In the university recommended botanical gardens: Cornell Plantations.
The entire area is rich with nature parks where there are many hiking trails, bicycle paths, rivers, waterfalls and water sports of all types. Already in the suburbs of Ithaca it is possible to see waterfalls and tour in charming parks.
The waterfall highest in the area, Taughannock falls Taughannock Falls, whose height is about 65 meters, is located at a distance of about 15 km only north of the town. The waterfall is in a state park by the same name, and is reached on a path of one kilometer length passing inside a ravine which on both of its sides are cliffs at a height of over 100 meters. The state park most popular in the area is called "Watkins Glen" Watkins Glen State Park and it is located at the southern end of the neighboring Seneca lake (west to Ithaca). In the park wonderful hiking trails along a stream bed inside a canyon reaching beautiful waterfalls.
In the park 19 different waterfalls, where the beautiful of all is "Rainbow Waterfall". The Finger Lakes area is also considered the best area in the state for growing vineyards. There are in the area over 65 vineyards where you can tour and taste their wines. Actually, "The Cayuga Wine Trail" CAYUGA WINE TRAIL starts in Ithaca and passes in a scenic route between many wineries along the western shore of the lake. In Ithaca itself several recommended wineries. A popular and recommended winery is:
Six Mile Creek Vineyard .
Other favorite family attractions in Ithaca are:
Alpaca farm Indian Chimney Farm
and the Museum of the Universe Museum of the Earth .
♦ Recommended residency for families in the Finger Lakes:
In the university city Ithaca there is a wealth of accommodation options. The most recommended for families are:
The Homewood Suites by Hilton Ithaca A high quality suite hotel of the Hilton chain
Country Inn & Suites Ithaca A cheaper and recommended suite hotel
Courtyard Ithaca A hotel of the Marriott chain where also regular rooms and also suites suitable for residency of up to 6 people.
Search for additional hotels from Booking in the Finger Lakes area:
Booking.comCorning
South to the Finger Lakes resides the city Corning famous mainly thanks to its glass factories producing from tableware, through artistic items, optical fibers and even windows for spaceships. In the place is a glass museum The Corning Museum of Glass which contains a collection of glass art objects from 35 countries considered among the largest in the world. In the museum an interactive display on technologies and the inventions related to working with glass. Likewise displayed in the place demonstrations of glass blowing. In the city also a recommended art museum The Rockwell Museum of Western Art displaying art works describing the "Wild West" period.
Rochester
From Corning it is worthwhile to head north to the city Rochester residing on the shore of Lake Ontario. Rochester, nicknamed "The City of Flowers" became famous thanks to George Eastman who established in it the Kodak company factories. Therefore there is no wonder that the Eastman house George Eastman House is one of the main attractions in the city. This is an estate of 50 rooms surrounded by gardens and in it is located the international museum for photography and movies. In the museum an impressive collection of cameras, photographs of well-known artists, movies and photography books.
In the city two additional recommended museums:
"Rochester Museum and the Science Center" Rochester Museum & Science Center where exhibitions on science and technology innovations are displayed and in contrast exhibitions on the culture and tradition of the residents of the area throughout their generations from the Indians from the Seneca tribe who lived in the area and until the Europeans who arrived to the state.
Additional museum suitable especially for families with children small is the Strong museum for games Strong National Museum of Play. A children museum basing itself mainly on the children program the popular "Sesame Street". In the museum the children experience filming a television program with the charming characters and in many additional interactive experiences. Likewise in the museum collections of dolls, doll houses and miniatures.
The city is rich with additional family attractions such as an amusement park and a water park neighboring to it Seabreeze Park/ Raging River Water Park in which besides roller coasters, amusement facilities and water slides also live shows.
Darien Lake amusement park
Roller coaster lovers will not give up on a visit to the amusement park Darien Lake (belonged in the past to the "Six Flags" chain famous for sophisticated and impressive roller coasters, but changed owners in the recent years). The park includes in addition to amusement facilities also a water park as well as recommended shows. The park is located in the town Darien Center on the way to Niagara Falls at a distance of about an hour drive west from Rochester.
At a distance of less than an hour drive westward from the world of amusements awaits you one of the most impressive nature phenomena in the world: Niagara Falls which are the final destination of the trip on which you could read in the articles:
The Mighty Niagara Falls New Attractions in Niagara Falls
♦ Recommended Hotels for families in Niagara Falls on the Canadian side:
The most recommended hotel for family residency, between the many attractions in Niagara with a wonderful view to the falls is:
Embassy Suites Niagara Falls - Fallsview This is a suite hotel with apartments intended for spacious residency of up to 6 people.
Nearby, additional hotel with family suites overlooking the falls is: Hilton Hotel and Suites Niagara Falls/Fallsview
A cheaper suite hotel at a short walking distance is: Days Inn & Suites - Niagara Falls, Center St., By the Fall
An even cheaper suite hotel at a distance of 10 minutes drive from the falls, Blue Moon Motel: Blue Moon Motel In the hotel family suites consisting of two bedrooms and a living room suitable for residency of up to 6 people.
Recommended Hotels in Niagara Falls on the American side
3-star hotel in a location close to the falls and to the attractions in their vicinity. Suitable also for families. There is parking, free wi-fi, gym fitness.
3-star hotel located about one kilometer from the falls, suitable also for families. Indoor pool, free parking, free wi-fi, gym.
Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino
Resort with a 4-star casino located near the falls, rooms for 2-4 guests, indoor pool, jacuzzi, gym, restaurants, parking and free internet.
5-star hotel located near the falls. Also suitable for families. There is parking for an extra fee, free wi-fi free.
Recommended hotels near the airport of Buffalo/Niagara
Homewood Suites by Hilton Buffalo/Airport
3-star suite hotel with kitchen, breakfast buffet included, suitable also for families, free shuttle to the airport. Indoor pool, gym fitness, internet and free parking.
Tru By Hilton Williamsville Buffalo Airport
3-star hotel, heated indoor pool, rooms also suitable for families, free shuttle to the airport. Internet and free parking.
Hampton Inn Buffalo-Williamsville
3-star hotel suitable also for families, breakfast included, pool indoor, gym, internet and free parking.
Search for additional hotels in Booking in the area:
Booking.com
