From the shores of Lake Ontario and the Thousand Islands on the Canadian border, down through the Finger Lakes and the Catskills, and out to the tip of Long Island, New York State has something to suit every kind of traveler.
These delights don’t always come cheap, though, and it’s not hard to approach the outer limits of your budget as you visit New York’s wineries, enjoy its fine dining and take in its world-class arts venues. Yet, with a little planning – and some insider tips – it’s not hard to economize while enjoying the best of the Empire State.
Below are our top tips for exploring New York State on a budget.
The bus is the cheapest way to get around New York State
New York is a bigger state than you think. And though Amtrak trains head north from New York City toward the Adirondacks and west to Buffalo, bus service offers the best deal for distance travel within the state. If you purchase your ticket in advance from a bus company such as NY Trailways, Megabus or Greyhound, you can get between most two points for around $30. Experiencing the luxury of the Hamptons will run you a bit more, with fares on the Hampton Jitney running $40 each way if you buy online in advance.
If you want to start exploring the state without hitting its biggest city, consider flying into an airport on the fringe of the New York City metropolitan area. New York Stewart Airport (SWF), west of Newburgh in the Hudson Valley, is served by ultra-low-cost carrier Allegiant Air, while Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP) offers low-cost connections from Frontier, Southwest and Breeze Airways.
A multilane freeway, the New York State Thruway runs from Westchester County to the Pennsylvania border on Lake Erie – and it’s hard to drive anywhere within New York State without joining it for at least a bit. It’s a toll road for its entire 500-mile length, with all fees cashless, so if you drive be sure to rent a vehicle with an E-ZPass transponder to pay all applicable tolls without exorbitant surcharges from your rental car company. If you’re visiting from another place with the EZ-Pass program, pack your tags with you: the system is compatible across 16 states on the East Coast and in the Midwest.
New York’s fabulous state parks – which encompass 350,000 acres across 215 sites – are among its most popular attractions for good reason. To fund their preservation and operations, many charge for parking. If you’re planning on hitting up as many as you can – from Niagara Falls to Orient Beach – consider the Empire Pass, which provides unlimited parking at state parks for a full season. (A full-season 2023 pass costs $80; check back early in the year for 2024 rates.)
Excellent art museums and sites abound all over New York State – and if you
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New York is one of 23 states where recreational marijuana is now legal. Travelers aged 21 and older may possess up to three ounces of cannabis (24 grams of concentrated cannabis) and consumption is permitted in most public spaces where smoking and vaping are allowed. Limitations still apply and you might feel more comfortable saving your dispensary haul for the end of the day – nodding off on the subway isn’t going to do you any favors. Get a bite of the Big Apple high life and revel in some post-hike hashish at these cannabis-friendly Airbnbs in New York State.
As a flock of noisy jet skiers circle the Statue of Liberty on a warm October evening, Matthew Rhys looks out at the horizon. “There’s a Welsh word, hiraeth, which is loosely translated to ‘a longing for home,’" he says. “But it's something slightly more than that. It's a longing for something that can never be again.”
My family of four has been to the Legoland New York theme park for day trips, but we'd never stayed on the property before since it's only a 90-minute drive from my home in New York City.
New York City may lure travelers with its gleaming lights and non-stop excitement, but step outside the five boroughs and a more relaxed agenda awaits in the Empire State.
The head of Airbnb, the world's largest vacation rental platform, issued a warning to travelers considering a trip to New York City over the next year.
A-list stars including Olivia Ponton, Martha Stewart, and Kate Bock attribute their stunning complexions to NYC based dermatologist Dr. Dhaval Bhanusali. His non-celebrity patients, meanwhile, fly into town from all over the world for the sole purpose of an appointment with him and to experience his newest innovation: Aesthetica Skin Lab - at his Hudson Dermatology and Laser Surgery practice.
In earlier eras, notables such as Theodore Roosevelt, Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, Thoreau, Emerson, Sinclair Lewis held court on the grounds of Troutbeck, a private estate since the 1700s in the eastern stretch of the Hudson Valley. These days, since reopening as a resort in 2017, the property is still a cultural gathering place on its 250 acre, Lower Berkshires spread but now the guests are mostly serenity seeking New Yorkers up from the city a two hour drive or train ride away. (Out of staters also fly into Stewart International Airport an hour away). And there are new additions and others in the works to attract them all.
The Danish chef Mads Refslund first began working on Ilis, his new restaurant in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, in 2016. After years of high-profile jobs at places like Manhattan’s Acme and Shou Sugi Ban House in the Hamptons, Refslund, a co-founder of Noma, wanted a permanent space where he could create an immersive culinary experience. The open kitchen, and its live fire grill, is at the center of the 4,800-square foot room on Green Street. The space has 17-foot ceilings with wooden beams and exposed brick walls; custom rosewood tables and leather banquettes frame the perimeter (though a few counter seats provide the best vantage of a meal coming together). “This is about transparency,” Refslund says. The name Ilis is a portmanteau of sorts, with meaning “fire” in Danish and meaning “ice.” It’s a nod to the dichotomous spirit of the restaurant — serious cooking with laid-back dinner party vibes. The menu allows guests to choose from a selection of primary ingredients, say New England scallops or Pennsylvania wild duck, and, in some cases, style of preparation (raw or grilled, for example). The seasonal cuisine is informed by Refslund’s Scandinavian upbringing, as well as his travels to Japan and Mexico City. But, the chef says, “hopefully, it will just become a New York restaurant,” a reflection of the city he now calls home.
Born in California, Alex Brightman is a two-time Tony nominee and writer living in New York City. He loves watching baseball and basketball when he's not on stage. Right now you can see him as Richard Dreyfuss in “The Shark is Broken” on Broadway.
Skift Global Forum is the most anticipated event for the travel industry insiders and travel enthusiasts alike. It’s half thought leadership conference, half essential networking opportunity, and all around way to connect with the ideas and people who are defining the future of travel.