7 Breathtaking Alpine Towns In New York
New York may be a state best known for scenic coastlines and the bustling streets of New York City, but there’s another New York beyond the Tri-State metro region. This New York soars high with plenty of tall mountains, and it abounds in surprisingly good ski areas. Some of these mountains are within a four-hour drive of NYC. And yes, there’s even a mountain town that is so sporty, it hosted the Winter Olympics...twice! For anyone curious to learn more, here’s a short list of seven breathtaking alpine cities in New York.
Lake Placid
High in New York’s North Country is Lake Placid, a ski town so friendly that it has hosted the Winter Olympics twice. At Lake Placid Olympic Museum, visitors can retrace the paths of the athletes who came to compete at the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics. To get an even better sense of why the Olympics came here, one can visit Mt. Van Hoevenberg and experience this winter sports wonderland for Nordic skiing, biathlon, luge, and even (indoor) climbing. And then, there’s Whiteface Mountain, the Alpine skiing course for the 1980 Olympics and a ski resort that continues to wow with 95 trails across 290 acres that offer up to 3,430 feet in vertical drop.
After a busy day in the mountains, one can return to town and check out some of Lake Placid’s other special gems. In particular, the Arts Center Lake Placid features an in-house gallery showcasing works by local artists and a 355-seat theater hosting a variety of excellent performances. For quality rest, Mirror Lake Inn offers an award-winning spa, two delectable restaurants, and a fine selection of spacious rooms and suites.
Tupper Lake
When travelers seek the ultimate getaway to the Adirondacks, they can retreat to the beautiful mountain town of Tupper Lake. The Wild Center is a great place to get to know the Adirondacks’ natural environment year-round, but it’s delightful during winter, when guests can try ice fishing, snowshoeing, and sledding during the day, followed by the Wild Lights at night. Meanwhile, for those hoping to get out and ski, the James C. Frenette Sr. Recreational Trails are regularly groomed and work great for cross-country skiing. And near the heart of town, Tupper Lake Waterfront Park hosts an outdoor ice skating rink during the winter season.
While there’s plenty to do on land in Tupper Lake, this is also the perfect place to look to the heavens and explore the larger universe at Adirondack Sky Center & Observatory. From there, it’s an easy journey to the Faust Motel, a cozy and convenient spot for year-round accommodations.
Ellicottville
Heading out to Western New York, Ellicottville offers a spectacular ski town experience just 53 miles south of Buffalo. Of course, this is the place to go for Holiday Valley, a fun and festive family-friendly ski resort with 60 trails across 290 acres. But for even more fun on open snow, visitors can also try Holimont Ski Area, a private ski area with a surprising amount of advanced-level runs. And for a wilder experience in the backcountry, travelers can go south to Allegany State Park and discover an expansive nature preserve (that extends all the way to the Pennsylvania state line!) that’s ideal for Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, ice fishing, and wildlife viewing.
Back in town, guests can settle into a great time with tasty pub fare and local craft beers at Ellicottville Brewing Company. Then, they can check into The Inn at Holiday Valley and take advantage of this full-service hotel with ski-in/ski-out access and shuttle service to the ski resort’s base lodges.
Canandaigua
Just 28 miles southeast of Rochester is Canandaigua, a lovely town that combines the beauty of the northern Appalachians with the refinement of Finger Lakes wine country. A short drive south lies Bristol Mountain Ski Resort, a 160-acre ski area with a variety of trails suitable for skiers at all levels. A little farther south is Hunt Hollow Ski Club, a private ski area with notably well-groomed slopes for downhill skiing and snowboarding.
Beyond the mountains and ski runs, there’s a different scene in Canandaigua worth exploring, sipping, and savoring. More specifically, Bristol Valley Vineyards crafts incredible small-batch wines, including Rieslings, Cabernet Francs, and a variety of meads (or fermented honey wines). There’s also Arbor Hill, a local winery making award-winning wines and specialty food products (like sauces, jellies, and dressings). Whether one decides to come to Canandaigua for the skiing or the wines, Sutherland House makes the perfect local “base camp” with cozy guest rooms, along with a full breakfast served every morning.
Cooperstown
Cooperstown may be known as the hometown of “America’s Pastime,” but there’s also plenty to do around town during the baseball off-season. For those who still want some of that baseball lore, the National Baseball Hall of Fame Museum is open year-round, and it’s the ideal place to track the sport’s evolution from its early days in Central New York to its worldwide reach in the 21st century. Meanwhile, there’s plenty more to do in the region’s great outdoors, including cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, ice fishing, and ice skating at the gorgeous Glimmerglass State Park.
In town, there’s even more to see and do, including unique boutiques with special baseball memorabilia. But for anyone wanting something stiffer, Cooperstown Distillery is the place for interesting craft cocktails made with their own handcrafted whiskeys, and Brewery Ommegang serves up their own delicious craft beers alongside gourmet pub fare. To complete the ultimate Coopertown trip, guests can stay at The Otesaga Resort Hotel, the region’s premier luxury hotel with a prime location on Otsego Lake, classically elegant rooms and suites, and multiple delicious dining options on site.
Tannersville
Known as “The Painted Village in the Sky,” Tannersville indeed looks and feels like an exquisite work of art set in the scenic Catskill Mountains. During winter, Hunter Mountain offers some of the best ski conditions within a four-hour drive of New York City, including world-class snowmaking capabilities, a variety of trails suitable for skiers and snowboarders at all levels, and terrain that provides up to 1,600 feet in vertical drop. Also in the area is Windham Mountain Club, a more secluded and exclusive-feeling public-private ski resort with 54 trails spanning 285 acres, offering a vertical drop of up to 1,600 feet.
Meanwhile, for anyone seeking a more rustic and pristine mountain experience, there’s Catskill Park, a massive 700,000-acre nature preserve providing seemingly endless options for outdoor recreation, including Nordic skiing, snowmobiling, hiking, hunting, and ice fishing. Or, for a more tranquil experience closer to town, Mountain Top Arboretum is picture-perfect for finding oneself while “getting lost” in the meadows, woodlands, and spruce glen. After a long day navigating the slopes (or wandering in the woods), it’s always a good idea to retreat to Hotel Mountain Brook, a luxury boutique hotel with rooms and suites sporting elegantly eclectic decor, a complimentary 24-hour coffee and tea bar, complimentary breakfast every morning, and the on-site Lounge for wining, dining, and entertainment.
Warwick
Warwick may only be about 58 miles northwest of New York City, yet it provides a marvelous escape to a winter wonderland in the Hudson Highlands. Believe it or not, there’s even good skiing out here at Mount Peter, a 69-acre resort with nearly equal shares of beginner, intermediate, and advanced-level runs. In addition, the nearby Sterling Forest State Park offers a beautiful oasis for activities such as cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, hunting, and ice fishing. There’s even a great trail that starts at Cascade Lake Park, where hikers can ascend to snag phenomenal views of the Hudson Valley, and they can even connect to the Appalachian Trail for a longer hike through the mountains.
In case that’s not enough to see and do, Warwick also has some exceptionally great taste. In particular, Warwick Valley Winery & Distillery was New York’s first distillery to begin operating after the 21st Amendment re-legalized U.S. alcohol sales, and it continues to make highly acclaimed hard ciders, wines, whiskeys, and gins. And at the Inn at Stony Creek, guests can stay at a beautifully restored 1840 farmhouse with classically elegant rooms and suites, breakfast every morning, and a prime location near Warwick’s wineries and the region’s mountain parks.
New York has a surprising array of mountain towns that offer a wide range of amazing alpine adventures. Lake Placid is an Olympic-caliber ski town with some of the East Coast’s most dramatic runs, while Tupper Lake provides a more tranquil slice of Adirondack paradise. Ellicottville is a solid option for a family-friendly ski vacation in Western New York, while Canandaigua seamlessly combines ski town thrills and wine country charm at the Finger Lakes. New York might not always be considered a central mountain state, but now we have good reasons to think otherwise.
