NEWSLETTER
Whether you’re looking to shake off the winter blues, relax after the holidays, or kick off your wellness journey in the new year, one thing is for sure, a New York State winter getaway is better with friends. From culinary adventures in Canandaigua to a seaside spa escape in Montauk, all that’s left is to text the group chat and decide which New York winter gem you’ll conquer first.
Explore This Article:
- Enjoy Olympic Adventures & Luxury Lodging in Lake Placid
- Winter Wonders and Casino Nights in Niagara Falls
- Bond Over Culinary Delights in Canandaigua
- Seal Walks and Spa Days in Montauk
- Chow Down and Chill Out in Saratoga Springs
- Baseball and Brews in Cooperstown
- Ice Fishing and Outdoor Adventures in Wellesley Island
- Ultimate Museum, Food, and Holiday Lights Crawl in Manhattan
- Laughs, Libations, and (Ski) Lifts in Western New York
- Reconnect on an All-Inclusive Retreat in Neversink
- A Stylish and Sophisticated Escape in Hudson
Enjoy Olympic Adventures & Luxury Lodging in Lake Placid (Adirondacks)
Stay: With its wealth of on-site amenities including a bowling alley, movie theater, ice skating rink, spa, upscale restaurant, heated outdoor pool and hot tubs, plus spacious one-three bedroom suites, the rustic chic Whiteface Lodge Resort & Spa has all you need to keep you and your crew happy.
Do: If you and your friends can’t get enough of the outdoors, the two-time Olympic host city of Lake Placid is just your spot. Spend your days on the slopes skiing or snowboarding at Whiteface or Gore mountains, skating the Olympic Oval, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in Mt. Van Hoevenberg, and taking a skyride up to jaw-dropping views from the top of the Olympic Jumping Complex.
Dip indoors to explore the Lake Placid Olympic Museum or get the group together for an afternoon candle-making class at Pure Placid. Evenings are made for s’mores, wine, and chats by the campfire or chilling out at local breweries like Lake Placid Pub and Brewery and Big Slide Brewery & Public House. Take your trip to the next level when you plan your visit around Lake Placid’s most exciting winter sporting events, Adirondack Winter Pride weekend, and monthlong Winter Olympic Celebration featuring special exhibits, experiences, and viewing parties to cheer on Team USA during the Milano Cortina 2026 Games.
Winter Wonders and Casino Nights in Niagara Falls (Greater Niagara)
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Stay: The AAA Four Diamond award-winning Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino is the perfect indoor escape, day and night, with world-class gaming, dining, boutique shopping, a spa, and nightlife with live bands and DJs, plus 604 deluxe rooms and spectacular views.
Do: For a destination that’s as iconic as you and your squad, there’s no better place than Niagara Falls State Park in winter. Venture out on the Cave of the Winds gorge trip, grab a pair of free snowshoes in the pavilion for a trek across the park, or sign up for a free guided hike. Once the sun sets, catch the nightly illumination display to capture the perfect “wow” moment.
When you need to warm up, the Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino is your indoor sanctuary where you can spend an afternoon treating yourselves at the spa before hitting the tables or dancing the night away at Stir Lounge. Plot a run on the Niagara Falls Wine Trail for intimate tastings at places like Niagara Landing or A Gust of Sun or explore the power of history together at the Underground Railroad Heritage Center and interactive Niagara Power Vista. Treat yourself to a shopping spree at the Fashion Outlets Niagara Falls, frozen hot chocolate or sponge candy latte at the Platter’s Chocolate Factory cafe, fireside dinner at the Red Coach Inn, head over to nearby Buffalo for wings, Bills football, and fun on the ice at Canalside.
Bond Over Culinary Delights in Canandaigua (Finger Lakes)
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Stay: The Lake House on Canandaigua (pictured) offers a scenic and luxurious escape to the Finger Lakes with lakeview guestrooms and suites, waterfront dining, oversized hot tubs, yoga and meditation classes, curated experiences like a beer pairing dinner, and full-service spa with stunning winter vistas from signature Nordic barrel saunas.
Do: Nothing brings people together better than food and a winter trip to Canandaigua is sure to please your hearts and stomachs. Indulge in culinary experiences like holiday cocktail classes, pierogi and pretzel workshops, wine tastings, and more at New York Kitchen, intimate maple-inspired five-course brunch in a cozy igloo at Kettle Ridge Farm, and sampling local flavors and ice wine along the Canandaigua Lake Wine Trail.
If the timing is right, enjoy impressive ice sculptures, fire shows, food, and beverages at the Fire & Ice Winter Festival (February 21-22, 2026) or festive seasonal events at the Granger Homestead and Carriage Museum. Explore Downtown Canandaigua and if the weather’s right, go ice skating on the lake, snowshoeing at the nearby Cumming Nature Center, or skiing and ziplining through snow-covered landscapes at Bristol Mountain.
Seal Walks and Spa Days in Montauk (Long Island)
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Stay: The off-season in Montauk means you get to enjoy accommodations at spots like Gurney's Montauk Resort & Seawater Spa and Daunt’s Albatross for half the cost of a summertime stay. Go all out at Gurney’s, which boasts a private sand beach, rooms with dramatic ocean views, seaside dining experiences, and acclaimed spa with ocean-fed seawater pool.
Do: Looking for a bit of peace and quiet before or after the hectic holiday season? With the summer crowds gone, you and your friends get the beach all to yourself as Montauk transforms into a serene frosted seaside escape. Go for a bracing coastal hike at Montauk Point, Camp Hero, or Shadmoor state parks, warm up with a wine tasting at a local vineyard like Wölffer Estate or local brews at Montauk Brewing Company, and spend an afternoon of group pampering at Gurney's Seawater Spa.
Winter in Montauk is a special time—it’s seal watching season! Search on your own or join a seal walk or cruise hosted by CRESLI. Naturalists at Montauk Point State Park also host special events like the First Day Hike that takes you out to the “seal haulout” viewing area. For food, try Gigi’s at Gurney’s for a Prix Fixe winter menu with ocean views and Inlet Seafood for fresh caught feasts, a local favorite owned by a group of Montauk fishermen.
Chow Down and Chill Out in Saratoga Springs (Capital-Saratoga)
Stay: The Adelphi Hotel, recently awarded a prestigious Michelin key, promises a special stay for you and your friends right on Broadway in the beating heart of Saratoga Springs with oversized rooms, heated-floors, a chic cocktail bar and two on-site restaurants.
Do: Saratoga Springs in the winter is all about good friends, good food, and good times. Grab your spoons and head out with the crew to Saratoga Chowderfest, happening February 7, 2026, to dive into $2 samples of chowder and vote for your faves! Combine this with a day of soaking in the natural mineral baths at the famous Roosevelt Baths and Spa and snowshoeing 12 miles of trails at Saratoga Spa State Park and you’ve got yourself the perfect winter trip.
Want to get out of the cold? Grab a fresh brewed cup from the tea bar at Saratoga Tea and Honey Company and check out the National Museum of Racing & Hall of Fame or Saratoga Automobile Museum. Warm up in the evenings at cozy bars and restaurants like The Local Pub & Teahouse, Henry Street Taproom, and The Brook Tavern, reserve a private heated igloo for a VIP dining experience at The Adelphi’s Morrisey’s Lounge & Bistro, or catch an acoustic concert at the always cool Caffe Lena.
Baseball and Brews in Cooperstown (Central New York)
Stay: Revel in the beauty and tranquility of the season and bask in the warmth and luxury of the lakefront Otesaga Resort, featuring spacious guestrooms and suites, restaurants and outdoor fire bar, heated outdoor pool, fitness room, and spa.
Do: Looking to slow things down and connect with friends? Beat the summer crush and make Cooperstown feel truly yours in winter. Take over the National Baseball Hall of Fame, exploring the history and relics at your own pace for a fun shared indoor escape. Rally the squad and head to Brewery Ommegang for bold, warming Belgian-style beers or hit up other spots on the Cooperstown Beverage Trail.
Check out the Fenimore Art Museum, magical Glimmer Nights at Fenimore Farm and Country Village (through December 28), or head to Glimmerglass State Park where you can find snowshoe trails, a tubing hill, and, if conditions are right, ice skating on Otsego Lake. While the Otesaga’s famed golf course is closed for the season, it is open for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. If you want to practice your swing or fancy a bit of friendly competition, tee off at Leatherstocking and Pebble Beach at the resort’s Trackman Indoor Golf Simulator.
Ice Fishing and Outdoor Adventures in Wellesley Island (Thousand Islands-Seaway)
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Stay: Accessible to the mainland via the Thousand Islands Bridge, Wellesley Island State Park has 12 fully-equipped, two to three bedroom Eel Bay Cottages that are open year-round, along with a handful of cabins, for a cozy escape in peaceful solitude that puts you in touch with nature.
Do: The Thousand Islands-Seaway is truly a winter wonderland. Get away from it all with a stay at one of the cozy cabins or cottages at Wellesley Island State Park, which has everything you and your crew needs for winter fun in the outdoors: hiking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and ice fishing. Reel in a good time with your fishing buddies and drop a line for northern pike at Eel Bay or venture out with a guide on the mighty St. Lawrence River.
More winter adventure can be found skiing at nearby Dry Hill and snowmobiling in the Tug Hill area. For group fun indoors, head over to the mainland where you can venture over to the Frederic Remington Art Museum in Ogdensburg to view the world's largest collection of art and archival materials of the great artist of the Old West. Also, put your minds together to crack the puzzle at Escape the Mystery Room in Watertown and raise a toast to you and your buds at Wood Boat Brewery and Coyote Moon Vineyards in Clayton.
Ultimate Museum and Food Crawl in Manhattan (New York City)
Stay: New York City offers a wealth of accommodations to suit a wide range of tastes and budgets. Go for the wallet-friendly Pod 39, mid-range Sofitel New York, all-out splurge at The Plaza or Lotte Palace, or browse more places to stay to find the right homebase for your squad.
Do: There’s never a bad time to visit New York City with your friends, and winter is no exception. Blend high culture and fine dining with great deals by timing your trip with NYC Winter Outing (January 20-February 12) for 2-for-1 tickets to Broadway, museums, and can’t-miss attractions, hotel deals, and epic prix-fixe NYC Restaurant Week lunch and dinner meals at some of the city’s best restaurants. Even if your plans don’t coincide with this promotion, you’ll generally find the lowest hotel prices all year in the period after New Year’s Day and before Spring Break.
Share warm winter moments ice skating at Rockefeller Center or Bryant Park, strolling through Central Park, checking out new additions like the Banksy Museum, and sipping on mugs of New York City’s most famous cups of cocoa from Dominique Ansel’s blossoming hot chocolate to Serendipity 3’s Frrrozen Hot Chocolate.
Laughs, Libations, and (Ski) Lifts in Western New York (Chautauqua-Allegheny)
Credit: @chqlife on Instagram
Stay: Peek’n Peak Resort in Clymer is the ultimate winter playground for skiing, snowboarding, and tubing, complete with an indoor pool and hot tub, diverse dining and bars, luxury day spa, and cozy rooms in a Tudor-style inn, as well as slopeside condos for large groups to spread out.
Do: Averaging more than 100 inches of snow each season, making Peek’n Peak Resort your winter headquarters is the natural choice for the friend group that loves the snow. With downhill skiing, snowboarding, and a tubing area that transforms into a mesmerizing nighttime Lunar Lights Tubing experience, you can play in the snow in the day and night.
The fun doesn't stop on the mountain. Take a comedy break and share some serious laughs at the National Comedy Center in nearby Jamestown. Opt for a dual-admission ticket to also dive into TV history and classic comedy at the Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum. Plot a route through Lake Erie Wine Country sampling local vintages or dive deep into the area’s grape-growing history at the Grape Discovery Center.
Reconnect on an All-Inclusive Retreat in Neversink (Catskills)
Stay: Nestled on 230 private acres, Hemlock Neversink offers a cozy and elegant nature escape that encourages connection and centers on wellness, featuring an indoor pool, spa, fireside dining, creative workshops, unique activities, and farm-to-table dining.
Do: Need some one on one time with your bestie without the distractions of daily life? Hemlock Neversink has just the recipe for you to reconnect and recharge. Your all-inclusive stay will have you feeling spoiled with access to the indoor pool, saunas, steam room, hot tubs, and unique daily offerings like fireside yoga or Tai Chi.
With no TVs in rooms, it’ll be easy to give your friends your full attention as you share s’mores by the outdoor fire pit and savor farm-to-table meals at Bittersweet. Build new memories together on a goat hike or snowshoeing adventure, and unleash your inner artist at creative workshops and paint classes. Cap off your trip by exploring local flavor at nearby spots like Catskill Brewery, making this a balanced escape of deep relaxation and even deeper bonding.
A Stylish and Sophisticated Escape in Hudson (Hudson Valley)
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Stay: Housed in three historic buildings, the one Michelin key Maker Hotel offers a stylish stay with 11 distinct rooms, posh cocktail bar, glass conservatory restaurant, gymnasium, juice bar, and library featuring hundreds of books selected in partnership with Strand Book Store.
Do: For the friend group that likes to keep things chic, Hudson is the place to be. You can spend hours on Warren Street browsing the vintage furniture stores, independent art galleries, and antique stores that make Hudson famous before dipping into a chic cafe for coffee or lunch. Tour artist Frederic Edwin Church’s Parisian-inspired home and take in sweeping panoramic views of the snow-dusted Hudson River Valley at Olana State Historic Site (pictured).
For even more cultural experiences, check out the upcoming retrospective of Cuban-American artist Sita Gómez at Hudson Hall by day, or catch a musical or theatrical performance by night at the second floor performance hall—the oldest surviving theatre in New York State. Evenings should be reserved for exploring Hudson’s gastro scene that includes spots like Wm. Farmer and Sons, Lil Deb’s Oasis, Backbar, and Hudson Brewing Company.
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