We Bet You Didn't Know These Rural New York Destinations Even Existed
By John Williams|Published August 14, 2023
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John Williams
Author
John Williams is a writer based in New York City. He's been living in the state for over a decade. He loves nothing more than checking out some great regional cuisine and then taking a long walk in the park.
There is no shortage of great small town destinations in New York, but a handful of places really stick out to us as being truly special. The following five spots might just be the best rural destinations in New York State. To learn more, keep reading, below.
1. Five State Lookout - Arca
Five State Lookout, 7604 NY-23, Acra, NY 12405, USA
Along the Mohican Trail on Route 23, there is an area that offers views of the Hudson River Valley and, amazingly, five whole states. During a clear day, visitors to this area will be able to see the Green Mountains of Vermont, the White Mountains of New Hampshire, the Berkshire Mountains of Massachusetts, the Helderberg Mountains of New York, and the Connecticut valley. It’s an amazing view, and it’s well-maintained by the state of New York.
In the tiny hamlet of West Falls, New York there is the Hawk Creek Wildlife Center. Founded in 1987, it is one of the largest raptor centers in the East. It has on view a wide-ranging collection of raptors and wildcats. Their mission is to educate and empower visitors—they do this in a variety of ways, but we recommend one of their flying bird shows or animal interactions.
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Hawk Creek Wildlife Center, 1963 Mill Rd, West Falls, NY 14170, USA
Did you know that there is a world-class art museum resting in the small town of Beacon, New York? We highly recommend you make the trip to Beacon to check this place out!
4. Empire State Railway Museum - Phoenicia
Empire State Railway Museum, 70 Lower, High St, Phoenicia, NY 12464, USA
This small town museum is a true treasure. It was established in 1960 and currently sits in the location of the former Ulster & Delaware Phoenicia Railroad Station, which was built all the way back in 1899.
Looking for world-class diamond quartz crystals? Then a trip to the Herkimer Diamond Mines is a must. Visitors can ind 450 million year-old crystals in the mine’s digging area.
Herkimer Diamond Mines KOA Resort, 4601 NY-28, Herkimer, NY 13350, USA
There is still a lot of summer left, so all New Yorkers should get out there and have fun. Any of the five destinations we discussed above are worth making the drive for. New York has a lot of great rural destinations – even our visitor centers have a little something special! It can be a long drive to get to some of these, so make sure to pack all the essentials for a road trip!
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