NEWSLETTER
Make 2026 a year of new opportunities, and most important of all, new travel experiences! If you’ve been gazing wistfully at the stars wondering where on Earth you’ll set foot this year, you’re in luck! We’ve compiled a list of must-see trips and can’t-miss events from America 250 to the FIFA World Cup to add to your calendar for 2026. So what are you waiting for?! Start planning your trip today.
1. Experience America 250 in New York State (Multiple Regions)
New York State is pulling out all the stops for the 250th anniversary of the United States with a roster of unforgettable events, including the largest flotilla of tall ships from around the world at Sail4th 250 in New York City, Fleet Week and Long Island’s thrilling FourLeaf Air Show. Step back in time at Fort Ticonderoga in the Adirondacks, where Real Time Revolution™ events unfold the fight for independence in real-time. Head to the Hudson Valley to celebrate with a Commander in Cheers Augmented Reality Experience, or immerse yourself in a history fair and Revolutionary War re-enactment at RevCon 2026. Visit historic sites like the Federal Hall National Museum, where George Washington took the oath of office as the first president of the United States, or Saratoga National Historical Park, where the American triumph at the Battles of Saratoga became known as the “Turning Point of the Revolution.”
2. Watch the world play during FIFA World Cup (New York City)
New York is the place to be for soccer fans in summer 2026. FIFA is bringing eight matches, including the World Cup Final, to New York New/Jersey Stadium from June 13 to July 19. Even if you can’t score tickets, the excitement and events will be impossible to miss as the world’s biggest sporting event takes over the city. Join fan festivals and watch parties, gather with fellow fans at soccer bars, and while in town make plans to experience the best of a New York City summer.
3. Meet The Trolls at the Wild Center (Adirondacks)
The Wild Center has something special lined up for its 20th anniversary year in 2026. Feel like you've been transported into a fairytale as you encounter six towering folklore-inspired trolls crafted from reclaimed materials that are taking up residence at this treasured Adirondacks destination from June through October. Blending art and whimsy, these giant trolls will teach you about nature, sustainability, and how to be a good steward of the earth. Beyond the exhibit, adventure awaits on the Wild Walk, a high-treetop trail featuring a giant spider web and a human-sized bird’s nest. Inside, explore the Wild Center’s immersive river otter habitat and interactive touch tanks. Whether wandering the forest floor or soaring above the canopy, it's sure to make your trip to Tupper Lake magical.
4. Spend a Day at the Races in Saratoga Springs (Capital-Saratoga)
Credit: @denten.io on Instagram
Saratoga's motto is "health, history, and horses,” and it's no wonder why. Famous for its mineral baths, artisan stores, and historic sites, Saratoga also has horse racing sewn into the town's DNA. Since 1863, the Saratoga Race Course has been welcoming thousands of locals and tourists from all across the globe to its historic grandstand, especially in the summer months. It will host the world famous Belmont Stakes for the third and final time in 2026, with the 158th running of the storied Triple Crown finale happening June 6. Other prestigious races like the Travers Stakes (also called the Midsummer Derby) occur throughout the 40-day summer meet at America’s oldest sporting venue, which runs from mid-July through Labor Day. For upcoming races and full stakes schedules, visit NYRA Saratoga.
5. Enjoy a new spa experience in Beacon (Hudson Valley)
Credit: @jandigio on Instagram
Mirbeau is expanding its collection of luxury spas across New York State with the addition of Mirbeau Inn & Spa Beacon (opening spring 2026). Joining Albany, Rhinebeck, and Skaneateles, the new Beacon location sits just one mile from the city’s vibrant Main Street. Reminiscent of a Loire Valley–inspired estate, the property blends Gothic Revival architecture with Mirbeau’s signature French-inspired hospitality, and features serene ponds and gardens inspired by Monet’s Giverny. Once relaxed and rejuvenated, explore the charming city of Beacon, immerse yourself in large-scale art installations at Dia Beacon, or enjoy a scenic waterfall walk to Madam Brett Park.
6. Get Up Close to a Wonder of the World (Greater Niagara)
Credit: @alexandralucero on Instagram
Dubbed the "Honeymoon Capital of the World'' in the late 1800s for its romantic grandiosity, Niagara Falls sees more than 12 million visitors each year. Get closer to the waters of Niagara Falls than you thought possible on a Cave of the Winds tour through the Niagara Gorge along wooden walkways that bring you just 20 feet from underneath the waters of Bridal Veil Falls. Ride along the gorge and under the falls on the iconic Maid of the Mist, feel the thrill of Devil's Hole class 5 whitewater rapids with Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours, and see the falls from on high with Rainbow Air Helicopter Tours, home to a thrilling new virtual adventure. Shuffle up to nearby Buffalo to explore Canalside, the Buffalo AKG Art Museum, Buffalo Zoo, the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, and can’t-miss events like the Juneteenth Festival and Taste of Buffalo.
7. Plan a Late Season Ski Trip (Multiple Regions)
Credit: @whiteface_mt on Instagram
New York has the most ski resorts of any state, meaning world-class skiing and snowboarding are always nearby, from the scenic Adirondacks slopes at Whiteface and Gore to Catskills favorites such as Hunter Mountain and Windham, plus family-friendly runs at Holiday Valley and Peek 'n Peak in Chautauqua-Allegheny. Many mountains also offer adaptive skiing for all abilities. Savor the slopes before the snow melts with a spring skiing trip when warmer days mean skiing in lighter gear, soaking up the sun, and reveling in the beauty of snow-covered peaks.
8. Blossom into Spring (Multiple Regions)
Credit: @aiaiaicchi on Instagram
Shed your winter coat and usher in the arrival of spring and its brilliant blooms in New York State! Spring into adventure with the new New York Blooms Report and come witness the state's botanical beauty as you discover picture perfect cherry blossom spots from the Japanese Garden at Delaware Park to the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens, frolic through fields of tulips, and experience floral fun at annual events like Rochester's Lilac Festival and the Mohonk Tulip Festival.
9. Find your groove at a summer concert or music festival (Multiple Regions)
Credit: @spacsaratoga on Instagram
Experience the ultimate summer soundtrack across New York State with an incredible lineup of outdoor concerts and music festivals. Kick off summer in New York City at Governors Ball, where more than 60 artists take over three stages. The Used, Sublime, and My Morning Jacket will rock the stage at Long Island’s Great South Bay Music Festival. Jazz fans can enjoy timeless standards at the Saratoga Jazz Festival, held at the acclaimed amphitheater Saratoga Performing Arts Center as it celebrates its 60th anniversary. Revel in even more Jazz at the Rochester International Jazz Festival and the Blue Note Jazz Festival. Head to the Catskills for the groovy Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival, where you can camp out and enjoy live music under the stars. In Western New York, don’t miss Borderland Music + Arts Festival and the Ellicottville Summer Music Festival.
10. Get to know the Thousand Islands (Thousand Islands-Seaway)
Discover the breathtaking Thousand Islands-Seaway, where over a thousand islands dot the sparkling blue waters of the St. Lawrence River—a destination all about life in, on, and around the water. Clayton is home to the Antique Boat Museum, featuring the largest collection of antique and classic boats on display in North America! Learn about boating history on the St. Lawrence River, row a St. Lawrence skiff in French Bay, tour George Boldt's 1903 106-foot houseboat, and take a speedboat ride through the islands in a triple cockpit runabout. Head out on the water on a fishing adventure, take a glass-bottom boat trip with Clayton Island tours, and spend your evenings in Alexandria Bay on the go-karts or at a drive-in movie theater. Learn more with our guide to 48 Hours in Alexandria Bay and Clayton.
11. Visit Cooperstown, the Home of Baseball (Central New York)
Credit: @gocooperstown on Instagram
Get a dose of Americana and celebrate all things baseball in the picturesque village of Cooperstown. Fans of the sport can witness magical moments frozen in time through exhibitions, archive collections, and special events at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. With an idyllic setting amid rolling hills, Doubleday Field (pictured) plays host to more than 350 baseball games each year, ranging from youth baseball to collegiate tournaments and senior leagues. Main Street embraces its baseball legacy with shops selling memorabilia, collectibles, souvenirs, and merch. In July, don't miss the jam-packed Hall of Fame Weekend featuring time-honored events from the Parade of Legends to the Induction Ceremony, and the Legends of the Game Roundtable at Doubleday Field. Remember to book early as hotels sell out well before the event!
12. Have a Gilded Age Getaway on the Gold Coast (Long Island)
Credit: @robthomasdrone on Instagram
Step back in time and explore the glitz and glamor of Long Island’s famed Gold Coast that inspired F. Scott Fitzgerald’s great American novel The Great Gatsby. Grand estates once frequented by society’s elite during the Roaring Twenties are now open to visitors who wish to relive history. Tour mansions once home to the Vanderbilts in Centerport and the Guggenheims at Sands Point Preserve, or the “East Egg” in The Great Gatsby. You can stay overnight at OHEKA Castle, a majestic estate on the highest point of Long Island. Old Westbury Gardens features an extravagant English-style house as well as 200-acres of formal gardens featured in HBO’s “The Gilded Age”. Enjoy a tour of Sagamore Hill, home to President Theodore Roosevelt’s summer residence, dubbed the “Summer White House.”
13. Explore New York State’s Capital (Capital-Saratoga)
Credit: @discoveralbany on Instagram
Journey through time exploring Albany’s history spanning more than four centuries, from its humble beginnings as a small Dutch settlement to the vibrant capital city it is today. Start at the French chateau-style New York State Capitol (pictured) and see how many faces you recognize out of the 300 portraits hand carved into the stone of the “Million Dollar Staircase.” Stroll Empire State Plaza’s marble walkways for views of Corning Tower and uniquely-shaped performance space, the Egg. Travel back to the Ice Age and view the new Barbie exhibit at the New York State Museum and browse works by influential artists at the state’s oldest museum, the Albany Institute of History & Art. Enjoy one of the Northeast’s biggest and most beloved annual events, the colorful Albany Tulip Festival, on a Mother’s Day Weekend trip.
14. Stay in a “Great Camp” (Adirondacks)
Credit: @cfbrenton1 on Instagram
Visit (and spend the night in) the grandiose summer homes of New York’s late 19th-century jet setters, including Gilded Age magnates Rockefeller and Vanderbilt. Where American craftsmanship meets Swedish chalet design, these classic family cabins in the Adirondacks are the epitome of a relaxing lakeside vacation in the heart of the wilderness. Great Camp tours, lakeside activities, and overnight stays are available at The Point, White Pine Camp, Great Camp Sagamore, Lake Kora, and more. Find out more about Adirondack Great Camps at Visit Adirondacks.
15. Experience “The Queen of American Lakes” in Lake George (Adirondacks)
Credit: @hamsgruber on Instagram
Known as the birthplace of the American vacation, Lake George has been attracting visitors to its glistening waters and 109 miles of coastline since the mid-1800s. Whether you’re looking for a relaxing paddleboat cruise with the Lake George Steamboat Company (pictured), island camping, or theme park thrills at Six Flags Great Escape and Hurricane Harbor, the possibilities are endless. History buffs can explore Fort William Henry, while families can enjoy life-sized dinosaurs in the Magic Forest. While summer is peak season, don't miss fall foliage cruises, frosty fun at the annual Winter Carnival, and other premier events including Americade, the Adirondack Food & Wine Festival, and Lake George Music Festival.
16. Explore the Underground World of Howe Caverns (Central New York)
Photo Courtesy of Howe Caverns
One of New York's oldest and most popular tourist attractions dating back to the 19th century, Howe Caverns offers visitors the chance to explore caves without any advanced equipment or spelunking knowledge! Today, the Caverns are only part of the attraction at this vast complex that includes cave visits, an on-site motel, glassworks, a seasonal ropes course, and escape room experience. Of course, cave visits remain a main draw, with scenic, breathtaking views up to 156 feet underground, and tours that include a boat ride on a subterranean river!
17. Laugh It Up in Jamestown, the Home of Comedy (Chautauqua-Allegheny)
Laugh your socks off in Jamestown, the birthplace of Lucille Ball that is now home to two museums entirely dedicated to comedy greats past and present. Tour over 50 immersive exhibits, explore the lives of legendary comics, or try your hand at working the room like a pro on the stage at The Stand-Up Lounge at the National Comedy Center. “I Love Lucy” fans can learn about the iconic TV couple at the Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum (pictured). See props, costumes, and other artifacts from the show, and snap a photo in Lucy and Ricky Ricardo's New York City apartment and their Hollywood hotel suite, both of which have been recreated and brought to life in the museum. Plan a trip in August for the Lucille Ball Comedy Festival, featuring special events and a line-up of today’s biggest names in comedy.
18. Get enlightened at Chautauqua’s summer camp for grown ups (Chautauqua-Allegheny)
Looking for an adult version of summer camp where you can immerse yourself in arts and culture while enjoying lakefront recreation? Book a stay at the renowned Chautauqua Institution, which blossoms every summer with nine enriching weeks of programs and events, including dance, opera, concerts, author lectures, theater, and more. More than 100,000 people attend the seasonal events and activities each year, so plan your visit now! Accommodations can fill up quickly, so make sure to book your stay early at the historic Athenaeum Hotel or rent a lake house near the grounds of the institution. Daily gate passes are available during the summer season, with free admission on Sundays.
19. Splash around at New York’s largest indoor waterpark (Catskills)
Credit: @kartriteresort on Instagram
Find the best of the beach in the middle of the mountains on an ultimate family getaway to Kartrite, a 324-suite resort that’s home to the largest indoor water park in New York State! Surf the perfect wave on the Endless Summer Flowrider, take a wild ride down the Krakken and Nor’Easter water slides, or float along the lazy river. The impressive indoor park also features a pool that is accessible for visitors with disabilities and several smaller slides and play sections for the wee ones. Once you dry off, enjoy s’mores outside by the fire, find everything from a buffet feast to fine dining to a hopping bar scene at the resort’s restaurant options, and discover more family fun activities from bowling to rock climbing.
20. Go on a Catskills Glamping Adventure (Catskills)
Credit: @treetopia_campground on Instagram
Take your camping trip in the Catskills to the next level. Go the retro route and stay in a decked-out classic Airstream at AutoCamp Catskills in Saugerties or TreeTopia in Athens. The Old Game Farm in Catskill has luxury tents set up with all the fixings on sites that meet your camping needs. Kick things up a notch with a stay in a luxurious Tiny House overlooking Catskill Creek in South Cairo or in a Scandinavian-style cabin at Eastwind Hotels in Windham and in the heart of the Oliverea Valley.
21. Stay Overnight in a Real-Life Castle (Thousand Islands-Seaway)
Credit: @mikephillipspic on Instagram
Be the King or Queen of your very own Gothic castle for the night at Singer Castle. Built in 1905 by the fifth president of the Singer Sewing Machine Company, the grand 28-room castle sits on Dark Island, a 7-acre island accessible by boat several times a day. When you book an overnight stay in the royal suite, you’ll get an entire wing for up to six guests, a catered cold plate dinner and continental breakfast that can be served in your room of choice, and a private tour. Explore the castle's medieval entranceway lined with Knights of Armor, secret passages, hand-carved furnishings and decor, and more. If you're only in town for the day, a 45-minute tour and narrative of the history of Singer Castle are available.
22. Book a Beachside Cottage (Long Island)
Credit: @leocarvalhonyc on Instagram
Get your dose of sand and sun with a unique glamping experience along Great South Bay at the cottages at Heckscher State Park (pictured) in East Islip. With 1,600 acres to explore featuring picnic spots, fields to play sports, and paved trails for walking, there’s a fun activity for each day of your vacation! Each waterfront cottage can accommodate two to six people and feature a living room, bedroom(s), kitchen, bathroom, and a screened porch. Don’t wait to book, make your reservations (Note: A minimum 7-night stay is required during the peak season). Prefer tent camping? Heckscher State Park has that too! Hither Hills State Park in Montauk also has oceanfront campsites accommodating RVs and tents. Book your vacation now before your desired dates are taken.
23. Build Core Childhood Memories in the Hudson Valley (Hudson Valley)
Credit: @kathybuccio on Instagram
Build memories that will last a lifetime with an unforgettable family trip to the Hudson Valley. With more than 50 rides and attractions spread across 150 acres, LEGOLAND®️ New York in Goshen is the ultimate theme park destination for kids ages 2–12 and their families. Ride the dragon coaster, become a firefighter, master the art of “Spinjitzu,” and more at the park’s seven “lands.” Discover awesome vacation packages and deals at the 250-room LEGOLAND hotel featuring pirate, ninja and other themed rooms, a free breakfast buffet, and in-room treasure hunts. The all-inclusive Rocking Horse Ranch in Highland offers four seasons of fun with an indoor waterpark, mountain climbing, horseback riding, ice skating, mini golf, laser tag, and nightly entertainment the whole family can enjoy.
24. Follow a Wine Trail in the Finger Lakes (Finger Lakes)
CREDIT: @SENECALAKEWINE ON INSTAGRAM
Named the 2025 American Wine Region of the Year by Wine Enthusiast, you'll find award-winning wines around every corner in the Finger Lakes. Nestled between the scenic Keuka, Seneca, Canandaigua, and Cayuga lakes, the region is home to more than 120 wineries producing renowned cool climate wine varietals. Sip world-class wines beside picturesque, glacially-designed lakes and rolling hills at wineries in Finger Lakes Wine Country at one of its three distinct wine trails: Cayuga Lake Wine Trail, Keuka Lake Wine Trail, and Seneca Lake Wine Trail. You can even plan a sip and stay getaway at Buttonwood Grove Winery, Belhurst Castle, Glenora Wine Cellars, Eagle Crest Vineyards, and Fulkerson Winery.
25. Head to The Great New York State Fair (Finger Lakes)
From August 26 through September 7, experience 13 days of fantastic fair fun at The Great New York State Fair. As the oldest and most affordable state fair in the United States, it features an array of animals, hundreds of attractions, thrilling midway rides, inventive fair food, and performances by world-class musicians. Now in its 185th year, the fair welcomes nearly one million excited visitors each year!
26. Get in touch with nature at New York’s state parks (Multiple Regions)
Credit: @kh_kremer on Instagram
There’s never been a better time to get outside and appreciate New York’s natural beauty. From the serene shores of Long Island to the mighty Niagara Falls, New York's parks and historic sites offer unique experiences from ziplining at Jones Beach to hot air ballooning over Letchworth’s waterfalls to drinking from Saratoga’s mineral springs to exploring dramatic landscapes of the Chimney Bluffs. Turn your state park visit into an unforgettable getaway with a cabin retreat in Allegany State Park, Wellesley Island State Park, and more.
Share New York State adventures with us on TikTok, Instagram and X with #ILoveNY and #iSpyNY, and tag us on Facebook!