If there is one thing that New York State is not short of, it's culture and heritage. Every region boasts museums and cultural and historical sites in abundance.
After you have explored some of the many museums in NYC, head up through the Historic Hudson Valley to see many historic sites, landscapes, buildings and collections. Less than 2 hours outside of NYC visit historical homes, from the palatial Vanderbilt Mansion to Springwood, the former home of Franklin D. Roosevelt.
The Catskills Region is home to the famous village of Woodstock, and to celebrate the world famous festival’s 40th Anniversary, the Woodstock Museum is now open. It's just 2 hours from NYC.
Rochester, the gateway to the Finger Lakes Region and a cultural hub of Upstate New York, is home to the George Eastman House, the world’s foremost museum of photography
The Erie Canal Way, stretching 839 km., this man-made waterway drove the growth of New York’s industry, connecting Lake Erie to the Hudson River, north to Lake Champlain and ultimately, south to New York City. All along the canal, communities prospered as trade flourished. In 2000, the U.S. government declared the canal way a National Heritage Corridor, signifying the important role it played in changing the landscape of the country and shaping its history. Today, miles of hiking and biking trails follow the canal route, as well as boating and kayaking opportunities for water lovers.
The Capital-Saratoga region is rich in cultural heritage and famous for historic battlefields. The State Capitol Building and the New York State Museum in Albany are also well worth a visit.
Along with its magnificent waterfalls, the Greater Niagara region is famous for Old Fort Niagara, a National Historic Landmark that welcomes more than 100,000 visitors every year. It offers a unique collection of original military architecture and fortifications from the 18th Century and the 19th Century, as well as living history demonstrations and exhibits and collections.
