Wondering what to see and visit in upstate New York besides the Niagara Falls?

Things to do on the American Side of Niagara Falls

Here it’s a nice compilation of some of the best places to go in upstate New York:

New York State Museum, Albany

The NY State Museum is probably one of the best museums you can visit in upstate New York where young and old can have a fun time. The museum boasts dozens of galleries exhibiting hundreds of artifacts such as a 1920’s carousel, the skeleton of a Mastodon, old fire engines, indigenous beaded work, minerals, life-like dioramas, and a life-size longhouse among other stuff.

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Besides the exhibitions, the New York State Museum offers cool programs such as day trips, and summer camps, as well as family events such as “Family Fun Day” every third Saturday of each month, and Monster Mayhem (Oct 22-29th) during Halloween.

Saratoga Race Course, Saratoga Springs

The Saratoga Race Course is one of the coolest places to go in upstate New York during the summer even, if you aren’t a fan of horse racing.

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The Saratoga racetrack is inexpensive to get in (around $4) and it’s a fun place to be seen, watch thoroughbreds up-close, people-watch, and enjoy a bit of gambling without spending a lot. The racetrack also boasts beautiful grounds with a large screen where you can catch the racing action while enjoying a picnic.

National Museum of Play, Rochester

National Museum of Play is one of the top rated museums in New York State, and one of the top sights to see in upstate NY with children.

Interesting places to visit in New York State

The National Museum of Play is an absolute heaven for kids to interact with other children and enjoy fun activities such as playing old arcade games, hopping on a drag racer, and playing in a slanted house. There is also a butterfly garden and an aquarium, as well as an old-fashioned carousel and mini train.

Prospect Mountain, Lake Georgia

Prospect Mountain is one of the top places to see the fall foliage in upstate NY and spend a nice day outdoors during the warm months of the year. You can enjoy a nice scenic drive along Veterans Memorial Highway to the top or take the free shuttle bus, though the hike to the top of Prospect Mountain is cool since most of the hike is through the forest.

Things to do in Upstate NY

Once at the top, you’ll find an observation point with telescopes which allow you to enjoy beautiful views of the Adirondacks, Lake George, and even the Green Mountains in Vermont.

Olympic Ski Jump, Lake Placid

The Olympic Ski Jump in Lake Placid is easily one of the most amazing sights you can see in upstate NY, especially if you’ve never seen a ski ramp up-close before. You’ll be sure to be blown away by the sight of the Olympic Ski Jump, which is truly breathtaking to admire from the ground.

The best thing of all is that you're allowed to climb to the top of the ski jump to enjoy the same view ski jumpers get before going down and taking-off the ramp. While in the complex, be sure to also visit the BobSled Complex to enjoy a fun bobsled ride with a pro driver.

By the way, if you happen to be at the Olympic Center during the summer you’ll be able to catch a cool jumping show called Wet-n-Wild" Wednesday where you see ski jumping performers doing cool acrobatics before landing into a swimming pool.

National Baseball Hall of Fame, Cooperstown

If you’re a baseball fan, the National Baseball Hall of Fame should be high on your list of sights to see in upstate NY.

You can easily spend 3-4 hours at the hall of fame since the museum boasts thousands of objects and artifacts such as photographs of players and bronze plaques, old-fashioned baseball bats, jerseys, statues, and that's just the tip of the iceberg. This hall of fame is truly one of the best in the United States and it's a magnificent place for sports fans, and anyone interested in American history and culture.

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Freedom Trail

Freedom Trail is one of the top places to visit in Massachusetts, and one of the top tourist attractions in the US for historic buffs.

If you’re interested in the American Revolution and founding of the United States, you will no doubt include a tour of Freedom Trail to your list of things to do in Boston.

You can enjoy fun guided tours (bus tours, walking tours, etc) along the 2-mile long Freedom Trail, which boasts many interesting sites such as the Massachusetts State House, the Old State House, Paul Revere House, and Faneuil Hall.

Hershey Park

Hershey Park is one of the most popular tourist attractions in northeast USA, and also one of the best amusement parks to visit in the United States. A visit to Hershey Park Pennsylvania makes for a fun day out with the family, especially during the Christmas and Halloween seasons.

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In Hershey Park you can enjoy everything from riding thrilling coasters to fun tours such as Hershey’s Chocolate World where you can learn how to make your own chocolate!

Top of the Rock

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Top of the Rock is located at Rockefeller Plaza and it’s without a doubt, one of the most popular tourist attractions in northeast USA. Top of the Rock observation deck is easily one of the best places in New York to get the best views of New York City including the Empire State Building and Central Park.

Cadillac Mountain

Cadillac Mountain is located in Bar Harbor and it’s definitely one of the most popular natural tourist attractions in northeast USA. A visit to Cadillac Mountain is well worth the drive as the view from the summit is priceless!

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Cadillac Mountain is definitely one of the most beautiful places in New England, and it's also one of the best spots to catch the sunset and gaze at the stars since the summit is the highest point in the northeastern region.

Mark Twain House

Tourist attractions in northeast USA don’t come as historic as Mark Twain House in Hartford Connecticut.

Attractions in Connecticut

Mark Twain is without a doubt, one of the most iconic American writers that ever lived, and being able to tour his former house is such as an amazing experience! Touring Twain’s house offers you an interesting glance into the life of this legendary writer whose real name was Samuel Clemmens. There is also a wonderful museum next at the site where you can see cool photographs of Mark Twain.

Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art has to be one of the most popular tourist attractions in northeast USA, and one of the best art museums in the US.

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The MET is a huge place and a truly magnificent museum because of its many masterpiece collections, and fascinating exhibits such as the middle age room. The MET also boasts famous paintings on display such as the “The Toilet of Venus” and “Nude Before a Mirror”. The cool thing about the Metropolitan Museum of Art is that the admission and guided tours are free of charge!

Flume Gorge

Flume Gorge isn’t only one of the top 10 natural wonders in the US, but another of the top tourist attractions in northeast USA. Flume Gorge is located in Lincoln New Hampshire and it’s without question one of the must see attractions in the northeastern region as it offers amazing views of forest and beautiful waterfalls.

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Flume Gorge also boasts an aerial tramway which takes you to the summit of Cannon Mountain offering spectacular views along the way!

Eastern State Penitentiary (ESP)

Eastern State Penitentiary is another of the tourist attractions in northeast USA that you wouldn’t want to miss visiting. The Eastern State Penitentiary is easily one of the eeriest places you’ll ever visit in the United States because of its medieval/Gothic architecture

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You can enjoy guided and audio tours of the prison, and walk along the prison corridors and inside famous prison cells such as Al Capone’s. If you’re traveling to Philadelphia during the Halloween season you won’t find more haunted places in the US than ESP. During the Halloween, the Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site runs a Haunted House event at this old penitentiary.

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Mark Twain House, Hartford

Mark Twain House is without a doubt one of the most historic attractions in Connecticut and a popular place to visit among Mark Twain’s fans. This house is the place where Mark Twain actually wrote one of his most famous books - Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

You can explore Mark Twain House on a guided tour and visit all the rooms in the house (dining room, library, drawing room, etc), as well as the museum center which features regular changing exhibits. There are also many regular events held at Twain's house throughout the year, though the annual holiday house tour on December 4th is one of the best times to be at the house because of the beautiful decorations.

Submarine Force Library Museum, Groton

The Submarine Force Library Museum is definitely one of the coolest attractions in Connecticut you can visit, and one of the best places in New England to see and learn about submarines and undersea warfare.

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Submarine Force is truly an amazing place to be as you'll get to learn interesting facts about submarine weapons, and see the past and modern  evolution of submarines in the outdoor exhibit. You’ll also get a chance to climb onboard the USS Nautilus submarine and explore the command room and see the periscopes.

Quassy Amusement Park, Middlebury

Quassy Amusement Park is one of the fun attractions in Connecticut and one of the most charming places you can go in the state for a fun day out with the family.

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Quassy Amusement Park boasts both thrill and water rides like the wooden warrior for children between the ages of 4 and 12, though the best thing about Quassy Amusement Park has to be Lake Quassapaug which serves as a nice lake beach area for swimming and picnicking.

Mohegan Sun, Montville

Mohegan Sun is without question one of the most popular attractions in Connecticut and one of the best places in the state to enjoy a fun and entertaining weekend getaway.

Mohegan Sun boasts plenty of entertainment options such as a casino, a comedy house, a cabaret theatre, and an indoor arena where you can catch NBA games and famous acts such as Jennifer Lopez this coming October.

Mystic Aquarium, Mystic

Mystic Aquarium is definitely one of the most popular family attractions in Connecticut and one of the best places to take kids for a fun afternoon.

Mystic Aquarium is easily one of the best aquariums in the US as it boasts a theater where you can experience in real time deep sea expeditions. There are also cool live shows featuring beluga whales and sea lions, and fun activities on offer for kids such as marine life talks, summer camps and family overnights.

Yale University Art Gallery & Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History, Yale

Yale University is no doubt one of the top tourist attractions in Connecticut not only for its rich history, but also because it houses one of the best art museums in the US, and the oldest natural history museum in the world!

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The Yale University Art Gallery boasts regular exhibitions and a huge permanent collection featuring famous names such as Monet, Warhol, and Pollack; while at the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History you can see cool exhibits on dinosaurs and precious gems.

Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo, Bridgeport

Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo may not be the biggest zoo in the United States, but it’s one of the nicest and neatest attractions in Connecticut you can go to (especially since it’s the only zoo in the entire state). You can have a laugh with friends and family, as well as enjoy a pleasant picnic on the beautiful grassy grounds.

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Summer vacation spots in New England

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and in the case of New England words aren't enough to describe New England’s beautiful landscapes, charming towns, village greens, rocky coastlines, and breathtaking mountain scenery.


There are literary hundreds of beautiful places in New England that we could add on this list, but for the purpose of this post we’ll be mentioning some of the places that stand out the most in our opinion. They are as follows:

Northeast Kingdom


The Northeast Kingdom of Vermont is without a doubt, one of the most beautiful places to visit in New England, and one the tourist attractions in the northeast USA. The lovely mountain scenery, gorgeous lakes and charming little towns that dot this region will truly enchant you!

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The Northeast Kingdom region (NEK) is remarkably gorgeous and it’s an absolute paradise for outdoor enthusiasts offering plenty of hiking and biking trails, camping areas and lakes for enjoying fun water activities.

Martha’s Vineyard

Beautiful places to visit in New England don’t come as scenic and pristine as the island of Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts. Martha’s Vineyard boasts charming gingerbread cottages, pretty colonial towns, historic lighthouses and even the oldest carousel in America – Flying Horses Carousel.

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Martha’s Vineyard also home to Long Point Beach, which is one of the most beautiful beaches in the US; and Gay Head which are some of the most beautiful clay cliffs in the world.

Franconia Notch State Park

Franconia Notch State Park in New Hampshire is another of the beautiful places to visit in New England as it's located within the White Mountain national forest and just 20 minutes drive from the charming town of Franconia.

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Franconia Notch State Park is home to one of the most beautiful places in the region - the Flume Gorge – which boasts stunning waterfalls and lush foliage. Franconia Notch State Park is also one of the best spots to see the fall foliage and enjoy all year-round outdoor pursuits like hiking, biking, skiing and fishing.

Rockwood

The village of Rockwood in Maine has to be another of the beautiful places to visit in New England as it boasts the majestic Mt. Kineo in its backdrop, and the stunning Moosehead Lake overlooking the village.

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Rockwood is no doubt, one of the best places in the region to explore on all-terrain vehicle as Rockwood is surrounded by miles and miles of ATV trails along the forest and Moosehead Lake, which is also a popular spot for enjoy kayaking and swimming during the summer, as well as snowmobiling and ice fishing in the winter months.

Litchfield County

Litchfield County in Connecticut is another of the beautiful places to visit in New England as it boasts picture-postcard landscapes and envious country life!

Interesting places to visit in Connecticut

Rolling hills, covered bridges, charming towns, and pristine woodlands are words that accurately describe this part of Connecticut’s beautiful countryside where you can enjoy some of the best scenic drives in the US.

Upper Valley

The Upper Valley spans the Vermont and New Hampshire border and it’s without a doubt one of the most beautiful places to visit in New England. In fact, if you’re looking for gorgeous summer vacation spots in New England you won’t a more scenic place to go for a vacation in the region than in the Upper Valley.

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The beauty and serenity of the Upper Valley is inarguable and the opportunities for outdoor pursuits are also endless…canoeing, hiking, skiing, etc; you name it, the Upper Valley region delivers it!

The Upper Valley region is also home to some renowned museums worth passing by such as the Precision Museum in Windsor, the Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium in St. Johnsbury, and the the Montshire Museum of Science in Norwich.

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