Upstate New York is astounding with natural beauty no matter the season. From the historic Hudson Valley to the Finger Lakes region, this region is one of the most beautiful in North America. The towns that make up the region embody this beauty while adding their own unique charm.
Niagara Falls, the Catskill Mountains, the Adirondack Mountains and more are all found here, but Upstate New York has more to offer than natural beauty. Historic neighborhoods, quaint downtowns and architectural styles add to the region’s charm. Check out these 7 of Upstate New York’s most beautiful towns.
Ithaca
Ithaca borders Cayuga Lake and is home to Cornell University. The Cornell Botanic Gardens are part of the university and offer seasonal exhibits and daily tours. Ithaca is home to more than 10 natural waterfalls, including Ithaca Falls. The 150-foot waterfall is one of the city’s signature attractions.
Beyond the natural scenery, the town has plenty to do. The downtown area is the hub of activity and seasonal events. It’s divided into sections like The Commons, Restaurant Row, and Press Bay. The town is very walkable, which is one of the best ways to take in its beauty.
Watkins Glen
The small village of Watkins Glen is known for its 19 waterfalls, the Gorge Trail, and the Watkins Glen International Racetrack. The Gorge Trail is a mile long and follows the Taughannock Creek to Taughannock Falls, the highest waterfall east of the Rocky Mountains. Another famous waterfall is the 150-foot Rainbow Falls, located off the side of the Gorge Trail.
Watkins Glen International is a historic horse racing track that opened in 1948. Known as the Glen, the track hosts numerous racing events and live concerts throughout the year, always drawing large crowds. For a more tranquil experience, visit Castel Grisch Winery for a guided tour and a taste of some of the region’s best wines.
Saratoga Springs
Saratoga Springs is a charming town known for thoroughbred racing, the National Racing Hall of Fame and Museum, which tells the story of horse racing through art, exhibits and trophies, and the 2,379-acre Saratoga Spa State Park.
The park is a National Historic Landmark for its architecture, mineral springs, baths, and the famous Saratoga Performing Arts Center. Known as SPAC, the facility has hosted more than 1,000 performances over the past 50 years and hosts weekly events. Ten museums, boutiques, and antique shops add to the charm and beauty of Saratoga Springs.
Cold Spring
Located 50 miles from Manhattan on the Hudson River, the scenic town of Cold Spring is one of the city’s biggest attractions. One of the town’s biggest attractions is its Main Street, which stretches out over 200 stores, including antique shops, boutiques, and restaurants, all lined up along the river.
Main Street leads into the historic district that includes Hudson River Village, which gives Cold Spring its charm, and you can hike along the West Point Foundry Preserve, a scenic trail along the Hudson River and an open-air museum of the ironworks that once housed the West Point Military Academy.
Sleepy Hollow
Best known as the setting for Washington Irving’s novel, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Sleepy Hollow is also a quaint Hudson Valley town that’s easy to explore, with many attractions within walking distance. Kykuit, Rockefeller’s mansion, is one of many meticulously preserved historic buildings.
The Old Dutch Church is also a notable historic landmark. Built in 1685 and organized as a Dutch congregation in 1697, it served the community for 150 years before a new church was built in nearby Tarrytown. In addition to historical landmarks, such as the Headless Horseman Bridge, there are plenty of cultural landmarks to discover, making Sleepy Hollow one of the most beautiful small towns in upstate New York.
Cooperstown
Cooperstown is best known for being the home of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, which pays tribute to legends through exhibits, tours, and a plaque gallery that displays bronze plaques honoring inductees. Cooperstown, “America’s Hometown,” is also home to the legendary Doubleday Field, built in the early 20th century as the birthplace of baseball.
The Farmers Museum is the oldest surviving museum in the United States, showcasing the region’s agricultural lifestyle circa 1845. Take a trolley to the town’s famous Main Street, where you’ll find numerous shops and quaint B&B inns. Nearly every corner of Cooperstown is steeped in history, enhancing the town’s natural beauty.
Lake calm
Lake Placid is a small village in the Adirondack Mountains. It’s a popular winter sports destination and has even hosted the Winter Olympics. The Olympic Center, which hosted the 1932 and 1980 Olympics, has three ice rinks and a speed skating rink. Another notable site is John Brown Farm State Historic Site, the home and graveyard of famous abolitionist John Brown.
A stroll down Main Street is a great way to spend an afternoon. The pedestrian-friendly downtown is home to shops, lodging, and restaurants, including Generations, which is two stories high and has an outdoor veranda overlooking Mirror Lake. You can spend the day downtown and never be far from nature, adding to Lake Placid’s charm.
Upstate New York is one of the most beautiful regions in the U.S. It has two mountain ranges, numerous lakes, and many waterfalls. The charming villages and towns that dot the landscape add to its beauty, making it a fairy-tale land well worth visiting.
Sports play a major role in upstate New York, with several museums and attractions paying tribute to the sport through exhibits and guided tours. Cooperstown is known for baseball, Saratoga Springs for thoroughbred horse racing, and Lake Placid has hosted multiple Winter Olympics. Historical sites and natural scenery make these seven towns the most beautiful in upstate New York.
