NEWSLETTER
Go solo on your next adventure in New York State! With unique lodging, award-winning wineries, and exhilarating outdoor experiences, New York State has endless opportunities to explore. From finding serenity in the mountains to sampling local cuisine during a farm stay, you’ll have an extraordinary self-indulgent journey.
Updated: 7/30/25
Take a cooking class at the Culinary Arts Center (Greater Niagara)
A good meal is worth a trip! Head to the Culinary Arts Center, just outside of Buffalo, and roll up your sleeves as you dive into an unforgettable hands-on cooking experience. The award-winning classes offer the opportunity to create a full meal from scratch under the guidance of a professional chef. You'll work with premium appliances, cookware, and cutlery, all while learning essential culinary techniques in a small group setting. At the end of each class, you’ll indulge in a shared meal of the dishes you’ve prepared, paired with a beverage. Class themes range from sushi making and Hawaiian Backyard BBQs to harvest dinner parties, southern comfort food, and handmade pasta. Looking for a little more heat? Try the Chef’s Gauntlet, the center’s brand-new, high-energy cooking competition. This fast-paced showdown will have two teams face off to execute a chef-curated menu. With guidance from a chef and host, teams will strategize, cook, and plate their way to victory.
Sip wine along Seneca Lake (Finger Lakes)
Credit: @senecalakewine on Instagram
Embark on the Seneca Lake Wine Trail to discover picturesque wineries located along one of the pristine Finger Lakes. With award-winning wines and breathtaking views, enjoy wine tastings at nearly 30 wineries, which include Glenora Wine Cellars in Dundee, Miles Wine Cellars in Himrod, Three Brothers Wineries & Estates in Geneva, and Belhurst Estate Winery in Geneva. If you’re interested in tasting at multiple wineries, look into transportation options with local limousines and tours. The Finger Lakes fun doesn’t stop there! Check out the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail and the Keuka Lake Wine Trail to explore even more top wineries and sceneries in the region.
Enjoy a farm stay at WhistleWood Farm (Hudson Valley)
Courtesy of @starr24
With uniquely decorated rustic rooms and a full country breakfast to start each day, WhistleWood Farm Bed and Breakfast in Rhinebeck offers a simple yet incredible farm stay. Using locally sourced ingredients, WhistleWood Farm features breakfast dishes like buttermilk pancakes, eggs, fruit, and more. During the day, interact with the horses, chickens, barn kittens and dogs on the working farm, and walk along miles of trails to get a sense of the beauty of the Hudson Valley. At night, cozy up with your favorite book by the fireplace or under the starry night sky.
Take an outdoor skills workshop with ADK Mountain Club (Adirondacks)
Courtesy of @adkmtnclub
Outdoor enthusiasts or aspiring outdoor enthusiasts—get ready to explore the wilderness by taking a skills workshop with the ADK Mountain Club. Some of this year’s workshops include “Beginner Canoe Camping” an experiential, three-day canoeing trip in the St. Regis Canoe Area entailing a cooperative group camping experience with the shared responsibility of camp chores, cooking, and decision making. You can also get oriented with “Map and Compass Fundamentals”, learn to lead with “Outdoor Leadership 101”, or learn life-saving skills by taking a “Wilderness First Responder” course. Workshops are held in Lake Placid, so once you’ve completed your course you can truly put your skills to the test in the expansive Adirondack park.
Relax at YO1 Wellness Center (Catskills)
Get pampered on a getaway to YO1 Wellness Center in Monticello, an Ayurvedic health center with personalized treatments. Day passes include a massage, a mud or hydrotherapy treatment, a yoga session, a meditation session, three vegetarian meals, a fresh cold-pressed juice, and access to the locker room, indoor pool, fitness center, game room, and walking/biking trails. A three-day wellness program and health management programs are also available. Take some time to yourself or interact with fellow guests during your visit.
Go whitewater rafting (Thousand Islands-Seaway and Adirondacks)
Are you ready for a thrilling whitewater rafting experience? The Adventure Center at Whitewater Challengers should be next on your list! With rafting trips in both the Thousand Islands and Adirondacks, there are ample opportunities to explore from the water. The Black River, near Watertown, offers a unique warm-water rafting mecca in the summer months. Take on Class 3-4 rapids as narrow canyon walls force the river through tumultuous passageways where boulders and ledges turn the fast-moving currents into exhilarating whitewater. Each trip includes an “on-river snack” and beverage. The Hudson River trip in the Adirondacks features 15 miles of Class 3–4 rapids, and thanks to whitewater dam releases from Lake Abanakee, extra water is added to the Hudson River all season. An “on-river snack” and wetsuit is part of the package. The rafting season runs April through October and both trips focus on safety and are led by experienced guides. Once you’re hooked, check out the Adirondack River Outfitters for even more whitewater rafting trips on the Black River, Hudson River, and Moose River. For the most exhilarating rapids, visit Moose River in April. For less intense water, go later in the season when the river is perfect for beginners and families. Price varies for both whitewater rafting providers.
Go underground at Howe Caverns (Central New York)
Head 156-feet underground to explore impressive caves and rock formations illuminated by colorful lights at Howe Caverns. With a temperature of 52 degrees all year long, the caves are the perfect location for visitors of all ages—any time of the year! The Traditional Tour offers a 90-minute experience with exploration on foot and by boat. For a nighttime experience, try the two-hour Lantern Tour—offered by reservation-only Friday and Saturday nights in the summer and on select weekends in the winter. The Lantern Tour is only for guests 16 years of age and older. Check out the newest and “oldest” spelunking cave tour, the Signature Rock Discovery Tour. The 2.5 hour exploration tour reveals the mysteries of portions of the caverns that have not been open to the public in over 100 years. Price varies and reservations must be made online. Open everyday 9am-5pm through Labor Day. Tours leave every hour. Advance tours must be booked online.
Visit Montauk Lighthouse (Long Island)
A trip to the East End of Long Island isn’t complete without stopping at the Montauk Lighthouse. The National Historic Landmark, built in 1796, was the first lighthouse in New York State and is the fourth-oldest in the nation. Marvel at panoramic vistas over the Block Island Sound and Atlantic Ocean, then check out nautical artifacts in the museum from when Long Island was a hot spot for whaling. The lighthouse even hosts major events like Norah Jones in concert, Lighting the Lighthouse, Santa at the Lighthouse, photographic exhibitions, aquatic creature encounters, and arts & craft fairs. Adults: $15; seniors: $10; children under 12: $5.
Explore the Saratoga Spa State Park (Capital-Saratoga)
Whether you’re driving along the Avenue of the Pines or walking along a tree-lined path in the woods, the Saratoga Spa State Park is a not-to-be-missed destination in the heart of Saratoga Springs that’s beautiful throughout the year. The more than 2,000-acre park is home to a multitude of outdoor activities including two golf courses, running, walking, biking, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing trails, two swimming pools, mineral springs, geyser and limestone formations. The park is also home to SPAC, the Saratoga Automobile Museum, Gideon Putnam, Roosevelt Baths and Spa, and the Children’s Museum at Saratoga. Make sure to fill a bottle at the world-renowned mineral springs, there are 11 just within the park!
Grab Bites and Brews at a Buffalo Corner Tavern (Greater Niagara)
From classic dishes and drink specials to original decor and friendly faces, a stop at one of Buffalo’s Corner Taverns will make you feel like a local on your solo journey. With each corner tavern offering its own unique history, enjoy a meal at the bar while hearing stories from years past. Rohall’s Corner, located on the corner of Amherst and Reservation Streets in the Black Rock neighborhood, features several different wines and beers—some even served from their authentic wooden coolers. The Place, located in Elmwood Village on the corner of Lexington and Ashland Avenues, initially opened in the 1870s and was officially named “The Place” in 1941. With the addition of a beautiful, airy porch and spacious open-air patio, visitors can enjoy al fresco seasonal dining! No matter which Buffalo Corner Tavern you choose, the combination of history and hospitality won’t disappoint.
Get Crafty at the Corning Museum of Glass (Finger Lakes)
Channel your creativity at the Corning Museum of Glass where you can concoct a glass creation at the world’s foremost library on glass. Sign up for the ever-popular Make Your Own Glass class and immerse yourself in hot glassworking, fusing, engraving and sandblasting, all with the help of experienced glassworkers. While you’re there check out temporary and permanent exhibits from Brilliant Color and the Glass Bridge to 35 Centuries of Glass and Innovation Galleries. You can also check out the chock-ful calendar of events and programs including design workshops, artist-in-residence lectures, hot glass and flameworking demos.
Browse the extensive collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York City)
With more than 1.5 million pieces on display, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, also known as the Met, is an oasis for art appreciators of all generations. Representing more than 5,000 years of history from across the world, the Met features current exhibitions like Sargent & Paris, Monstrous Beauty: A Feminist Revision of Chinoiserie, and Superfine: Tailoring Black Style that run for a shorter amount of time and ongoing exhibitions that act as staples of the museum. The Met also hosts pieces by renowned artists, such as Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso, Georgia O’Keeffe, and Jackson Pollock, to name a few. The Met is open every day except for Wednesday, and offers free tours on select dates.
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