By Contributing Writer
Sure,
New York City has the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, Broadway, Central Park and numerous museums and historical sites. But, Upstate New York has plenty to offer visitors as well. Get up close to tumbling waterfalls at Niagara Falls. Explore the limestone caves of Howe's Caverns. The New York State Museum will give you a taste of everything New York. Young and old alike will enjoy visiting the National Baseball Hall of Fame. The Hill Cumorah Pageant is a spectacle that you won't want to miss.
Niagara Falls State Park
Maid of the Mist Tour, photo by jnystrom
Thousands of visitors flock to Niagara Falls every year to experience the awe and beauty of the tumbling falls. Niagara Falls State Park, located in the northwestern corner of New York and expanding into Canada, is the oldest state park in the country. There are many ways you can enjoy the falls. Put on a raincoat and get up close to the falls on the Cave of Winds Tour. Your tour guide will take you less than 20 feet from Bridal Veil Falls. The Maid of the Mist Tour will take you on a boat ride to the base of the American Falls and then to the basin of Horseshoe Falls. For gourmet food with a view, get a bite to eat at the Top of the Falls Restaurant.
For information call: (716) 278-1796
Howe Caverns
Take an elevator 156 feet below the Earth's surface and experience a prehistoric underground of wonder. A tour guide will take you on a boat ride on the underground Lake of Venus and lead you on walkways through the limestone cave passages. You'll see stunning stalagtite and stalagmite formations. You might even see a few fossils.
Howe Caverns, Inc.
255 Discovery Drive
Howes Cave, NY 12092
(518) 296-8900
New York State Museum
Visit the state's capital and make a stop at the New York State Museum. The museum has an impressive collection of specimens and artifacts, representing New York State's historical, natural, artistic and social history. You'll see a display of 170 birds in their natural settings. At Fire Engine Hall you'll see a collection of fire fighter paraphernalia through the ages. There is even a full-size carousel made in the early 1900s.
Cultural Education Center of the Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY
On Madison Avenue, across the Plaza from the State Capitol Building
(518) 474-5877
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
Baseball, photo by Chris Collins
Nestled between the Adirondack and Catskill mountains, you'll find the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York. Baseball lovers can view the Hall of Fame Gallery, which serves as the centerpiece of the historic institution. There is also a Hall of Fame library as well as a bookstore. Kids will enjoy participating in one of the Discovery Tours, participating in interactive presentations and exploring The Sandlot Kids' Clubhouse.
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
25 Main Street
Cooperstown, NY 13326
(888) HALL-OF-FAME
Hill Cumorah Pageant
If you will be visiting New York in July, be sure to see the Hill Cumorah Pageant in Palmyra, New York. The outdoor production is one of the world's greatest. An enormous 10 level stage, perched on the beautiful Hill Cumorah, provides a dramatic backdrop for the pageant. A cast of over 650 volunteer actors, dressed in stunning costumes, performs the stories of the Book of Mormon (scriptures of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints). You'll be inspired as you learn about the people in ancient America. There is a state-of-the-art sound system, as well as Hollywood-style special effects. This spectacular pageant is free of charge.
Hill Cumorah Pageant
603 State Route 21
Palmyra, New York 14522
(315) 597-5851
FAX: (315) 597-0165
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