20+ Best Experiences in New York State (From a Real New Yorker)
Look, we all know the hustle. You’ve got one day, maybe two, and you want to do everything without spending half of it stuck on the subway or in traffic. This list is for those days. It’s for when you want to eat, see something, and do something all in one spot. I’m covering the whole state, from the shiny new city megaplexes to the massive upstate escapes.
Just a heads-up: this is New York. Things change by the minute. Always check the official site for hours and ticket info before you go. Don’t be the tourist arguing with the bouncer. It’s not a good look.
A New Yorker’s Guide to 20+ All-in-One NYS Experiences (City & Upstate)
What’s the ‘Real’ New York Experience?
People always ask me, “What’s the real New York experience?” There isn’t just one. It’s the whiplash.
It’s a $25 cocktail on a rooftop one night and a $1 slice at 2 AM the next. What’s more, it’s world-class art in a museum and… questionable “art” on the L train. The best things to do in New York range from bumping shoulders in Times Square (which you should avoid) to finding total peace on a mountain. This list gives you a taste of all of it.
1. SUMMIT One Vanderbilt
This isn’t your grandma’s observation deck. It’s a full-on sensory overload. You’re in a room of mirrors, floating silver orbs, and glass-bottomed boxes that hang over Madison Avenue. It’s built for Instagram, but it’s still undeniably cool.
- Price: $$$$
- Location: 45 E 42nd St, Manhattan (right next to Grand Central)
- Contact: summitov.com
- Pro Tip (Experience): I am not kidding: wear sunglasses. If it’s even slightly sunny, the reflections are blinding. Also, do not wear a skirt or dress. You are walking on mirrored floors. You’ve been warned.
2. Hudson Yards
This is what happens when billionaires play SimCity. It’s… a lot. But it is the definition of an all-in-one. You have a massive luxury mall, restaurants from famous chefs, the climbable Vessel sculpture, and the Edge (that glass floor observation deck).
- Price: FREE (to enter) / $$$$ (for Edge & Vessel)
- Location: West Side, Manhattan (between 30th & 34th St)
- Contact: hudsonyardsnewyork.com
- Pro Tip (Trust): The Vessel is open for climbing again, but you can’t just walk up. You must book tickets in advance online.
3. Chelsea Market
This is the OG food hall, before “curated food halls” were a trend. Chealsea Market is a must-visit for food lovers. It’s an indoor market packed with vendors, from fresh lobster (at The Lobster Place) to tacos (Los Tacos No. 1) to doughnuts. It’s also right at the base of The High Line.
- Price: $$ (for food)
- Cuisine: Everything
- Location: 75 9th Ave, Manhattan
- Contact: https://www.chelseamarket.com
- Pro Tip (Experience): It gets painfully crowded at lunchtime. I mean shoulder-to-shoulder, shuffling-in-a-line crowded. Go at 10 AM on a weekday or after 3 PM if you want to breathe.
4. The High Line
Yes, it’s popular, but it’s genuinely one of the best things the city has done. It’s an old, elevated railway line turned into a public park. You get art, gardens, and great city views. It connects Hudson Yards to Chelsea Market and the Whitney Museum.
- Price: FREE
- Location: Runs from Gansevoort St to 34th St, Manhattan
- Contact: https://www.thehighline.org
- Pro Tip (Experience): Start at Hudson Yards (it’s quieter) and walk south. This way, you end at Chelsea Market and the Whitney Museum. You get the views first, then the food.
5. Brooklyn Bridge Park
This is where you get that skyline photo for your profile. It’s not just a patch of grass. It’s 85 acres of waterfront piers, pop-up bars, sports courts, kayaking, and the Time Out Market food hall. And the best view of downtown, period.
- Price: FREE
- Location: 334 Furman St, Brooklyn
- Contact: https://brooklynbridgepark.org
- Pro Tip (Experience): Grab a pizza from Juliana’s (the line is worth it) or a lobster roll from Luke’s Lobster at the park, and find a spot on the Pier 1 lawn. It’s the best dinner view in the city.
6. Central Park
You can’t make a New York list without it. It’s the city’s backyard. You could spend a week here. It has a zoo, a castle (Belvedere Castle), and it’s flanked by The Met and the American Museum of Natural History.
- Price: FREE
- Location: 59th St to 110th St, Manhattan
- Contact: https://www.centralparknyc.org
- Pro Tip (Experience): The rowboats at The Loeb Boathouse are fine, but the line is always insane. Instead, go to the Conservatory Water (East 72nd St) and rent a model sailboat. It’s cheaper, funnier, and very ‘Stuart Little.’
7. Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island
This is the one “tourist” thing that every local agrees is worth it. It’s a full-day commitment. You get a boat ride, two historic islands, a fantastic museum, and killer views of Lower Manhattan. It’s genuinely moving.
- Price: $$$
- Location: Ferry departs from Battery Park, Manhattan
- Contact: https://www.cityexperiences.com/new-york/city-cruises/statue
- Pro Tip (Trust): Book your tickets only from Statue City Cruises. That is the one and only official vendor. Anyone selling tickets in Battery Park is ripping you off. If you want to climb to the crown, book six months in advance.
8. Storm King Art Center
When the city gets to be too much, you come here. It’s 500 acres of rolling hills and fields in the Hudson Valley, covered in giant, mind-bending sculptures. It’s one of the most beautiful places in the state and will reset your brain.
- Price: $$$
- Location: 1 Museum Rd, New Windsor
- Contact: https://welcome.stormking.org
- Pro Tip (Experience): Rent a bike the second you get there. Do not try to walk the entire place. You will fail, and your legs will hate you for days. Trust me.
9. Dia Beacon
Another perfect city escape. This is a massive, old Nabisco box-printing factory on the Hudson River that’s been turned into a museum for giant, large-scale art. After, the town of Beacon has a great Main Street full of shops and food.
- Price: $$$
- Location: 3 Beekman St, Beacon
- Contact: https://www.diaart.org
- Pro Tip (Experience): This is the easiest car-free day trip. Take the Metro-North train from Grand Central. It’s a beautiful, scenic ride along the river, and the museum is a short walk from the Beacon station.
10. Corning Museum of Glass
This is way upstate, but it’s one of the best museums in the country. It’s a huge, modern space dedicated to the history, art, and science of glass. The live, hot-glass-blowing shows are mesmerizing.
- Price: $$$
- Location: 1 Museum Way, Corning
- Contact: https://www.cmog.org
- Pro Tip (Trust): The “Make Your Own Glass” workshops are the whole point. They sell out weeks or months in advance. Book your spot online before you even think about driving there.
11. Letchworth State Park
They call this the “Grand Canyon of the East,” and for once, the nickname isn’t a total lie. It’s a stunning gorge with three massive waterfalls. You get 66 miles of hiking trails, picnic spots, and even an inn.
- Price: $ (per car)
- Location: 1 Letchworth State Park, Castile
- Contact: https://parks.ny.gov/visit/state-parks/letchworth-state-park
- Pro Tip (Experience): The park is huge. Drive to the main overlooks first (Upper, Middle, and Lower Falls). After you’ve seen the highlights, pick a trail. The view from the Glen Iris Inn is classic.
12. The Strong National Museum of Play
Located in Rochester, this is way more than a kids’ museum. It’s a massive, interactive museum about the history of play. It has the World Video Game Hall of Fame, a huge vintage arcade, and an indoor butterfly garden.
- Price: $$$
- Location: 1 Manhattan Square Dr, Rochester
- Contact: https://www.museumofplay.org
- Pro Tip (Experience): This is a perfect stop if you’re driving to Niagara Falls. It’s pure, nerdy, nostalgic fun. Give yourself at least three hours.
13. Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
This is the actual, historic site of the 1969 Woodstock festival. Today, it’s a beautiful outdoor concert venue, an amazing 1960s museum, and pristine grounds. You can see a show, learn some history, and just feel the vibe on that famous lawn.
- Price: $$$
- Location: 200 Hurd Rd, Bethel
- Contact: https://www.bethelwoodscenter.org
- Pro Tip (Experience): Check the summer concert schedule. Seeing a show on this historic field is an incredible experience.
14. Saratoga Springs
This is a whole all-in-one town. In the summer (late July to Labor Day), you have the world-famous Saratoga Race Course. All year, you have a beautiful historic downtown, great bars, and the Saratoga Spa State Park with its springs and spas.
- Price: $$
- Example
- Location: Saratoga Springs, NY
- Contact: https://www.discoversaratoga.org
- Pro Tip (Experience): Go during the racing season in August for the full experience. But be ready for huge crowds and high hotel prices.
15. Gantry Plaza State Park
Want that skyline view without the Brooklyn crowds? Head to Long Island City, Queens. This park has the iconic Pepsi-Cola sign, gorgeous piers jutting into the East River, and amazing views of Midtown.
- Price: FREE
- Location: 4-09 47th Rd, Queens
- Contact: https://parks.ny.gov/visit/state-parks/gantry-plaza-state-park
- Pro Tip (Experience): This is the local’s skyline view. It’s right near a bunch of great breweries (like LIC Beer Project) and restaurants. It’s the perfect sunset picnic spot.
16. American Museum of Natural History
An obvious pick, but it’s an all-day beast. You have the giant dinosaurs, the big blue whale, the new Gilder Center, and the Rose Center for Earth and Space (the planetarium). You can eat, learn, and be amazed all under one roof.
- Price: $$$
- Location: 200 Central Park West, Manhattan
- Contact: https://www.amnh.org
- Pro Tip (Trust): Admission is “Pay-what-you-wish” for New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut residents only (with valid ID). If you’re a visitor, you have to pay the full suggested price.
17. Rockefeller Center
It’s not just for the Christmas tree. You can go to the Top of the Rock (a great view), tour Radio City Music Hall, shop, eat, and ice skate in the winter. It’s a tourist hub for a reason.
- Price: FREE (to enter) / $$$$ (for Top of the Rock)
- Location: 45 Rockefeller Plaza, Manhattan
- Contact: https://www.rockefellercenter.com
- Pro Tip (Experience): In the warmer months, the ice rink becomes Flipper’s Roller Boogie Palace. Roller skating under the “30 Rock” building is a great time.
18. Niagara Falls State Park
This is the ultimate New York State experience. It’s pure natural power. You can take the Maid of the Mist boat, walk the Cave of the Winds, and hike the trails.
- Price: FREE (to enter park) / $$$ (for attractions)
- Location: 332 Prospect St, Niagara Falls
- Contact: https://www.niagarafallsstatepark.com
- Pro Tip (Experience): Just do the Maid of the Mist. You will get soaked. They give you a blue poncho. The poncho will do almost nothing. It is 100% worth it.
19. Coney Island
For a classic, gritty, fun New York day, this is it. You have the beach, the boardwalk, the original Nathan’s Famous hot dogs, the New York Aquarium, and the rides at Luna Park (including the rickety, terrifying, and wonderful Cyclone).
- Price: FREE (to enter) / $$ (for rides/food)
- Location: Coney Island, Brooklyn
- Contact: https://www.coneyisland.com
- Pro Tip (Experience): Go for the Mermaid Parade in June to see the full, weird, wonderful side of New York.
20. The Metropolitan Museum of Art
You can’t talk about all-in-one without The Met. It’s one of the world’s largest art museums. You can see an entire Egyptian temple, rooms of European paintings, and modern art.
- Price: $$$
- Location: 1000 5th Ave, Manhattan
- Contact: https://www.metmuseum.org
- Pro Tip (Experience): In the spring and summer, the Roof Garden opens. Go up, get an overpriced cocktail, and enjoy one of the best views over Central Park.
- Pro Tip (Trust): Just like the AMNH, admission is “Pay-what-you-wish” only for NY/NJ/CT residents and students.
21. Time Out Market New York
If you just want to eat, this is your spot. Located in Dumbo, this is a curated food hall with some of the city’s best chefs under one roof. You get pizza, burgers, ramen, and cocktails, then eat on their 5th-floor rooftop.
- Price: $$$
- Cuisine: Various
- Location: 55 Water St, Brooklyn
- Contact: https://www.timeout.com/time-out-market-new-york
- Pro Tip (Experience): Grab your food and walk two minutes to the waterfront. The view is just as good as from the roof, and you won’t have to fight for a table.
Need More Kid-Friendly Ideas?
If you dragged your kids through Dia Beacon or The Met, you probably owe them. We’ve got a whole other list for that. For some great ideas, check out our guide on 20+ Kid-Friendly Attractions In NYC (That Adults Secretly Love Too).
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