Travel

The 15 Most Beautiful Places in New York State

Catskills, Adirondacks and Montauk, here you come

By Dan Koday

Published Jun 25, 2023

Additional reporting by
Marissa Wu

PureWow editors select every item that appears on this page, and some items may be gifted to us. Additionally, PureWow may earn compensation through affiliate links within the story. All prices are accurate upon date of publish. You can learn more about the affiliate process here.

New York has been known as the Empire State for quite some time—signifying our great wealth of resources and good looks. (Kidding!) Though, take it from me and PureWow’s other New York-based editors when we say that there are some truly spectacular locales that’ll take your breath away. The state is filled with sparkling lakes, impressive peaks, incredible vistas and sandy beaches, right in our very own backyard. From the iconic Montauk, known as “the end of the world” to storied Lake Placid and Canandaigua Lake, these local spots, though often tiny, are living up to that moniker in a big way. Here are 15 of the most beautiful, scenic spots you can check out in New York, many just a few hours away from Manhattan.

Freelance PureWow Editor

Dan Koday

Freelance PureWow Editor

Dan Koday is a travel and lifestyle writer and editor with 15+ years experience creating content for your favorite websites, print publications and brands. As a native to the NYC metropolitan area, Dan is an expert on all things Gotham, but likes to get out of town, too. After a recent trip to Antarctica, he's officially traveled to all four corners of the globe. 

read full bio