NEWSLETTER
Winter is here and it's time for your next adventure in New York State! Will you opt to head outdoors for snow-related activities like skiing the greatest vertical east of the Rockies or ziplining over snow-covered pines? For less extreme activities, explore world-famous museums, or get into the holiday spirit with a brilliant light show. Whatever you choose, take advantage of the winter wonderlands and check out these must-do winter activities throughout New York State! Credit: @steveaaronphoto on Instagram
Updated 12/23/2024
1. Hit the Slopes on a Ski Getaway (Various Regions)
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With the most ski resorts of any other state in the nation, world-class skiing is always close by in New York. Hunter Mountain in the Catskills (pictured) boasts renowned terrain for all abilities, an impressive vertical drop, and some of the most reliable snow conditions in the East. The Adirondacks is home to Gore Mountain, offering more skiable acreage than anywhere else in the state, Whiteface Mountain, a 1980 Winter Olympics site with the greatest vertical drop east of the Rocky Mountains, and West Mountain, a favorite for family winter outings that offers night skiing on 15 trails allowing visitors to ski under the stars. Bristol Mountain in the Finger Lakes takes you to new heights of excitement, beauty, and challenge, thanks to its 1,200 foot vertical rise. Never been on the slopes? No problem. Resorts from Chautauqua-Allegheny’s Holiday Valley to Greek Peak in the Finger Lakes to Hudson Valley’s Catamount Mountain will help you get your ski legs with lessons to make you comfortable going downhill.
2. Go for the Gold in Lake Placid (Adirondacks)
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There's "snow" better place than Lake Placid! Nestled in the heart of the Adirondacks, this winter playground boasts a charming walkable downtown with ample shopping and rich culinary scene. A two-time host of the Winter Olympic Games—which included the dramatic 1980 U.S. hockey victory over the Soviet Union, known as “The Miracle on Ice”—this alpine village remains a magnet for world-class athletes today. February brings the Ski Jumping World Cup, when you can see elite ski jumpers soar at the Olympic Jumping Complex (pictured). Explore Lake Placid's winter sports history at the Olympic Center and Museum and legacy sites including Whiteface Mountain, the Oval, Mt. Van Hoevenberg, and more.
3. Coast, Climb or Zip Wintry Landscapes (Various Regions)
Feel the need for speed? At Holiday Valley, you can ski or snowboard, sure, but for a unique experience, go for a ride on the Sky Flyer Mountain Coaster! This rollercoaster-like ride through the woods is breathtaking in winter, first heading up the hill, then zigging and zagging down it on the rails, controlling the speed as you go. Find more high-speed thrills check out the mountain coaster and zip-lining tours at Greek Peak Mountain Resort. Whether you’re looking for an ice climbing guide, or for new walls to conquer, there are plenty of destinations across New York State that offer climbing for all abilities. Book an ice climbing adventure in the Catskills or Adirondacks with Alpine Endeavors. If scaling icy rocks outside doesn't sound appealing, head to Niagara Climbing Center or the Hudson Valley’s BC’s Climbing Gym for indoor rock climbing.
4. Uncover the secrets of the past at New York's museums (Various Regions)
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Dive into the rich culture and history, as well as interactive fun, at museums across New York State. Journey into the stars, catch a laser light show, and explore the sprawling grounds and 24-room Spanish-Revival mansion at the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum and Planetarium (pictured). Visit the Albany Institute of History and Art's Ancient Egypt exhibit to see artifacts including the mummy of Ankhefenmut, a priest and sculptor from the Ptolemaic Period or head to the First Peoples exhibit at the New York State Museum to see a life-size reconstructed longhouse and contemporary Native American art. At the Hyde Collection Art Museum and Historic House in the Adirondacks, the small-but-impressive permanent collection includes a Picasso, a Rubens, and a Rembrandt.
5. Discover Frozen Waterfalls (Various Regions)
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New York's waterfalls are lovely any time of year, but there's something magical about seeing these rushing cascades frozen over in winter. Two of the state's most famed attractions, Niagara Falls and Letchworth State Park, feature some of the most grandiose and inspiring frozen waterfalls anywhere. Scope out the surreal beauty of these icy wonders at High Falls, a 95-foot-tall waterfall in downtown Rochester, and Taughannock Falls State Park, where an overlook remains open in winter when trails to the base are closed. Enjoy sledding, ice skating, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and spectacular views of the rushing water bursting through the gorge wall at Mine Kill State Park. The frosty fountains at the New York Botanical Garden and in Central Park in New York City are also a sight to see!
6. See a Show (Multiple Regions)
Feel the thrill of live theater, music, dance, and more as the performing arts spring to life on New York State’s most historic stages. From the high-kicking Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall to the bright lights of Broadway and iconic stages of Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and Brooklyn Academy of Music, the performing arts shine bright in winter in New York City. This season brings Dirty Dancing to the opulent Stanley Theatre in Utica, Parade and The Cher Show to Proctor’s in Schenectady, and The Lion King and Cats to Buffalo’s Shea’s Performing Arts Center. With concerts, stand-up comedy, and more on the calendar, there’s a show for everyone.
7. Get Out on the Ice (Various Regions)
Find hours of outdoor fun at the Ice at Canalside in Buffalo, where you can lace up your skates, ride an ice bike (pictured), and try out the ice bumper cars before getting cozy in a heated igloo. From December through March, the reflecting pools outside the grand New York State Capitol building in Empire State Plaza transform into an ice skating rink, welcoming thousands of visitors every year to enjoy free skating, a full-service snack bar, and special events. New York City is home to some of the most classic and iconic skating rinks at Rockefeller Center, Bryant Park, and Wollman Rink. Bear Mountain State Park, just 45 miles north of Manhattan, has a beautiful outdoor rink nestled against Bear Mountain with views of the Hudson River. Have some winter fun in the snowiest city in America at the Clinton Square Ice Rink, which lies in the heart of downtown Syracuse amid some of the city’s oldest and most beautiful buildings.
8. Pamper Yourself! (Various Regions)
Treat yourself to a little rest and relaxation on a blissful spa day or getaway. Mirbeau Inn & Spa in the Finger Lakes offers the charm and comforts of a French manor house with picturesque grounds, rooms with cozy fireplaces and oversized soaking tubs, and centerpiece spa with a hot spa pool, sauna, steam room, and full-service treatment menu. Bask in timeless luxuries like mineral baths, facials, and body scrubs at the historic Roosevelt Baths and Spa in the Capital-Saratoga region and feel your worries melt away at the Hudson Valley's all-inclusive Victorian castle resort Mohonk Mountain House.
9. Cozy Up to the Fire (Various Regions)
If your idea of a perfect winter day involves basking in the warm glow of a fire with a book in hand or glass of wine, then you’re in luck. Thaw out in a room complete with a stone fireplace at the rustically elegant Lake Placid Lodge or warm up over a cocktail while listening to the crackling flames at the cozy Library Bar at The Inn at Erlowest. Keep the chill away by the huge fireplace inside the 1000 Islands Harbor Hotel or venture outdoors where the riverside patio is punctuated with roaring fire pits (pictured). Raise a toast while you get toasty as you gather ‘round the blazing fire pits on the patio at Woodstock’s Tinker Street Tavern.
10. Go Snowmobiling Along Powdery Trails (Various Regions)
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Discover glittering wintry landscapes on a snowmobile as you glide along the more than 8,000 miles of snowmobile corridor trails that crisscross New York State. Head to the Adirondacks’ Tug Hill area (pictured) for hundreds of miles of heavily forested trails, as well as trailside restaurants and hotels that cater to the winter snowmobiling community. Letchworth State Park has more than 25 miles of trails offering riders spectacular views of the gorge and waterfalls at this marvel known as the “Grand Canyon of the East.” Discover the endless miles of snowmobiling this winter in New York State.
11. Go Snow Tubing or Tobogganing (Various Regions)
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Looking for another way to experience the rush of hurtling downhill in winter? Just dress in your warmest and embark on an epic snow tubing adventure in New York State. Peek N Peak Resort in the Chautauqua-Allegheny region boasts a seven-lane tubing hill plus a “Magic Carpet” conveyor lift that takes you and your tube back uphill for another thrilling slide down. After dusk, enjoy the ride during Lunar Lights Tubing (pictured), complete with a mesmerizing light show and live DJ. You can slide down a mountain in a giant inflated tube all across the state from Titus Mountain in the Adirondacks to Plattekill Mountain in the Catskills. Also try tobogganing in Chestnut Ridge Park, where the chutes have been operating since the 1930s from atop an impressive sledding hill, and in Lake Placid, where riders are sent down an ice-covered chute onto frozen Mirror Lake.
12. Experience Central Park in Winter (NYC)
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New York City’s iconic Central Park is beautiful in every season, with winter being no exception. Snowshoe the wide-open meadows, see landmarks from Bethesda Foundation to Belvedere Castle sparkle in a dusting of snow, feed the penguins at the zoo, go ice skating at Wollman Rink, or admire the falling flakes from Bethesda Terrace Arcade while standing in the only place in the world that bears a Minton tile ceiling. Enjoy the snow-blanketed park from above with a meal at The Met Dining Room, the restaurant at Bergdorf Goodman, and Asiate — all of which overlook the park providing sweeping views of the wintry landscape.
13. Wander Through a Glowing Wonderland (Various Regions)
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Your days are sure to be merry and bright thanks to dazzling light shows that transform notable attractions across New York State into twinkling dreamscapes. Drive through the Magic of Lights at Long Island’s Jones Beach (ends January 4), find your groove at Peace, Love, and Lights (ends December 29) at the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, enter an enchanted forest at Wild Center Wild Lights (pictured; ends February 22), and more. Find more ways to light up your winter with our blog on Awe-Inspiring Light Festivals in New York State.
14. Visit a Botanical Garden (Various Regions)
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Step into a warm tropical paradise at one of New York State’s beautiful botanical gardens. The Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens (pictured) is full of exotic horticulture treasures from around the world. In winter, the magic of the holiday season comes to life at its Poinsettia Exhibit (through January 6) which is even more dazzling after dark as the floral display is bathed in a soft, colorful glow. The Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s Aquatic House is often warm and sunny, making it an inviting respite on a cold winter day. With colorful blooming orchids and tropical plants cascading from hanging pots and floating on garden pools, you’ll feel as if you’ve been transported to another world. New York Botanical Gardens also has palm trees, cacti, and other warm-weather plants from around the globe on display at the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory.
15. Embark on a Wintry Wine Tasting Tour (Various Regions)
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Think a visit to Long Island’s wine country is just a summertime thing? Think again. Experience the peaceful serenity of the North Fork at Suhru Wines, Sparkling Pointe, and Kontokosta, which is perched atop sweeping bluffs overlooking the Long Island Sound. Taste the fruits of the frost in Lake Erie Wine Country in the Chautauqua-Allegheny region, home to several vineyards specializing in ice wine including 21 Brix Winery, Johnson Estate, as well as wineries along the Niagara Wine Trail. You'll also find this refreshing and sweet dessert wine made from grapes frozen on the vine at wineries across the Finger Lakes, including Casa Larga (pictured).
16. Experience a Winter Carnival or Festival (Various Regions)
It’s never too late to start a new family tradition that you can enjoy together every year. One of the crowning events of the season is the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival (pictured), a 10-day extravaganza in the Adirondacks featuring a life-sized ice palace, traditional fry pan toss contest, and nightly entertainment at venues throughout town (January 31-February 9). The annual Lake George Winter Carnival features four weekends of fun with chili cookoffs, outhouse races, polar plunges, hot chocolate bar, and more (February 1-March 2). Coney Island's Luna Park is extending the summer fun into winter with Frost Fest featuring a skating rink, rides, holiday lights and shopping, festive food, and photos with Santa (November 23-January 1).
17. Pretend It’s Summer at an Indoor Waterpark (Various Regions)
Credit: The Kartrite Resort & Indoor Waterpark
Is the snow and cold getting old? How does a perfect 84-degree day sound? Get a taste of summer this winter at New York State’s indoor waterparks. The Kartrite Resort & Indoor Waterpark (pictured) provides a tropical escape in the heart of winter in the foothills of the Catskill mountains. Fun for all ages, New York’s largest indoor waterpark features five thrilling water rides for older kids and adults, a Jungle-themed lazy river, and plenty of attractions for little ones. The Kartrite Resort is also home to other indoor activities, such as the Playopolis Arcade, Van Winkle's bowling alley, the Scrapeskyer climbing wall, 3D gaming experiences, and more! Find four waterslides and a wild wave pool at Cascades at Greek Peak Mountain Resort in the Finger Lakes and take a leisurely float along the lazy river or a twisty-turny rafting ride at Lake George’s Six Flags Great Escape Lodge.
18. Mush Across the Ice and Snow on a Dogsled (Adirondacks)
Dogsledding is one of the most unique winter activities available in New York State. Feel like you’re soaring across the world when a team of specially-trained sled dogs carries you across the surface of a frozen lake or through snow-covered forested paths. Thunder Mountain Dog Sled Tours in the Adirondacks offer rides across the frozen surface of Mirror Lake in downtown Lake Placid. Mike Arnold Dog Sled Rides also races across Mirror Lake in the cold, crisp air of Lake Placid.
19. Après-Ski—Even if You Don’t Ski—at These Cozy Locations (Various Regions)
Luckily, there’s no prerequisite to participate in après-ski festivities. You don’t need to spend the day waiting in lift lines or hurling yourself down a steep slope in order to enjoy the atmosphere that prevails as the sun sets in ski towns across New York State. This winter, head to Becks Tavern (pictured) next to Gore Mountain in the Adirondacks for German-inspired fare or a sweet treat at the Waffle Cabin. Holiday Valley Resort in Chautauqua-Allegheny, has a lively après scene. Zoom along a mountain coaster, relax at the spa, or unwind with a local craft beer at the nearby Ellicottville Brewing Company. Hunter Mountain in the Catskills has a reputation for being a hot spot for winter fun, and the Jagerberg Beer Hall and Alpine Tavern at the base of the ski resort is a favorite après-ski spot for locals and visitors.
20. Fly Over the Landscape in a Snow Kite (Long Island)
Credit: @nykitecenter on Instagram
Snowkiting is winter’s most exciting adventure sport you may not have heard of yet. Use the power of the wind to fly across snow-covered fields. NY Kite Center on Long Island offers intro classes for $299.99 that covers learning how to read the wind and fly, how to rig your kit, and stay safe. All gear is included in the lesson. Speaking of learning how to fly, the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City is a must-visit. Discover the history of aviation and space flight in the place where so many airfields once stood that it became known as the “cradle of aviation.” See over 70 air and spacecraft, including a Blue Angels aircraft, hot air balloons, the 13th Lunar Module, and an extensive Apollo artifact collection featuring spacecraft and more.
21. Enjoy a Local Craft Beer (Various Regions)
Credit: @westkillbrewing on Instagram
Craft brewing is a proud tradition with a long-standing history in New York State. Renowned for its creative blends of seasonal fruits and local ingredients, you'll find unique flavors around every corner. Visit Brewery Ommegang in Central New York for Belgian-inspired specialty and seasonal ales, such as “Everything Nice,” a strong blonde ale with notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, and other wintry spices. At The Lake Placid Pub & Brewery, you'll find its flagship microbrew coined the "Ubu Ale", adorably named after a regular customer's chocolate labrador. For a brew with a view, head to West Kill Brewing (pictured) where every beer is made using pure mountain well water. For more amazing brewery experiences in New York State, see our guide here.
22. Go Ice Fishing on a Lake (Various Regions)
As Lake Ontario freezes it becomes an ice fishing village with fishing huts dotting the horizon. Other shanties, as they're called, pop up throughout the Finger Lakes, such as on Skaneateles Lake (pictured). Ice fishing season opens in December, and anglers stake their patch of ice to fish for panfish, perch, and pike. If you have always wanted to go ice fishing but didn’t know where to start, book a trip with an ice fishing guide to walk you through the setup, tricks, and techniques you’ll need to know, as well as provide you with all the gear you need. You’ll still need to get a fishing permit yourself, however.
23. Go Cross-Country Skiing or Snowshoeing (Various Regions)
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There are nearly 200 well-maintained places to go cross-country skiing in New York State. From Allegany State Park in Chautauqua-Allegheny to The Fields Sculpture Park at Omi in the Hudson Valley, discover the thrilling joy of gliding over snow-covered fields on Nordic skis. If you’ve never been cross-country skiing before, sign up for a lesson! At Lake Placid’s Olympic Sports Complex, you can learn how to pace your skiing and chat with coaches who likely taught or skied with local Olympic biathletes. Head to Central New York’s Osceola Tug Hill X-C Ski/Mtn Biking Center to experience over 20 miles of groomed trails. The Tug Hill State Forest offers ample cross-country skiing trails, as well as waterfall features.Saratoga Spa State Park is a time of rare beauty in winter when the National Historic Landmark opens for snowshoe and cross-country skiing explorations on 12 miles of trails. Find equipment rentals at the Park Office and experience this summer destination when winter’s snow transforms the landscape.
24. Hit the Shops (Various Regions)
When the weather outside is frightful or you're in the mood for some retail therapy, New York State has everything you need to satisfy your shopping needs. New York City is the home to some of the world's most famous shopping destinations, such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Macy's Herald Square. Syracuse boasts the nation's sixth largest shopping center, Destiny USA, while the Hudson Valley is home to a bevy of treasure-filled antique shops and more than 200 outlet shops at Woodbury Commons. From Clayton to Northport, take your next shopping trip along a picture-perfect main street and discover everything from classic souvenirs to high-end clothes to thoughtful keepsakes and handmade items at charming and unique shops.
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