Jones Beach State Park

Over 6 million visitors each year come to Jones Beach State Park to enjoy the 10 mile stretch of beach. Located on a barrier Island in the town of Wantagh, New York, the park is a favorite destination for just about everyone living in the NYC metropolitan area as well as those living on Long Island. During the summer, the beach fills up with people looking for some fun and sun on the shores of the Atlanticd Ocean.

The beach itself is very well maintained as it must be when a nice day can see some 200,000 visitors or more. The Atlantic Ocean, with its not too big waves and moderate summer temperature, is a perfect place for young and old to cool off on a hot summer day. There are 6 large parking lots which can accomodate as many as 250,000 visitors. A 2 mile boardwalk runs along the main stretch of the beach and there are two very large bathhouses located at the east and west ends of the beach.

Lake Erie State Park

Lake Erie State Park is a great place for visitors to enjoy the beauty of nature and explore its rich diversity. With most of the park open from May through October, there is much to do and explore at this magnificent park. As the name implies, the park borders Lake Erie, the shallowest of the Great Lakes. During the summer months, visitors can spend time playing and swimming in the water of this gorgeous natural lake. At other times during the year, visitors can practice their cross-country skiing and camp at one of the 97 campsites or one of the ten cabins available throughout the year. Others may enjoy bird watching and learning about the local fauna of this region. No matter what you’re looking for, Lake Erie State Park in New York is sure to have something you will enjoy. Below you will find more information about the park, activities, hours of operation and more to help you plan your trip today.

Lake Erie State Park is located in the Allegany region of New York in the south part of the state. This area has many high bluffs that provide visitors with amazing views over Lake Erie. The scenery in this area is fantastic, making great family trips and photo opportunities. Anyone who enjoys admiring the beauty of nature will be sure to love this great atmosphere.

Catharine Valley Trail

If you live in New York, your idea of “nature” may be different than that of most park-goers. Central Park isn’t really considered a national forest by the standards of the average US citizen. Finding real nature in New York State is tricky if you live in the city, but if you have the time to venture out of the city limits, you may find Catharine Valley Trail to be everything you’re looking for in an outdoors experience.

You’ll find Catharine Valley Trail in the scenic Watkins Glen State Park in Watkins Glen, New York, and it really is an experience if you want to take in some gorgeous vistas. Getting higher ground in Catharine Valley, you can look in literally any direction and see a brilliant landscape. In fact, you could photograph the park from just about any angle and hang the results in a museum.

Buttermilk Falls State Park

With 178 parks in twelve distinct regions, New York State offers some of the best destinations for outdoor enthusiasts in the country. Excellent scenery, natural landscapes and a variety of activities make this park system unique and fun.

If you’re interested in waterfalls, you don’t want to miss Buttermilk Falls State Park in Ithaca, located in the Finger Lakes region of New York. As its name suggests, this park’s main feature is Buttermilk Falls, which takes its name from the creamy froth generated by the water hitting the rocks at the bottom that resembles buttermilk in appearance. This is a 165-foot high falls that cascades in two roughly equal sections.

Bear Mountain State Park: the Hiker’s Mecca

Drive just an hour and a half from midtown Manhattan you can be hiking atop mountains chock full of volcanic rock formed over a billion years ago, take the trail to a ghost town, or grab a hot dog from a cart on the path to the docks at Hessian Lake, where you can rent rowboats. Bear Mountain State Park, perhaps the flagship recreation destination within New York’s Hudson Highland region, is a Mecca for those who love the outdoors, whether that means a ride though the zoo in the stroller or a challenging hike to catch a glimpse of wintering bald eagles.

The Bear Mountain State Park region is deep in history- really deep. When hiking around Bear Mountain, you trek through some of the oldest rock along the entire Appalachian Trail. Geologists estimate that the volcanic rock is roughly 1.3 billion years old. About 12,000 years ago, during the most recent ice age, a massive glacier cut a deep groove between the hills and mountains of the area. Today, we call that groove the Hudson River.