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United States
EMPIRE STATE JOURNEY: MANHATTAN TOWERS TO THUNDERING NIAGARA
Steel canyons giving way to wine valleys, glacial lakes stretching through hills, thunder roaring above horseshoe falls. New York State dazzles.
≈ 16
Days
789
Km
6
Stops
Leave Manhattan for Hyde Park in the Hudson Valley, where the Roosevelts left their mark. Follow the Finger Lakes and their vineyards, stop at Ithaca amid gorges, then end at Niagara before the water curtain and mist. New York State offers another face, vaster, greener, perfect for leaving the city without losing intensity.
- Niagara Falls: thundering curtain, mist rainbows
- Finger Lakes: vineyard valleys, gorge trails
- Hyde Park: fdr estate, culinary institute
- Ithaca: cornell gorges, waterfall magic
Your day-by-day itinerary
1
Day
8 photos
Discover
1
Statue of Liberty — Marvel at this 93-meter copper monument gifted by France in 1886, designed by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi with internal structure by Gustave Eiffel. Lady Liberty's crown offers panoramic views of New York Harbor from 81 meters above sea level.
2
Ellis Island Immigration Museum — Explore the gateway through which 12 million immigrants entered America between 1892 and 1954. The Great Hall with its soaring vaulted ceiling tells poignant stories of hope, struggle, and the American Dream through interactive exhibits.
3
Brooklyn Bridge — Walk across this engineering marvel completed in 1883, the world's first steel-wire suspension bridge spanning 486 meters. John Roebling's Gothic Revival towers rise 84 meters above the East River, connecting Manhattan to Brooklyn.
4
One World Observatory — Ascend to the 100th floor of One World Trade Center, the Western Hemisphere's tallest building at 541 meters. The observation deck provides 360-degree views from the memorial pools to the Statue of Liberty.
Activities
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Times Square evening stroll — Immerse yourself in the neon-lit spectacle of the Crossroads of the World where 300,000 pedestrians pass daily. Giant LED billboards illuminate Broadway theaters, flagship stores, and street performers creating electric energy until midnight.
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Slice at Joe's Pizza — Savor a classic New York slice at this Greenwich Village institution serving since 1975. The thin-crust, coal-oven pizza folded in half represents authentic NYC street food culture at its finest.
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Central Park sunset walk — Stroll through Frederick Law Olmsted's 341-hectare masterpiece completed in 1876. The Bethesda Terrace and Bow Bridge offer romantic views as the setting sun casts golden light across the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir.
Next stop
Distance:
155.2 km
Travel time:
1h56
2
Day
6 photos
Discover
1
The Metropolitan Museum of Art — Explore 5,000 years of art across 2 million square feet in this encyclopedic museum founded in 1870. Highlights include the Egyptian Temple of Dendur, European Old Masters, and the American Wing's period rooms.
2
Vanderbilt Mansion — Tour this Gilded Age palazzo built in 1899 for Frederick Vanderbilt, grandson of Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt. The 54-room Beaux-Arts mansion showcases Renaissance Revival architecture and Hudson River School landscape design across 211 acres.
3
FDR Presidential Library and Museum — Visit America's first presidential library opened in 1941, containing Franklin D. Roosevelt's papers and artifacts from his unprecedented four terms. The museum chronicles the New Deal, World War II, and Eleanor Roosevelt's advocacy.
4
Walkway Over the Hudson — Cross this 2-kilometer pedestrian bridge suspended 65 meters above the Hudson River, the world's longest elevated pedestrian bridge. Built on a former 1889 railroad bridge, it offers sweeping valley and mountain views.
Activities
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Wine tasting in Hudson Valley — Sample award-winning wines at family-owned vineyards planted in the rolling hills. Rieslings and Cabernet Francs thrive in the microclimates while tasting rooms offer farm-to-table pairings with Hudson River views.
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Culinary Institute of America campus visit — Explore the world's premier culinary college founded in 1946, housed in a former Jesuit seminary. Student-run restaurants serve exceptional cuisine prepared by tomorrow's master chefs in training.
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Antique shopping in Cold Spring — Browse Victorian-era storefronts along Main Street filled with vintage treasures, Hudson River School paintings, and artisan crafts. This charming village nestled below Storm King Mountain retains its 1800s character.
Next stop
Distance:
291.4 km
Travel time:
3h39
3
Day
6 photos
Discover
1
Taughannock Falls — Hike to this 65-meter waterfall plunging into a glacial gorge carved over 10,000 years ago. The falls exceed Niagara in single-drop height, cascading over layered Devonian shale and sandstone deposited 350 million years ago.
2
Cornell University — Tour this Ivy League institution founded in 1865 on East Hill overlooking Cayuga Lake. The 930-hectare campus features Gothic Revival buildings, the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art designed by I.M. Pei, and spectacular gorge views.
3
Ithaca Falls — Discover this 46-meter waterfall cascading through the heart of downtown Ithaca. The easily accessible cataract flows over Devonian bedrock, creating a powerful spectacle especially during spring snowmelt or after heavy rains.
4
Buttermilk Falls State Park — Explore ten cascading waterfalls descending 152 meters through a narrow gorge. The Gorge Trail winds past frothing pools and mossy cliffs where Buttermilk Creek has carved intricate patterns into ancient sedimentary rock.
Activities
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Cayuga Lake wine trail — Visit family wineries along the western shore of the Finger Lakes' longest lake stretching 61 kilometers. Cool-climate Rieslings and sparkling wines benefit from the lake's moderating influence and well-drained glacial soils.
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Ithaca Commons shopping — Stroll this pedestrian mall filled with independent bookstores, artisan boutiques, and farm-to-table restaurants. The outdoor plaza hosts farmers markets and live music in a vibrant college-town atmosphere.
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Sunset cruise on Cayuga Lake — Glide across the tranquil waters as the sun sets behind the western hills. Evening cruises offer wine tastings while waterfowl and the occasional bald eagle provide natural entertainment.
Next stop
Distance:
156.3 km
Travel time:
1h57
4
Day
6 photos
Discover
1
Seneca Falls Women's Rights National Park — Visit the birthplace of the American women's rights movement where the first Women's Rights Convention convened in 1848. The Wesleyan Chapel and Declaration Park commemorate Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, and 100 signers.
2
George Eastman Museum — Explore the world's oldest museum dedicated to photography and film in Kodak founder George Eastman's 1905 Colonial Revival mansion. The collection spans 400,000 photographs and 28,000 films documenting the evolution of visual media.
3
High Falls — Stand at the edge of this 29-meter waterfall on the Genesee River that powered Rochester's 19th-century flour mills and breweries. The gorge's Silurian dolostone layers reveal 400 million years of geological history.
4
Strong National Museum of Play — Discover the world's only collections-based museum devoted solely to play, housing the National Toy Hall of Fame. Interactive exhibits celebrate video games, dolls, and classic toys across 14,000 square meters.
Activities
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Public Market browsing — Sample local produce, artisan breads, and ethnic specialties at this indoor-outdoor market operating since 1905. Over 300 vendors gather on Saturdays offering everything from hydroponic greens to Nicaraguan pupusas.
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Genesee Riverway Trail cycling — Pedal along this 39-kilometer paved trail following the Genesee River through parks, wetlands, and historic districts. The route passes three waterfalls and connects downtown Rochester to Lake Ontario.
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Charlotte Beach sunset — Relax on this sandy Lake Ontario beach where the Genesee River meets the Great Lake. The historic 1905 Dentzel Carousel and pier offer family entertainment as the sun sets over Canadian waters.
Next stop
Distance:
151 km
Travel time:
1h53
5
Day
4 photos
Discover
1
Niagara Falls State Park — Witness 750,000 gallons of water per second plunging 51 meters over the American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls. America's oldest state park, established in 1885, offers multiple viewing platforms along the Niagara Gorge rim.
2
Cave of the Winds — Descend 53 meters into the Niagara Gorge to stand within 6 meters of Bridal Veil Falls on the Hurricane Deck. Waterproof ponchos barely protect against the thundering spray and wind gusts reaching 110 km/h.
3
Maid of the Mist — Board this iconic boat tour operating since 1846 for a close encounter with Horseshoe Falls. The 20-minute voyage navigates the turbulent basin where 3,160 tons of water crash down every second.
4
Niagara Power Vista — Learn how the falls generate 4.4 million kilowatts of hydroelectric power at this interactive museum overlooking the Robert Moses Power Plant. Exhibits explain how diversion tunnels harness the river's energy while maintaining the falls' flow.
Activities
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Niagara Gorge hiking — Trek the challenging trails descending into the 91-meter-deep gorge carved by 12,000 years of erosion. The Gorge Trail follows the Niagara River's whitewater rapids past giant boulders and exposed rock layers.
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Evening illumination viewing — Watch as 3 billion candlepower of LED lights transform the falls into a rainbow spectacle after sunset. The illumination tradition began in 1860 with primitive searchlights and continues nightly year-round.
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Wine tasting on Niagara Wine Trail — Sample ice wines and cold-climate varietals at boutique wineries in the Niagara Escarpment appellation. The moderating lake effect and limestone soils produce exceptional Rieslings and Cabernet Francs.
Next stop
Distance:
34.7 km
Travel time:
1h09
6
Day
4 photos
Discover
1
Frank Lloyd Wright's Darwin Martin House — Tour this Prairie School masterpiece completed in 1905, considered Wright's most important work before Fallingwater. The complex features 394 art glass windows and doors creating geometric light patterns throughout interconnected spaces.
2
Albright-Knox Art Gallery — Explore this museum renowned for its contemporary and modern art collection spanning Impressionism to Pop Art. The 1905 Greek Revival building houses works by Picasso, Matisse, Pollock, and Warhol.
3
Buffalo City Hall — Ascend to the 28th-floor observation deck of this 1931 Art Deco skyscraper for panoramic city and lake views. The 115-meter tower features intricate Native American motifs and Art Deco ornamentation throughout its limestone facade.
4
Canalside — Stroll along Buffalo's revitalized waterfront where the Erie Canal met Lake Erie beginning in 1825. The harbor development features historic naval vessels, kayak launches, and winter ice skating on refrigerated outdoor rinks.
Activities
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Buffalo wings at Anchor Bar — Taste the original Buffalo wing invented here accidentally in 1964 by Teressa Bellissimo. The deep-fried chicken wings tossed in cayenne pepper hot sauce and served with celery and blue cheese became a global phenomenon.
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Elmwood Village neighborhood walk — Browse boutiques, galleries, and cafes in this vibrant historic district listed on the National Register. Tree-lined streets showcase Victorian and Colonial Revival architecture from Buffalo's Gilded Age prosperity.
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Sunset at Times Beach Nature Preserve — Observe migrating birds and watch sailboats on the Niagara River at this 37-hectare urban wilderness. The preserve's wetlands and meadows attract over 200 bird species along the Atlantic Flyway.
7
Day
8 photos
Discover
1
Letchworth State Park — Marvel at the Grand Canyon of the East where the Genesee River plunges through a 183-meter-deep gorge. Three major waterfalls cascade over ancient rock layers while the gorge walls reveal 340 million years of sedimentary history.
2
Corning Museum of Glass — Discover 3,500 years of glass artistry in this world-class museum housing 50,000 objects. Live hot-glass demonstrations reveal the magic of glassblowing while contemporary galleries showcase works by Dale Chihuly and other masters.
3
Watkins Glen State Park — Hike the Gorge Trail ascending 122 meters through 19 waterfalls carved into dramatic rock formations. The 2.4-kilometer trail winds through tunnels behind cascades and past rainbow-misted pools in the narrow glen.
Activities
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Scenic drive through Finger Lakes — Cruise along the shores of Seneca and Cayuga Lakes where vineyard-covered hillsides descend to crystalline waters. Stop at overlooks revealing the long, narrow lakes carved by glaciers over 2 million years.
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Farm-to-table dinner — Savor seasonal cuisine prepared with ingredients from surrounding farms and orchards. Regional restaurants showcase New York wines paired with grass-fed beef, artisan cheeses, and heirloom vegetables.
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❓ Frequently asked questions
What weather should you expect?
Spring (April-May): Perfect weather across most regions (15-25°C) with blooming landscapes, moderate crowds, and excellent conditions for national parks and cities. Ideal for diverse activities nationwide.
Autumn (September-October): Excellent temperatures with spectacular fall foliage, harvest festivals, and comfortable weather. Perfect for outdoor activities, cultural events, fewer crowds than summer.
Summer (June-August): Peak season with warmest weather but highest crowds and prices. Excellent for northern regions, challenging in southwestern deserts, perfect for beaches and national parks.
Winter (December-February): Variable conditions from tropical Florida to snowy Colorado. Perfect for skiing, southern destinations, indoor attractions, lowest prices outside holiday periods.
How many days should I plan?
We believe you will enjoy this itinerary best by dedicating between 13 and 19 days. The next step will allow you to adjust the duration of your stay.
What to discover in United States?
Continental diversity with iconic landmarks, cultural melting pot, and endless possibilities. Experience natural wonders, vibrant cities, and authentic American dreams from coast to coast. The country offers incredible diversity with modern amenities and cultural richness. United States provides life-changing experiences with natural beauty and cultural authenticity.