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Adrenaline Pumping Fun

Land Adventures

Sometimes you just have to go wild. New York makes it easy for you to trade the excitement of city life for unforgettable outdoor experiences. You won't find much asphalt in the state's parks and natural preserves, so take off the dress shoes and lace up your hiking boots. Thousands of miles of hiking trails are yours to explore.

If you want to stay longer in nature, you can. Go camping or park your RV, and spend nights lit only by a campfire and the parade of stars above you. New York is home to over 8,000 campsites where you can breathe fresh air, surround yourself with nature and really, really get away from the office.

Take your pick of things you can do. Go rockclimbing and hang off cliffs like those at the famous Shawungunk Mountains. Put some air in your tires and go mountain biking on challenging trails or leisurely take in the views with a biking tour of the countryside. Rev up your engines for an exciting ride through endless ATV trails.

Golfers will find many reasons to love New York Enjoy beautiful views of nature while golfing at scenic courses throughout the state. There are over 800 to choose from. You can tee it up at all kinds of courses, from challenging ones that have hosted U.S. Opens and PGA Tour Championships to holes where you won't have to take so many mulligans.

Water Adventures

Water, water, everywhere. New York has over 6,713 natural bodies of water, more than 70,000 miles of rivers and streams, and 9,767 miles of shoreline. In one state, you can choose from the Atlantic Ocean, the Great Lakes, major rivers like the Niagara and St. Lawrence, as well as peaceful, calming bodies of water like Lake George, and smaller streams and creeks.

Water-loving personalities won't be at a loss for beaches and swimming here. Get sandy feet at world-class beaches on Long Island or on the shores of several freshwater lakes all over the state. Choose from picture-perfect beach towns to seaside playgrounds where parties don't stop until dawn.

Those who prefer paddles have many options to perfect their skills. You'll find so many places to go canoeing and kayaking, from historic waterways to little-explored branches of mighty rivers. You can also go whitewater rafting and brave rapids of any category or skill level, If you like motor boating, New York's lakes, rivers and oceans are yours to explore.

And because there are so many bodies of waters in the state, anglers won't have to go far to cast their line. Fishing's popular in New York. Go fly fishing for trout in a clear mountain stream, or get on a charter boat and catch some really big trophy fish in Long Island Sound.

Put your swimwear on and head for...

		NIAGARA FALLS Region: Greater Niagara Experience the roar of the majestic Niagara Falls, which has captivated generations upon generations. 3,160 tons of water fall over the falls every second, carving a rocky gorge connecting Lake Erie with Lake Ontario. Take a ride on the Maid of the Mist to get up close and personal with the falls. To get an even closer look, tour the Cave of the Winds to go “behind the scenes.” At night, you can enjoy fine dining at the Top of the Falls restaurant, offering some of the best views of the falls. A short ride north of Niagara Falls is the town of Lewiston, home to the Whirlpool Jet Boat Ride. Open: Year-round www.niagarafallsstatepark.com

		SENECA LAKE STATE PARK Region: Finger Lakes Like giant fingerprints of Ice Age glaciers, the Finger Lakes span across Central New York. Water and its works are the attractions and State Parks are jewels on the fingers. Eleven parks feature gorges with waterfalls. Seneca Lake State Park offers camping, picnicking, boating, fishing, bird watching and swimming. Open: Year-round

		SEAWAY TRAIL Region: Thousand Islands - Seaway The New York State Seaway Trail is a 726 km scenic route paralleling the St. Lawrence River, Lake Ontario, the Niagara River and Lake Erie. Drive or bike along the trail to discover unique cities, quaint villages, fishing ports, and many family-friendly attractions, restaurants, and shops. In the winter, enjoy ice-fishing or snow kite skiing. www.seawaytrail.com

		JONES BEACH Region: Long Island Escape the heat of New York City at this popular beach, complete with over 10 km of swimming beaches, a surf-fishing area, and a 3.2 km boardwalk. The park also has two swimming pools and is the location for the Theodore Roosevelt Nature Center, which includes environmental displays about the seashore, educational tours and programming for all ages. Open: Year-round