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New York's Uncharted Treasures: Hidden Gems Off the Beaten Path

Venture beyond the bustling city streets and the iconic landmarks of New York State to uncover a trove of lesser-known marvels. This curated collection will guide you through the enchanting hidden gems of New York—a mosaic of tranquil gardens, historic homesteads, secluded waterfalls, and captivating small-town charms. Explore these tucked-away treasures and experience the state's rich heritage and natural beauty from an insider's perspective.

Bannerman Castle
Bannerman Castle

Beacon, USA

Ruins of a castle-like arsenal on Pollepel Island in the Hudson River.

Kykuit
Kykuit

Sleepy Hollow, USA

The Rockefeller estate offering grand architecture and stunning gardens.

Untermyer Gardens
Untermyer Gardens

Yonkers, USA

A wondrous public garden with Greco-Roman influences in Yonkers.

Eternal Flame Falls
Eternal Flame Falls

Orchard Park, USA

A mesmerizing waterfall with a natural eternal flame in Chestnut Ridge Park.

Opus 40
Opus 40

Saugerties, USA

An expansive sculptural park created by Harvey Fite over 37 years.

Olana State Historic Site
Olana State Historic Site

Hudson, USA

19th-century home and studio of Hudson River School painter Frederic Church.

Val-Kill Cottage
Val-Kill Cottage

Hyde Park, USA

Eleanor Roosevelt's personal retreat and National Historic Site.

Seward House Museum
Seward House Museum

Auburn, USA

Historic home of William H. Seward, Lincoln's Secretary of State and purchaser of Alaska.

Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion State Historic Park
Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion State Historic Park

Canandaigua, USA

Victorian-era mansion with nine formal gardens.

Whispering Gallery at Grand Central Terminal
Whispering Gallery at Grand Central Terminal

New York City, USA

An acoustical architectural wonder where whispers can be heard from across the gallery.

Knox Farm State Park
Knox Farm State Park

East Aurora, USA

A serene former country estate with trails and wildlife.

Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park
Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park

Oyster Bay, USA

A sprawling Gold Coast-era estate with extensive botanical gardens.

Wild Walk at The Wild Center
Wild Walk at The Wild Center

Tupper Lake, USA

Elevated walkways providing a birds-eye view of the Adirondacks wilderness.

Green-Wood Cemetery
Green-Wood Cemetery

Brooklyn, USA

Historic Brooklyn cemetery known for its beautiful monuments and resident parrots.

Little Red Lighthouse
Little Red Lighthouse

New York City, USA

The only remaining lighthouse in Manhattan located under the George Washington Bridge.

Kaaterskill Falls
Kaaterskill Falls

Haines Falls, USA

A stunning two-tiered waterfall with hiking paths and viewing platforms.

Cold Spring Historic District
Cold Spring Historic District

Cold Spring, USA

Quaint village streets lined with well-preserved 19th-century buildings.

Allegany State Park
Allegany State Park

Salamanca, USA

New York's largest state park featuring forested valleys and serpentine creeks.

Pratt Rock
Pratt Rock

Prattsville, USA

One of the earliest instances of memorial sculpture in the U.S., nicknamed 'New York's Mount Rushmore.'

Fort Ticonderoga
Fort Ticonderoga

Ticonderoga, USA

A star-shaped fort famous for its roles in the French and Indian War and the American Revolution.

Adirondack Experience
Adirondack Experience

Blue Mountain Lake, USA

An expansive museum chronicling life in the Adirondacks with indoor and outdoor exhibits.

Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site
Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site

Hyde Park, USA

An opulent historical mansion set on beautifully landscaped grounds overlooking the Hudson River.

John Brown Farm State Historic Site
John Brown Farm State Historic Site

Lake Placid, USA

The farm and final resting place of abolitionist John Brown.

Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park
Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park

Poughkeepsie, USA

A linear walkway providing breathtaking views of the Hudson River on a retired railroad bridge.

Secret Caverns
Secret Caverns

Cobleskill, USA

An offbeat alternative to the more commercialized Howe Caverns, featuring underground wonders.

Griffis Sculpture Park
Griffis Sculpture Park

East Otto, USA

Over 250 sculptures thoughtfully placed on hiking trails in a unique outdoor art venue.

Pollepel Island
Pollepel Island

Beacon, USA

An island rich in myth and ruins accessible by private boat tours.

Stony Brook Grist Mill
Stony Brook Grist Mill

Stony Brook, USA

A working grist mill museum that provides insights into 19th-century water-powered engineering.

Old Westbury Gardens
Old Westbury Gardens

Old Westbury, USA

A former estate turned public garden with beautiful landscaping and historical importance.

Neversink Gorge Trails
Neversink Gorge Trails

Rock Hill, USA

Picturesque walking trails along the Neversink River away from crowds.

Chittenango Falls State Park
Chittenango Falls State Park

Cazenovia, USA

A beautiful park home to a 167-foot waterfall and surrounded by lush forest.

Glen Falls
Glen Falls

Williamsville, USA

A picturesque waterfall located within a charming village setting.

The Empire State Aerosciences Museum
The Empire State Aerosciences Museum

Glenville, USA

A museum showcasing New York's aviation history with aircraft displays and artifacts.

Art Omi
Art Omi

Ghent, USA

A sculpture and architecture park featuring contemporary works in a natural setting.

Letchworth State Park
Letchworth State Park

Castile, USA

Often referred to as the 'Grand Canyon of the East', this park is known for its scenic gorges.

Dia:Beacon
Dia:Beacon

Beacon, USA

An art museum featuring large-scale installations by world-renowned artists.

Bannerman Castle Ruins of a castle-like arsenal on Pollepel Island in the Hudson River.

Bannerman Castle
Bannerman Castle Ruins of a castle-like arsenal on Pollepel Island in the Hudson River.
Kykuit The Rockefeller estate offering grand architecture and stunning gardens.

Kykuit
Kykuit The Rockefeller estate offering grand architecture and stunning gardens.
Untermyer Gardens A wondrous public garden with Greco-Roman influences in Yonkers.

Untermyer Gardens
Untermyer Gardens A wondrous public garden with Greco-Roman influences in Yonkers.
Eternal Flame Falls A mesmerizing waterfall with a natural eternal flame in Chestnut Ridge Park.

Eternal Flame Falls
Eternal Flame Falls A mesmerizing waterfall with a natural eternal flame in Chestnut Ridge Park.
Opus 40 An expansive sculptural park created by Harvey Fite over 37 years.

Opus 40
Opus 40 An expansive sculptural park created by Harvey Fite over 37 years.
Olana State Historic Site 19th-century home and studio of Hudson River School painter Frederic Church.

Olana State Historic Site
Olana State Historic Site 19th-century home and studio of Hudson River School painter Frederic Church.
Val-Kill Cottage Eleanor Roosevelt's personal retreat and National Historic Site.

Val-Kill Cottage
Val-Kill Cottage Eleanor Roosevelt's personal retreat and National Historic Site.
Seward House Museum Historic home of William H. Seward, Lincoln's Secretary of State and purchaser of Alaska.

Seward House Museum
Seward House Museum Historic home of William H. Seward, Lincoln's Secretary of State and purchaser of Alaska.
Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion State Historic Park Victorian-era mansion with nine formal gardens.

Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion State Historic Park
Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion State Historic Park Victorian-era mansion with nine formal gardens.
Whispering Gallery at Grand Central Terminal An acoustical architectural wonder where whispers can be heard from across the gallery.

Whispering Gallery at Grand Central Terminal
Whispering Gallery at Grand Central Terminal An acoustical architectural wonder where whispers can be heard from across the gallery.
Knox Farm State Park A serene former country estate with trails and wildlife.

Knox Farm State Park
Knox Farm State Park A serene former country estate with trails and wildlife.
Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park A sprawling Gold Coast-era estate with extensive botanical gardens.

Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park
Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park A sprawling Gold Coast-era estate with extensive botanical gardens.
Wild Walk at The Wild Center Elevated walkways providing a birds-eye view of the Adirondacks wilderness.

Wild Walk at The Wild Center
Wild Walk at The Wild Center Elevated walkways providing a birds-eye view of the Adirondacks wilderness.
Green-Wood Cemetery Historic Brooklyn cemetery known for its beautiful monuments and resident parrots.

Green-Wood Cemetery
Green-Wood Cemetery Historic Brooklyn cemetery known for its beautiful monuments and resident parrots.
Little Red Lighthouse The only remaining lighthouse in Manhattan located under the George Washington Bridge.

Little Red Lighthouse
Little Red Lighthouse The only remaining lighthouse in Manhattan located under the George Washington Bridge.
Kaaterskill Falls A stunning two-tiered waterfall with hiking paths and viewing platforms.

Kaaterskill Falls
Kaaterskill Falls A stunning two-tiered waterfall with hiking paths and viewing platforms.
Cold Spring Historic District Quaint village streets lined with well-preserved 19th-century buildings.

Cold Spring Historic District
Cold Spring Historic District Quaint village streets lined with well-preserved 19th-century buildings.
Allegany State Park New York's largest state park featuring forested valleys and serpentine creeks.

Allegany State Park
Allegany State Park New York's largest state park featuring forested valleys and serpentine creeks.
Pratt Rock One of the earliest instances of memorial sculpture in the U.S., nicknamed 'New York's Mount Rushmore.'

Pratt Rock
Pratt Rock One of the earliest instances of memorial sculpture in the U.S., nicknamed 'New York's Mount Rushmore.'
Fort Ticonderoga A star-shaped fort famous for its roles in the French and Indian War and the American Revolution.

Fort Ticonderoga
Fort Ticonderoga A star-shaped fort famous for its roles in the French and Indian War and the American Revolution.
Adirondack Experience An expansive museum chronicling life in the Adirondacks with indoor and outdoor exhibits.

Adirondack Experience
Adirondack Experience An expansive museum chronicling life in the Adirondacks with indoor and outdoor exhibits.
Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site An opulent historical mansion set on beautifully landscaped grounds overlooking the Hudson River.

Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site
Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site An opulent historical mansion set on beautifully landscaped grounds overlooking the Hudson River.
John Brown Farm State Historic Site The farm and final resting place of abolitionist John Brown.

John Brown Farm State Historic Site
John Brown Farm State Historic Site The farm and final resting place of abolitionist John Brown.
Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park A linear walkway providing breathtaking views of the Hudson River on a retired railroad bridge.

Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park
Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park A linear walkway providing breathtaking views of the Hudson River on a retired railroad bridge.
Secret Caverns An offbeat alternative to the more commercialized Howe Caverns, featuring underground wonders.

Secret Caverns
Secret Caverns An offbeat alternative to the more commercialized Howe Caverns, featuring underground wonders.
Griffis Sculpture Park Over 250 sculptures thoughtfully placed on hiking trails in a unique outdoor art venue.

Griffis Sculpture Park
Griffis Sculpture Park Over 250 sculptures thoughtfully placed on hiking trails in a unique outdoor art venue.
Pollepel Island An island rich in myth and ruins accessible by private boat tours.

Pollepel Island
Pollepel Island An island rich in myth and ruins accessible by private boat tours.
Stony Brook Grist Mill A working grist mill museum that provides insights into 19th-century water-powered engineering.

Stony Brook Grist Mill
Stony Brook Grist Mill A working grist mill museum that provides insights into 19th-century water-powered engineering.
Old Westbury Gardens A former estate turned public garden with beautiful landscaping and historical importance.

Old Westbury Gardens
Old Westbury Gardens A former estate turned public garden with beautiful landscaping and historical importance.
Neversink Gorge Trails Picturesque walking trails along the Neversink River away from crowds.

Neversink Gorge Trails
Neversink Gorge Trails Picturesque walking trails along the Neversink River away from crowds.
Chittenango Falls State Park A beautiful park home to a 167-foot waterfall and surrounded by lush forest.

Chittenango Falls State Park
Chittenango Falls State Park A beautiful park home to a 167-foot waterfall and surrounded by lush forest.
Glen Falls A picturesque waterfall located within a charming village setting.

Glen Falls
Glen Falls A picturesque waterfall located within a charming village setting.
The Empire State Aerosciences Museum A museum showcasing New York's aviation history with aircraft displays and artifacts.

The Empire State Aerosciences Museum
The Empire State Aerosciences Museum A museum showcasing New York's aviation history with aircraft displays and artifacts.
Art Omi A sculpture and architecture park featuring contemporary works in a natural setting.

Art Omi
Art Omi A sculpture and architecture park featuring contemporary works in a natural setting.
Letchworth State Park Often referred to as the 'Grand Canyon of the East', this park is known for its scenic gorges.

Letchworth State Park
Letchworth State Park Often referred to as the 'Grand Canyon of the East', this park is known for its scenic gorges.
Dia:Beacon An art museum featuring large-scale installations by world-renowned artists.

Dia:Beacon
Dia:Beacon An art museum featuring large-scale installations by world-renowned artists.