Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re talking about what NOT to do when you visit the state of New York. While many travel blogs will tell you the best things to see in New York State, we want to be sure you know about the things you should NOT do as you tour the best places to visit in New York.
Don’t Think New York is Just New York City
When you say “New York” the first thing that comes to mind for most people is New York City, specifically Manhattan. There’s a whole state out there, waiting to be explored. Of course, New York City is fantastic and everyone should visit at least once. But, there are plenty more New York State attractions outside of the city as well.
What NOT to Do in New York City
New York State is like a bunch of states all rolled into one. You have Upstate New York, Western New York and of course, New York City. There’s a huge variety of types of places to visit in Update New York State, the Catskills, Adirondacks, Finger Lakes, Long Island and more!
Don’t Forget Your Outdoor Gear
When you visit New York State, be prepared to spend a lot of time outdoors because New York is an outdoor recreation haven. Outside of the city, New Yorkers are really outdoorsy. There’s great hiking in both the Adirondacks and the Catskills, not to mention all of the great water activities (and wine tasting!) in the Finger Lakes region. Watkins Glen State Park is a great place to start a trip to Finger Lakes.
Don’t Worry if You Can’t Pronounce the Names
New York has a lot of Native history and therefore a lot of the names can be hard to pronounce. Places like Canajoharie, Canandaigua, Coxsackie, Schoharie, Skaneateles, and Niskayuna are just a few examples of places in New York that are nearly impossible to pronounce on your first try.
Don’t Be Afraid to Drive in New York
New York drivers are notoriously aggressive, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t drive in New York. (We don’t recommend driving in New York City as it’s just a hassle, but driving is the best way to see the rest of New York State.)
Defensive driving might not cut it in New York; you might have play a little offense.
- Don’t forget your EZ Pass to pay the tolls as there are a lot of them around New York State; if you rent a car, it’s easiest to rent an EZ Pass with the car.
- Don’t expect to wander around while pumping gas; in New York, the gas pumps require you to hold down the handle the entire time. No multi-tasking!
- Don’t dawdle! Whether you’re finding a parking spot, parking the car or even paying for your parking, don’t take your time. Hurry up!
- Don’t assume exit numbers correspond with mile markers.
- Don’t just stay on the interstates; the backroads and highways are where you’ll see “the real New York.” There are some great villages and historic towns in New York.
Don’t Order “Buffalo” Wings in New York
New York (especially Buffalo) is famous for Buffalo chicken wings. Here they’re just wings; there’s no need to add the “buffalo” to it. The wings really are amazing in Buffalo. We tried Duff’s and the Anchor Bar; even the bleu cheese tastes better in Buffalo! Don’t worry about getting messy; it’s just part of eating wings!
Don’t Miss Out on New York Food
Even though there’s a dish called the garbage plate, the food in New York is far from garbage. Besides wings in Buffalo, there are a few things you have to try when you visit New York State.
- If you’re in New York City, you have a get a slice of New York pizza. They cut it in huge slices and it’s so yummy! We also tried Buffalo-style pizza and it was phenomenal.
- New York Bagels are the best and once you’ve had an authentic New York bagel, everything else will pale in comparison
- Beef on Weck is a popular sandwich in New York
Always ask around for what the local specialty is, and give it a try! Just don’t expect overly friendly service. The locals are generally friendly and forthcoming with recommendations, but the service can be a little gruff.
Don’t Skip the Local Brews and Wines
New York State has some great craft beers and wine. The Finger Lakes region is full of vineyards and tasting rooms. Just make sure you call ahead to see which ones are open as these are popular wedding and event venues and can be closed for a private party. Many will have fun events for visitors like kids’ activities and live music.
Long Island has some of the best beers I’ve tried in the States, too!
Don’t Forget Your Passport
If you’re coming to New York State, there are a few day trips to Canada you can take, so it’s a good idea to have your passport handy. Niagara Falls is on the border of the US and Canada near Buffalo, and there’s also the Thousand Islands National Park just 90 minutes north of Syracuse. From Lake Placid, Montreal is two hours north!
Grab Some Wolters World Travel Gear!
Don’t be surprised if you fall in love with New York State! New York is such a great city and then there’s a whole state of cool attractions outside of New York. From Long Island to Buffalo, we love visiting New York State. With so many New York vacation spots, it’s the perfect destination for a summer or fall road trip! Start planning your trip at the official New York State tourism site, I Love NY.
Want more East Coast travel tips? Check out some of our other blog posts: