New York State
Discussion
Hi everyone, next month I'll be flying to Toronto and then niagara and then am going to be heading into new York state down to new York city , however I'm just wondering if you have any ideas of things to do, I'll probably be heading to rochester area, if there's anything much to do here? ( will be with mum, dad and little sister aged 12), then after spending the night here will drive to NYC , is there anywhere I can leave the car and get subway or something to manhattan? Don't fancy driving into manhattan!
After spending a couple of days here I'll be heading north up to say Albany area, maybe adirondack state park, any ideas of things to do here for a day ornice places to visit?
After that then I'll head to Kingston, Ontario and then back to Toronto.
If you have any ideas of things to do and see or stay on this route I'd really appreciate it.
Thanks.
After spending a couple of days here I'll be heading north up to say Albany area, maybe adirondack state park, any ideas of things to do here for a day ornice places to visit?
After that then I'll head to Kingston, Ontario and then back to Toronto.
If you have any ideas of things to do and see or stay on this route I'd really appreciate it.
Thanks.
I used to live in Syracuse, (well, near there anyway), and I used to send a LOT of time up in the Adirondacks hiking, camping, offloading, etc. absolutely love the place. There is an Adirondack railway, that takes trips up there depending on the time of year. Very nice. Plenty of cabins to rent as well.
Lake placid is nice enough. Watkins Glenn is in Western NY state. Could be worth seeing if there is anything on. The finger lakes region has lots of wineries, if you fancy getting tipsy. There are some caverns I went to see which we're quite nice. Howe caverns I think they wer called. Also worth a look. Has a boat ride in it. You can also try the zip line park somewhere in the Catskills. Can't remember what it is called though. The 12 year old might like that.
Lake placid is nice enough. Watkins Glenn is in Western NY state. Could be worth seeing if there is anything on. The finger lakes region has lots of wineries, if you fancy getting tipsy. There are some caverns I went to see which we're quite nice. Howe caverns I think they wer called. Also worth a look. Has a boat ride in it. You can also try the zip line park somewhere in the Catskills. Can't remember what it is called though. The 12 year old might like that.
Edited by TheHeretic on Sunday 23 September 12:02
Niagara is a casino town so I recommend staying there as it is cheap and there is plenty to do. You can get from Buffalo to NYC in about 7 hours by going via Syracuse and then down to Scranton, PA, then over to Newark, NJ. Staying in Newark is a good bet because it is also cheap compared to Manhattan, but only a river's width away.
Having driven in Manhattan I would say it is very much the same as driving in Paris or London. The experience starts with the Lincoln tunnel and you then contend with heavy traffic and assertive drivers. Parking is expensive - much like London & Paris. However, it is nice to drive around and see stuff. You don't get that when you take the subway and you can't cover anything like the distance on foot.
When we went to NY we went to see where West Point was and take a look at a Vanderbilt home north of NYC. It was picturesque and similar to going to a stately home in Britain in many ways.
The best thing to do IMHO is get a travel book from the library or bookshop. American based AAA has great books available which tell you about every attraction in every town and give you an idea of hotel rates, the problem you will have is ordering them.
Having driven in Manhattan I would say it is very much the same as driving in Paris or London. The experience starts with the Lincoln tunnel and you then contend with heavy traffic and assertive drivers. Parking is expensive - much like London & Paris. However, it is nice to drive around and see stuff. You don't get that when you take the subway and you can't cover anything like the distance on foot.
When we went to NY we went to see where West Point was and take a look at a Vanderbilt home north of NYC. It was picturesque and similar to going to a stately home in Britain in many ways.
The best thing to do IMHO is get a travel book from the library or bookshop. American based AAA has great books available which tell you about every attraction in every town and give you an idea of hotel rates, the problem you will have is ordering them.
Supernova190188 said:
Hi everyone, next month I'll be flying to Toronto and then niagara and then am going to be heading into new York state down to new York city , however I'm just wondering if you have any ideas of things to do, I'll probably be heading to rochester area, if there's anything much to do here? ( will be with mum, dad and little sister aged 12), then after spending the night here will drive to NYC , is there anywhere I can leave the car and get subway or something to manhattan? Don't fancy driving into manhattan!
After spending a couple of days here I'll be heading north up to say Albany area, maybe adirondack state park, any ideas of things to do here for a day ornice places to visit?
After that then I'll head to Kingston, Ontario and then back to Toronto.
If you have any ideas of things to do and see or stay on this route I'd really appreciate it.
Thanks.
Rochester? Umm.... Well... If its winter and you like snow.....After spending a couple of days here I'll be heading north up to say Albany area, maybe adirondack state park, any ideas of things to do here for a day ornice places to visit?
After that then I'll head to Kingston, Ontario and then back to Toronto.
If you have any ideas of things to do and see or stay on this route I'd really appreciate it.
Thanks.
You do kow that Rochester to NYC is a good 350 miles or so, right? Its a solid 6 hours. And don't take 17... Go through PA or Albany.
As far as day tripping into NYC, you might want to use a park n ride and take mass transit. Parking and traffic in Manhattkan can be brutal. Sort of like London but without the courteous drivers. But not as bad as Rome. But, then again, nothing is as bad as Rome.
Basically park at a train or bus station in Jersey or something and don't drive in. You can also take the Port Imperial Ferry from Edgewater, NJ.
Do not speed on I-90 to NY. It is amazingly heavily patrolled. 65 MPH limit, go at an indicated 72 and you're OK . After that, you are likely to pul a ticket. Driving in Manhattan is OK but parking is very difficult and expensive. Forget street parking and if you are towed its expensive and time consuming to get it back. From Niagara down to NY is fairly rural and it really depends on what you want to do. For instance, there are some amazing Frank Lloyd Wright houses in Buffalo. Rochester has the George Eastman house, only of interest if you are into photography, ( he founded Kodak).
As others have said, Manhattan is endless and you need a good guide book and a copy of Time Out NY. Along the Hudson Valley there are some nice little towns. Albany is not worth a detour. Its a good eight hours from the US border to NY and you also need to allow for border crossing time which can be an hour or more depending on the day.
Tune into 680 news on the radio when in Canada..it gives you border crossing wait times periodically and also traffic conditions.
As others have said, Manhattan is endless and you need a good guide book and a copy of Time Out NY. Along the Hudson Valley there are some nice little towns. Albany is not worth a detour. Its a good eight hours from the US border to NY and you also need to allow for border crossing time which can be an hour or more depending on the day.
Tune into 680 news on the radio when in Canada..it gives you border crossing wait times periodically and also traffic conditions.
Captain Cadillac said:
Good advice on 680 AM.
For NYC Traffic, you want 880 AM or 1010 AM for traffic. 880 does traffic reports on the 8s (4:08, 4:18. 4:28 etc) and 1010 is on the 10s (4:10, 4:2-, 4:30..etc) If your car has Sirius or XM it's channel 133.
Never used it once when I was there! For NYC Traffic, you want 880 AM or 1010 AM for traffic. 880 does traffic reports on the 8s (4:08, 4:18. 4:28 etc) and 1010 is on the 10s (4:10, 4:2-, 4:30..etc) If your car has Sirius or XM it's channel 133.
GavinPearson said:
Captain Cadillac said:
I'm a native to the NYC area and I don't go near the city without checking 880 and 1010! Especially when going to Long Island!
I'd be interested to know what your opinion of the Sirius traffic as compared to 880 & 1010.The worst was when Sirius/XM was new.. They're programmed out of DC, so you'd hear things like "95 North is heavy from 87 to 895". Which would confuse people. Now they'd say "the cross Bronx is jammed from the Deegan to the Sheridan".
Go to a tourism NY website. Fastest way from Syracuse to NYC is down to PA, Delaware river gap, through New Jersey to the Lincoln tunnel. Four hours at at a normal pace. The easiest way is to just stay on the thruway, I-90.
On your way to Kingston, Thousand Island region is nice. Go to Alexandria Bay and take the tour of Boldt Castle. Look online for times, and if they will even be running the boats.
Many hotels in Jersey have shuttle buses that go to mid-town on the hour. Just make sure you know what/where your going/doing. Google Earth, websites, maps, ect.. Confusion in NYC can lead to a lousy day.
Howe Caverns is in the Albany area.
Dinosaur Barbecue is located in Rochester, Syracuse, Newark, Troy (Albany), and Harlem. Fantastic! The one in Syracuse, the original, is closest to I-90 and I-81.
http://www.dinosaurbarbque.com/locations/syracuse/
No matter how corny, take the double decker bus tour in Manhattan. Wife and i had a great time on the Grey line tour. Until it's finished,............ skip the WTC memorial. I wish I did. We bought the day passes and used the tour buses to get around.
On your way to Kingston, Thousand Island region is nice. Go to Alexandria Bay and take the tour of Boldt Castle. Look online for times, and if they will even be running the boats.
Many hotels in Jersey have shuttle buses that go to mid-town on the hour. Just make sure you know what/where your going/doing. Google Earth, websites, maps, ect.. Confusion in NYC can lead to a lousy day.
Howe Caverns is in the Albany area.
Dinosaur Barbecue is located in Rochester, Syracuse, Newark, Troy (Albany), and Harlem. Fantastic! The one in Syracuse, the original, is closest to I-90 and I-81.
http://www.dinosaurbarbque.com/locations/syracuse/
No matter how corny, take the double decker bus tour in Manhattan. Wife and i had a great time on the Grey line tour. Until it's finished,............ skip the WTC memorial. I wish I did. We bought the day passes and used the tour buses to get around.
Edited by OLDS on Saturday 6th October 03:24
Edited by OLDS on Saturday 6th October 03:32
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