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The Atlas Obscura Guide To New York State

807 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in New York State

Updated September 19, 2023

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Cities

Top Cities
All Cities
  1. Albany
  2. Amsterdam
  3. Beacon
  4. Binghamton
  5. The Bronx
  6. Brooklyn
  7. Buffalo
  8. Catskill
  9. Centerport
  10. Cold Spring
  11. Cooperstown
  12. Dobbs Ferry
  13. Dover Plains
  14. East Hampton
  15. Elmira
  16. Hammondsport
  17. Howes Cave
  18. Hudson
  19. Ithaca
  20. Jamestown
  21. Keene Valley
  22. Kinderhook
  23. Kings Park
  24. Kingston
  25. Lake George
  26. Lake Placid
  27. Newcomb
  28. New Paltz
  29. New York City
  30. Manhattan
  31. Niagara Falls
  32. Nyack
  33. Oneida
  34. Orient
  35. Oyster Bay
  36. Palmyra
  37. Pawling
  38. Queens
  39. Red Hook
  40. Rhinebeck
  41. Rochester
  42. Rome
  43. Romulus
  44. Roscoe
  45. Roxbury
  46. Sands Point
  47. Saratoga Springs
  48. Seneca Falls
  49. Shoreham
  50. Sleepy Hollow
  51. Staten Island
  52. Syracuse
  53. Tomkins Cove
  54. Troy
  55. Wellesley Island
  56. West Point
  57. Woodstock
  58. Yonkers

Unusual Attractions in New York State

See All 807 Things To Do in New York State

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in New York State

See all 10 Places to Eat in New York State
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Atlas Obscura Itineraries

The Explorer's Guide to Hudson Valley, New York

Just a short trip north of New York City, the Hudson Valley is great for both day trips and road trips. Atlas Obscura co-founder Dylan Thuras is a local resident, and loves the natural wonders, as well as the incredible culture and history found in the region. This itinerary combines his favorite spots into one stunning road trip. Start your adventure at a living antique aviation museum near the historic town of Red Hook, and end with dinner at a Victorian resort. Along the way, you’ll make pit stops at towering waterfalls, a giant kaleidoscope, and incredible views of the beautiful Hudson Valley.

View Itinerary

Explore New York State

Art 94
Architectural Oddities 90
History 86
Museums And Collections 72
Abandoned 71
Shops 69
Cemeteries 66
Homes 63

New York State Leaderboard

Recent New York State Activity

Stories About New York State

Brigadier General Benedict Arnold lost the Battle of Valcour Island on Lake Champlain in 1776—as well as several of the young navy's ships, including the gunboat Spitfire—but the skirmish bought the Continental Army much-needed time in the war.

Benedict Arnold's Lake Champlain Gunboat Is the Last Shipwreck of Its Kind

Preserved in the lake's chilly waters for more than 200 years, the Spitfire now faces a new threat.
by Hope Hodge Seck

Podcast: Onöhsagwë:de’ Cultural Center

Lacrosse can trace its origins back centuries to the Native American "Creator's Game."
by The Podcast Team
Hudson River Rail Excursions runs a classic car between New York and Albany to make the vintage rail experience more accessible.

Meet the People Who Keep Vintage Rail Cars Rolling Across America

About two dozen classic carriages around the country offer time travel by train.
by Justin Franz
The Seneca County Courthouse Complex in Ovid, New York, commonly known as “the Three Bears,” is a fine example of the Greek Revival style in the Military Tract, from which both the fad for classical place names and notions of classical architecture spread throughout the country.

Why Does America Have So Many Towns With Classical Names?

There are nearly 100 named "Troy."
by Frank Jacobs, Big Think

Podcast: John Brown’s Farm

A monument to a famed abolitionist and the fight for Black suffrage.
by The Podcast Team
Parts of the Buffalo area saw more than 6 feet of snow over three days in November 2022.

What Is Lake-Effect Snow?

A snowstorm that slammed into Western New York left more than six feet of snow in places. Blame the Great Lakes.
by Michael A. Rawlins

Podcast: Lily Dale Spiritualist Community

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.
by The Podcast Team
This charming rural hamlet is home to 36 practicing spiritual mediums.

To Join This Community of People Who Speak to the Dead, Prepare to Be Tested

Think you have what it takes to be a spiritual medium in Lily Dale?
by Sarah Durn

Lists Featuring New York State

Book Corner.
The Final Cross
Edward Dean Adams Power Station
Clifton Hill

The 11 Best Places to Visit Near Niagara Falls for Curious Travelers

11

Including Book Corner, Prophet Isaiah's Second Coming House, and Edward Dean Adams Power Plant

Conjurer Jason England teaches a card trick.
Keen's Steakhouse
The New York Herald Monument.

The 11 Best Things to do Near the Empire State Building for Curious Travelers

11

Including Tannen's Magic Shop, The Conjuring Arts Research Center, and Keen's Steakhouse

The House of the Temple.
Statue of George Washington

Novus Ordo Seclorum: 14 Places to Unearth Masonic Secrets

Your best bets for gaining insight into the real history of Freemasonry.

14

Including Zedekiah's Cave, Masonic Lodge of the Andaz Hotel, and House of the Temple

The Paddington Bear statue at Paddington station.
The Alice in Wonderland statue in Central Park.
Mrs Mallard and her entire brood.
Dr Seuss, Cat in the Hat, and a book with lines from Oh The Places You'll Go.

9 Favorite Children's Book Characters, Immortalized in Bronze

Visit Paddington Bear, Ramona Quimby, and other childhood heroes in person.

9

Including Paddington Bear Statue , Alice in Wonderland Statue, and Make Way for Ducklings Statue

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