These 9 Towns In New York Were Ranked Among US Favorites In 2025
Several New York towns have earned national recognition in 2025 as top-tier travel destinations. Ranging from the Adirondack Mountains and upstate lake communities to historic hubs in the Hudson Valley, each stands out for boasting a plethora of experiences catering to all interests. Whether it’s hiking, strolling through art galleries, touring museums, or whatever else, these recommendations show how the smaller towns across the Empire State continue to attract travelers outside of the Big Apple.
Read on to see if any of these welcoming villages, towns, and hamlets appeal to you as your weekend getaways as the year quickly draws to an end.
Ithaca
In 2025, Ithaca claimed the top slot on CNN Travel’s “Best Towns to Visit” list. It’s not just another upstate college town, as it offers a wide variety of things to see and do that'll surely earn it repeat visits from visitors, young and old.
Start in Ithaca Commons, a pedestrian mall lined with mom and pop shops, cafés, public art pieces, and regular weekend markets. Extend your walk on the Cascadilla Gorge Trail, which threads through steep rock walls and small falls right beside the Cornell University campus.
If you want to see more of the area's wonderful wildernesses, venture a few miles out to Taughannock Falls State Park, where the 215-foot waterfall towers above with and an easy trail leads to its base. Cornell University itself adds some scenic variety with both its architecture and green spaces, including the botanical gardens and the nearby pathways around Beebe Lake.
For food and drink, Ithaca is also well known for its microbreweries with several brewpubs in and around town. Revelry Yards, Liquid State Brewing Company, and Ithaca Beer Co. are just a few popular options that you ought to try out.
New Paltz
New Paltz pleasantly blends history, the great outdoors, and small-town energy in a way that’s easy to engage with. It sits against the backdrop of the Shawangunk Ridge, where hikes like the Mohonk Preserve and the Gunks cliffs attract climbers and hikers to their scenic viewpoints. Just across the Walkill River, you'll also find the River-to-Ridge Trail, popular with walkers, runners, and cyclists.
In the historic core is Huguenot Street, a cluster of stone houses dating to the 1700s preserved as a living history museum. This locale gives insight into colonial life, the area's distinct buildings, and the lives of early settlers. From there, step to the Nyquist-Harcourt Wildlife Sanctuary, for a pleasant trail walk in town, or Main Street (Empire State Trail) for an assortment of boutiques, eateries, craft-cocktail bars, art galleries, and riverside spots for dining or simply relaxing after a long day of walking around.
Corning
Corning is lauded for its very walkable layout and strong arts presence. The centerpiece of town is the Corning Museum of Glass, which displays one of the world’s largest glass collections and hosts live glass-blowing demonstrations and workshops. In another direction, the nearby Rockwell Museum focuses on other kinds of American art, including Western and Native works, and frequently rotates its exhibits.
Downtown’s Gaffer District is a fairly nice place to unwind, featuring several restored 19th-century buildings that now house local businesses, restaurants, and other amenities. Seasonal festivals fill out the calendar in downtown Corning as well, with the GlassFest taking place in spring, the Christmas-themed Sparkle in winter, and the Wineglass Marathon in fall.
Lake Placid
Lake Placid remains a standout for travelers drawn to outdoor recreation in both summer and winter. Sitting amid the Adirondack High Peaks, it provides direct access to a huge number of trails, lakes, and winter sports venues. No trip here is complete without the Olympic Center and Lake Placid Olympic Museum, however, which documents the 1932 and 1980 Winter Games, and offers tours of the speed-skating oval and ski jumps (which are still open for training and events throughout the year).
For a quick rundown of two of the most popular natural draws in and around Lake Placid: Mirror Lake rests right within the downtown area, providing a beautiful core for kayaking and paddleboarding in warmer months, while winter brings dog sled rides and skating across its frozen surface. A little bit further away lies the High Falls Gorge and Whiteface Mountain, both offering easy-to-get-to hiking spots, gondola rides, and views across the region.
A huge selection of restaurants and lodges in Lake Placid has made it a sought-after destination for multi-day stays. In terms of accommodations, different budgets can be accommodated, with locales like the Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort catering to luxury, and more reasonably priced options like the Grand Adirondack Hotel and the Crowne Plaza Lake Placid available for more budget-conscious visitors.
Hudson
Once a river port and a center for the whaling industry, Hudson has since become a hotspot for local art galleries and other cultural draws, many of which are located within repurposed warehouses. The Hudson Riverfront Park anchors the lower end of town, with its walking paths, boat access points, and open views toward the Catskill Mountains.
The Hudson Hall at the Historic Opera House functions as a primary venue for the community, with regularly rotating performances, exhibitions, and community events taking place within its walls. Down Warren Street, you can also take your pick of galleries and art dealers, namely the Carrie Haddad Gallery, Shakespeare's Fulcrum, and the 510 Warren Street Gallery.
Beyond the arts, visitors often stop off at the Olana State Historic Site, the 19th-century home and studio of painter Frederic Church, surrounded by carefully designed landscapes that overlook the river valley.
Saratoga Springs
Saratoga Springs is best known for none other than its mineral springs, which have remained its defining feature for well over a century. Saratoga Spa State Park boasts public taps where you can sample naturally carbonated water that comes directly from the ground. It also contains spaces for offering golf and swimming in the warmer months, and cross-country skiing in winter, plus the historic Roosevelt Baths and Spa. Be sure to also take a stroll to nearby Congress Park for another pristine urban park closer to downtown.
The Saratoga Race Course is another iconic draw. Opened in 1863, it continues to draw large crowds during the summer season, while the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame documents the sport’s development in the U.S. For a different kind of show during your visit, definitely buy a ticket for the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, which hosts the New York City Ballet, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and touring acts across multiple genres.
Cooperstown
Cooperstown has a strong connection to national heritage as well as a plethora of other draws to see this year. Most visitors come for the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, a mecca for America's favorite pastime, documenting the sport’s evolution through a collection of artifacts and exhibits. But the town’s appeal extends well beyond baseball.
For one, the Farmers’ Museum, located on land once owned by James Fenimore Cooper, recreates 19th-century rural life with working demonstrations and historic structures. Nearby, the Fenimore Art Museum houses American folk art, Hudson River School paintings, and various Native American collections.
Outdoor recreation in the area centers on Otsego Lake, where boating, swimming, and fishing are all accessible from the public pier and Glimmerglass State Park. By the way, the Glimmerglass Festival, held each summer, adds a performing arts element to Cooperstown, with opera and classical music staged in open-air venues around town.
Cold Spring
If you are exploring her Hudson Valley, Cold Spring may be just the place for you. Sitting about 55 miles north of Manhattan, this quiet village is flanked by Storm King Mountain and Breakneck Ridge, two of the region’s most hiked peaks, along with a wide range of other natural landmarks.
Historians will also appreciate some of Cold Springs' other iconic attractions, like the West Point Foundry Preserve, which has a network of footpaths winding through the remnants of the Civil War-era ironworks that once operated here. The site is marked by interpretive signs and lots of nice river overlooks for you to appreciate, too.
Moving on, from Cold Spring’s waterfront on the Hudson River, sightseeing cruises trace the Hudson north toward Bannerman Castle and south toward Bear Mountain, making this town a true gem for anyone out for a sightseeing adventure in New York.
Skaneateles
Skaneateles is widely lauded for its clean lakefront and historic downtown district. Located at the northern tip of Skaneateles Lake, it functions as both a resort community and a year-round residential town, with the Skaneateles Pier serving as the center of activity, with sightseeing cruises, public boat launches, and direct access to the Finger Lakes’ clearest waters. Definitely try to do at least one lake-related activity while in the area.
In town, historic buildings from the mid-1800s line the main business area, housing small shops, galleries, and family-run restaurants. Cozy, low-key accommodations like the Skaneateles Boutique Hotel and the Packwood House can be booked, while a good number of bars and eateries are just steps away near the lakefront. Give the John D. Barrow Art Gallery a try, too. Attached to the town library, this locale is notable for its collection of landscape paintings by the local artist.
Whether you're in Skaneatles during the winter, checking out the region's colorful fall foliage, or want to use it for your lakeside escape next summer, Skaneatles serves just about any kind of travel in upstate New York.
Make the Best of 2025 at these New York Destinations
From Adirondack lakes to Hudson Valley riverfronts, each of the destinations above has made our list because of their idyllic settings, historical relevance, outdoor access, or the arts. These towns have sustained interest through careful preservation, community activity, and the ability to deliver real experiences that you can try for yourself this year.
Have you already visited any of these places this year? If not, which ones are you thinking about exploring next?
