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Whether you’re looking to create an unforgettable bachelor/bachelorette party, a fun-filled girls' weekend, a bros' getaway, or a mini friend vacay, New York State is the place to be this fall season! From leading breweries, wineries, and cideries to outdoor adventures, and Insta-worthy foodie experiences, all topped off with amazing fall foliage for your social media feed, get started on planning your fall friends getaway in New York. 

Masks are encouraged, but optional in most settings per New York State guidelines. Individual businesses or attractions may require mask wearing. Call ahead and check websites and social media to make sure attractions and amenities are open and available. 

Updated 08/03/2023

See art from a new perspective (Hudson Valley

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Live your best cottagecore life as you frolic in the rolling meadows of this 500-acre outdoor sculpture museum. Storm King Art Center also offers on-site bike rentals in case walking isn’t really your style. If you’re looking for more of an indoor experience, make your Instagram feed glow with exhibits at Dia Beacon (pictured), with $12 discounted tickets for students!

Fall in love with Niagara Falls (Greater Niagara)

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What’s better than witnessing jaw-dropping views of America’s oldest state park? Niagara Falls State Park is located on 400 acres of lush terrain including gardens and more than 15 miles of hiking trails. Grab your ponchos and get up-close and personal with the falls on the Maid of the Mist (pictured), which now features fully electric, zero-emission tours that take you to the base of the American Falls and the basin of the Horseshoe Falls. Descend 175 feet into the Niagara Gorge and find yourselves within feet of the crashing Bridal Veil Falls with Cave of the Winds

Plan a bougie getaway in the Hamptons (Long Island)

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Stay at Haven Montauk with private pool and beach access, or ball out and treat yourselves to some quality time at a Hamptons icon, Gurney’s Montauk Resort (pictured). Make a reservation at Bridgehampton Inn & Restaurant, offering European charm dating back to 1795 paired with seasonal menus. Or cue your inner Mean Girl at TT’s Montauk, an all pink Tex-Mex restaurant and photo-op!

Grab your friends for an adventurous weekend in Lake George (Adirondacks)

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Pick your roller coaster buddy and get your adrenaline rushing at Six Flags Great Escape (and stick around for Fright Fest from September 30-October 29), or take your friendship to new heights among the treetops with high-altitude courses including zip lines and rope swings at Adirondack Extreme Adventure Course. Make a splash and go rafting on the Hudson River with Whitewater Challengers or Beaverbrook Outfitters (pictured), then kick back and cool off with a Bear Naked Ale or Oktoberfest beer at Adirondack Pub & Brewery.

Unleash your inner kid and travel back in time (Thousand Islands-Seaway)

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Who doesn’t love go-karts? Race your friends and speed along a one-mile oval track at Alex Bay 500 Go-Karts, then continue to battle it out in mini-golf or in the giant sized arcade room. Connect with nature and roast some s’mores while camping at Keewaydin State Park. Choose from 48 campsites overlooking the St. Lawrence River! For the ultimate throwback, pile in the car and head to Bay Drive-In Theatre (pictured) for a perfect sunset and movie.

Relax during a spa weekend (Capital-Saratoga)

A shrubbery-lined walkway leads to the Gideon Putnam hotelPhoto courtesy of Glen White, Delaware North

Everyone needs time to unwind and relax, and why not do that together in New York State? Saratoga Spa State Park (pictured) has everything you and your crew need to connect with yourself and one another, like the Roosevelt Baths & Spa at The Gideon Putnam which includes mineral baths, massages and facials, and upscale casual dining.  

Chill in the outdoors with your squad (Catskills)

Hunter Mountain - Fall - Photo by Beautiful Destinations

Go for a ride in the sky on Hunter Mountain’s six-passenger Kaatskill Flyer skyride (pictured). Enjoy amazing views of the high peaks of the northern Catskills from the 3,200-foot summit of Hunter Mountain. If you want to stay closer to the ground, pedal your way along Esopus Creek with Rail Explorers, then finish your adventure with a meal at the classic Phoenicia Diner.

Wine not sip your way through the Finger Lakes?

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Hop between three wineries, a microbrewery, and a cafe at Three Brothers Wineries and Estates, or feel like royalty while enjoying award-winning wine at Belhurst Castle (pictured). Take a peek inside Fox Run Vineyards’ wine-making facility with a winery and vineyard tour, or enjoy a glass of wine at Miles Wine Cellar, located in an 1802 Greek Revival mansion, and take in views of Seneca Lake.

Combine your love for baseball and brews (Central New York)

Brewery Ommegang, Fall

Explore baseball’s glorious past at the National Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum with countless treasures and collections, exhibits, and honorable mentions, and stop by Doubleday Field, the heart and soul of Cooperstown and the birth of America’s pastime. Afterwards, enjoy Belgian-style ales at the famous Brewery Ommegang (pictured), or explore more of Cooperstown and Otsego County while tasting beers, wines, spirits, and ciders along the Cooperstown Beverage Trail.

LOL in Jamestown (Chautauqua-Allegheny)

A wall of comedians at the National Comedy Center

If your friends are the funniest, head to New York State’s comedy central, Jamestown. Check out the Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum which showcases the life and career of Jamestown comedian and actress Lucille Ball. Then get your laugh on and visit the National Comedy Center (pictured), a world-class attraction dedicated to the art of comedy.

Live it up in the Big Apple (New York City)

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Make your way to Brooklyn for a foodie experience at Time Out Market (pictured) with 24 unique food options to enjoy while you snap pics of the Brooklyn Bridge, or get active and discover more of the borough on two wheels with Brooklyn Giro Bicycle Tours. Cellar Dog in the West Village has the retro vibe you’re looking for with a young and vibrant atmosphere. Play pool, ping pong, shuffleboard, scrabble, chess, or foosball while you listen to live jazz music, or book tickets and listen to your favorite show tunes in-person on Broadway. If you’re looking to liven your Instagram feeds, take your followers to the top of Midtown’s tallest commercial skyscraper for a breathtaking view of the NYC skyline and an immersive and interactive art experience at SUMMIT One Vanderbilt. Then, illuminate your timeline with cinematic audio and visual projections at ARTECHOUSE NYC. Got any ice cream lovers? Buy a ticket to the Museum of Ice Cream and immerse yourselves in 13 multi-sensory exhibition spaces and even enjoy a sweet treat at the end (try the Night at the Museum experience, ages 16 and up).