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Niagara Falls, America's honeymoon capital.

History, great shopping, major universities, world class architecture, forests, mountains, waterfalls, beaches, Great Lakes, international cuisine, fashion, Atlantic Ocean views, spectacular bridges, fishing, hiking, and world class New York State ski resorts... New York has it all.

Major tourist attractions found in Manhattan and New York City, day trips to the Hudson River Valley and on to Buffalo and the nation's honeymoon capital at Niagara Falls,

For wine lovers, there are the state's more than 180 wineries, and for baseball fans, the Baseball Hall of Fame at Cooperstown,

In winter, the Catskill Mountains and Adirondack Mountains offer a skiier's paradise while in summer New York beaches along the Atlantic shore continue to draw visitors from across the country and around the world.

2024 New York Summer Events

Each summer, there's always something happening around the state - ranging from the famous Renaissance Festival in Sterling, to the Coney Island Mermaid Parade in Coney Island. This year, the 2024 season has a full roster of exciting things to do. Here are our picks of the top festivals and events with official links for more information. Have fun!

New York City kicks off the summer at the annual Coney Island Mermaid Parade.

June 15, 2024 -- Coney Island Mermaid Parade New York City -- New York City kicks off summer down at the beach where mermaids are the star attraction along with fantastical sea creatures, marching bands and dancing groups to the delight of thousands.

June 21 - June 29, 2024 - Rochester International Jazz Festival Rochester -- A week-long music fest features everthing from jazz singers to jazz bands, and jazz legends to new artists from around the world.

June 30, 2024 -- NYC Gay Pride Parade New York City -- The one that started them all, it's still one of the biggest and most festive including a week-long celebration of events leading up to the big parade.

July 6 - August 18, 2024 - Sterling Renaissance Festival Sterling -- Enjoy chowing down on turkey legs, watch a live jousting tournament, and take in stage and musical performances on weekends in July and August.

July 4, 2024 -- Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks New York City -- Beginning at dusk, one of the nation's largest and most spectacular pyrotechnic displays happens along the East River shore every Independence Day. Happy Fourth!

July 4, 2024 -- Coney Island Hot Dog Eating Contest New York City -- Watch champions compete for the coveted Mustard Belt in this wacky 4th of July tradition televised nationwide.

August 21 - September 2, 2024 -- New York State Fair Syracuse -- Deep fried fair food is on the menu at this end-of-summer fling featuring carnival rides, nightly big name musical acts, art & craft exhibitons, farm animals, and lots, lots more.

August 31 - September 2, 2024 -- National Buffalo Wing Festival Buffalo -- Spend Labor Day weekend in the city that invented buffalo chicken wings with a bobbing for wings competition, the USA Wing Easting Champisonship, and live music concerts on three stages.

also see -> New York Fall Foliage

This Christmas in New York   |   New York Ski Resorts

Introducing the Great State of New York

Native Americans from the Lenape Nation, the Shinnecock, the Canarsee, Delaware and other Algonquin tribes were the first settlers in the New York area — who began the long New York tradition of welcoming tourists to its shores.

When the first Europeans to discover New York dropped in for a visit in 1524, Native Americans went out in their canoes to greet the new arrivals. The Italian explorer who they met was Giovanni da Verrazano. You may recognize his name from the modern Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. which now connects Brooklyn to Staten Island.

Buying Manhattan for a Bargain

Where George Washington was inaugurated as first US president, on Wall Street in Downtown Manhattan.

Next came the Dutch and, like many visitors to New York, they liked it so much they decided to stay. They established New York's first European settlement at what is now the state capital in Albany. On May 6, 1626, it was Peter Minuit who purchased Manhattan Island from the Lenape Indians in exchange for some trinkets, beads and wampum worth about 60 Dutch guilders. The colony of New Amsterdam was established and the precedent was set for the trades that make up current high priced New York real estate rates today.

In 1664, the English arrived to take control of New Amsterdam without a shot being fired.

After Independence was declared from England, the first capital of the United States was New York City and it remained the nation's capital until 1790. Today, visitors can see the spot where George Washington was inaugurated as the first President of the United States on April 30, 1789. It's the Federal Hall on Wall Street.

From New York City, the scenic Hudson River served as a natural transport for trade and transportation to and from the state's northern areas. Today, these areas are less commercial since cheaper ways to transport goods were discovered, but the natural beauty, climate and history make for a great New York visit.

DID YOU KNOW? New York State Travel Fun Facts

Living large: The Adirondack Park

• Montana? Texas? No. It's New York State that has the oldest working cattle ranch in America. Deep Hollow Ranch in Montauk, Long Island has been around since 1658.

• The Adirondack Park has over 6.1 million acres, larger than Yellowstone, Everglades, Glacier, and Grand Canyon National Parks combined.

• The world’s smallest church, Cross Island Chapel in Oneida, NY, seats two people.

• New York State is the original home of potato chips, marshallows, jarred mayonnaise, Buffalo chicken wings, and Thousand Island dressing.

Elsewhere around the web, take a virtual tour of New York State or plan a real visit with these excellent online resources...

More information about New York travel & tourism around the Web:

I Love NY.com - The entire state covered in detail, with travel tips and information by region and season, with focus on top tourist attractions, vacation packages, travel ideas, hotels & accommodations, New York for families, weather facts, maps.

NYC GO - It'll take you more than a New York minute to see this, the city's official site offering current travel highlights, neighborhood guides, getting around, travel itineraries, hotels & restaurants, picture gallery, maps, fast facts.

Discover Long Island - NYC's bedroom community, and a major tourist attraction all on its own with opportunities for fishing, boating, wine tours, historic places and more with maps, pictures, beach guide.

Niagara Falls USA - The nation's honeymoon capital with a guide to seeing the falls, its nearby attractions, plus an event calendar and related links.

Lake Placid - The state's winter playground in the Adirondack Mountains, with more on what to see and do throughout the year including fishing, boating, skiing, sightseeing, hotels and dining.