I Love New York Blog

From horseracing to hot air balloons, and from musical performances to mouthwatering barbecue, summer in New York State is filled with fun activities and events! Explore a new genre of music or experience tasty new dishes at one of the many festivals happening this summer. Here are just a few of the best events to check out in New York State this August.

New York State has played a key role in many of music’s most groundbreaking moments. Imagine walking in the footsteps of Janis Joplin or Nat King Cole, or listening to the opening aria from "La Traviata" in an open-air amphitheater where the acoustics make you feel like you’re part of the performance. This is New York State’s musical legacy. It is the home of the revolutionary spirit of the Woodstock Music and Art Fair, and the small stage where legends honed their crafts. Discover new moments for yourself at inspiring venues offering a variety of performances and experiences, from an “anti festival” in a reclaimed factory to a concert hall floating on the East River.

Syracuse’s prime location along the Erie Canal helped establish it as an industrial powerhouse, but today, the powerhouses in the city are barbecue, family fun, and college basketball. With scenic parks surrounding Onondaga Lake, world-class museums, and an up-and-coming dining scene on historic streets, you’re guaranteed a great weekend.

July is National Picnic Month and in honor of this summertime tradition, we present some of the best places to feast al fresco in New York State. From a riverbank overlooking whitewater rapids to spacious landscaped parks, get outside and discover New York State’s most picnic-perfect places!…

A short drive from New York City is a magical land of forests and streams, restaurants serving food made from ingredients sourced at nearby farms, and rustic-chic lodging (including camping) for any budget. Welcome to Ulster County in the Catskills, home to a variety of hiking experiences, from pulse-pounding climbs in the mountains to tranquil strolls around lakes, plus a wealth of activities at trail's end.

‘Tis the season for hiking! The Catskills region of New York State is one of the best areas to smell the fresh air, take in the scenery, and get those legs moving. Greene County in the Northern Catskills is a short drive from NYC, which makes it perfect for your weekend adventures. We’ve rounded up five of the best hiking trips you can take to have your best day ever in the great outdoors, along with some indoors-y things too. 

Credit: @renegade_nomad

Your dreams of walking outside to reach incredible scenic views are closer than you think! The Catskills are calling and you can answer by taking one of these hiking itineraries in Delaware and Sullivan counties for a spin, each a short drive from NYC. We’ve also included where to eat, drink, and play around the hikes to help plan your perfect day.

The southern shore of Lake Ontario covers more than 200 miles of prime New York State waterfront, offering exciting getaway ideas for families, fishing enthusiasts, history buffs, and more. Read on for ideas on how to spend a weekend enjoying this Great Lake and the cities, towns, and attractions that make it such a sought-after destination.

We all scream for ice cream—and New York State, where the ice cream sundae was invented, has some of the very best. From trendy artisan-run shops, featuring unique flavors you won’t find anywhere else, to classic roadside stands pumping out soft serve made from locally sourced ingredients, these are some of the best places to satisfy your cravings across New York, along with some things you might want to do in town when you’re not busy eating ice cream.

You know about the M&Ms store in Times Square, we’ve told you where to get some of the best chocolate-covered donuts in the state, and we’ve even spilled the (chocolate) beans on where to find world-winning chocolate in the Catskills, but there’s even more to New York’s chocolate scene than what we’ve already shared. You can have some pretty unique chocolate adventures in New York State, and we’ve rounded up some of our favorites!…