NEWSLETTER
Summer will be here before you know it, and now is the time to start booking tickets and accommodations for some of the state’s hottest activities and attractions. Don’t wait until the last minute! Here are 11 summer trips to start booking now.Photo Credit: @bethelwoodscenter on Instagram.
Originally published: 3/28/22 | Updated: 01/18/2025
1. A Hamptons Beachside Vacation (Long Island)
Summer rentals and resorts fill up fast here, so now’s the time to make sure you have your Hamptons place in the sun. You’ll find popular hotels on and close to the beachside, including the Southampton Inn, The Topping Rose House, Barons Cove, The American Hotel, The Quogue Club at Hallock House, and Gurney’s Montauk Resort & Seawater Spa.
With your reservation set, you can start planning your vacay. Pristine sandy beaches may be all the doctor ordered for your ultimate Hamptons getaway, but this ritzy enclave has plenty more to explore, with outdoor activities such as surfing, horseback riding, and fishing for outdoor enthusiasts; as well as cultural institutions, like the Parrish Art Museum, and the Pollock Krasner House & Study Center, and wineries like Wolffer Estate and Duck Walk Vineyards. Discover even more great things to do in the Hamptons here.
2. Reserve Your Saratoga Race Season Tickets (Capital-Saratoga)
A great New York State tradition gets underway from July 10 - September 1 in Saratoga Springs with the historic Saratoga Race Course hosting its annual summer meet. Get ready for even more excitement as the Saratoga Race Course will host the prestigious Belmont Stakes! The action kicks off on Saturday, June 7, with the full 5-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival running from June 4 through June 8. Don’t miss out on the action - book your stay in Saratoga Springs now at top-rated lodgings like The Gideon Putnam, which presents classic hospitality surrounded by the serenity of Saratoga Spa State Park; or the downtown Adelphi Hotel, which focuses on luxury and modern design while carrying on the spirit of a historic and charming retreat.
3. Book Your Glimmerglass Festival Tickets (Central New York)
Start planning now for this summer’s 2025 Glimmerglass Festival, marking its 50th anniversary season, and enjoy a riveting visit to Cooperstown! This internationally-acclaimed festival has always been a home for new and exciting productions of opera and musical theater, presenting both familiar and rarely-performed operas in a magnificent setting overlooking Otsego Lake. Previews, meet-the-performers, tours and picnic meals on spacious lawns add to the "Night at the Opera" experience. You can choose from 40 performances taking place in July and August, including The House on Mango Street, The Rake’s Progress, Tosca, and Sunday In The Park With George. The 2025 Festival will also feature the return of the youth opera, performing Odyssey at the Alice Busch Opera Theater. Tickets are going fast, so purchase yours now! Hot tip: purchase tickets to multiple shows for the best discounts.
4. Stake Your 4th of July Fireworks Viewing Spot (New York City)
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The annual Macy's 4th of July Fireworks will light up the night across New York City! The show is a free and public event, but some bars and restaurants along the viewing path may sell tickets for special events, so make sure to book as soon as they become available. Or see the fireworks from the water on the Circle Line’s Fourth of July Fireworks Cruise. Stay tuned for details on this year’s fireworks spectacular including viewing locations and performer lineup!
5. Hop Aboard North America’s Largest Mountain Coaster (Adirondacks)
The largest mountain coaster in North America is ready to thrill you this summer with amazing Adirondack mountain views around heart-pounding curves! Formerly a bobsledding track used in the Winter Olympic games, the Cliffside Mountain Coaster at Mt. Van Hoevenberg in Lake Placid runs for 1.4 miles and is set up so you can drive your own car along the track, controlling the speed. Race your family and friends alongside the 1980 bobsled track to the bottom! Tickets, which go fast, can be booked here.
6. Book a Private Overnight Stay at Singer Castle on Dark Island (Thousand Islands-Seaway)
Credit: @rbbramlett on Instagram
Rich in history and beauty, Scottish-inspired Singer Castle on seven-acre Dark Island in the St. Lawrence River invites you to explore its intricate architecture and puzzling secret passageways! Be King or Queen of Singer Castle for the evening when you book the Royal Suite, an entire wing of the castle that can sleep up to six people. Your reservation also includes a catered dinner in the evening and an extended private personal tour. Inside and outside the castle, you’ll discover 28 rooms, a five-story clock tower, four-story boat house, heated squash court, pergola, and rose garden, as well as hidden passageways into almost every room and outbuilding.
7. Make Your Camping Reservations Now (Statewide)
Camping is one of the best and most affordable family vacations. Whether you like to rough it, follow historic pathways or live luxuriously, New York camps have something everyone will love. Many private campgrounds can be booked through CampNewYork.com. Public campgrounds are operated by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, and the Department of Environmental Conservation. New reservations for all available State Parks sites—including tents, trailers, RVs, cabins, yurts, and cottages—can be made by calling 1-800-456-CAMP or reserved online.
8. Buy Your Chautauqua Institution 2025 Season Pass (Chautauqua-Allegheny)
Every summer, thousands of artists from all across the globe flock to the truly unique cultural center that is Chautauqua Institution for its nine-week summer celebration of the arts, education, religion, and recreation, and renowned morning lecture series. This summer’s program, marking the 151st season, takes place June 21 - Aug. 24, with scheduled entertainment including Comedy Now: A Week Curated with Lewis Black, Art in Action: Building Community Through the Arts, Kwame Alexander and Friends, and the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra. Located on beautiful Chautauqua Lake near Jamestown, the institution also boasts sporting activities and on-grounds accommodations. Online sales of gate passes and tickets are on-sale now. You can book a room at the historic Athenaeum Hotel or rent a lake house near the grounds of the institution.
9. See NASCAR Action at Watkins Glen (Finger Lakes)
Since 1956, Watkins Glen International has hosted road racing events of nearly every class, including Formula One, World Sportscar Championship, Trans-Am, Can-Am, the International Motor Sports Association, and the IndyCar Series. The top racing series of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, the NASCAR Cup Series, returns to Watkins Glen International on August 10th, 2025 for the NASCAR Go Bowling at The Glen, the only NASCAR event in New York State. Order your tickets now and be there to experience this thrilling event on this historic road course! Stay overnight at the nearby Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel, a gorgeous resort on Seneca Lake featuring fantastic lakeside views, and also in prime proximity to the gorgeous Watkins Glen State Park.
10. Get Tickets or Season Passes to One of New York’s Outdoor Performance Venues (Statewide)
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Get ready for a music-filled summer in New York State! In the Finger Lakes on the shores of Canandaigua Lake, CMAC’s 2025 summer season schedule is filling up with headline performers including James Taylor and his All-Star band, Kane Brown, Megan Maroney, and the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. Stay tuned for more concert announcements!
In the Catskills, Bethel Woods Center for the Arts presents a summer concert season that offers a diverse mix of performances, exhibits, festivals, and art programs. Upcoming summer shows include Avril Lavigne, “Weird Al” Yankovic, and Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. Don’t miss out on your favorite performers; get your tickets now.
One of the pre-eminent “jewel in the crown” summer music and arts festivals in North America for over 50 years, the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) presents the return of its resident companies, the New York City Ballet, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and the Saratoga Jazz Festival this summer. The season will also feature a diverse line-up of artists including Shania Twain, Thomas Rhett, Rod Stewart, Goo Goo Dolls, Styx, and Breaking Benjamin. Don’t miss out; order your tickets now!
11. Hudson Valley Havens
Credit: @chandler__anderson on Instagram
Head to New Paltz and drive up a long, winding driveway where a Victorian castle awaits you. The Mohonk Mountain House (pictured) is a unique resort positioned along the banks of Lake Mohonk, surrounded by carefully landscaped gardens and pristine wilderness. Relax and renew at the spa, or indulge in one of the many outdoor activities like rock climbing and hiking—or even golfing on the on-site course. The Mohonk Mountain House is great for family vacations, a trip with friends, or a quiet, restorative weekend alone.
One of the most beautiful spots to see all that the Hudson Valley has to offer is the Hudson House. Located in Cold Spring, it perfectly blends luxury with nature. You can feel like high society at this getaway right on the water, so you'll be tempted to stay put. But be sure to take some time to explore local hiking options as well as Cold Spring's charming main street.
Consider yourself a history buff? Soak in the summer air at the Beekman Arms, America's oldest continuously operated inn. The village inn is in the center of Rhinebeck, so you can walk to restaurants, antique shops, theaters, and stores right from your room. Explore the Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site while you're nearby for a glimpse into the president's life and legacy. Get a fresh taste of that NYS homegrown fare at the Rhinebeck Farmers Market, opening May 4th, where local growers and producers bring their finest produce, honey, meats, and more.
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