NEWSLETTER
Credit: @julitmart on Instagram
Here’s the thing about winter getaway destinations in New York—they’re AMAZING! So it never hurts to start planning your trip to make sure you get a room in that cozy lodge or put together that perfect itinerary of things to do without stressing at the last minute. Read on for 11 ideas of where you can have a blast in New York in winter.
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.
Originally published: 10/24/2019
1. Lake Placid (Adirondacks)
The Adirondack Mountains were made for winter, so it should come as no surprise that the area was a two-time host of the Olympic Winter Games. Get in on the magic by booking a room at the gorgeous and cozy Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort in downtown Lake Placid. Besides its stunning view overlooking Mirror Lake, the ample amenities include a sauna, steam bath, two whirlpool tubs, pool, fire pits, and a racquetball court. Even better, the resort is also eco-friendly thanks to its local and organic foods, expansive recycling program, and its energy-saving guest rooms.
If you can, plan to visit during the colder parts of winter for a very special activity. Once the lake freezes, Thunder Mountain Dog Sled Tours (pictured) is open for business! You can take a quick loop around Mirror Lake. Feel free to sit back and enjoy because these pups love to run.
Head to Whiteface Mountain for downhill skiing and the chance to skate on the actual 1980 Olympic Speed Skating Oval! Remember to book in advance. For skiing and snowboarding, it's best to aim for weekday trips when possible. Skiers get to enjoy the spectacular view from the eight-passenger Cloudsplitter Gondola.
2. Highland (Hudson Valley)
Rocking Horse Ranch Resort is a dream getaway for families. There are a ton of things to do at the resort itself so the kids will be wildly entertained without you having to plan a thing. First of all, as the name implies, this is definitely a place for people who love horses. They offer rides for all levels—walking, trotting, or cantering. Kids on the smaller side can also ride ponies for an option that’s a little lower to the ground. If you don’t feel like riding, watch one of the daily horse parades or take a tractor-drawn wagon ride that will bring you to a campfire to make s’mores!
The resort’s Winter Fun Park has all the equipment you need for skiing, ice skating, and snow tubing (pictured). Relax in the brand new Eldorado Hot Springs, make a splash at the indoor water park, and more at TripAdvisor's #1 rated all-inclusive family resort and a New York favorite for generations.
3. Niagara Falls and Buffalo (Greater Niagara)
Even though a glimpse of magnificent nearby Niagara Falls all icy and frozen over is reason enough to go, Buffalo has plenty more reasons to extend your trip as long as possible. Head to the Aquarium of Niagara (pictured), where you can see penguin feedings (it’s one of the few places where you can see Humboldt penguins!), sea lion shows, and special talks with animal experts throughout the day—all included in the cost of admission.
Canalside Buffalo, the city’s waterfront, is perfectly equipped to offer winter fun with ice bikes and ice skating. Grab a bite at the restaurants, food trucks, and vendors that gather on weekends, or take a 10-minute drive to the birthplace of the original Buffalo chicken wings, Anchor Bar.
Stay at the Courtyard by Marriott Buffalo Downtown/Canalside or a central location in the city’s downtown to experience all that Buffalo has to offer!
4. Rochester (Finger Lakes)
The weather outside might be frightful, but the balmy weather in the Dancing Wings Butterfly Garden is so delightful! Upstate New York’s only year-round indoor butterfly garden offers the perfect way to escape the cold without getting too far away from the frosty fun. It’s located within the Strong National Museum of Play (pictured), an enormous and well-designed museum that is a definite crowd-pleaser. The exhibits are highly interactive and built to spark the imagination. Topics range from comic books to arcade games, aquariums, outer space, and sports.
A one-hour drive south of the city brings you to Swain Resort where you can rent ski and snowboarding equipment and take lessons no matter your skill level. Another winter sports option is Bristol Mountain, where you can ski where members of the US and international freestyle aerial ski teams train. Hilton Garden Inn Rochester Downtown is a perfect place to post up thanks to its clean, elegant rooms, and heated indoor pool!
5. Manhattan (New York City)
Manhattan is arguably one of the most enchanting places on earth during the holiday season and continues to offer exciting things to do throughout the winter. Stay at the centrally located Fifty Hotel & Suites, just a short walk from the Museum of Modern Art and other favorite attractions.
You know you have to go ice skating at Rockefeller Center (pictured). There is just nothing like looking up at that big festive tree and the surrounding buildings, all glowing with lights. Head up to the Bronx to visit the New York Botanical Garden and The Bronx Zoo, two family-friendly favorites for visitors to the city and locals alike.
The city is also the ideal place to find perfect gifts and stocking stuffers thanks to charming and cozy winter villages and holiday markets. Bryant Park Holiday Market has its own full-size skating rink and Christmas tree. You’ll find artisan crafts, tasty treats, and hundreds of souvenirs to choose from.
6. Northport (Long Island)
Credit: @vanderbiltmuseum on Instagram
We know Long Island probably comes to mind when you’re dreaming of great beach vacations, but there’s so much wintery fun to be found here as well! Stay at the luxurious Northport Hotel in historic Northport on Long Island’s Gold Coast. This newly-opened 26-room boutique hotel is located right in the heart of the village's downtown, so you’re just steps away from all the fun.
Across the street, catch a show at the renowned John W Engeman Theater where enchanting productions like Beauty and the Beast (until December 31) await. In the winter months, the village is decked out in all the holiday splendor. Walk along the waterfront, admire the town’s brightly lit Christmas tree, and don’t forget to grab a sweet treat at Copenhagen Bakery. On Main Street, you’ll find all kinds of local shops and restaurants to explore. Step back in time at the Northport Shipwreck Diner which has been an iconic landmark and local favorite for more than 100 years or stop by Sand City Brewing Co. for a flight of their fun and funky brews.
Just a 10 minute drive away is the Vanderbilt Museum. Follow a guided tour of this elegant Gold Coast mansion and travel back in time as you admire the beautiful architecture, learn about its history, and explore the grounds. Be sure to pay a visit to the Reichert Planetarium (included in admission) also on site and for a real treat stick around for an evening laser light show.
7. New Paltz (Hudson Valley)
Less than a two-hour drive north of New York City, you’ll find yourself surrounded by rugged mountain ridges, forests, and the small-town charm of New Paltz, home to the very special Mohonk Mountain House (pictured). Rooms can be on the pricier side, but even a one-night stay (weekdays only) in this stunning lodge-style resort (visited by past guests including John Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie, and Teddy Roosevelt) is worth it. Despite its long history, the rooms have been kept in impeccable condition and almost all have their own fireplace. Amenities include a 33,000-square-foot spa, fitness center, game room, library, and indoor swimming pool.
Besides feeling pampered inside the resort, the Mohonk Mountain House offers plenty of activities to keep you happily busy. Take a historical tour of the House and grounds, enjoy a horse-drawn carriage ride, or go for a spin on the ice skating rink. The grounds are covered in trails for hiking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing.
On the way to or from New Paltz, make a stop in the adorable town of Beacon to visit the world-renowned art museum, Dia:Beacon. In what used to be a Nabisco box-printing factory, you’ll find large-scale sculpture and art. In some parts the museum architecture is the art, using the walls and even floors to play with space and your perceptions.
8. Syracuse (Finger Lakes)
If you want to explore a winter wonderland, consider the country’s snowiest major city, according to weather.com—Syracuse! Stay at the beautiful Hotel Skyler Syracuse, the city’s first LEED Platinum-certified hotel located in a lovingly restored former temple and theater. Syracusians are so into winter (one of the city’s slogans is #OfficialHomeOfWinter) that they turn their frosty landscape into art. Take a drive through the city’s famous outdoor light show along Onondaga Lake, Lights on the Lake. The display is two miles long and features fantastic twinkling structures of lights, such as a Fantasy Forest, the Land of Oz, and a fairy tale magic grand finale!
The Clinton Square Ice Rink downtown (pictured) is calling you to come skating. Surrounded by some of the city’s most beautiful buildings and a giant glowing Christmas tree, skate rentals are cheap and there are lockers to store your things, a snack counter, and parking lots close by.
Finally, if you’re looking for an indoor activity, you can find enough fun to fill a day or more at the enormous Destiny USA mall. Besides more than 250 shops and outlets, check out the full-size indoor go-karting track, the world’s largest indoor suspended ropes course, and WonderWorks, an interactive educational learning fun zone!
9. Holiday Valley (Chautauqua-Allegheny)
Ellicottville in Western New York is downhill-skiing country, making it a definite go-to for your next winter getaway. Check into the Inn at Holiday Valley where you couldn’t be closer to the slopes. This family-friendly inn is part of the Holiday Valley Resort (pictured), and perfectly equipped for winter with a heated indoor/outdoor pool and hot tub, fireplaces in each room, and a winter shuttle to get you to and from the base lodge.
Holiday Valley offers snowboarding and downhill, cross-country, and telemark skiing lessons for all ages. If you just want to get down the mountain with zero skill involved, go snow tubing! Four miles from the resort, the Holiday Valley Tubing Co. has got you covered. It even has a Lil’ Tubers area for the tiniest of tubers. And you cannot miss a ride on the Sky Flyer Mountain Coaster. It’s a bit like a roller coaster, but lower to the ground, and it hugs the natural curves of the mountain as you go down. If that sounds a tiny bit frightening, don’t worry, you can control the speed using levers on the car.
After a day of exercise and chill, head to the Ellicottville Oasis Spa (also part of the resort) to relax with a massage, manicure, or pedicure—which feels extra wonderful after a day in ski boots!
10. Watertown (Thousand Islands-Seaway)
Credit: @lprignon on Instagram
The Thousand Islands-Seaway region shines all winter long. Explore the beautiful trails in Thompson Park on cross-country skis or snowshoes. They have beginner, intermediate, and advanced trails. Looking for some of the best snowmobiling in the state? Drive just 45 minutes to the Flat Rock Inn at Tug Hill Plateau (pictured) for affordable rentals and access to 800 miles of trails. You can also hit up the slopes at Watertown’s own Dry Hill Ski Area.
Warm up indoors with a visit to the Jefferson County Historical Society Museum. Located inside the 19th Century Paddock Mansion, you’ll explore local history and artifacts of the area. Rest up at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Watertown-Thousand Islands, where you can soak in the heated pool and be super close to all the fun.
11. Saratoga Springs (Capital-Saratoga)
Credit: Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce
Saratoga Springs offers exciting outdoor winter activities that will get your blood pumping warm, comforting spas, and indoor fun to enjoy after facing the cold. Check in for a night or two in one of the beautiful rooms at the Residence Inn Saratoga Springs where you’ll be close to downtown. Just half an hour’s drive away is the very beginner-friendly Willard Mountain. You can rent equipment and take lessons in downhill skiing and snowboarding, or check out the separate area of the mountain designated specifically for snow tubing. Saratoga Spa State Park is an amazing place to walk around during winter. Even when there’s snow on the ground, you can still find the natural mineral springs flowing, and their minerals turn the surrounding snow brilliant shades of red and orange.
After you’ve enjoyed looking at the water, it’s time to get in it! At Roosevelt Baths & Spa you can take a warm soak in the naturally fizzy mineral waters, something New Yorkers have done ever since the early 20th century!
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