I Love New York Blog

There's nothing like autumn in New York. The changing leaves create a scenic background more beautiful than can be imagined. If you're into road trips, here are some ideas to maximize your fall foliage viewing opportunities, with plenty of suggestions of what to do along the way.

Put your summer into overdrive by visiting the Great New York State Fair in Syracuse from August 21 to September 2! Whether you’re a fan of all things fried, barbecued, and skewered, love seeing live music, or plan to beeline straight for the cute goats and llamas at the agricultural buildings, the Fair is a smorgasbord of everything that makes the Empire State great. Don’t miss the Expo Center, where interactive experiences help you travel to new locations across New York State without leaving the fairgrounds. We are so excited about this year’s calendar of events and offerings that we’ve pulled together a list of what we’re looking forward to most at the 2019 Great New York State Fair:…

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. It leads into the St. Lawrence River and the remarkable Thousand Islands-Seaway region, a fishing, boating, and sightseeing paradise. Read on for ideas on how to spend a weekend enjoying this Great Lake and scenic river, as well as the cities, towns, and attractions that make this area such a sought-after destination. Outdoors enthusiasts take note: 30 state parks along the shores are offering half-price vehicle entry and camping through October 14, 2019. Make your reservation now⁠! 

Participating state parks include:

• Lake Ontario: Chimney Bluffs; Fair Haven; Fort Niagara; Four Mile Creek; Golden Hill; Hamlin Beach; Lakeside Beach; Mexico Point boat launch; Oak Orchard; Sandy Island Beach; Selkirk Shores; Southwick Beach; Westcott Beach; Wilson-Tuscarora.
• St. Lawrence River: Burnham Point; Canoe-Picnic Point; Cedar Island; Cedar Point; Coles Creek; Dewolf Point; Grass Point; Jacques Cartier; Keewaydin; Kring Point; Long Point; Mary Island; Robert Moses; Rock Island; Waterson Point; Wellesley Island. 

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If you haven't given much thought to state fairs since the days where you could slam down multiple chili cheese dogs and funnel cakes with zero remorse, we get it. But with the Great New York State Fair kicking off August 21, it's as good a time as any for a gentle reminder of what you've been missing since then. Here, we round out our list of 13 not-to-be-missed indulgences at this year's Fair.

Syracuse is an incredibly kid-friendly city where you’ll find a great zoo, fun ways to learn, plenty of physical activities, and gorgeous nature to discover. Read on to see where the kids will have a blast exploring, eating, and playing.

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.

Summer is nearly here, and that means it’s time to hit the beach! And New York has some amazing ones, from the sandy coast of Long Island to the serene lakesides of the Adirondacks, and the seemingly endless horizon of Lake Ontario. (Fun fact: New York is the only state with coastlines on an ocean as well as the Great Lakes.) Check out some of some of New York’s most stunningly Instagram-worthy waterfronts below, then grab some sunblock, a beach towel, and your camera. and get yourself (and your whole crew) to a New York beach. Summer will be over before you know it.

There's no denying that waterfalls are some of the most spectacular (and Instagram-worthy) of Mother Nature's creations. Upstate New York, thanks to tens of thousands of years of shifting plates and erosion (and occasionally human engineering), is home to some incredibly stunning falls. Here's just a few of the gorgeous waterfalls you'll want to snap a selfie in front of this fall.

After the initial few weeks of jubilance about being out of school for the summer, the kids may soon tire of video game controllers, ice cream headaches, and staying outside until the street lights come on. Banish that boredom by planning a summertime adventure in New York State. We have five awesome summer weekend getaway ideas that are fab for the whole fam, from beachside to bayside to inside our great museums!…

Mexican culture thrives in New York State, especially on May  5, better known as Cinco de Mayo. Contrary to popular belief, this holiday is not Mexico’s Independence Day. It’s the anniversary of the Mexican army’s victory over the French army at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. Today, New Yorkers celebrate with dancing, music, and of course, food and drink. Here’s where to experience Cinco de Mayo in New York State.