iloveny.com | 1 Courtesy ORDA Courtesy ORDA | ©Jacob Allen Sporn CONTENTS ONE OF THE MANY GREAT THINGS ABOUT NEW YORK STATE SNOW MUCH is that we are truly a four-season destination. Across our eleven beautiful 4 FAMILY FUN vacation regions this winter, you can discover an endless variety of seasonal 12 SNOWTUBING activities and adventures. 13 ICE SKATING I love the thrill of snowmobiling on the Tug Hill Plateau in the 1000 Islands and 14 DOWNHILL SKIING along the wooded trails of the Adirondacks and Chautauqua-Allegheny regions. New York's ski resorts in places like the Catskill Mountains feature a wide variety 19 APRÈS SKI DOWNHILL of family activities, including sleigh rides and snow tubing. There’s free ice skating 20 at the Empire State Plaza in the Capital-Saratoga region and snowshoeing along SKI AREA GRIDS CROSS-COUNTRY a restored Erie Canal towpath in Central NY. There are seasonal festivals from 22 Long Island to Greater Niagara and culinary experiences like sampling ice wines SKIING in the Finger Lakes. When it comes to culture and the arts, there is no state that 24 SNOWSHOEING can match what we have in New York, from the historic homes of the Hudson Valley CROSS-COUNTRY to a Broadway show in New York City. 26 SKI AREA GRIDS In short, you can find what you love in New York State. It is my pleasure to invite NEW YORK STATE 28 SKI AREAS MAP you to explore and discover all the incredible places and activities New York has to offer during the winter season. 30 SNOWMOBILING Sincerely, 32 LODGING & DINING 34 PERFORMING ARTS 35 SHOPPING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo 36 WINTER EVENTS Show your for New York State. iloveny.com facebook.com/iloveny twitter.com/i_love_ny instagram.com/iloveny pinterest.com/iloveny youtube.com/officialiloveny iloveny.com/blog ALL PHOTOGRAPHY BY DARREN McGEE/NYSDED UNLESS OTHERWISE CREDITED. COVER: Highland Forest Sleigh Ride, Fabius. Courtesy Onondaga County Parks THIS SPREAD: Whiteface Lake Placid, Adirondacks. Courtesy ORDA | © Jacob Allen Sporn 2 | iloveny.com iloveny.com | 3 Courtesy ROOST Courtesy ROOST | ©Dave Schmidt Photography FIND WHAT YOU LOVE IN NEW YORK STATE When the snow falls, new adventures begin. Ski an Olympic mountain, snowshoe powder-filled forests, or ride a dog-sled across a frozen lake. With breathtaking trails, world-class museums, vibrant cities and picturesque villages, there is something for everyone. Plan your escape and find what you love in New York State. Thunder Mountain Dog Sled Tours | Lake Placid 4 | iloveny.com iloveny.com | 5 © American Museum of Natural History | New York City Zach Ladopoulos FAMILY FUN Cradle of Aviation Museum | Garden City Whether it's spending a day on the slopes, frolicking The Brooklyn Children’s Museum lets kids have Future astronauts are inspired at the Cradle of Long Island Aquarium | Riverhead at a winter carnival, checking out a museum or fun while learning (sneaky!) at interactive exhibits Aviation Museum. Young aviators command a space going on a big city adventure, families find New like “World Brooklyn,” a pint-size cityscape lined shuttle, build roaring rockets and explore the moon York offers a wide variety of awesome places to by faux stores where young’uns can immerse before settling down for storytime. Kids can touch reconnect and make winter a season to remember. themselves into multi-cultural experiences that foster everything they see at the Long Island Children’s curiosity, creativity and lifelong love of learning. Museum. From interactive exhibits to art programs BIG CITY ADVENTURES A playground for kids’ minds, the Staten Island and theater, it’s all designed to delight children. Time-honored kid pleasers in New York City Children’s Museum includes super-size board games, include the American Museum of Natural History’s a firsthand look at a bug’s life and replicas of different BE COURAGEOUS dinosaur halls and spectacular space shows at the ecosystems. It’s not all pretend, though: The museum’s With over 60 fire engines and countless artifacts, Hayden Planetarium. The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space “House About It” exhibit allows visitors to work a real Hudson Valley’s FASNY Museum of Firefighting is Museum, a former battleship, delights with drone drill, and “Portia’s Playhouse” is stocked with costumes an extraordinary museum for all things firefighting. demos, virtual flights and family overnights. so little actors can get down to thespian business. Activities for families include creative play on selected Times Square’s National Geographic Encounter: fire engines, hands-on interactives, including the Ocean Odyssey is a new, immersive entertainment TRAVEL BY SEA, SKY & LAND popular bucket brigade activity, a virtual fire engine iFLY Indoor Skydiving | Yonkers experience that harnesses groundbreaking It’s a watery world of fun year-round at Long driving activity, the new Jr. Firefighter Challenge and technology to transport guests on an underwater Island Aquarium. Indoors, explore an Amazon the Cabot/McCadam Discovery Room. journey with the ocean's mightiest of creatures. rainforest and go eye-to-eye with fascinating Looking for uplifting adventures? Flyers age 3 Generations bond over favorite traditions: Radio creatures like a giant octopus and bobbing and up have a blast at iFly Westchester's indoor City’s Christmas Spectacular, the Holiday Train seahorses. Feed sharks, pat a stingray and take skydiving center. There’s no jumping or falling, and Show at New York Botanical Garden, family pictures some sea lion selfies. Everyone gets on-board to no experience needed– just float on a wall-to-wall by Rockefeller Center’s giant Christmas tree, and watch wildlife splash and sun on seal cruises. cushion of air. Events include All Abilities Nights for NYC Ballet’s The Nutcracker at Lincoln Center. kids with special needs. 6 | iloveny.com iloveny.com | 7 © © Courtesy City of Binghamton Parks & Recreation Courtesy City of Binghamton Parks Courtesy ORDA/Dave Schmidt Courtesy ORDA/Dave Recreation Park Carousel | Binghamton Santa's Workshop | Wilmington Olympic Sports Complex | Lake Placid COLORFUL CAROUSELS PEAK ADVENTURES Learn about the Miracle on Ice at the Lake Placid Howe Caverns | Howes Cave Olympic Museum and speed skate around the oval at the Enclosed in glass at Brooklyn Bridge Park, Jane’s US News Travel named the Adirondacks a top 10 Olympic Center. Save big with an Olympic Sites Passport. Carousel sparkles and twirls all winter. The Merry-Go- best winter family vacation destination. Whether you The Lake Placid Toboggan Chute, a 30-foot-high Round at Bear Mountain State Park features hand- choose thrills like skiing, snowshoeing, bobsledding converted ski jump, rockets riders down ice-covered painted landscapes and 42 hand-carved native animals, and dogsledding, or exploring charming villages amid chutes onto frozen Mirror Lake. Another unique from black bears to foxes and swans. It spins in a pavilion breathtaking scenery– there's something to peak. experience on the lake, Thunder Mountain Dog beside the cozy Bear Mountain Inn, weekends and Yuletide Family Weekends, in November and December Sled Tours delight the whole family. holidays all winter. Families can also enjoy snowshoeing, at Santa’s Workshop in NY’s North Pole let children cross-country skiing, ice-skating and a zoo. visit Santa and Mrs. Santa in their very own home. Be GO UNDERGROUND Take a ride on the colorful, full-size 1912 carousel at the entertained and amused by Frosty the Snowman, Rowdy In Central New York, an elevator takes you down to New York State Museum in Albany. Exhibits highlight the Reindeer, and members of the Mother Goose Guild, Howe Caverns, an ancient geological wonder where natural and cultural history, from the Adirondacks to an as they perform throughout the day with puppet shows families explore fascinating landscapes of limestone Iroquois longhouse and antique fire engines. and musical reviews. Santa's helpers at area host lodges corridors and massive boulders, 156 feet below the earth. capture the family Christmas spirit with trim-a-tree parties On Saturdays in December, Binghamton’s Recreation Howe ranks in the Best 8 Amazing American Caves. Park hosts free holiday rides on a 1925 beauty with 60 where the kiddies create their own ornaments as Rowdy jumping horses, chariots and the original Wurlitzer organ. the Reindeer, Santa's official tree inspector, encourages STEP ABOARD! Nearby, learn about carousels at the Roberson Museum participation and frivolity. Even the jolly old elf himself Live the magic as you listen to the classic story & Science Center. might stop by to spread some holiday cheer. The Polar Express, sing carols and enjoy hot chocolate Open through December 30, the Herschell Carrousel Two-time host of the Winter Olympics, Lake Placid thrills and cookies served by dancing chefs. Trains to the Factory Museum in North Tonawanda houses two with mighty Whiteface Mountain and fantastic cross- “North Pole” depart from Utica, Kingston and Medina. vintage carousels ready to ride, as well as history exhibits country trails. Thrill-seekers age 7 and up can bobsled Trolley rides depart from Riverhead and Southampton. and classic band organs. with professional drivers at the Olympic Sports Complex. Pajamas are a must for children of all ages! 8 | iloveny.com iloveny.com | 9 © Courtesy The Strong Museum Courtesy The Strong NY Zipline Adventures at Hunter Mountain | Hunter Hope Lake Lodge Waterpark at Strong Museum of Play | Rochester Rocking Horse Ranch Resort | Highland Greek Peak Mountain Resort | Cortland FROSTED FALLS & FUN ZOO-TOPIA Along with family-size suites, Lake George’s Six Flags up with ski lessons and an indoor waterpark where it’s Great Escape Lodge has a huge indoor waterpark with always 85° as families splash, slide and ride the 250-foot- Did you know Niagara Falls State Park is open every In zoos from the Bronx to Buffalo, winter events abound multi-level slides, bucket soakers and a lazy river.