New York State Fam Trip 2016 by BMI Publishing Ltd

HOW TO SELL

New York

State

Sell more of New York State to clients by reading about the regions, experiences and attractions experienced by UK, Irish and German travel agents and tour operators on a state-wide familiarisation trip

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09/02/2016 09:43

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Empire State welcome to the

Welcome to this special Selling Travel How to Sell New York State guide. We hope it will assist you in selling one of the U.S.A.'s most diverse states. We were delighted to host members of the UK, Irish and German travel trade on a recent fam trip that explored several of the regions of our state. The main purpose of the trip, an I Love New York initiative, was to highlight that New York State has so much that is surprising and delightful. We know that agents can only really appreciate this by seeing it for themselves and by speaking to the people who live, work and play here. On the pages that follow, you can read about some of the experiences these agents enjoyed, and share some of their thoughts and comments. We are a very big supporter of the trade and appreciate that those who work in it have a key role in the delivery of visitors to our state – that is why we consider them to be very, very valuable members of the New York State family. The challenge we have is that while everyone knows our jewel in the crown, New York City, which has long been established as the most popular destination THOUSAND in the country for international visitors, many of our attractions ISLANDSacross the rest of the state remain something of ‘hidden gems’. SEGWAY Watertown That is why we are so pleased when agents see for themselves THE what we have beyond the city. This always affords them new ways of ADIRONDACKS Plattsburgh increasing their business by either selling the state to new customers or extending the tours and itineraries of Glens Falls existing customers heading Rochester Rome Niagara Falls to New York City. CAPITALSyracuse Utica Buffalo SARATOGA The USA is a country full of LeRoy GREATER CENTRAL Schenectady iconic destinations and NIAGARA Albany Troy NEW YORK attractions but New FINGER LAKES York State, with Ithaca CHAUTAUQUA-ALLEGHENY its unrivalled THE Woodstock Binghamton Elmira Jameston CATSKILLS natural beauty, Kingston

its historic and cultural attractions, its beaches and mountain scenery, its lakes and rivers and its bountiful harvest that features in our cuisine, wine and spirits and micro-brews, is the perfect suggestion for second- or third-time visitors to the country. So for those clients who ask you ‘what else is there in the USA?’ we hope this guide provides some of the answers and whets your appetite to offer them much more of our fabulous state.

Hyde Park Poughkeepsie

HUDSON VALLEY NEW YORK CITY Manhattan

Montauk Point

LONG ISLAND

Markly Wilson Director, International Marketing, New York State Division of Tourism

 The Fam Trip agents at Letchworth State Park. Located 35 miles southwest of Rochester and 60 miles

southeast of Buffalo, it is known as 'The Grand Canyon of the East'. From left: Dennis Jackson, Drifters Travel (UK); Beth Zanzala, Kanoo Travel (UK); Rebecca Kortman, CANUSA TOURISTIK (Germany); Samantha King, AmeriCan & Worldwide Travel (UK); Ralph Benecke, Sunwave.de Reisen (Germany); Ciara Foley, Platinum Travel (Ireland); Sofia Froschl, FTI Touristik (Germany); Daniela Heinz, Fair Flight (Germany)

Published by BMI Publishing Ltd © 2016. Suffolk House, George St, Croydon, Surrey, CR9 1SR, UK | T 020 8649 7233 | F 020 8649 7234 | enquiries@bmipublishing.co.uk | www.bmipublishing.co.uk | www.sellingtravel.co.uk Publishers: Steve Thompson & Sally Parker Editorial Director: Steve Hartridge Group Editor: Jo Austin Journalists: Andy Hoskins, Julie Baxter & Laura Gelder Creative Director: Matt Bonner Art Director: Tina-Lee McDougall Designer: Louisa Horton Production Manager: Clare Hunter Circulation Manager: Cheryl Staniforth Managing Director: Martin Steady We are members of the Caribbean Tourism Organization, Visit USA Association, LATA, PATA, MENATA, SATOA, the Foreign Airlines Association and the Institute of Travel & Tourism. Whilst every effort is made to ensure accuracy, BMI Publishing cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions. ISSN: 2056-9319. SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE! www.sellingtravel.co.uk/subscribe

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Water, water, everywhere! From Long Island to the Catskill Mountains to Niagara Falls, there’s no shortage of natural wonders in New York State 1 2 4

(1) Autumn colours in the Hudson Valley (2) Hot air ballooning over Letchworth State Park (3) Characteristic Adirondack chairs at Canalside in Buffalo (4) The group get ready to board Maid of the Mist at Niagara Falls (5) New York State’s 180 state parks offer visitors plenty of opportunities to explore the great outdoors 5

Agent tip “I was really impressed by New York State’s natural beauty. It is a very pretty part of the U.S. and there is so much to do in its parks and on its many lakes and rivers. It is perfect for families” SOFIA FROSCHL FTI TOURISTIK

ne of the world’s best-known waterfalls straddles the U.S.-Canada border. Over 3,160 tonnes of water roar over the precipice every second – but the only place you can get up close enough to feel the spray of the falls on your face is in New York State! The falls can be enjoyed in several ways: you can don a blue poncho and join the Maid of the Mist boat that offers views of American Falls and Bridal Veil before moving to the edge of Horseshoe Falls, or take a high-speed jetboat tour into the Niagara Gorge, through the Devil’s Hole rapids and to the edge of the whirlpool. But for a taste of the full force of the falls, the Cave of the Winds tour sees visitors walking on a temporary walkway right up to a section of the tumbling cataract. In fact, it’s a case of water, water everywhere in New York State, from the Great Lakes of Erie – take a Erie Canal cruise in Buffalo – and Ontario to the trout-filled rivers of the Catskills to the vine-strewn slopes of the Finger Lakes. Each of the main Finger Lakes have a town at their top and bottom, which make perfect bases for a holiday by the water. At the bottom end of the Cayuga Lake, the longest of the lakes, is Ithaca, home of an Ivy League

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Wow factor

DENNIS JACKSON

(6) Discover ‘old world sailing’ on Spirit of Buffalo, a 73-ft schooner that offers a variety of cruises on Lake Erie (7) Fabulous hiking trails abound across New York State (8) Boat trips are available on Lake Cayuga, the longest of the Finger Lakes (9) Ralph in Letchworth State Park (10) Niagara Falls is New York State’s most popular attraction (11) At the Cave of the Winds’ Hurricane Deck visitors get up close to one of the Wonders of the World

See New York State’s

university, Cornell, and said reds, yellow and oranges in natural highlights by to have more restaurants than the autumn, and ‘leaf peeping travelling on its 20 Las Vegas. Ithaca provides a season’ usually starts later scenic byways great starting point for one of than in New England. In the the state’s most popular outdoor Niagara region, drive the 18.5 mile playgrounds: Robert H. Treeman State Robert Moses State Parkway which Park and Buttermilk Falls State Park. travels from the east bank of the Niagara At the top end of Skaneateles Lake – said to River to Four Mile Creek State Park. Or enjoy have the cleanest water in the US – is the small a delightful drive along the Niagara Parkway village of the same name. In the spring and which starts at Fort Erie and continues 35 summer two-hour lunch and dinner boat cruises miles north to Lake Ontario. Sir Winston on the lake are popular. The town is a popular Churchill described it as “the prettiest Sunday stop on the way to Syracuse (22 miles north). The drive in the world”. town’s Sherwood Inn dates back to 1807. Each autumn, the Adirondacks trade lush In total there are 179 state parks in New York. green forests for a rainbow of colour and Between Buffalo and Rochester is Letchworth one of the longest fall foliage seasons in the State Park, located on the Genesee River. At country. Explore the region on a leisurely 14,000 acres it is one of the state’s largest and scenic drive, stopping off on the way for photo most diverse parks. There are three main waterfalls – with several other mini-falls – 400-

opportunities of glistening lakes. The Catskills are known for their natural

foot cliff walls, 270 camping berths and over 80 miles of hiking trails, swimming pools and

beauty, with thousands of acres of forest preserve featuring high peaks, waterfalls

numerous picnic sites in the park. New York sees a kaleidoscopic mix of

and stunning views. Mountaintop resorts like Windham and Hunter feature adventure parks, golf and fun festivals – and the Hunter Mountain New York zipline, the longest and highest in North America.

“The biggest surprise on my fam was provided by one of the state’s biggest draws: Niagara Falls. There are three main attractions surrounding the falls from the U.S. side: the classic Maid of the Mist boats, the Niagara Illuminations and the quite incredible Cave of the Winds. Cave of the Winds was one of the top highlights of my week in the state. After being given a pair of flip-flops – which you can keep – and a flimsy yellow poncho, I headed down to the wooden walkway. It hugs the edge of the falls and takes you closer to the water at every turn. There are many platform ‘levels’, but at ‘Hurricane Deck’, you get sprayed and pelted by a serious amount of water! SAMANTHA KING AMERICAN & WORLDWIDE TRVEL

“I will be promoting New York State to our older clientele and to families, but there is such a vast range of things to do that it offers something for every traveller” CIARA FOLEY PLATINUM TRAVEL

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p roduce local

From the Big Apple to the Niagara region, New York State offers visitors a host of opportunities to taste, drink and even pick local produce at source 1

Agent tip

(1) Apples galore at Beak and Skiff in the Finger Lakes (2) The group learn about maple production at Maldava Farms, in the Hudson Valley (3) Samantha King at Rochester's Public Market (4 ) The Saranac Brewing Company in Utica has been brewing great beers for 125 years. Once Prohibition ended in 1933 Utica beer was the first to be drunk in the U.S. (5) Rebecca, Beth and Daniella at Anyela's Vineyard, in the Finger Lakes 5

“I was surprised by the number of excellent breweries, wineries, distilleries and farmto-table experiences visitors can enjoy across the state” SAMANTHA KING AMERICAN & WORLDWIDE TRAVEL

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veryone has heard of Buffalo wings, the barbecued chicken delicacy that originates from the city of the same name in western New York State, but other regions have their own specialities. For example, the Rochester area is the original home of the White Dog (a type of hot dog) while the Finger Lakes lays claim to Grape Pie. In New York City visit Katz Delicatessan for a Rueben and Swiss cheese sandwich – and recreate the famous scene in When Harry Met Sally, which was filmed in the restaurant. The Finger Lakes area is the second-largest wine-producing region in the country (after California's NAPA Valley) and home to wine ‘trails’ around the lakes of Canandaigua, Cayuga, Keuka and Seneca. It was founded on German grapes and has a similar climate and soil – which is why one of the popular tipples in this area is the sweeter white wines of the Reisling variety. The Finger Lakes also has one of the country’s oldest wineries – the Pleasant Valley Wine Company, which dates back to 1860. Tours and tastings are available. At the top end of Skaneateles Lake, Anyela’s Vineyards hugs the hillside. It started three generations ago in Eastern Europe and today 

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Agent tip 6

(6) Across the state farmers' markets and roadside stands showcase New York produce 7) Local distilleries are producing a range of quality spirits - and have tasting rooms for thirsty visitors (8) Dennis Jackson tries some of the brews on offer at the Roscoe NY Beer Company in the Catskills (9) New York State is one of the USA's top wine-producing regions (10) The farm-totable is a growing trend in the state's restaurants (11) The group enjoy a picnic in Niagara Falls State Park

The Hudson Valley region has an estimated 600 family-run farms

 produces a range of excellent

reds and whites. There are wine trails around other regions of the state, including the Long Island North and South Fork and Hamptons regions, the Hudson Valley – which boasts Brotherhood Winery, America's oldest winery, dating back to 1839 – Catskills, Lake Ontario, Thousand Islands-Seaway, Niagara Escarpment and Chautauqua/Lake Erie. The bountiful Hudson Valley is also known for its food markets, artisanal cheese-makers and family-owned distilleries and home breweries. In fact, the micro-brewery scene is booming across the state, with the NYS Farm Brewery movement fronting a trend that

utilises the taste and aroma of the state's grains and hops. In Hammondsport, in the Finger Lakes, the one-year-old Steuben Brewing Company is based on a familyowned farm where visitors can enjoy a range of pilsners, pale ales and NY Rye beers, along with stunning views of the lake and surrounding hills. In the Catskills, the Roscoe New York Beer company’s motto is ‘No Tall Tales, Just Great Beer’. It makes a range of amber, red and brown ales. Close by is the Catskill Distilling Company, a small distillery based on a farm that is producing award-winning sprits with quirky names such as the Most Righteous Bourbon, Fearless Wheat Whiskey and Curious Gin. Tours are available at both. In Rochester visit the Genesse Brew House for a

“People will never forget having a meal in the D&R Depot in Leroy – it is quirky, and local and real. In many ways it sums up much of what we experienced in New York State” DANIELA HEINZE FAIR FLIGHT

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pint of Genesse cream ale, produced in the factory next door. In Utica the Saranac Brewery has been crafting fine brew for over 125 years, making it the second-oldest brewery in the country. Beak and Skiff in the Finger Lakes is a working farm, orchard, tasting room and country store! Families can ride tractors out into the orchards to pick their own apples. New York State is also one of the world’s topproducing regions of maple syrup. At Maldava Farms in the Hudson Valley visitors can learn all about the maple-producing process, see how it is bottled and taste a range of maple-based goodies.

“Beak and Skiff, with its range of family activities, tasting room and country store is a place I'll be recommending to self-drive clients” CIARA FOLEY PLATINUM TRAVEL

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history world-class culture &

Whether it's a revolutionary event that shaped a nation, the inventor of Kodak film or one of the USA’s most popular presidents, New York State has numerous fascinating stories to tell 1

Agent tip

(1) The George Eastman House and Museum in Rochester (2) The group toured several of New York State's many historic forts and homes (3) Character in Revolutionary period costume at Old Fort Niagara (4) Frank Lloyd Wright's visionary Darwn D. Martin House Complex in Buffalo (5) the Albright-Knox Art Gallery in Buffalo is dedicated to exhibiting and preserving modern and contemporary art 5

“I will be suggesting to clients that they visit the FDR Presidential Library and Museum. It provides a fascinating glimpse into the life and times of a President” BETH ZANZALA KANOO TRAVEL

lose to Niagara Falls is Old Fort Niagara, which sits on a 22-acre site. The fort’s buildings are preserved as they stood in the 18th and early 19th centuries. Captured by the British during the second year of the War of 1812, today you can tour the old sleeping quarters, see a character in costume fire a period musket and marvel at the Fort Niagara Flag, one of the oldest surviving US flags. On a clear day, from the fort’s grounds, you can see Toronto, Canada, across the lake. It’s a short drive from Niagara to Buffalo, a city brimming with galleries and museums. One of its prime attractions is Frank Lloyd Wright's Darwin D. Martin House Complex. One of the USA’s best-known architects, Lloyd Wright was a visionary whose ideas in 1905 for bright open spaces, steep lines and minimalist designs proved a generation or two ahead of the times. The house, which fell into disrepair but has been chopped up and put back together again, is in the final stages of its restoration. The Albright-Knox Art Gallery in Buffalo is one of the country's top modern contemporary art galleries. Anyone with an appreciation of art will enjoy works by artists that include Matisse, Picasso, Magritte, O’Keefe and Pollock. 

Discover the other New York. Visit the Hudson Valley.

A world-class getaway for every season.

The Hudson Valley’s majestic landscapes have attracted visitors and explorers for centuries. On both sides of the river stretching 150 miles from the tip of Manhattan north to Albany, you’ll wind through charming villages to historic sites, arts and music venues, wine tastings, festivals, recreation, and farm to fork restaurants. Every season brings a new adventure. Come explore it. Plan your trip today at travelhudsonvalley.com where you can download regional travel guides as well as the new Hudson Valley Wine & Craft Beverage Map or call 1-800-232-4782 to receive any of them by mail.

Follow Hudson Valley Tourism for the latest news and tweets!

T O D I S C O V E R N E W Y O R K’S

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Agent tip 7

New York was the birthplace of Louis Armstrong and Mark Twain

(7) The Rockwell Museum  In Corning, the Rockwell in Corning is all about art Museum is housed in the city’s that 'tells the American Experience' (8) Visitors get to old city hall and ex-fire station. 'play President' at the FDR Presidential Library in the Today it is home to a staggering Hudson Valley (9) See the collection of Native American and Western firing of a real cannon at Old Fort Niagara National Park American artworks. In 2016, to celebrate the (10) Both self-guided and escorted tours of the George centennial of the U.S. National Parks Service, Eastman house in Rochester there is a major exhibition of artworks depicting are available (11) Historic re-enactments take place in various park scenes. New York State's many State Parks and Historic Places In Rochester, the George Eastman House and (12) Beth Orange at Fort Museum is another of New York’s world-class Stanwix National Moument

visitor attractions. Eastman was the inventor of Kodak film and cameras and the pioneer of technicolour movie film. Along with a collection of cameras through the ages and around 400,000 photo and negatives, it is also home to major collections of American movies – for example,

Martin Scorsese, known for films such as the Wolf of Wall Street, Goodfellas and The Departed has his entire collection of original cuts housed here. There are various galleries, gardens, a café and gift shop, along with tours of the George Eastman House. A major display of Ansel Adams, the famous environmental photographer, is taking place in 2016. Near Rome is Fort Stanwix National Monument, a faithful recreation of the original fort which served in the Revolutionary War of 1771. Using many original plans and documents, the guardhouse, sleeping quarters, ‘sallyport’ and many other areas give the place a very authentic feel. The fort comes alive in summer with several events, including re-enactments. In Hyde Park in the Hudson Valley is the

“New York State is packed with superb museums, galleries and art institutions. They will appeal particularly to my older clients” REBECCA KORTMANN CANUSA TOURISTIK

home, museum and Presidential Library of Franklin D. Roosevelt, who served three terms. FDR was the first president to conceive the idea of a Presidential Library and the building contains thousands of papers, photographs, books, recordings, family items and gifts. However, the attraction is not just a homage: it also covers his complicated love life, discusses his life-long struggle with polio and asks pertinent questions such as 'Did the New Deal (which he introduced in the 1930s) help end or prolong the Great Depression?'

“New York State is a perfect suggestion for second- or third-time travellers to the US, confident of taking themselves around a region packed with attractions” RALPH BENECKE SINGLES AND FRIENDS

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packets surprise

Although New York is a state overflowing with natural beauty and top-rated cultural institutions, there is plenty more to surprise and enthral the visitor 1 2 4

Agent tip

(1) Dennis and Sam in ‘peaceful’ mood at Bethel Woods fields. The site hosted the famous 1969 Woodstock festival (2) Ralph and psychodelic car at Bethel Woods (3) Having fun at the quirky Jello Museum, LeRoy (4) Glass-blowing demonstration at the Corning Museum of Glass (5) The group contemplate their trip to New York State whilst peering into an ‘artistic deep hole’ at the Dia Art Foundation in the Hudson Valley

“At the Culinary Institute of America in the Hudson Valley you can see students at work in the kitchens and enjoy a great meal prepared by the USA’s next superstar chefs in waiting” CIARA FOLEY PLATINUM TRAVEL

t The Strong: National Museum of Play in Rochester, home to the International Centre for the History of Electronic Games and the National Toy Hall of Fame, it is playtime every day. Remember Mousetrap, Ker Plunk, Space Invaders or Etch A Sketch? The Strong has the world’s largest collection of toys, dolls, games and electronic games and there’s also rare arcade and pinball machines and a fairground carousel that dates from 1918 that visitors can still ride. You can also see the state’s only year-round indoor butterfly garden. In the small town of LeRoy, between Buffalo and Rochester, there’s even a museum dedicated to Jello, another example of a New York foodstuff that ‘went global’. The quirky Jell-O Museum, charts the rise – it was invented in LeRoy in 1897 – and, in this age of health problems associated with sugar, the fall of the wobbly dessert. In the same complex is a fine example of ‘barn quilts’ – that is painted quilt patterns that adorn barn doors. This area of New York (Genesee County) has some of the best in the country and a self-drive route and map directe visitors to some of the most striking examples. On the edge of the Finger Lakes, in the pretty town of Corning, is the country’s best celebration

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of all-things glass. At Corning Museum of Glass you can see ‘gaffers’ shaping a variety of baubles and other objects on a demonstration stage, try glass blowing yourself and buy a whole range of items in the huge gift shop. The history of glass through the ages is also explained. Also in the Finger Lakes, in the small town of Hammonsport, is the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum, dedicated to a true American pioneer of bikes, planes, flying boats, cars and more. In the Catskills, The Museum at Bethel Woods is a must for music fans, or just lovers of Take a tour of New York the 1960s. It was here that the State’s most spooky famous Woodstock festival was places by joining the held in 1969 when up to 400,000 Haunted History descended on these farmers’ fields Trail to celebrate hippy power, protest against the Vietnam War and chill out to the tunes of Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix and Van Morrison. You can walk down to the main field and imagine the scenes from 47 years ago and

6 (6) Dennis and friends at The Strong: National Museum of Play, a highly interactive collectionsbased museum in Rochester dedicated to the history and exploration of play

visit a museum that tells the story of the concert, youth culture in the 1960s, gay rights, civil rights and human rights. In the Hudson Valley, just 75 minutes from Grand Central Station, the Dia Art Foundation provides the space for oversized exhibits by artists who came to prominence in the 1960s and 1970s. It houses them in a series of gigantic exwarehouses that were once a packaging facility for Nabisco biscuits. See huge slabs of twisted metal taken from de-commissioned ships or lie on your tummy and contemplate the meaning of space and depth by gazing into huge holes. Also in the Hudson Valley, Walkway over the Hudson is a 1.28-mile structure that is the longest and highest pedestrian park in the world. This ex-railway bridge was once an Industrial Age superstar but today welcomes up to three million people a year who stroll, cycle, jog or rollerblade over the bridge, 212 feet above the Hudson River. It can be reached from the Visitor Centre via a glass-enclosed elevator.

C RNING and ≤e sou≤ern

FINGER LAKES

The Corning Museum of Glass— Master glassworkers make spectacular glass objects at live demonstrations

Photo courtesy of Stu Gallagher

Master Crafted TheOtherNewYork.com

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adventure sports &

If it is sports – whether watching, playing or learning about their history – and adventure activities galore your clients are after there are limitless options in New York State 1

(1) Great golf is available across the state (2) Dennis (left) and Ralph square up at the Boxing Hall of Fame (3) New York State is the ‘home’ of brook trout fishing (4) Canoeing, tubing and white-water rafting are available from several locations on the Delaware River in the Catskill Mountains

ew York State has some of the most abundant fishing in the country. Two Great Lakes, Erie and Ontario, are known for their trophy fishing – particularly Pacific salmon, chinooks, walleyes and panfish – but across the state are numerous brook trout lakes and ponds, some only reached by a hike or a paddle. Fly fishing was invented in the Catskills and at the Catskill Fly Fishing Center, overlooking the brown trout-rich waters of Willowemoc Creek, there’s an interesting museum dedicated to the sport. Making the ‘fly’ that lures the fish is an art form in itself, as the museum explains! During the busy summer season local hatcheries ensure anglers are never short of fish. Catfish and carp are also found in the Delaware River and the tributaries that run off it. Golfers are spoilt for choice wherever they are in the state. Some Catskills’ mountaintop resorts feature a golf option, while three championship courses are on offer at Turning Stone Resort and Casino in Verona in the centre of the state. Some of the best-value golf can be found in the state parks, including the famed Black Course at Bethpage State Park on Long Island.

Agent tip “With so many options to fish, golf, hike, mountain bike, etc, as well as institutions like the Boxing and Baseball Halls of Fame, New York is a great choice for niche sports tours” DENNIS JACKSON DRIFTERS TRAVEL

Fans of boxing will not want to miss the Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, between Syracuse and Rome. It pays homage to the Noble Art and has some fascinating memorabilia – including gloves and gowns used by famous fighters – photos and recordings. But the centrepiece is the ring from Madison Square Garden in New York City that hosted the fight between Muhammed Ali and Joe Frazier in 1971. New York City has two professional baseball teams, the Yankees and the Mets, but in Cooperstown in central New York State the Baseball Hall of Fame honours stars of the sport through the ages. And fans of NASCAR will want to schedule in a journey to the Finger Lakes where they can see some of the sport’s biggest names at Watkins Glen International Raceway. New York State is an adventure junkie’s dream! See the Finger Lakes from above in a hang glider, or buckle in for a one-hour ride into class five rapids courtesy of Niagara Jet Adventures in Lewiston, close to Niagara. In the Adirondacks ride the summer bobsled at Lake Placid’s Winter Olympic Sports Complex or hike to the summit of one of 46 ‘High Peaks’.

ADVERTORIAL

DISTINCTLY DUTCHESS,

DISCOVER THE HUDSON VALLEY

Dutchess has so much to offer! Get back to simpler times at a farm, baseball game, or thrilling airshow! Explore countless ways to enjoy your family getaway.

iscover breathtaking views from the Walkway Over the Hudson Historic State Park, the world’s longest pedestrian bridge, 212 feet above the Hudson River! It’s safe for biking, roller blading and hiking, as are the Dutchess and Harlem Valley Rail Trails. Ride the glass elevator up to the park or down to the waterfront at Upper Landing Park. Kids love the excitement of those daring men and their flying machines at the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome. Watch WWI, pioneer-era aircraft fly in weekend airshows MayOctober. Summer brings pro baseball as the Hudson Valley Renegades take the field at Dutchess Stadium. In the fall, cheer on the Hudson Valley Fort FXFL football team! Kids learn while they explore 50 interactive art and science exhibits at the Mid-Hudson Children’s Museum in Poughkeepsie. Itching to saddle up? Go horseback riding through fields, farmlands and wooded passes with Western Riding Stables, Millerton and Southlands Foundation, Rhinebeck.

SplashDown Beach’s giant water slides are crowd pleasers for all ages. Little ones love Bob the Builder Splashworks! The whole family can enjoy the 5-person raft ride, Arctic Mammoth, at America’s Biggest Little Water Park in Fishkill (Rte. 9 & I-84). Meet the animals at Sprout Creek Farms, and then taste the award-winning cheese made from their milk. Fishkill Farms has friendly farm animals, plus you can pick-your-own fruit and veggies. Trevor Zoo houses 180 exotic species at the picturesque Millbrook School. Rainy day? Head to Bounce! Trampoline Sports, 10,000 square feet of interconnected trampolines to play slam-dunk basketball or dodgeball. Kids 6 and under can enjoy the Bounce Jr. Zone. Check out the Gravity Vault, the new indoor rock gym next door! End the day with a movie at Overlook Drive-in, Poughkeepsie. Discover what makes us distinctly Dutchess, and perfect for you! Planning your trip is easy with our one-, three-, and five-day Travel Itineraries.

START SPREADING THE NEWS. Delta and Virgin Atlantic offer nine daily flights to New York.