New York (State)
Travel Guide North America USA Northeastern United States New York
Introduction
New York State is a state in the northeast of the USA and was one of the original 13 Colonies. When most people talk about New York State they just say Upstate New York. Although people forget that Upstate New York is home to amazing national and state parks that are quite stunning. There is also good skiing and some neat towns upstate that get overshadowed by the Big Apple on the coast. The largest city is New York City.
Geography
Cities
New York City
New York, New York, the city so great they named it twice, goes by many other names as well such as The Big Apple and The City That Never Sleeps. Probably most interesting to the traveller is the unofficial declaration of being the "world's capital."
Other Cities
Sights and Activities
Niagara Falls
The Niagara Falls are one of the most impressive waterfalls in the world. And although the Canadian side has been developed into a big tourist attraction, the falls haven't lost any of their appeal. The falls consist of the Horseshoe Falls on the Canadian side, which are almost 800 meters wide and have a direct vertical drop of over 50 meters, and the American Falls, which are about 320 meters wide and just over 20 meters tall. The small Bridal Veils are on the American side as well, separated from the American Falls with a single drop of almost 20 meters as well. The total drop of these falls is over 50 meters. The Canadian and American side are separated by Goat Island.
One of the best ways to experience the impact of the falls is to take a boat ride on the Maid of the Mist, which brings you very close and you can view the falls from beneath. If you would rather walk, the Cave of the Winds takes you to the base of the Bridal Veils Falls.
Statue of liberty
One the most famous statues in the world is the statue of liberty. It's not only an icon for New York but also for the entire country. The statue was a gift of the French people to celibrate the centennial of the Independence of the United States. The statue was constructed in France, and after completion shipped to the USA, where it was stored for 11 months, to await the completion of the pedestal, the 46-metre-high statue could finally be unveiled in November 1886.
Liberty Island was closed after the attacks of 9-11, and only reopened in 2004. The crown can be visited again since July 2009, but only by a few people a day. Two smaller statues predates the statue that is placed in New York. One stands in Paris in the Jardin de Luxembourg, and a second stands in front of the city hall in Maceió, in Brazil. After the success of these statues, it was decided to go huge. Nowadays there are several copies of the statue of liberty to be found all over the world.
Other Sights and Activities
Events and Festivals
Weather
Summers last from June to September and are nice and warm, between 25 and 30 degrees during the day and between 15 and 20 degrees at night. Winters last from December to March with average daytime temperatures mostly around zero or slightly above, though more inland to the north temperatures are lower. Nights are well below zero during this time. Precipitation is quite evenly distributed throughout the year, with sometimes very heavy snowfall in winter. During summer, heavy showers can occur, especially after periods of hot weather.
Getting There
By Plane
The two main airports in NY city are also the most important ones for the state:
- John F. Kennedy International Airport (IATA: JFK; ICAO:KJFK), Jamaica, Queens
- LaGuardia Airport (IATA: LGA; ICAO: KLGA), Flushing, Queens
By Train
Most trains to and from New York State originate and terminate in New York City. Services will arrive at Pennsylvania Station, located at 7th Avenue and 34th Street. There are easy connections from Pennsylvania station to the subway network of the city. From Pennsylvania Station, Amtrak runs a number of services, including the Acela trainconnecting Washington, D.C. to Boston. Other trains include:
- The Adirondack between New York and Montreal.
- The Cardinal/Hoosier State between New York and Chicago (via Washington DC, Cincinatti and Indianapolis).
- The Carolinian/Piedmontbetween New York and Charlotte.
- The Crescent between New York and New Orleans.
- The Ethan Allen Express between New York and Rutland (via Albany).
- The Keystone between New York and Harrisburg (via Philadelphia).
- The Lakeshore Limited between New York and Chicago (via Cleveland).
- The Maple Leaf between New York and Toronto.
- The Northeast Regional between New York and Boston and New York and Newport News (via Philadelphia and Washington DC).
- The Pennsylvanian between New York and Pittsburgh.
- The Silver Service/Palmetto between New York and Tampa and Miami.
- The Vermonter between New York and St. Albans and New York and Washington DC.
Some train service (mostly from northern suburbs and Connecticut) will arrive at Grand Central Terminal.
By Car
By Bus
By Boat
Getting Around
By Plane
By Train
Several trains travel from New York City across the state. These include:
- The Empire Service between New York and Niagara Falls. This train only crosses the state itself. The next ones cross the state stopping in places like Albany and many others, but end in other states (like Vermont or Illinois) or countries (Canada).
- The Adirondack between New York and Montreal.
- The Ethan Allen Express between New York and Rutland (via Albany).
- The Lakeshore Limited between New York and Chicago (via Cleveland).
- The Maple Leaf between New York and Toronto.
By Car
Many international rental companies have a wide selection of rental cars and these include Hertz, Avis, Dollar, Thrifty, Enterprise, Budget and Alamo/National. Most companies will require you are at least 25 years of age, although younger people might be able to rent cars at slightly higher rates and with some insurance differences as well. A national driver's license is usually enough, but an additional international one is recommended. Also note that it usually costs more to include lots of other extra things. For example extra drivers, GPS, the first full tank, SLI (Supplemental Liability Insurance), PAI (Personal Accident Insurance, usually covered already at home), road assistance/service plan, and drop-off costs for one-way rentals.
If you want to book a car, it is recommended that you book your car before arriving in the USA. This is almost always (much) cheaper compared to just showing up. Also, try and book with a so-called 'broker', which usually works together with a few or many car rental companies and can offer the best deal. Some examples include Holidayautos, Holidaycars and Sunny Cars. Some of the cheapest deals to book from Europe, includes Drive-USA, which also has a German version.
For more information and tips about renting cars and campers, additional costs, insurance, traffic rules, scenic routes and getting maps and fuel it is advised to check the USA Getting Around section.
New York has a number of National Scenic Byways which offer a great way to explore the state crossing beautiful landscapes. Mostly, there are lots of national parks, state parks or monuments along the way and it's generally a better alternative than the faster but boring Interstate Highways.
By Bus
By Boat
Eat
Drink
Sleep
Hotel and Motel Chains
There are dozens of hotel and motel chains, ranging from budget to top end. Allthough they are not the most charming accommodations, they usually have a very decent midrange service with good rooms and are generally good value. At least you know what to expect and in some cases they are either the only or the best option in the area. Some of them include:
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This is version 24. Last edited at 8:40 on Feb 22, 11 by Utrecht (+14). 21 articles link to this page.
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