At long last, the winter storms and snow are gone. Summer’s here and there’s no better place for reveling outdoors than New York State. Find a host of things to do from the beaches at Long Island to the peaks of the Adirondacks. Here are the top picks for celebrating summer in New York State.
Chill Out at the Beaches
It wouldn’t be summer without a few beach days, and New York State is blessed with some of the best beaches anywhere. Head out to the Hamptons to Cooper’s Beach, rated the third-best in the U.S. by beach expert “Dr. Beach”. It’s famous for its white sand dunes and nearby mansions. Quiet and pristine, Main Beach is another Dr. Beach pick. Montauk’s Hither Hills State Park is home to the fascinating “walking dunes” of Napeague Harbor so named for the huge mounds of sand the wind moves slowly. There’s a playground for the kids and weekly sandcastle-building contests all summer long.
Camp Out Under the Stars
There’s nothing quite like camping to experience New York’s great outdoors. Campgrounds are located all across the state from the Adirondacks to Niagra Falls and out to the coast. The Upstate has its own tiny archipelago along the channels and seaways of the St. Lawrence River. Over 1,700 islands make up the Thousand Island region, and parks and campgrounds dot the shores. Don’t like roughing it? Try “glamping”, a new concept in camping that includes luxury amenities. The state has several glamping spots. One of the best is in Chestertown in the Adirondacks. Posh Primitive features log-embellished canvas tents with timber bed platforms, queen mattresses, and plenty of fresh linens and cozy comforters.
Explore the Adirondacks
Spread over six million acres, Adirondack Park is headquarters for summer adventure. Miles of rivers, thousands of lakes and 1,800 miles of marked hiking trails through the Adirondack High Peaks provide endless opportunities for outdoor fun. Take time out from canoeing, kayaking, hiking, and fishing to visit the famous “Wild Walk”, a must-do while in the Adirondacks. Take a stroll through the treetops on an elevated hike and be delighted by whimsical elements like a human-sized bird’s nest and spider web. Explore the educational exhibits about local animal species at the Nature Center.
