The remaining four boroughs are primarily residential – the Bronx to the north, Queens to the east, Brooklyn to the southeast and Staten Island to the southwest. Each has wealthy and salubrious districts alongside working-class neighborhoods – demonstrating New York’s varied social mix. The total area of all five boroughs is 780 sq km (301 sq miles). New York’s location at the mouth of the Hudson River on the Atlantic Ocean is reflected in the city’s importance as a port, and as the point of disembarkation for millions of immigrants to the USA. Vibrating with the energy of over 7 million inhabitants, New York is a constantly evolving, growing and changing organism. The sheer volume of things to do – theater, ballet, opera, museums – is astonishing. Many of the city’s 18,000-plus restaurants are reporting boom times, while several new hotels have emerged over the past few years. Renovations of historic theaters in the area – such as the Victory, the Lyric or the Academy/Apollo – have been followed by a flood of restaurateurs and prospective retail tenants signing up for space on or near Times Square. The terrorist attacks on Manhattan’s famous Twin Towers on 11 September 2001 has had a detrimental effect on the city’s tourism. However, New York’s JFK airport still enjoys its status as the USA’s busiest airport for international arrivals, with over 15 million international tourists (many of them from the UK) using the airport in 2002. On the whole, however, numbers are down, with Newark International and La Guardia reporting a 4 per cent and 6 per cent decrease in international arrivals respectively. Crime, on the other hand, is plummeting, following the introduction of ‘zero tolerance’ policing; according to FBI crime statistics, the city is the safest large city in the USA. The New York City Police Museum, at 100 Old Slip at South Street, shows just how this is done. Visitors with disabilities will now find wheelchair access to 99 per cent of New York City buses and 40 per cent of subway stations. Public telephones for the deaf are also widespread. Two brochures for disabled people are available from New York City Transit (see contact number above).

Manhattan
The Manhattan skyline is an instantly recognizable sight, immortalized in countless films and television programs. One of the best views of it can be obtained from the Staten Island Ferry (see below). Following the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001, the famous landmark of the World Trade Center with its twin towers was completely destroyed, forever altering both the skyline and the history of America. The decision has recently been made to build a memorial at the ‘Ground Zero’ site. The Lower Manhattan Development Corporation announced in January 2004 that Michael Arad and Peter Walker’s design for a grove of trees above two reflecting pools, named ‘Reflecting Absence’, would be chosen to immortalise that infamous event. The design was chosen over 5000 submitted ideas. Also in the planning is the ambitious Freedom Tower skyscraper, designed by David M Childs, which could have a unique turbine tower as a feature, creating one-fifth of the energy used by the building and doubling as somewhat unorthodox Buddhist prayer wheels.
The first European settlement on Manhattan was by the Dutch in the 1620s, who named the city New Amsterdam. In 1664, the British took over and renamed it New York, and settlement continued from south to north along the island. Skyscrapers, such as the art-deco Empire State Building, offer spectacular views of the city by day or night.
Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island: New York’s most famous image is the 46.5m- (151ft-) high Statue of Liberty, located on Liberty Island, which may be reached by boat from Battery Park on Manhattan’s southern tip. A lift and staircase inside the Statue take visitors up to an observation platform. The Liberty/Ellis Island Ferry departs from the historic Castle Clinton at Battery Park every 30 minutes and also stops at Ellis Island, the gateway for the massive numbers of immigrants arriving in New York between 1892 and 1954. On the island, the Wall of Honor, the world’s longest wall of names, commemorates over 600,000 immigrants, and the Ellis Island Immigration Museum offers an interesting insight into the lives of New York’s early immigrants. In Battery Park City, the new Skyscraper Museum celebrates the architectural style so intrinsic to the city’s history and psyche.
Lower Manhattan: The oldest part of the city is at the southern end of Manhattan. East of Battery Park is the Financial District, containing the famous Wall Street and the New York Stock Exchange, where visitors have access to a public gallery to catch a glimpse of the frenetic trading action. The historic South Street Seaport, located at the end of Wall Street, offers great views of New York Harbor. The seaport is a thriving waterfront community with a world-class maritime museum and more than 100 shops, cafés and restaurants. To the northeast of the seaport is the famous Brooklyn Bridge, leading to Brooklyn. Chinatown, Manhattan’s most thriving ethnic neighborhood extends from Canal Street into Little Italy and east into the Lower East Side. This labyrinth of narrow streets, crammed with Chinese stores and restaurants, is home to over 100,000 residents. While Chinatown has expanded in recent years, neighboring Little Italy has dwindled somewhat, and few of the original Italian immigrants remain, though Little Italy’s restaurants, delis and bakeries remain as tempting as ever. East of Little Italy, the Lower East Side has traditionally been New York’s Jewish area, owing to a flow of Jewish immigrants to the area in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The recently revamped Museum of Jewish Heritage is located here. In addition to its other two Manhattan venues, the Guggenheim Foundation is adding a new waterfront museum on the East River. The area is also known for its Orchard Street Market, an open-air bazaar, and its numerous delis. To the northwest, Greenwich Village has been a melting pot for art, literature and music for decades, though its legendary bohemian feel has partly been replaced by upmarket beatnik chic. South of Greenwich Village is SoHo (South of Houston), which has become synonymous with art since the 1960s, and retains its arty, avant-garde character, with plenty of galleries, cafes, boutiques and loft spaces fronted by interesting cast-iron façades. Still further south is TriBeCa (Triangle Below Canal Street), once a deserted warehouse district, and now a growing residential area.
Midtown Manhattan: The heart of the city is located between 34th Street south and 59th Street north and contains several of New York’s landmark buildings, including the 102-story Empire State Building (completed in 1931). Worth visiting here are Bryant Park and the beautiful New York Public Library nearby; the 1930s art-deco Chrysler Building (New York’s first skyscraper); the United Nations Building (the organization’s world headquarters); Grand Central Station, which has been completely restored, with special attention paid to its magnificent constellation ceiling; Fifth Avenue, the city’s most glamorous thoroughfare, filled with luxury shops and department stores; the Chelsea neighborhood, home of the landmark Chelsea Hotel and also center for New York’s gay community as well as a new magnet for art galleries and commercial developers; the Rockefeller Center, famous for its (winter-only) ice skating rink and also the home of NBC Studios, which can be visited (the Center reopened its observation deck in 2005) and the new American Folk Art Museum. A few blocks away, the highly celebrated Museum of Modern Art underwent a massive US$650 million expansion, which was completed in spring 2004. The Carnegie Hall now also includes the Judy and Arthur Zankel Hall. At the heart of Midtown is the Broadway theater district near the recently revamped, once seedy but now ‘family-friendly’ Times Square, with its recently reopened Biltmore Theater, and the world’s largest toy store, home to a 60ft Ferris wheel and life-size Barbie house.
Uptown Manhattan: Uptown Manhattan covers the area north of 59th Street and is split roughly in the middle by Central Park (see below). To the northwest of the park is Columbia University and the Cathedral of St John the Divine, the world’s largest Gothic cathedral, which is still under construction (begun in 1812); the cathedral was recently designated a landmark by the New York City Landmark Preservation Commission. The new US$115 million Jazz at Lincoln Center opened in autumn 2004; the venue is part of the new AOL Time Warner Center, which contains luxury retail outlets, restaurants, office space, condominiums and a 249-room hotel. The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater also opened its new facility in autumn 2004. The Joan Weill Center for Dance will be the largest facility dedicated exclusively to dance in the USA. Further north, Harlem is noted for its rich African-American community. Good examples of classic New York brownstones can be seen in Harlem’s Sugar Hill. Several decayed and crime-ridden areas in Harlem are now being redeveloped.

Brooklyn
Brooklyn is best reached via Brooklyn Bridge, which is particularly striking at night, and usually bustling with people during the day. Having crossed the bridge, visitors arrive in Brooklyn Heights, a good area to walk around. The Jewish Children’s Museum is a new attraction to the area. Further southeast lie Prospect Park and the adjacent Brooklyn Botanic Gardens; the Brooklyn Academy of Music, home to the interesting Next Wave Festival; and the historic Park Slope district, notable for its old brownstones. Downtown Brooklyn is home to the recently renovated New York Transit Museum, located in a decommissioned subway station, with over 200 trolleys on display. Coney Island and Brighton Beach, the latter full of Russian shops and restaurants, are at the south/southeastern end of the borough.

The Bronx
Major attractions include the world-famous Bronx Zoo and New York Botanical Garden; Yankee Stadium, home to the Yankees baseball team; Poe Cottage, former home of the writer Edgar Allan Poe; and Woodlawn Cemetery, where several famous musicians, including Miles Davis, are buried. This area of New York is currently good at breaking records. The 19,200-seat Randall’s Island Pavilion opened in May 2003 and was the first major new live stage venue to be built in the city in 30 years, while the Ferry Point Park Golf Course, designed by Jack Nicklaus, will open later this year as the first golf course to be built in the city for 35 years.

Queens
Major attractions in the borough include the Astoria Movie Studios with the (attached) American Museum of the Moving Image, close to La Guardia airport; and Shea Stadium (home to the New York Mets Major League Baseball team), with the nearby Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. The southern half of Queens includes a portion of the Gateway National Recreation Area which, despite its location next to JFK International Airport, provides a refuge to hundreds of bird species.

Staten Island
Visitors to the island often do so mainly to enjoy the view of the classic New York skyline from the Staten Island Ferry, which operates from Battery Park (downtown) past the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island to Staten Island. The Verrazano-Narrows Bridge connects Staten Island with Brooklyn.

Parks & Beaches
New York’s most famous park, Central Park, was created in 1856, when officials set aside 341 hectares (843 acres) of land between Fifth and Eighth Avenues and 59th and 110th Streets. John Lennon fans may pay their respects at Strawberry Fields, the area of the park dedicated to his memory. Also within the park is the Central Park Wildlife Center, a small but interesting zoo. During summer, the park hosts afternoon and evening concerts. Additions to the park include the Dana Discovery Center and fishing pond (with free poles and bait). Visitors should note that it is not advisable to visit Central Park after dark. The recently restored Bryant Park, behind the New York Public Library, has been a great success with businesspeople and visitors on lunch, especially as it offers free outdoor concerts and comedy shows. Reminiscent of Paris, with gravel pathways, green folding chairs and a manicured lawn, it’s a great place for sunbathing, reading or enjoying a sandwich or salad bought from kiosks in the park. The fountain at the western end is a good place for a romantic rendez-vous. Other parks include the world-famous New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx, which has 100 hectares (250 acres) of woods, waterways and gardens and whose centerpiece is the newly restored Enid A Haupt Conservatory. Riverside Park, running alongside the Hudson River; Battery and Washington Square parks in Lower Manhattan; the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, Marine Park and Prospect Park in Brooklyn; and Cunningham, Flushing Meadows/Corona, Jacob Riis and Kissina parks in Queens. Clove Lake Park and Fort Wadsworth on Staten Island boast impressive views of New York harbor. There are several fine beaches to the east of New York City. Nearest to Manhattan are Brighton Beach, Coney Island and Manhattan Beach. Other beaches include Orchard Beach in Pelham Bay Park, South Beach and Wolfe’s Pond Park on Staten Island.

Special Events
The following is a selection of special events occurring in New York City in 2005; for further events, contact NYC & Company CVB (see General Info section):
Mar 17 St Patrick’s Day Parade, Manhattan. Jun-Aug Celebrate Brooklyn Performing Arts Festival, Brooklyn. Jul 4 Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks, near East River. Aug Harlem Week, citywide. Aug 29-Sep 11 US Open Tennis Tournament, Flushing. Nov 6 New York City Marathon. Nov 24 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Manhattan. Dec 31 New Year’s Eve at Times Square.

Greater Niagara

Located in western New York State between Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, Niagara Falls is one of the most outstanding spectacles on the North American continent. There are three main waterfalls, American, Bridal Veil and Canadian (Horseshoe) Falls, each in a different stream of the Niagara River. Other attractions in the region include Letchworth State Park, Buffalo, Lake Erie and Lewiston.

Niagara Falls
10 million tourists visit Niagara Falls each year, making it one of the most popular tourist destinations in America. The Niagara River rapids, just above the Falls, and the Niagara Gorge, below the Falls, offer beautiful scenery and many opportunities for sightseeing. The price of most merchandise is lower in Niagara Falls than in most other parts of the USA and Canada. Within the city of Niagara there are two large factory outlet malls, a large shopping mall and several retail districts. The region offers good antique shopping. Niagara’s hotels are near to the Falls, attractions and shopping. Many of them are only a short walk from the edge of the Falls themselves.
The New York State Park that surrounds the Falls is the oldest State Park in the nation and has been restored to its original 19th-century design. Created by Frederick Olmstead to provide a natural setting for the Falls, it became a model for the uniquely American style of park. It includes many woodland islands in the rapids just above the Falls and a new visitor center. The Viewmobile is a coach that tours the park. The Great Lakes Gardens outside the center use grass, flowers and shrubs to depict the Great Lakes. Visitors can take the Maid of the Mist Boat Tour that travels into the spray of the Falls, or explore the Cave of the Winds, on Goat Island, in the middle of the river above the Falls.
The Niagara Whirlpool, on the river beneath the Falls, can be visited by jet boat. North of the Falls is Old Fort Niagara – a restored fortress and park containing military buildings, including the 1726 French Castle, one of the oldest European-designed buildings on the continent. Other attractions in the area include the Daredevils Hall of Fame with photographs, contraptions and memorabilia of the swimmers, tightrope walkers and others who braved the Falls (sometimes fatally); the Aquarium of Niagara, with more than 1500 aquatic animals including sharks, piranhas and sea lions; the Niagara Aerospace Museum, and the Amherst Museum at Amherst, which recreates life on the 19th-century Niagara Frontier.

Travel
The Buffalo/Niagara Falls International Airport is only a 25-minute drive from the Falls and is served by many airlines, domestic and international. Shuttles to all major hotels are available. The Niagara Falls International Airport is just seven minutes away by coach or taxi. It can accommodate the largest jumbo jets and is available for charter flights. For people arriving by coach, Niagara Falls is located on a major Interstate Highway, less than one day’s drive from New York City and the eastern USA. The Falls are also accessible by rail. Amtrak offers two trains per day, which arrive from New York City bound for Toronto; the station is 3km (2 miles) south of downtown Niagara Falls. Greyhound (tel: (800) 229 9424 (toll-free) provides a direct service from New York to Niagara, with a conveniently central bus terminal at Fourth Street and Niagara Street.

Buffalo & Area
Standing at the eastern extremity of Lake Erie on the border with Canada, Buffalo is the State’s second-largest city, the gateway to Niagara Falls and the Finger Lakes, and within easy reach of Lake Ontario and Toronto. It is home to the State’s most important museum outside New York City, the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, which contains works by Picasso, Renoir, Van Gogh and Monet, among others. The Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society displays the inventions of Niagara Frontier residents, including Cheerios, cold remedies and pacemakers.
Allentown Association is among the largest historic preservation sites in the USA. The area includes arts and crafts, Victorian-style homes, international food and galleries. The graves of President Millard Fillmore and Seneca Indian Chief Red Jacket can be found at the Forest Lawn Cemetery. Other attractions include the Burchfield Arts Center, with the largest collection of watercolors by American artist Charles F Burchfield; the Buffalo Museum of Science with a children’s discovery room; CEPA Gallery, devoted to photographic art; and the Naval and Military Park, where the World War II destroyer, USS Sullivans, is docked. Buffalo Zoo in Delaware Park has large enclosures with natural features and is home to Siberian tigers, gorillas and elephants. The Six Flags Darien Lake is a popular waterpark, with new attractions in the pipeline.

Excursions
Artpark, in the historic village of Lewiston, is the only State Park in the nation dedicated to the visual and performing arts. The 80 hectare (200 acre) park includes a 2300-seat theater, nature trails, free outdoor performances and workshops. Letchworth State Park is known as the ‘Grand Canyon of the East’ and offers visitors magnificent views of the Genesee River Gorge. Outdoor activities on offer include camping, hiking and picnicking. The only socialised wolf pack in the eastern USA lives at the Institute for Environmental Learning in Lyndonville, which also houses bald eagles and cougars. Full of houses and shops from the 1820s, Lockport is known for its five enormous locks on the Erie Canal. The Lockport Cave Tour takes visitors along the locks, through a tunnel blasted out of rock in the 19th century, and ends in an underground boat ride.

Travel
There are limousine services from Greater Buffalo Airport (BUF) to the city, 14.5km (9 miles) away, or direct to Niagara Falls. Taxis are also available. There are Amtrak rail links from Buffalo to Niagara Falls, on the Toronto-Niagara Falls line; trains to Chicago stop at the Depew station, some 13km (8 miles) from downtown Buffalo. Empire Trailways, Greyhound and long-distance bus services both stop at the downtown bus terminal at Ellicott Street and Church Street (the hub for Metro Bus and Metro Rail city services); bus route 40 runs hourly to the Niagara Falls.

Special Events
The following is a selection of special events occurring in Greater Niagara in 2005:
Mar 13 St Patrick’s Day Celebrations, Buffalo. Aug 3-7 Niagara County Fair, Lockport. Aug 13-14 Annual Lewiston Outdoor Fine Arts Festival, Lewiston. Sep 17-25 Greater Niagara Fish Odyssey (angling competition), public waterways of Niagara and Erie. Sep 25-Oct 31 Pumpkin Farm Fall Festival, Clarence. Nov 20 Light Up the Night Parade and Tree Lighting Ceremony, Niagara Falls.
Each spring, the Festival of Gold celebrates the blooming of daffodils all over Niagara County. The flowers can be seen at Artpark, New York Power Authority and Old Fort Niagara, as well as in extensive areas along the Robert Moses Parkway from Rainbow Boulevard North to Lewiston. The Festival of Gold began in 1992, when volunteers planted 405,000 daffodil bulbs across the county.
From Nov 23-Jan 3 2006, the 23rd Annual Winter Festival of Lights in Niagara Falls attracts more than 8.5 million visitors. Billed as ‘Niagara’s Holiday Gift to the World’, the festival is one of the nation’s premier winter attractions, combining hundreds of thousands of colorful lights, animated displays, professional and community entertainment and almost two months of events.

Hudson Valley


The Hudson River Valley spans 225km (140 miles) from the Battery in Manhattan to New York’s State Capitol in Albany, encompassing New York City and a 10-county region to the north (Westchester, Rockland, Orange, Putnam, Duchess, Ulster, Columbia, Greene, Albany and Rensselaer counties). As the Hudson River flows northwards, its landscape becomes more subdued and turns from rugged shorelines to gentle, rolling hills. The Catskill Mountains, located to the west, provide a stunning backdrop. Away from the river itself, the Valley contains rich, fertile lands that were originally farmed by the many Native American Algonquin tribes and the early Dutch settlers. Although some of it is being converted to non-agricultural uses, these lands remain the largest agricultural area in the State.
The Hudson River Valley was originally inhabited by Native Americans over 3000 years ago, before being settled by the Dutch in the early 17th century. Important decisions involving the early development of the USA were made throughout the region and it was the center of the Revolutionary War. Today, approximately 3 million people live in the Hudson Valley. The Hudson River Valley corridor serves as a major transport and commercial link between the ports of New York City and Albany. The Erie Canal, constructed in 1852, linked New York City to Chicago before the development of the railway in the late-1880s made barges obsolete.
The scenery of the Hudson Valley inspired the works of early US writers, artists and designers and contributed to an appreciation of the natural environment. The Valley was the birthplace in the mid-19th century of the Hudson River School of painting – the largest, longest and most influential movement in American art history. James Fenimore Cooper (The Leatherstocking Tales) and Washington Irving (The Legend of Sleepy Hollow) used the unique landscape and folklore of the Hudson Valley as the backdrop to their literary works. The Hudson Valley is also scattered with the works of famous landscape architects: Andrew Jackson Downing, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, as well as a wide array of historic and archaeological sites and museums associated with Native Americans, the Dutch and English settlements, the Revolutionary War and the Hudson River School.
The Hudson Valley has a long tradition as a holiday destination. In the mid- to late-19th century, it served as a retreat for wealthy industrialists from New York City such as the Vanderbilts and Rockefellers, who built the elaborate estates along the shores of the Hudson known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’. City dwellers have also sought refuge at the many resorts located in the western mid-to-upper Hudson Valley region. Today, the area continues to offer year-round opportunities for many outdoor activities such as boating, camping, hiking, hunting, skiing, bicycling, rock climbing and canoeing. Tourism is the Valley’s largest employer.

Westchester County
Known as the ‘Golden Apple of New York State’, Westchester is located just 24km (15 miles) north of Manhattan and is the gateway to the Hudson Valley. With ties to both areas, Westchester benefits from the two different worlds. The county is bordered on the west by the Hudson River and on the east by the Long Island Sound, offering plenty of opportunities for boating, sailing and watersports. The county is home to 40 private and public golf courses and top-name department stores, discount malls and exclusive boutiques. The city’s historic roots go deep and are reflected in the many museums, historic sites and other attractions. These include the Hudson River Museum in Yonkers, where paintings by the famous Hudson River School of artists are on display. At Tarrytown is the restored home of writer Washington Irving, and nearby is Lyndhurst, the estate and Gothic-style mansion formerly owned by the 19th-century tycoon, Jay Gould. Visitors can also tour the Rockefeller estate, Kykuit, or spend some time at the historic Playland Park, built in 1928 as a family amusement park and a National Historic Landmark, with new attractions for 2004.

Orange County
This is the only county in the State located between two rivers, the Delaware River on the west and the Hudson on the east. Founded in 1683, Orange County was named after England’s House of Orange, and the county has played a major role in US history. George Washington lived and had his headquarters here until the Revolutionary War ended.
Today, Orange County has the greatest number and the most diverse assortment of attractions in New York outside Manhattan: West Point, where visitors can observe impressive military parades by cadets at the United States Military Academy; Storm King Art Center (the largest sculpture park in the USA); Woodbury Common (the largest discount designer outlet in the world); West Point Museum Village (the largest living history museum in New York); Sugar Loaf Art and Craft Village, with working craftspeople and more than 60 shops, and the New York Renaissance Faire. At Washingtonville is the Brotherhood Winery. The country’s oldest winery, it also boasts the largest wine cellars in the USA. Orange County is also known for the beauty of its rolling farmland, and features apple orchards and picking farms that have farm stores, hay rides and seasonal events throughout the year. With 56km (35 miles) of the Appalachian Trail and several large State Parks, hiking is popular in Orange County, as is canoeing or rafting the Delaware River, one of the 10 most ecologically healthy rivers in the USA.

Duchess County
Named for Mary, Duchess of York and later Queen of England, this county was home to Franklin D Roosevelt, who is buried with his wife, Eleanor, at Hyde Park. Here, on the Hudson River, is the Vanderbilt Mansion, a striking 54-room Italian Renaissance structure, furnished elegantly in marble and mahogany. The Culinary Institute of America, 3 miles north of Poughkeepise, is one of the world’s great cookery schools. Visitors can sample the cuisine at one of the three restaurants on its campus, the American Bounty Restaurant, Caterina de Medici or Escoffier Room, as well as two cafes. At Rhinebeck, the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome houses an extensive museum of native warplanes, including several World War I models.

Special Events
The following is a selection of special events occurring in Hudson Valley in 2005:
Jan 1-Mar 6 Open Air Ice Rink, Bear Mountain State Park. Feb 19-21 George Washington’s Birthday Celebrations, Newburgh. Mar 13 St Patrick’s Parade, Tarrytown. May Native American Pow Wow, Bear Mountain State Park; Blessing of the Animals, North Salem. Jun 5 25th Annual Times Herald Orange Classic 10K, Middletown. Jul 20-31 Orange County Fair, Middletown. Aug 23-28 Duchess County Fair, Rhinebeck. Sep Cheese Festival, Monroe. Sep 8-11 Yorktown Grange Fair, Yorktown Heights. Sep 24-25 Hudson Valley Garlic Festival, Saugerties. Oct Oktoberfest, Bear Mountain State Park; Applefest, Warwick. Oct 2 Support Connection 11th Annual Support-A-Walk, Yorktown Heights. Dec Holiday Festival, Bear Mountain State Park. Dec 31 First Night, Middletown.

Finger Lakes


Located midway between New York City and Niagara Falls in west central New York State, the Finger Lakes represent one of the truly unspoiled vacation areas in the USA. Well known for its picturesque lakes, wineries and lush forests, the region offers many opportunities for recreational activity. It is home to 25 State Parks and a variety of museums and historic homes.
The Native Americans believed the Finger Lakes were formed when the Great Spirit reached out to bless the region and left behind the imprint of his hand. Geologists report instead that the unique features of the area – the 11 long narrow lakes lying side by side, the wide valleys and the deep gorges with rushing waterfalls – were formed by the grinding action of Ice Age glaciers. These geographical features are found nowhere else in the world.
Jesuit missionaries, the first Europeans to arrive in the region, found it controlled by the Cayuga, Onondaga and Seneca Native Americans, part of the powerful Iroquois Confederacy. The area’s Native American heritage is still apparent today in the names of communities and landmarks throughout the region. Although the Finger Lakes area is known primarily for its natural beauty and abundant recreational opportunities, it has also played a significant role in US social, economic and political history and is the home of famous statesmen, inventors and businesspeople.
From west to east, the six largest lakes are: Canandaigua, Keuka, Seneca, Cayuga, Owasco, and Skaneateles. There are many fine lodges and small resorts on the lakes’ shores, where visitors can take in the outstanding scenery and make the most of recreational opportunities, especially boating and fishing.

Syracuse
The city flourished after the opening of the Erie Canal in 1825, and the Erie Canal Museum, a restored 1850s canal-boat-weighing station set along the canal, celebrates the waterway’s importance to the region. Other attractions include the Milton J Rubenstein Museum of Science and Technology, which has a planetarium and a terrarium with live lakeshore creatures, and Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Burnet Park, with 14.5 hectares (36 acres) and more than 1000 animals in their natural habitat. The Everson Museum of Art features the nation’s largest display of US ceramics. Life in the 17th century is recreated at the Sainte Marie Among the Iroquois Living History Museum; the Sainte Marie mission was built by the French in 1657 at the invitation of the Iroquois people. The Canal Center has a canoe launch and facilities for biking, hiking and picnicking, while visitors to the Cedarvale Maple Syrup Company can see how maple syrup is made.

Rochester
The third-largest urban area in New York State, Rochester has more sites on the National Register of Historic Places than any other city its size. Known for its beautiful parks and gardens, the city hosts the celebrated Lilac Festival each May. The Raging Rivers Waterpark, Seabreeze Amusement Park and Seneca Park Zoo are all popular entertainment spots. George Eastman, inventor in 1892 of roll film and the Kodak camera, lived here. The George Eastman House is a national historical landmark and its outstanding International Museum of Photography details the development of the art from the time of Daguerre to the satellite photos of the space age. At the Rochester Museum and Science Center, visitors can learn about the Seneca Native Americans through exhibits and artifacts that date from 1550 to 1820. The Laser, Light & Fireworks Spectacular in the High Falls District includes interactive 3-D exhibits, including a model flour mill. At nearby Victor, the ‘capital’ of the Seneca people from 1650 to 1687 is preserved at the State Historic Site of Ganondagan.

Wine region
Viticulture has flourished in the Finger Lakes region for more than a century, and today it is one of the world’s leading wine districts. Many wineries offer free guided tours and tasting. All of the area’s vineyards and wineries lie on the Cayuga Wine Trail, located between Seneca Falls and Trumansburg, centered around the Cayuga, Keuka and Seneca lakes. The Greyton H Taylor Wine Museum in Hammondsport details the history and the process of winemaking, while dinner cruises are offered on the Keuka Maid and sunny afternoons can be enjoyed at the nearby Keuka Lake State Park.

Elsewhere
The Finger Lakes region was renowned for the quality of its glass, and the newly renovated Corning Museum of Glass in Corning has exhibits spanning 3500 years of glass-making. Visitors can still observe craftspeople shaping exquisite glass objects. Ithaca is home to the Sciencenter, a hands-on science museum and outdoor science playground, the Herbert F Johnson Museum of Art, which houses a collection spanning 40 centuries and six continents, and the Sapsucker Woods Bird Sanctuary. North of Ithaca, the Taughannock Falls State Park features a waterfall higher than Niagara. At Watkins Glen, visitors will find the Hall of Fame and the National Motor Racing Museum. At the north end of Cayuga Lake is the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, a resting and feeding area for more than 235 species of migratory birds.