New York State Parks

Allegany State Park consists of the Red House Area with its tudor-style historic Administration Building, Thunder Rocks, and the Stone Tower. The Red House Area, centered around Red House Lake, provides five miles of paved trails for bikes, bike rentals, boat rentals, a sandy beach for fishing and swimming. Visitors can also find opportunities for a game of volleyball or tennis, horse shoes, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, or just walking. The Administration Building houses a gift shop and natural history museum. The Stone Tower offers expansive vistas of the mature forests and rolling hills, while Thunder Rocks is an interesting bedrock city.

2373 ASP, Rte 1, Salamanca, NY 14779, Phone: 716-354-9121

Bear Mountain State Park is located within the rugged mountains near the Hudson River’s west bank. The state park features trails for cross-country skiing, biking, and hiking, as well as the Trailside Museums and Zoo, a swimming pool, access to river and lake fishing, shaded picnic areas, and a large field for playing. From around late October until the middle of March, there is an outdoor rink in the park for ice skating. Bear Mountain State Park is also home to the Perkins Memorial Tower with its amazing views, lodges, and a Merry-Go-Round with hand-carved animals and hand-painted scenes.

Palisades Parkway or Route 9W North, Bear Mountain, NY 10911, Phone: 845-786-2701

Belmont Lake State Park is a day-use state park encompassing approximately 463 acres, bisected by Belmont Lake and Carll’s Creek. The park is visited primarily by families looking for informal sports activities, picnics, and outdoor gatherings. A biking and hiking trail can be found along Carll’s Creek, while a similar path encircles Belmont Lake, giving the park 7.6 miles of trails for nature observation, biking, walking, hiking, and cross-country skiing (weather permitting). Horseback riding is possible through Babylon Riding Center, and rowboats and pedal boats can be rented to be used on the lake during the summer.

Southern State Pkwy Exit 38, North Babylon, NY 11703, Phone: 631-667-5055

Fair Haven Beach State Park is situated on the eastern shoreline of Lake Ontario in upstate New York. The state park is considered to be one of the region’s finest public lakefronts with its adjoining hilly woodlands, sandy beaches, and towering shoreline bluffs. The sandy beach stretches approximately 1,500 feet and includes six hundred feet of guarded area for swimming. Within the rolling woodlands are cabin areas and campgrounds with centralized restrooms, while boating and fishing opportunities can be found in abundance on the Little Sodus Bay and Lake Ontario. Campgrounds include both non-electric and electric campsites.

14985 State Park Rd, Fair Haven, NY 13064, Phone: 315-947-5205

Romantic New York State Parks

Fire Island National Seashore immerses visitors in an enchanting collection of history and coastal life, with its wildlife, historic landmarks, ancient maritime forests, high dunes, and rhythmic waves.

The barrier island beaches provide spiritual renewal, camaraderies, and solitude away from the hustle and bustle of the nearby city. The area is the only federal wilderness area in New York, offering park ranger programs, wildlife viewing, hiking, sightseeing, beachcombing, and much more. Sites include Talisman, Watch Hill, Sailors Haven/Sunken Forest, and Fire Island Lighthouse. Passenger ferries or private boats are needed to reach some sites at Fire Island National Seashore.

120 Laurel St, Patchogue, NY 11772, Phone: 631-687-4750

Fort Stanwix is known well as "the fort that never surrendered.” In August of 1777, the fort successfully repelled a long siege by British, Canadian, American Indian, Loyalist, and German warriors and troops. Guests at the Fort Stanwix Monument are recommended to being their visit at the Willett Center. The fort itself is encircled by three rather short trails, one of which follows a section of the area’s Oneida Carrying Place. The remaining two trails help interpret the events that took place at the fort in 1777. A museum area and living history programs can be seen in the fort.

112 East Park St, Rome, NY 13440, Phone: 315-338-7730

27,000-acre Gateway National Recreation Area is made up of three different geographic units: Staten Island and Jamaica Bay in New York City and Sandy Hook, a barrier beach peninsula, in New Jersey. These areas include Fort Wadsworth, Miller Field, and Great Kills Park on Staten Island; Canarsie Pier and Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn; and Riis Park, Fort Tilden, and the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge in Queens. Jamaica Bay features historic forts, restored grasslands, marinas, sports fields, and ocean beaches. The Gateway National Recreation Area offers fishing, hiking, windsurfing, birding, and more throughout the year.

210 New York Ave, Staten Island, NY 10305, Phone: 718-354-4606

New York State Parks for Families

General Grant National Memorial is the final resting place of both President Ulysses S. Grant and Julia Dent Grant, his wife. It is North America’s largest mausoleum. The Visitor Center is home to an exhibit gallery that highlights significant events in the life of Ulysses S. Grant, as well as a gift shop, public restrooms, and a media room that shows the twenty-minute “Ulysses S. Grant - A Legacy of Freedom” film. The General Grant National Memorial contains the Mausoleum houses Ulysses and Julia Grant’s remains and two reliquary rooms, and the Memorial Grounds as well.

Riverside Dr and W. 122nd St, New York, NY 10027, Phone: 646-670-7251

Golden Hill State Park is home to the Thirty Mile Lighthouse, which was decommissioned in 1958 by the United States Coast Guard and is now available to rent throughout the year. This lighthouse landmark features a rich history that visitors in the state park can enjoy. The Golden Hill State Park provides opportunities for nature walks, picnicking, shoreline hiking, boating, fishing, and camping. Visitors can also take a walking tour of the lighthouse. Snowmobile trails and snowshoeing are also available during the winter season. Many special event take place in the park as well during the summer months.

9691 Lower Lake Rd, Barker, NY 14012, Phone: 716-795-3885

The United States Army was part of New York City’s economic, political, and social tapestry on Governors Island from 1794 until 1966. The island today is a vibrant venue for performances, culture, and art during the summer season against a backdrop of military heritage and the city skyline. Visitors can join free guided tours at Governors Island as well. These tours are available on a “first-come, first-serve” basis of up to 35 guests. Tours of Castle Williams are offered at certain times. Tours of Fort Jay are only available at certain times on weekends.

10 South St, New York, NY 10004, Phone: 212-825-3054