There are so many beautiful travel destinations in Upstate New York to make a short (or long) getaway for you and your whole family. These are our family’s top three short getaway destinations in New York, all great for long weekends.
Adirondacks
The Adirondacks are beautiful any time of the year! Upstate New York has beautiful scenery, small little towns, with cozy Bed and Breakfasts and old Victorian charm. Lots of parks to stop with the kids! Lake Placid provides European flair, and the possibilities are endless for hiking, camping, backpacking, or just strolling around and visiting small shops and antique stores.
The Thousand Island Area
The Thousand Island and the St. Lawrence River area are high on my list for New York vacations during the summer time. You can visit Clayton, take a boat tour, and see the waterway with its 2,000-plus islands. Or you can cross the river and go to Kingston on the Canadian side and visit Fort Henry to see a realm of nineteenth century military life, experience guided tours, scenic views, and exciting musical performances and precision military demonstrations by the Fort Henry Guard. Little boys (and dads) love this old world fort with marching bands.
If you are looking for a cute little town to stay for a night, go to Sackets Harbor by Lake Ontario and stay in a Bed and Breakfast in the small downtown, walk to little restaurants to eat dinner on the patio, and enjoy the beautiful lake view.
Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls in northwest New York is a must-see. Both children and adults love the amazing waterfalls and the entertainment Niagara Falls has to offer. The view is better on the Canadian site, but the downtown has a carnival feel with all the tourist shops and attractions. It might be a little too much with small children, so look for hotels and Bed and Breakfasts outside the downtown area, or on the U.S. side. Or do what we did: we visited Niagara Falls with our friends, stayed right in the middle of all the craziness, and dads were babysitting the first night, moms the next, and I got my family vacation and a girls’ night out on the same trip!
