I've lived in New York for more than a decade, and during a recent visit to Japan, I saw three major differences in how public spaces are utilized to the best of their potential in Tokyo.
21.09.2023 - 09:23 / lonelyplanet.com
Manhattan’s concrete jungle may get New York’s marquee treatment, but the state’s natural beauty lies outside of the five boroughs.
Many regions of the Empire State have picturesque natural wonders, ideal for stunning and memorable hikes.
Whether it’s pathways around famous bodies of water, like the 11 Finger Lakes or the 2173-acre Lake Placid, or through some of the most notable peaks, like the Adirondacks in the northeast and Catskills in the southeast, the state's trails offer everything from gorgeous waterfalls to dramatic gorges and beautiful scenery every step in between, stretching from Long Island’s east end to the Niagara region in the northwest.
Here are the ten best hikes that New York State has to offer, including family-friendly paths and thrilling uphill climbs.
Best hike for shore views
5 miles round trip, 2 hours, easy
Though people tend to visit Montauk Point State Park for the Lighthouse, the hiking trails are wonderful and worth sticking around for. Follow the path to hike down the large rocks by the water on the tip of South Shore to get some beautiful views of the lighthouse, or choose to explore one of the 11 hiking trails that traverse both Montauk Point State Park and the adjacent Camp Hero Military Area State Park.
One of our favorites is the Oyster Pond Trail, which traces the shore northward along Block Island Sound to Oyster Pond. Afterward, grab some tasty treats at Loaves & Fishes to bring down to the water for a picnic.
Best hike for seeing a unique natural phenomenon
1.1 miles round trip, 1 hour, moderate
Chestnut Ridge Park in western New York’s village of Orchard Park is known for its tobogganing and sledding hills in the winter and amazing hiking in the summer. The hike to Eternal Flame Falls leads up to a 30ft waterfall with a natural gas leak where you can see a little flame roaring behind the waterfall. Bring a lighter – even though it’s called the eternal flame, it does go out from time to time.
The hike is fairly short, but it's moderately challenging – stay alert because it does get a little steep at certain sections. Keep back from the ravine and waterfalls, and if it’s been raining or snowing, be careful and take your time – it can get slippery.
Best hike for gorge views
1.9 miles round trip, 1 hour, easy
"Ithaca is gorges," as the saying goes and this place lives up to the hype. These steep rocky valleys and the water that carved them have resulted in the area becoming something of a hub for hiking enthusiasts, from Buttermilk Falls to Ithaca Falls. One of the best-known cascades, Taughannock Falls, plunges 215ft and attracts visitors year round.
The popular Gorge Trail – which offers a cell phone tour – goes from the parking lot behind the park office along
I've lived in New York for more than a decade, and during a recent visit to Japan, I saw three major differences in how public spaces are utilized to the best of their potential in Tokyo.
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.”
Breeze Airways is adding a new route from Long Island, New York.
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.
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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.
What are the friendliest places in America? The self-storage company Neighbor.com has just released its fourth annual list of America’s 25 Most Neighborly Cities, in honor of National Neighbor Day. The 2023 study ranks U.S. cities based on factors like charitable donations, volunteering, crime rates and more.
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.
“Fire Island is a very special place, especially for queer people,” Jimi Urquiaga, a.k.a. Missleidy Rodriguez, told me. While that might seem like a statement of the obvious, Urquiaga has experienced the island from an atypical vantage point: for the past two summers, they've been packing up their life in New York City as a costume designer, producer, creative director and drag queen to come work at the Pines’ plant shop, CAMP. Urquiaga called me on their break, sitting behind a desk at the plant shop, with a view overlooking the bay. “So that’s the fantasy,” they said with a laugh after describing their surroundings.
In my latest column where I profile creatives and highlight their travel style, I had the pleasure of interviewing Yulia Ziskel, who is a violinist for the New York Philharmonic and has been a member of the first violin section since 2001.