The summer travel season is one of the most popular times to explore new places and events and New York State is poised to welcome travellers this year with outdoor experiences and festivals that make any summer getaway shine.
Below are some of the new attractions, tours, experiences, events, accommodation, and dining options waiting for travellers to enjoy this summer.
NEW TOURS & EXPERIENCES
Hip-hop celebrates its 50th anniversary
Born during a block party in the Bronx in August 1973, New York is celebrating hip-hop’s golden anniversary in a big way, including special shows held in Central Park, Brooklyn and Harlem. You can also join a tour that stops at some of hip-hop’s most important landmarks, such as the Graffiti Wall of Fame, or visit the ‘[R]Evolution of Hip Hop’ exhibit at the Universal Hip Hop Museum.
Discover the new wing of the American Museum of Natural History
The new Gilder Center at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City opened this May. This critically acclaimed $465 million wing has three floors open to the public and showcases more than 3,000 objects representing each area of the Museum’s collections. Highlights include a butterfly vivarium with over 1,000 free-flying butterflies and a 5,000 square foot insectarium.
Calling all James Bond fans
The Saratoga Automobile Museum will be showcasing until November 2023 an official collection of iconic James Bond vehicles, including what is probably the most famous Bond car: the 1964 Aston Martin DB5. The multimedia Bond in Motion exhibition spans all 25 films from the past six decades of the longest-running film franchise in movie history and also features additional props and clips.
Explore the only Frank Lloyd Wright design built after his death
Starting in June, the masterpiece Massaro House, in the heart of Hudson Valley’s Lake Mahopac, will offer its first-ever 90-minute public tours. It is Frank Lloyd Wright’s only design to be built posthumously, on the exact location it was intended for. Originally commissioned in 1949, it has changed various owners over the years, which are rumoured to have included Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.
Play at the world’s largest Donkey Kong arcade machine
The Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester will welcome this June the world’s largest, playable Donkey Kong arcade machine (approx. 370% bigger than the original) as part of its new wing dedicated to video game history. The new ESL Digital Worlds exhibit has two video game areas, where visitors can create their own avatars, while the outdoor Hasbro Game Park is inspired by classic board games.
Immerse yourself in the legacy of Louis Armstrong
New York is honouring the legacy of its hometown hero with the new Louis Armstrong Centre. Scheduled to be completed this summer, it will be located across from the historic house in Queens where the musician and his wife, Lucille, once lived. It will contain the Louis Armstrong Archives, a state-of-the-art exhibition curated by jazz pianist Jason Moran and a 75-seat performance space.
Buffalo AKG Art Museum reveals latest acquisitions ahead of its grand reopening
Following a $200 million expansion project, the new Buffalo AKG Art Museum (formerly the Albright-Knox Art Gallery) will comprise more than 50,000 square feet of state-of-the art exhibition space when it reopens in June, elevating Buffalo’s profile as a world-class cultural destination. The museum recently announced that it has acquired 518 works since it closed in 2019, including a wealth of computer art.
Tee time as one of America’s greatest golf courses completes redesign
The new 18-hole Monster Golf Course, designed by award-winning golf course architect Rees Jones, debuts this summer at the Catskills. Built upon portions of the original Monster Golf Course, rated by Golf Digest as one of America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses, and the Old International Course, the impressive enhancement project that has reinvigorated the course, clubhouse, and entire experience.
HOTEL OPENINGS
Hotel Moraine, Long Island Opened May 2023
Set on the bluff of the Long Island Sound, this new luxury family resort features 20 guestrooms inspired by nature, as well as the ‘Cottage on the Bluff’, which is available for special events. Guests can go for a dip in the heated saltwater pool, take out a complimentary SUP board, cool off with a sundowner on the hotel’s pristine beachfront or watch classic movies on the lawn.
Camptown Hotel, Catskills Opened March 2023
Originally built in the 1930s, Camptown Hotel is nestled at the foot of the Catskill Mountains and is surrounded by wooded land. After a thoughtful renovation and through partnerships with local artists, it has reopened offering a choice of guest rooms and log cabins. Onsite restaurant Casa Susanna serves up ‘Mexican farm food’, while a swim club and a sauna will open later in the year.
Penny Williamsburg, New York City Opened 2022 (Hotel), Opened May 2023 (elNico)
This new hotel by the creators of NoMad is designed to feel like home, outfitted with hardwood floors, kitchenettes, and fluffy robes. Guest rooms and public spaces are adorned with original artwork from New Yorkers with disabilities. New rooftop bar-restaurant elNico offers a modern approach to classic Mexican fare and seasonal cocktails, plus sweeping views of the iconic skyline.
Northport Hotel, Long Island Opening date August 2023
The picture postcard Northport village on Long Island’s Gold Coast welcomes its first completely new luxury boutique hotel. Each of the 26 guestrooms is designed to blend modern luxuries with the soul of the historic village, which was originally settled in the 1600s. The hotel comes complete with a fine dining restaurant, while in the evening guests can enjoy small bites in the private guest lounge.
Glampful, Capital-Saratoga Opened May 2023
Glampful is a family-owned and operated glamp site set on 50 acres at the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains. Eight safari-style tents are fitted with plush mattresses, BBQ grills and luxury towels, with bathrooms and hot showers nearby, creating a welcoming base for an Adirondack adventure. A cottage on site provides guest with access to satellite internet and phone charging stations.
The Lodge at Schroon Lake, Adirondacks Opening date June 2023
A classic Adirondacks escape, this lakeside getaway has been welcoming guests for more than 100 years. Following a $21 million renovation, it reopens this summer with 116 lodging options that include, in addition to hotel rooms, standalone cabins, chalets and upscale ‘glamping’ sites. The 36-acre property also offers miniature golf, multipurpose sports courts, and a guests-only private beach.
The Hotel Laurel at Seneca, Finger Lakes Opening date June 2023
Private balconies on each room of this renovated mid-century modern hotel look out onto panoramic vistas of the eastern shore of New York State’s largest Finger Lake. The property is minutes from the Watkins Glen State Park, famous for its series of spectacular gorges and waterfalls, while the hotel’s restaurant serves up delicious food made from scratch and based on family recipes.
RESTAURANT OPENINGS
Blackbarn Hudson Valley, Catskills Opened April 2023
Chef John Doherty, a James Beard award recipient and former executive chef of New York City’s Waldorf Astoria, brings his signature farmhouse-inspired restaurant style to the Catskills. Sister to the Blackbarn Restaurant in Manhattan, it will feature a new menu boasting favourites from the original with a distinct Hudson Valley flair and locally sourced farm-to-table ingredients.
Carnegie Diner & Café, New York City Opening date Summer 2023
Carnegie Diner & Cafe has a flagship location diagonally across the street from Carnegie Hall and is doubling its Manhattan footprint this year with a new location that will open this summer at the Theatre District. Bringing top-notch American diner fare with a fine-dining twist to Broadway’s doorstep, it will also offer two- and three-course prix fixe pre- and post-theatre menus.
Ferryman’s Grille, Long Island Opened April 2023
Guests are invited to come and experience a taste of Long Island at Ferryman’s, offering fresh seafood and contemporary cuisine alongside beautiful waterfront views. Part of the Danfords Hotel, Marina & Spa in the historic town of Port Jefferson, the restaurant rotates seasonal dishes and works with a variety of local partners to bring farm and sea to fork.
Le Mélange, Finger Lakes Opening date TBC
Describing itself as a micro restaurant that offers vibe dining this modern open kitchen in downtown Syracuse only opened in late 2022 but will be soon moving to a nearby location. Featuring a blend of American, Italian, and Mediterranean dishes with a twist, guests should be prepared to see smoking dishes, setting food on fire and sizzling desserts throughout the night.
NEW POURS
Whiskey
The recently opened War Cannon Spirits in the Adirondacks is the result of a six-year restoration project of a 200- year-old former mill; September will see the launch of The Asahi Shuzo Sake Brewery in Hudson Valley, the first US-based Dassai sake brewery in partnership with the Culinary Institute of America; while award-winning New Scotland Spirits in Capital-Saratoga welcomes a new tasting room in time for summer sipping.
Craft Beer
Fidens Brewing in Capital-Saratoga, having outgrown its original location, will be opening soon a new brewpub in Albany’s Warehouse District to expand production and welcome guests; Middle Ages Brewing at Finger Lakes, Syracuse’s oldest brewery, has just launched a new concert hall and event space; while a wide selection of craft beer, cider and kombucha can be enjoyed at the 40-foot-long bar of the newly opened Bridge and Tunnel Brewery at the Catskills, operated by a husband-and-wife team.
Brandy
Brandy aficionados will be drawn to the Klocke Estate in the Hudson Valley, a craft spirits facility, situated on 160 acres in Claverack; it is home to apple and grape earth-to-glass brandy and is expected to begin pouring this summer.
WHAT’S ON THIS SUMMER
• Syracuse Jazz Fest, Finger Lakes (21-25 June): Headlined by legends Gladys Knight, the Northeast’s largest free jazz festival gets bigger as it expands to five days and adds a new stage.
• Borscht Belt Fest, Catskills (29 July): In anticipation of its opening in 2025, the Borscht Belt Museum is hosting an immersive pop-up exhibition plus an arts and food festival.
• Catbird Music Festival, Catskills (19-20 August): For the first time in decades, a new music festival debuts on the historic field of the 1969 Woodstock Music and Art Fair.
• Wings Over Batavia Airshow, Greater Niagara (2-3 September): After a 25-year hiatus, the thrilling air show returns with modern military aircraft, historical warbirds, and aerobatic performers.
For more information on New York State please visit www.iloveny.com