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The Atlas Obscura Guide To New York State

1,167 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in New York State

Updated November 21, 2024

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Cities

Top Cities
All Cities
  1. Albany
  2. Amsterdam
  3. Auburn
  4. Ballston Spa
  5. Beacon
  6. Binghamton
  7. The Bronx
  8. Brooklyn
  9. Buffalo
  10. Catskill
  11. Centerport
  12. Cold Spring
  13. Cooperstown
  14. Dobbs Ferry
  15. Dover Plains
  16. East Hampton
  17. Elmira
  18. Hammondsport
  19. Howes Cave
  20. Hudson
  21. Ithaca
  22. Jamestown
  23. Keene Valley
  24. Kinderhook
  25. Kings Park
  26. Kingston
  27. Lake George
  28. Lake Placid
  29. Monroe
  30. Newcomb
  31. New Paltz
  32. New York City
  33. Manhattan
  34. Niagara Falls
  35. Nyack
  36. Oneida
  37. Orient
  38. Oyster Bay
  39. Palmyra
  40. Pawling
  41. Penn Yan
  42. Poughkeepsie
  43. Queens
  44. Red Hook
  45. Rhinebeck
  46. Rochester
  47. Rome
  48. Romulus
  49. Roscoe
  50. Roxbury
  51. Sands Point
  52. Saranac Lake
  53. Saratoga Springs
  54. Schenectady
  55. Seneca Falls
  56. Shoreham
  57. Sleepy Hollow
  58. Staten Island
  59. Syracuse
  60. The Bronx
  61. Tomkins Cove
  62. Troy
  63. Waterloo
  64. West Point
  65. Woodstock
  66. Yonkers

Unusual Attractions in New York State

See All 1,167 Things To Do in New York State

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in New York State

See all 124 Places to Eat in New York State
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Atlas Obscura Itineraries

The Explorer's Guide to Hudson Valley, New York

Sponsored by Defender

Just a short trip north of New York City, the Hudson Valley is great for both day trips and road trips. Atlas Obscura co-founder Dylan Thuras is a local resident, and loves the natural wonders, as well as the incredible culture and history found in the region. This itinerary combines his favorite spots into one stunning road trip. Start your adventure at a living antique aviation museum near the historic town of Red Hook, and end with dinner at a Victorian resort. Along the way, you’ll make pit stops at towering waterfalls, a giant kaleidoscope, and incredible views of the beautiful Hudson Valley.

View Itinerary

Explore New York State

Architecture 147
Art 98
Museums 92
Architectural Oddities 91
History 86
Abandoned 71
Shops 69
Cemeteries 68

New York State Leaderboard

Recent New York State Activity

Stories About New York State

Brigadier General Benedict Arnold lost the Battle of Valcour Island on Lake Champlain in 1776—as well as several of the young navy's ships, including the gunboat Spitfire—but the skirmish bought the Continental Army much-needed time in the war.

Benedict Arnold's Lake Champlain Gunboat Is the Last Shipwreck of Its Kind

Preserved in the lake's chilly waters for more than 200 years, the Spitfire now faces a new threat.
by Hope Hodge Seck

Podcast: Onöhsagwë:de’ Cultural Center

Lacrosse can trace its origins back centuries to the Native American "Creator's Game."
by The Podcast Team
Hudson River Rail Excursions runs a classic car between New York and Albany to make the vintage rail experience more accessible.

Meet the People Who Keep Vintage Rail Cars Rolling Across America

About two dozen classic carriages around the country offer time travel by train.
by Justin Franz
The Seneca County Courthouse Complex in Ovid, New York, commonly known as “the Three Bears,” is a fine example of the Greek Revival style in the Military Tract, from which both the fad for classical place names and notions of classical architecture spread throughout the country.

Why Does America Have So Many Towns With Classical Names?

There are nearly 100 named "Troy."
by Frank Jacobs

Podcast: John Brown’s Farm

A monument to a famed abolitionist and the fight for Black suffrage.
by The Podcast Team
Parts of the Buffalo area saw more than 6 feet of snow over three days in November 2022.

What Is Lake-Effect Snow?

A snowstorm that slammed into Western New York left more than six feet of snow in places. Blame the Great Lakes.
by Michael A. Rawlins

Podcast: Lily Dale Spiritualist Community

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.
by The Podcast Team
This charming rural hamlet is home to 36 practicing spiritual mediums.

To Join This Community of People Who Speak to the Dead, Prepare to Be Tested

Think you have what it takes to be a spiritual medium in Lily Dale?
by Sarah Durn

Lists Featuring New York State

Book Corner.
The Final Cross
Edward Dean Adams Power Station
Clifton Hill

The 11 Best Places to Visit Near Niagara Falls for Curious Travelers

11

Including Book Corner, Prophet Isaiah's Second Coming House, and Edward Dean Adams Power Plant

The Conjuring Arts library
Keen's Steakhouse
The New York Herald Monument.

The 11 Best Things to do Near the Empire State Building for Curious Travelers

11

Including Tannen's Magic Shop, The Conjuring Arts Research Center, and Keen's Steakhouse

The House of the Temple.
Statue of George Washington

Novus Ordo Seclorum: 14 Places to Unearth Masonic Secrets

Your best bets for gaining insight into the real history of Freemasonry.

14

Including Zedekiah's Cave, Masonic Lodge of the Andaz Hotel, and House of the Temple

The Paddington Bear statue at Paddington station.
The Alice in Wonderland statue in Central Park.
Mrs Mallard and her entire brood.
Dr Seuss, Cat in the Hat, and a book with lines from Oh The Places You'll Go.

9 Favorite Children's Book Characters, Immortalized in Bronze

Visit Paddington Bear, Ramona Quimby, and other childhood heroes in person.

9

Including Paddington Bear Statue , Alice in Wonderland Statue, and Make Way for Ducklings Statue

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