New York
New York, also called New York State, is a state located in the Northeastern United States.
Bordering New England to its east, Pennsylvania and New Jersey to the south, and Canada to its north, New York extends into both the Atlantic Ocean and the Great Lakes. It is the fourth-most populous state in the United States, with over 20 million residents, and the 27th-largest state by area, with a total area of 54,556 square miles (141,300 km2).
Getting to New York
International travelers will almost certainly come in via one of New York City's airports; while the major upstate cities have airports that can accommodate international flights, they are now fairly rare. Domestically, travelers will usually be coming from hubs such as Chicago, Atlanta, Charlotte, Philadelphia, or Boston. Flights into the smaller airports will likely connect through the larger ones. = = John F.
Worth seeing
The natural beauty of the state is diverse, from the incomparable Niagara Falls and the Grand Canyon of the East, Letchworth State Park, to the mountainous unspoiled terrain of the Catskills and the Adirondacks, to the tranquil Finger Lakes. Adirondack Park, in particular, is an incredible gem—it's the largest single park in the continental U.S. and where the art of American painting began.
Things to do
As a true four-season state, New York's activity schedule varies widely throughout the year. Obviously, the busiest time of year is the summer—which can be glorious—but localities work hard to make sure there's plenty to keep residents and visitors occupied even in the depths of winter. New York City is the cultural center of the country, never mind the state, with countless theaters and world-renowned sports teams.
Where to eat
New York's diversity is on full display when considering its cuisines. New York City, of course, as the point of arrival for so many immigrants, is home to some of the most authentic and most diverse ethnic cuisines in the country. Even upstate, though, in cities not known for their diversity, you can find plenty of variety.
Getting around New York the local way
- Get inFrom Vermont: A ferry joins Burlington to Plattsburgh.
- Get inMultiple ferries cross Lake Champlain from Vermont to New York, including some in the Adirondacks region.
- Get inFrom New Jersey: Multiple operators transport commuters directly into Manhattan, including NY Waterway/BillyBey ( (53-FERRY)), Seastreak ( (BOATRIDE)) and Liberty Park Water Taxi ().
- Get inThere's even a New Jersey ferry specifically to visit the Statue of Liberty in New York.
- Get inFrom Connecticut: Seastreak operates a limited sightseeing service From Eastern Ontario: A seasonal car ferry joins Wolfe Island ON in the Thousand Islands to Cape Vincent NY; many seasonal passenger tour boats call at Boldt Castle on Heart Island NY from both sides.
- Get aroundEven the trip from Buffalo to New York City is only about seven hours—too long for a day trip, certainly, but a weekend trip is doable for the dedicated.
- Get aroundSmall watercraft, including canoes and kayaks, are welcome on these canals.
From Wikivoyage: New York (state), CC BY-SA. Not yet checked by us. Last edited 2026-09.
Text adapted from Wikipedia and Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photograph: Johannes Vingboons (Public domain), Wikimedia Commons.
