# A day in upstate NY - what to do **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Tags:** vacation-travel\ **Created:** [May 11, 2026, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-day-in-upstate-ny-what-to-do/1030001 "2026-05-11T15:34:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2026, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-day-in-upstate-ny-what-to-do/1030001/1 "2026-05-11T15:34:02Z")
We do an annual trip to Western NY, about an hour from Buffalo. We also usually take an extra day on the way home to go _somewhere_ though I’m running out of ideas. IF the water’s up, we’ll probably go kayaking down the Pine Creek Gorge (The Grand Canyon of PA) but if it’s at it’s typical lower level, then I’m passing on the tubing, which becomes the only option to get downriver. Have been there multiple other times before so; otherwise, no overwhelming desire to go to PCG. As for in NY, we’ve already done: - Cooperstown - Hall of Fame & Ommegang Brewery - Corning Glass Museum - Curtis Museum - Watkins Glen - Gorge & track - Wings of Eagles Air Museum Ultimate direction is SE, towards NJ but totally willing to ramble a bit. Any suggestions from the Dopers who know the area. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2026, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-day-in-upstate-ny-what-to-do/1030001/2 "2026-05-11T15:39:34Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > Corning Glass Museum I was pleasantly surprised by this. It was expecting a dinky little small town museum with a cheesy diorama or two. It’s not, it’s a massive very well funded museum, think MoMA or similar. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2026, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-day-in-upstate-ny-what-to-do/1030001/3 "2026-05-11T15:48:29Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > IF the water’s up, we’ll probably go kayaking down the Pine Creek Gorge (The Grand Canyon of PA) Also worth a visit is Letchworth State Park, known as the Grand Canyon of the East. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2026, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-day-in-upstate-ny-what-to-do/1030001/4 "2026-05-11T16:00:31Z")
You could go to wineries in the Finger Lakes. There are plenty of them. I’ll second Letchworth If you get to Binghamton, you can visit Ross Park Zoo or the Roberson Museum. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2026, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-day-in-upstate-ny-what-to-do/1030001/5 "2026-05-11T16:08:32Z")
> [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](#): > > Also worth a visit is Letchworth State Park, known as the Grand Canyon of the East. Where do you think we’re coming from? 😉 If the weather cooperates, we’ll be [IN](https://www.flickr.com/photos/74663312@N08/54540605485/) the gorge, as well as hiking & photos. Let’s not forget the annual ~~root~~ beer float at Inspiration Point ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2026, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-day-in-upstate-ny-what-to-do/1030001/6 "2026-05-11T16:12:36Z")
The [National Comedy Center](https://comedycenter.org/) in Jamestown is perhaps the best small museum I’ve ever been to. They did the impossible - made a museum about the history of comedy fun. Definitely get to the x-rated section. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2026, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-day-in-upstate-ny-what-to-do/1030001/7 "2026-05-11T16:19:30Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > The [National Comedy Center](https://comedycenter.org/) in Jamestown Not necessarily opposed but it’s _waaay_ outta the way as we’re heading SE & that’s SW. Is there other stuff to do there that’ll make it worthwhile to spend a night? ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2026, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-day-in-upstate-ny-what-to-do/1030001/8 "2026-05-11T16:35:22Z")
When we go we make a stop at the [Chatauqua Institution](https://www.chq.org/). Beautiful place to stroll around and you might get lucky with the evening’s entertainers. I know Jamestown is out of the way. Everyone in Jamestown knows that, which is why they exploited their one resource: being Lucille Ball’s birthplace. Oh, right, she has a museum there too. ---
**Author:** ![Eureka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/74df32/32.png) [@Eureka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eureka)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2026, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-day-in-upstate-ny-what-to-do/1030001/9 "2026-05-11T18:16:37Z")
[Olana](https://olana.org/) home of Frederic Church (painter from the Hudson Valley School) Hudson, NY The Fenimore Art Museum in Cooperstown, NY [Howe Caverns](https://howecaverns.com/) ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2026, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-day-in-upstate-ny-what-to-do/1030001/10 "2026-05-11T18:17:31Z")
> [@Eureka](#): > > The Fenimore Art Museum in Cooperstown, NY Also the Farmer’s Museum in Cooperstown. But I think they’re gonna be a long way from Cooperstown. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2026, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-day-in-upstate-ny-what-to-do/1030001/11 "2026-05-11T18:28:11Z")
Seconding Finger Lakes wine trails; also breweries if that’s more to your taste. There are a lot of local festivals — do you know what day you’ll be coming through? Also recommended: > **[Ganondagan | Seneca Historic Site | 7000 County Road 41, Victor, NY, USA](https://www.ganondagan.org/)** > > Ganondagan State Historic Site located in Victor, NY is a National Historic Landmark, the only New York State Historic Site dedicated to a Native American theme , and the only Seneca town developed and interpreted in the United States. Not just a matter of history; the Haudenosaunee are very much still around. ---
**Author:** ![Thumper668](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thumper668/32/20803_2.png) [@Thumper668](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thumper668)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2026, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-day-in-upstate-ny-what-to-do/1030001/12 "2026-05-11T18:36:04Z")
I’m not sure how far south or east you’re going, but I can recommend the following: - Woodstock Museum in Bethel - LEGOland in Goshen - Bear Mountain and Harriman State Park ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2026, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-day-in-upstate-ny-what-to-do/1030001/13 "2026-05-11T18:56:30Z")
There’s a decent aviation museum near Finger Lakes. Buffalo has the Pierce Arrow museum, then lunch at Bocce Pizza. Or are you saying you live in Buffalo? ---
**Author:** ![bmoak1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f4b2a3/32.png) [@bmoak1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bmoak1)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2026, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-day-in-upstate-ny-what-to-do/1030001/14 "2026-05-12T04:00:58Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > > [@Spiderman](#): > > > > Corning Glass Museum > > I was pleasantly surprised by this. It was expecting a dinky little small town museum with a cheesy diorama or two. It’s not, it’s a massive very well funded museum, think MoMA or similar. A lot of people go to the Corning Museum of Glass and never actually cross the river into the actual downtown Corning. It’s a nice town with its prosperity unperpinned by Corning Inc (which funds/runs the museum). Anyways, across the river you have the downtown pedestrian Gaffer District, with The Rockwell Museum, a branch of the Smithsonian specializing in Western and Native American art, including a permanent Haudenosaunee exhibit from Ganondagan, at one end. ---
**Author:** ![bmoak1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f4b2a3/32.png) [@bmoak1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bmoak1)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2026, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-day-in-upstate-ny-what-to-do/1030001/15 "2026-05-12T04:16:34Z")
I could narrow it down more if I had an idea what interested you. For example, I wouldn’t recommend a winery trail if you don’t like wine. Also, when you say we, are there kids involved? Years ago, there was a thread on what do in the Finger Lakes that I wrote a bunch of replies in. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2026, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-day-in-upstate-ny-what-to-do/1030001/16 "2026-05-12T07:55:02Z")
Seneca and Cayuga lakes both have dinner/brunch cruises. I believe the Seneca lake leaves returns from Watkins Glen? ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2026, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-day-in-upstate-ny-what-to-do/1030001/17 "2026-05-12T12:22:29Z")
There’s Tappahannock Falls outside of Ithaca, and the downtown Commons is a great place to hang out. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@salinqmind1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind1)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2026, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-day-in-upstate-ny-what-to-do/1030001/18 "2026-05-12T13:15:10Z")
Ausable Chasm has many trails, a guided trail tour, and tubing on the river. It’s up in the Adirondacks, so I guess it’s not an option for a short time, but we went to stay in the Lake Placid area for a week and included a nice little hike through this magnificent canyon. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2026, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-day-in-upstate-ny-what-to-do/1030001/19 "2026-05-12T13:31:37Z")
> [@salinqmind1](#): > > Ausable Chasm has many trails, a guided trail tour, and tubing on the river. We went there a few years ago on vacation. I’d never ben to Ausable chasm before, and wanted to take my wife on the hike. Definitely worth it. But it’s on the other side of the state from where they’re going to be. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@salinqmind1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind1)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2026, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-day-in-upstate-ny-what-to-do/1030001/20 "2026-05-12T13:43:53Z")
Yes, I just wanted to mention it. Beautiful area. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-day-in-upstate-ny-what-to-do/1030001.md?page=2)