New York City: The city of hot dog vendors, giant digital advertisements in the hustle and bustle of Times Square, and where industries big and small thrive. We’re talking about New York City here, but New York State has so much more to offer than its city. If you’re with a large group, you might want something with a little less people per capita. We’ve got you covered.
Best Places to Visit Outside of New York City for Large Groups
New Paltz
This quaint area is located in the southeastern part of the state and has a population of just over 7,000. New Paltz was founded by French-speaking Huguenot refugees. The town is known for its farms, orchards, and wineries. All that is fun, but specifically, what can you do there? You can get a feel for the past at the Hudson Valley Huguenot, a well-preserved historical settlement from the 17th century. At the Hudson Valley Huguenot, you can see how historical homes appeared, as well as information about them and even some archival photos. Maybe you and your big crew are in the mood for some art and culture. The Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art was started way back in 1939 by the man himself, Dorsky, who was known as a philanthropist and collector of art. His collection has grown nearly twice as much as when it started, and today it holds mostly American works with a focal point on the Hudson River Valley and Catskills. The pieces are typically in the medium of photography and contemporary metals. If you’re not in the artist’s mood, however, how about a nice frolic into the fresh air of the Mohonk Preserve? What kind of scenes can you see frolicking? They’ve got it all – streams, ponds, cliffs, forests – it’s truly quite a scene out of a National Geographic episode. Needless to say, New Paltz is a treasure trove of joy that can’t be missed on a road trip with your New York travel group.
Woodstock
We all remember the famous music festival from the 60s, the one made for liberation and rock and roll, baby! If not, it was called Woodstock, which was named after this town, of course. Woodstock was created in 1787 and remained pretty much farmland until 1902 when the Byrdcliffe Arts Colony was founded. This took the area to the psychedelic art trip of a town it always needed to be. What to do while there? Are you a stone lover? If not, maybe someone in your group grew up with a tumbler and a pocket full of rocks to smooth out. This art exhibit is a stone lover’s dream, The Opus is an environmental sculpture that consists of nothing else but stones, which are made into ramps, pedestals, and platforms. And this ain’t no little thing either. The Opus Sculpture is around 6.5 acres large. It’s the kind of place that will have you living your fairy prince/princess life. Last but not least on the list of things to do involves music. Catch a show at the Levon Helm Studios and live as the Woodstock folks of the 70s did.
Lake Placid
The lovely village of Lake Placid was founded in the early 19th century and came in hot as an ore mining town. Today, the area is mostly known for holding the Winter Olympics and lesser known for the summertime sadness, not because it’s sad fortunately, but for the fact that the beautiful Lana Del Ray was born there. As for things to do in the area, there’s plenty of activity. To start, we’re taking your crew to the wild, no, but really, it’s called The Wild Center, and this isn’t your average rinky-dink exhibit. We want you to picture trails of bridges atop treetops as if you’re a baby bird in its nest. Did you play in forts as a kid? Here you can build one! Lastly, they’ve got animals, which should be expected. This spot is truly for the adventurous. Get elevated, like an airplane, atop a mountain at The Whiteface or Mount Joe, or even Algonquin Peak, and get the feeling of being on top of the world or just atop Lake Placid for that matter. If being elevated literally is not for you, maybe try it in relation to food at their famous Smoke Signals restaurant. Nature’s bounty beckons with an array of outdoor ventures.
Long Island
This town is home to Everybody Loves Raymond and Billy Joel. A land of beaches with a few to choose from and comes with a Yankees touch. Long Island was founded in 1664 by none other than the English. Now that we’ve got that out of the way, what is there to do? If your troop has ever been obsessed with the Secret Garden, they might be interested to know there’s a not-so-secret but just as magical garden named Old Westbury Gardens. Here, everything blooms, including love. If your group is getting into the Little Mermaid vibes, let’s talk beaches. Long Island is home to Long Beach, Coopers Beach, Jones Beach State Park, and Ponquogue Beach. Whichever one you choose, you’re sure to make a splash! Lastly, if you’ve seen pictures of Long Island, you may have noticed its picturesque lighthouse. The Montauk Point Lighthouse gives the waspy beach vacation vibes that you’ve been looking for all summer. Go indulge in the lifestyle of southeastern New York.
New York State Charter Bus
There you have it, proof that there’s more to New York than its big apple of the city. Concerned about traveling with your big group of adventurous people? Don’t sweat the transportation stuff; we’ve got you covered. Tell us how many people and where to go, and we’ll give you the experience you’ve always dreamed of with luxurious seats and cool AC. Check out Motor Coach East for more details and to request a quote!