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.

Places to Visit in Albany NY

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.

Places in New York State to vacation

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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Looking for fun things to do in Windsor Canada?

Whether you travel in summer or winter, taking sightseeing tours of Windsor Ontario are some of the most popular things to do in Windsor Ontario, and one of the best way to explore all the attractions that the beautiful city of Windsor offers.

River Cruises & Canoeing


There are many excellent tour companies in Windsor that offer all kinds of tours from walking and cruise tours to kayaking and tugboat tours.

Things to do when visiting Ontario Canada 

Top Canadian Tourist Attractions

Taking a cruise along the Detroit River is one of the most enjoyable things you can do in Windsor, and an excellent way to take in Detroit’s stunning skyline.

There are several cruise companies in Windsor that offer either sightseeing tours, dinner cruises or a combination of both.

Both the Detroit Princess and the Pride of Windsor are known for dinner and lunch cruises (between $20 and $60), while Diamond Jack offers inexpensive narrated sightseeing cruises for around $17 per adult.

If you fancy enjoying a bit of kayaking or canoeing with kids or friends, there are a few outfitters in downtown Windor that offer canoeing trips locally such as Canada South Outdoors (located at 2268 Lincoln Road) and Windsor Essex County Club (located at 3850 Dougall Ave).

Sightseeing Tours & Walking Tours

Besides cruises tours, sightseeing is another of the best things to do in Windsor Ontario when you visit the city, and what better way to do it than on a self-guided walking tour?

Windsor is a very walkable city and exploring it on foot is a nice way to experience up-close Windsor’s attractions and visit the city's historic sites. These include:

-Willistead Manor: is one of the grandest mansions in Windsor, and the best thing is that you can tour the mansion for around $6.

-Jackson Park: is another popular attraction to stop by while on a walking tour. The park is home to the Queen Elizabeth II Garden, which boasts stunningly beautiful garden beds.

Famous Canadian landmarks  

-Mackenzie Hall: is Windsor’s former gaol, and now a cultural center. In fact, at Mackenzie Hall you can catch all kinds of live shows like puppet and art shows, and other regular family-friendly events, so be sure to check what’s on when in town!

-François Baby House: is another beautiful historic house that houses today Windsor’s Community Center, which boasts thousands of period artifacts on display.

-Fort Malden National Historic Park: is another great attraction worth checking out if you’re hiring a car during your visit in Windsor. Fort Malden is located around 30 minutes drive south of downtown Windsor and boasts a beautifully restored barracks and a neat museum.

Recreational Activities

Walking, biking, boating, cycling and picnicking are all great things to do in Windsor Ontario, and you’ll be glad to know that the city boasts many recreational trails that run through many of Windsor’s parks such as Ojibway Park and Malden Park and McKee Park.

Having said this, one of the best and most scenic walking/biking routes in Windsor Ontario is along Windsor’s Riverwalk. The Riverwalk spans 3 miles and offers great views of the Detroit River and Detroit skyline in the distance.

Visiting the parks is one of the best things to do in Windsor Ontario with family and friends during the warm months. Some of the best parks in Windsor include:

-Malden Park: boasts many playing and picnic areas, walking trails and a cool toboggan hill for the little ones.

- Ojibway Park: boasts a nature centre and many walking trails that go through beautiful forest.

-McKee Park: boasts also playgrounds and trails for biking, as well as a small marina where you can launch a boat.

-Peche Island: is a charming small island park where you can enjoy picnicking and other recreational activities. Having said this, this park is only accessible by boat, which is great if you’re planning to rent a tugboat or kayak.

Day Trip to Detroit

One of the many things that make Windsor Ontario one of the most popular southern Ontario vacation spots is its close proximity to the United States.

In fact, if you’re using car rental you can drive along the Detroit–Windsor underground tunnel, or drive across the Ambassador suspension bridge and be in downtown Detroit Michigan within minutes.

Top Summer Vacation Destinations in Canada

Having said this, don’t forget about the US customs and border checkpoint since they require a passport now to cross to the other side!

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Looking for popular southern Ontario vacation spots?

Top Canadian Tourist Attractions

Southern Ontario Canada is truly an amazing place to explore all year round, and enjoy fun outdoor activities with friends and family. Three of the most popular southern Ontario vacation spots include:

Ottawa Canada

Things to do when visiting Ontario Canada  

Ottawa Canada is truly and outdoors haven in terms of the amount of outdoor opportunities that it offers. For instance, the Ottawa River is a popular place white-water rafting, kayaking and enjoying a cruise.

Toronto Canada

Toronto Canada is popular for its city parks and the Toronto Islands, which are a popular spot for enjoying fun recreational activities.

Another popular side to Toronto Canada is its vibrant nightlife and summer festivals such as the lively Toronto Caribana Festival.

Hamilton Canada

There are a ton of great places to visit in Hamilton Canada. If you are looking to enjoy outdoor pursuits such as winery tours and hiking, Hamilton Canada is just on the Niagara Encampment, which is an area renowned for its vineyards and the famed Niagara Falls, which is just a mere 8 miles from the city.


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Famous Canadian landmarks   
If you’re traveling to Ontario for the first time, check out below a little overview and some facts about southern Ontario vacation spots that you may find interesting:

Southern Ontario vacation spots are popular amongst families with kids and anglers alike due to the variety of freshwater lakes which mainly consists of Lake Superior (Michigan), Lake Michigan-Huron, Lake Erie (Erie PA in Pennsylvania) and Lake Ontario Canada.

Southern Ontario also has a more moderate climate than northern Ontario making southern Ontario vacation spots very popular in either winter or summer.

Another reason that makes southern Ontario a popular choice amongst travelers, it’s the region’s close location to other vacation spots in the Midwest and summer vacation spots in New England, allowing travelers the chance to explore the north region of the United States.

For instance, US cities such as Buffalo New York, Erie Pennsylvania, Dayton Ohio and Detroit Michigan are close to the border with southern Ontario.

If you are an outdoor enthusiast, and are planning on doing outdoor pursuits, southern Ontario is home to the Niagara Encampment where you can enjoy anything from hiking to exploring vineyards and wineries.

Ontario Canada is also one of the most visited provinces in Canada, and with abundant natural attractions such as Algonquin Park, Bruce Peninsula, majestic waterfalls and valleys, it’s not surprising why Ontario Canada is such a great destination.

Quick Facts

- Ontario has the largest population in Canada

- Southern Ontario coastlines the famed Great Lakes

- Almost 90% of Ontario’s population live in southern Ontario

- Both French and English are widely spoken in the province

- The city of Ottawa is the capital and also the most visited city in Canada

- Toronto is the largest city in Canada.

- Southern Ontario is closely bordered by Michigan and New York

- Well known attractions in southern Ontario include: Niagara Falls, Toronto Zoo, Royal Canadian Mint and Canada's Wonderland.

- Some of the most popular festivals and events in Canada are held in southern Ontario. Some of these include: Canada Day and Windsor Freedom Festival

- Southern Ontario is home to the famed Niagara Escarpment, the largest in North America.

- Highway 401 is the widest and busiest freeway in North America, running the entire length of southern Ontario

- Southern Ontario is also home to some of the best destinations in November to experience the fall foliage.


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