Target affluent travelers with deluxe accommodations
By Randy Mink
From the Adirondacks and Finger Lakes to the Hudson Valley and New York City, possibilities abound for those seeking out the finer things in life.
Top-tier hotels and resorts, upscale dining, boutique shopping, and spa pampering can be integrated into New York itineraries designed for groups looking for something above and beyond. Mix in some outdoor activities and cultural attractions, and you have the perfect package for the seasoned traveler with a few extra bucks to spend.
Below are samplings of what each of the Empire State’s 11 vacation regions can offer this sophisticated client.
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Adirondacks
Adirondack Park, a 6-million-acre wilderness playground known for its forests, lakes and mountain scenery, abounds with grand resorts as well. The sprawling Sagamore Resort, offering classic elegance on Lake George since 1883, provides deluxe accommodation in lakeside lodges, standalone houses, residential-style condos and bi-level suites in the former carriage house. All three swimming pools and a golf course overlook Lake George, the “Queen of American Lakes.”
A visit to Lake George is incomplete without a sightseeing, lunch or dinner cruise on Lake George Steamboat Company’s flagship, the Lac du Saint Sacrament. Active travelers in the area go rail biking on tours with Revolution Rail Co., which provides custom-built bikes for pedaling along repurposed railway tracks.
Lake Placid, a fashionable resort town that once attracted the Carnegies, Rockefellers and Vanderbilts, has twice hosted the Winter Olympics—in 1932 and 1980. To soak in the town’s Olympic history, visitors can tour the Lake Placid Olympic Museum at the Olympic Center and other Lake Placid Legacy Sites.
Lake Placid Lodge, a rustic luxury retreat built in the Arts and Crafts style, blends naturally into the forest and has a broad stone porch open to sweeping lake views.
On Flower Lake in the nearby town of Saranac Lake, the elite place to stay is voco Saranac Lake NY – Waterfront.
Tupper Lake, west of Saranac Lake, is home to the Wild Center, where the Wild Walk involves trekking across the treetops on bridges and raised walkways that twist and turn above the Adirondack forest.
Capital-Saratoga
The Gideon Putnam, a boutique hotel, is surrounded by the natural beauty of Saratoga Springs State Park, which is also home to the historic Roosevelt Baths & Spa, renowned for its mineral baths since 1935.
In the elegant resort town of Saratoga Springs, famous for its horseracing track (Saratoga Race Course) and golf at Saratoga National, the top choice is the 65-room Adelphi Hotel, a Victorian gem. The charming downtown brims with art galleries, smart shops and farm-to-table dining.
Besides therapeutic mineral baths, amenities at Saratoga Spa State Park include hiking trails, a pool complex, two golf courses, Saratoga Performing Arts Center and the Saratoga Automobile Museum.
Revolutionary War history comes alive on tours of Saratoga National Historical Park, site of the battlefield where Americans achieved their first significant military victory over the British in 1777.
At Thacher State Park, a rugged preserve 15 minutes southwest of Albany, hikers clamber on cliffs and pass waterfalls on the Indian Ladder Trail.
Catskills
Villa Roma Resort in Callicoon has been one of the Catskills’ premier playgrounds since 1944, offering a range of activities, from tennis and pickleball to go-karting and ziplining. Another luxury haven is the Roscoe Mountain Club in Roscoe. Ideal for small groups, the woodland retreat has a 24-room inn and five-and six-bedroom houses. Guests enjoy boating on the private lake, racquet sports, golf, hiking, and disc golf.
Seminary Hill Orchard & Cidery in Callicoon, atop a hill overlooking the Delaware River Valley, grows 60 varieties of apples and pears. Its Boarding House hotel and farm-to-table restaurant attract an upscale clientele.
Visitors can relive a signature 20th century music event at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, a concert venue on the site of the 1969 Woodstock Festival. Its 1960s museum documents the three-day extravaganza with films, artifacts, and photographic murals. Golf cart tours showcase the field where hundreds of thousands of hippies gathered to celebrate peace and love.
On the tracks of the former Ulster and Delaware Railroad, Rail Explorers offers rail biking tours on pedal-powered rail bikes with electric-assist motors. Affording forest and river views, the tours begin in Phoenicia, next to the 1899 Empire State Railway Museum.
One of the region’s prettiest spots is Minnewaska State Park Preserve, where the Sam’s Point area offers scenic vistas (cliffs, lakes, waterfalls) from the highest point of the Shawangunk Mountains. Deep-blue Lake Minnewaska, with a sandy beach, is surrounded by white sandstone cliffs.
The state-of-the-art Catskills Fly Fishing Center and Museum, between Roscoe and Livington Manor, documents the history of fly-fishing in the United States.
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Central New York
In the idyllic village of Cooperstown, rocking chairs on the veranda of the majestic, colonial-style Otesaga Resort Hotel command views of Otsego Lake. Dating from 1909, the red-brick landmark, an AAA Four Diamond property, offers lake swimming, boat rentals, and the 18-hole Leatherstocking Golf Course.
The Otesaga is a short walk from Main Street shopping and the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, the sport’s premier shrine. Many of the shops specialize in baseball-themed merchandise and memorabilia.
Belgian-style beers and Belgian-inspired food await at the Tap House and Cafe at Ommegang Brewery, a culinary hotspot in Cooperstown. At Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards in Lafayette, house-made ciders, spirits, and wine are served at the 1911 Tasting Room & Tavern.
Glimmerglass State Park in Cooperstown has public beaches on Otsego Lake, and the park’sHyde Hall presents concerts and plays. The Glimmerglass Queen excursion boat offers lake cruises. Cooperstown’s other top sights are The Farmers’ Museum, an outdoor attraction that
interprets 19th century rural and village life, and the Fenimore Art Museum, which claims the state’s best collection of folk art, fine art, and Native American art.
Stone Hill Quarry Art Park, a changing collection of contemporary sculptures in Cazenovia, also contributes to the cultural scene in Central New York.
Chautauqua-Allegheny
The 135-room Chautauqua Harbor Hotel in Celoron captures the charm of the grand hotels of yesteryear. Resting on the shores of Chautauqua Lake, the luxury resort features indoor and outdoor pools, mini golf, and stunning lake views from the patio of Lakehouse Tap & Grille.
The Chautauqua Belle operates lake cruises from multiple docks, including those at the Chautauqua Harbor Hotel and Chautauqua Institution, an esteemed non-profit education center that offers a summer series of music, dance and theater performances, lectures and recreational activities.
The four-season Peek ’n Peak Resort in Clymer started as a ski resort and still caters to skiers and snowboarders, who have a choice of 27 illuminated slopes and trails serviced by chairlifts, plus five terrain parks. Snowmaking equipment guarantees top conditions. Guests also enjoy a championship golf course, ziplining, mini golf, indoor and outdoor pools, and a day spa. There are condo rentals and a 108-room inn.
Allegheny State Park, near Salamanca, is billed as the “Wilderness Playground of Western NewYork.” A land of lakes, mountains and meadows, it is laced with hiking trails. Campsites, cabins and cottages accommodate overnight guests.
The Amish Trail in Cattaraugus County provides a peek at the lifestyles of people who eschew modern commercialism and travel by horse and buggy. On a leisurely drive in the past lane, stops along the way might include small home shops where the Amish sell food items, leather goods, quilts, rugs, and woodcrafts.
Just for laughs, schedule a stop at the National Comedy Center in Jamestown. More than 50 immersive exhibits using cutting-edge technology tell the story of comedy in America, recognizing some of the most brilliant minds. Three blocks away, the Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Museum honors the husband-and-wife team that starred in “I Love Lucy,” the classic 1950s TV comedy television comedy series that lives on today in reruns. For groups, the museum can provide a step-on guide for a “LucyTown Tour” of Ball’s hometown and arrange an “I Love Lucy”, themed lunch in the museum’s Tropicana Club, a replica of Ricky Ricardo’s fictional nightclub.
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Finger Lakes
One of the East’s most important wine-growing regions, Finger Lakes ranks among the country’stop culinary destinations. Top-tier wineries, restaurants and hotels attract a discriminating clientele that appreciates the best in food and drink.
On Lake Canandaigua, the 109-room Hotel Canandaigua, a member of Tapestry Collection by Hilton, is just a short walk from the New York Kitchen, a foodie magnet that can arrange hands-on cooking classes, from pasta making to dessert baking. It also offers craft beverage pairing sessions and culinary demonstrations. Emphasis is on New York State agricultural products. The Tasting Room serves more than 60 wines and 10 beers on tap, along with hard ciders and distilled spirits.
Other Half Bloomfield, a farmhouse brewery in Bloomfield with a taproom, beer garden, and food truck, also attracts culinary-minded travelers.
At Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion State Historic Park in Canandaigua, visitors can imbibe at the Finger Lakes Wine Center tasting room as well as tour the 1887 Victorian home, formal gardens, and antique greenhouse complex.
In Corning, glassblowing demonstrations and hands-on exhibits engage guests at the Corning Museum of Glass, the world’s largest glass museum.
The town of Watkins Glen hosts big-time auto racing at Watkins Glen International. Its Drive the Glen experience consists of three escorted laps in your own vehicle.
The Gorge Trail at Watkins Glen State Park, a rugged land of imposing cliffs and rock formations at the south end of Seneca Lake, features 19 waterfalls along a one-mile stretch.
Broadway-style fare produced by the Rev Theatre Company entertains groups at Merry-Go-Round Playhouse in Auburn. Shows in summer 2027 will include Sister Act and From Here to Eternity: The Musical.
Greater Niagara
Groups can do Buffalo in style with a stay at the Richardson Hotel, a National Historic Landmark surrounded by 40 acres of parkland laid out in the late 1800s by renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted (of New York Central Park fame). The imposing stone building, originally a mental health hospital designed by another famous architect, H.H. Richardson, lies within walking distance of the city’s vibrant cultural corridor. Tours of the campus are available.
The Curtiss Hotel, another high-end Buffalo property in a renovated historic building, offers upscale dining in its Chez Ami restaurant. Its rooftop lounge affords panoramic views of downtown Buffalo, Lake Erie, and the Canadian shoreline.
At Niagara Falls Culinary Institute, diners at Savor Restaurant are treated to classically prepared cuisine from student chefs on view in the open kitchen.
Becker Farms & Vizcarra Vineyards in Gasport invites groups for wine, cider, and beer tastings, and guided tours of the vineyards and brewery. It has a petting zoo, farm market, and u-pick opportunities (berries, apples, sunflowers, pumpkins).
At Niagara Falls State Park, the region’s premier attraction, visitors feel the power of the thundering walls of water on a rollicking Maid of the Mist boat ride to the base of the mighty falls. For a different perspective, see all three falls on the Niagara River from the park’s observation tower or take a Rainbow Air helicopter tour. Cave of the Winds is a tour that takes visitors on wooden walkways into the misty zone behind Bridal Veil Falls.
Hudson Valley
The Hudson Valley, blessed with lush farmlands, roadside farm markets, vineyard-covered hillsides, craggy bluffs and tranquil woodlands, boasts some of the most splendid scenery in the Northeast. Situated less than an hour north of New York City, the valley appeals to both history buffs and those who appreciate fine food and drink.
The castle-like Thayer Hotel, a national treasure built in 1926, crowns a hilltop on the grounds of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Guest rooms overlook the campus or Hudson River. MacArthur’s Riverview Restaurant is the perfect spot for a leisurely lunch. Besides an impressive museum and visitor center, the academy offers bus tours of the campus.
Nearby, Storm King Art Center is a stunning mountainside sculpture park featuring works of world-famous artists spread out over 500 acres with great views of the Hudson Valley.
In Hyde Park, the Culinary Institute of America (CIA), the nation’s most prestigious cooking school, occupies a former Jesuit seminary overlooking the Hudson River. The public is welcome to dine at its student-staffed American, Italian, and French restaurants. Campus tours include a sensory tasting exercise in the Wine Spectator Classroom.
Also facing the river in Hyde Park, Vanderbilt Mansion National Historical Park features the lavish Gilded Age home and gardens of Frederick and Louise Vanderbilt.
For premium-grade sake, schedule a visit to Dassai Blue Sake Brewery in Hyde Park.
In Washingtonville, tastings and underground wine cellar tours delight oenophiles at Brotherhood Winery, America’s oldest continuously operating winery, established in 1839.
At Olana State Historic Site, south of Hudson, groups can tour the eccentric Persian-style castle built in 1870 by landscape artist Frederic Church. Painted in deep blues, reds, and yellows, the home is noted for its stenciled Persian lettering and plush Persian rugs.
The Walkway Over the Hudson, the world’s longest pedestrian bridge, stretches 1.28 miles across the river, affording fine vistas every step of the way. Trekkers say it’s like walking on air. The renovated railroad bridge has entranceways in Poughkeepsie and Highland.
Long Island
Long Island, the largest island on the Eastern Seaboard, is a major wine-growing region, with more than 40 wineries and vineyards. In the idyllic wine country of North Fork, a peninsula on the eastern end, groups at Macari Vineyard can participate in a wine-tasting experience led by a wine educator, with the option of pairing wines with charcuterie, cheese, or pizza. RG/NY, run by a family with Mexican roots, and Bedell Cellars are other popular stops on the North Fork wine trail.
North Fork Table & Inn in Southold, renowned for seasonally-inspired, farm-to-table dishes, takes pride in its use of locally grown biodynamic and organic products, artisanal cheeses, fresh seafood from Long Island Sound and Peconic Bay, and North Fork wines. Signature entrees from its Michelin-acclaimed chef include Smoked Duck Tot with Caviar, Pan-Roasted Scallops and Mixed Grill.
The Gold Coast on Long Island’s North Shore is dotted with early 20th century mansions, the kind of opulent manors F. Scott Fitzgerald described in novels like The Great Gatsby. Oheka Castle in Huntington mirrors the elegance of a French chateau, offering 34 luxurious guestrooms, a fine dining restaurant, and tours of the estate.
The finest English gardens in the United States enchant visitors to Old Westbury Gardens, near Roslyn. Landscaped with ponds, tree-lined walks, statuary, and hundreds of plant species, the 88 acres of formal gardens surround a palatial 1906 mansion furnished with 18th-century antiques.
Montauk Point Lighthouse, a popular attraction on the easternmost tip of Long Island, allows visitors to climb to the top. The country’s fourth-oldest active lighthouse was commissioned by George Washington in 1792.
New York City
From ethnic dining and high-end steakhouses to food halls and food trucks, the choices in New York City are limitless. Culinary-minded travelers will never run out of places to try.
One hotspot for epicureans is City Winery New York City. Besides elevated American food at its CW Bistro restaurant and guided wine tastings, the hip urban winery on the Hudson Riverfront in Manhattan is a live concert venue with performances almost every night. The in-house wines are made from fruit from around the world.
Chelsea Market, also on Manhattan’s West Side, is one of New York’s prime shopping and dining experiences. Occupying a former Nabisco factory, it’s a winding maze of gourmet butchers, cheesemongers, bakers and vintners, along with eateries like the Lobster Place, LosTacos No. 1 and Maki A Mano Japanese restaurant.
Even in New York City, it’s possible to get in touch with nature, away from the skyscrapers andtraffic-clogged streets. Central Park, its most famous greenspace, serves as the lungs of midtown Manhattan. Pleasures range from boating on the lake and visiting the zoo to walking along tree-lined promenades and just watching the world go by from a park bench.
The High Line, another leafy oasis, is a series of walkways, sundecks, and gardens running almost two miles atop an elevated railroad bed that sat abandoned for many years. Cutting through the Chelsea gallery district, it features public art installations and great views of the Hudson River on one side and the midtown Manhattan skyline on the other.
Thousand Islands – Seaway
The culinary scene is a big draw in this region that hugs the shores of Lake Ontario and the St.Lawrence River, a laid-back vacationland named for the river’s 1,864 islands. The Craft Beverage Trail counts seven wineries, three distilleries and one brewery. Good times await over drinks at favorites like Clayton Distillery, Coyote Moon Vineyards, Otter Creek Winery and 1812 Brewing Co.
A traditional Shore Lunch, the kind prepared over a wood fire by fishing guides after a day on the water, features the day’s catch accompanied by salt potatoes, sweet corn and, of course, salad with Thousand Islands dressing. Dessert is French toast with maple syrup.
Groups traveling the Seaway Trail can luxuriate at the 1000 Islands Harbor Hotel in Clayton, an AAA four-diamond riverside property with exquisite dining at the Seaway Grill. Not far away are Clayton’s artisan shops, which purvey handmade items and gourmet products like olive oil and vinegar.
Clayton’s top attraction is the Antique Boat Museum, a collection of some 300 wooden boats and thousands of nautical artifacts spread over eight buildings.
Several boat tour companies take tourists out on the river to see the islands, lighthouses, cargo traffic, mansions and quiet villages. Uncle Sam Boat Tours in Alexandria Bay, for example, operates replica paddleboats that evoke a bygone era. Some boat excursions stop at Boldt Castle, an architectural masterpiece on Heart Island that was started in 1900 but never finished.
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