Located in western New York, Niagara Falls features two of the world's largest waterfalls standing at over 180 feet. Both of Niagara Falls primary waterfalls, the American Falls and Horseshoe Falls, have rushing water and dense mists at the base. Top of the Falls Restaurant (no website; Goat Island; Niagara Falls, NY 14303; 716-278-0340) on Goat Island provides panoramic views of Horseshoe Falls. Tourists may also view the base of the waterfalls via Maid of the Mist (maidofthemist.com) steamboat tours. This ferry boat sails past the bases of both waterfalls and provides passengers with raincoats to avoid getting wet.
The Thousand Islands region of New York is a archipelago of islands in the St. Lawrence River, near Lake Ontario's northeastern corner. In this region, the waters of the St. Lawrence River are crystal clear; tourists are able to see the bottom of the river in some locations. The clear waters attracts tourists to guided diving tours, allowing divers to see shipwrecks and St. Lawrence's marine wildlife. Thousand Islands is home to Boldt Castle (boldtcastle.com) on Heart Island; this historic landmark was a summer home to George Boldt, proprietor of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. Boldt designed this palatial home after the Rhineland castles in Germany.
The Adirondack Mountains, or the Adirondacks, are in northeast New York. This mountain range is home to some of the Empire State's tallest mountains such as Algonquin Peak, Haystack Mountain and Mount Marcy -- the tallest mountain in New York at 5,344 feet. During the summer, these mountains have hiking trails and provide views of lakes within the Adirondacks, including Lake George and Lake Placid, home of the 1984 Winter Olympics. During the fall, leaves on the Adirondacks' trees begin to change color from green to red, yellow and orange, making the Adirondacks a frequent stop for fall foliage tours.
The Finger Lakes are a group of 11 finger-shaped lakes in central New York, within 30 minutes of Syracuse and Ithaca. The larger Finger Lakes are Lakes Cayuga, Seneca, Canandaigua, Skaneateles and Keuka. Each of the lakes are natural -- meaning they are not man-made reservoirs -- and adjacent to verdant forest areas such as Sampson State Park and Finger Lakes National Forest. This area is also home to Finger Lakes Wine Country. Most Finger Lakes wineries offer tours of the vineyards in the fall; many of the Wine Country's vineyards provide picturesque views of the lakes.
Deep in the heart of New York City, Central Park is a 843-acre plot that opened in 1873. This park is one of the largest urban parks in the United States. Glimpses of the towering Manhattan skyline are visible from Central Park's trails. Central Park's trails also pass by Turtle Pond, Central Park Lake and 106-acre Onassis Reservoir. The lakes provide opportunities for boat riding, while Turtle Pond offers a serene setting for bird watching. During the spring and summer, visitors have access to the Great Lawn, which accommodates picnicking and softball games.
