One of the main reasons that New Yorkers get so frustrated when we only hear people talking about our big cities is because we residents know that the true charm and adventure can be found in our small towns. The beauty of these remote places can be highly underrated, and it’s about time we give them some recognition! Here are ten of the coolest small towns in New York that you may have never heard of.
- New Paltz
Kat Stan/Flickr
Kat Stan/Flickr New Paltz is not too far from Minnewaska State Park (a great day trip in New York!), this remote area is a fantastic place to take a scenic drive. There are wonderful local trails to explore. The State University of New York at New Paltz is located here, so it’s got a great college town feel to it! Have you ever been to New Paltz?
- Raquette Lake
Jordan Confino/Flickr
jar [o]/Flickr Located on the west side of the actual Raquette Lake, the small town can be found in Hamilton County. Right in the middle of the wilderness, the area is a great place for camping and a wonderful place to go and just slow down for a minute. There’s nothing like relaxing out in nature. Did you know that Raquette Lake (the body of water, not the town) is the largest natural lake in the Adirondacks?
- Chittenango
Russ Nelson/Flickr
rachaelvoorhees/Flickr What’s a small town without a gorgeous waterfall? Perhaps nothing without being the hometown to a famous author like L. Frank Baum, known for The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Home to the All Things Oz Museum, Chittenango is one of the best small towns in New York!
- Pawling
Jay Erickson/Flickr
Jay Erickson/Flickr A remarkably serene and stunning area, Pawling is the perfect place to visit if you’re looking to do some exploring. Get away from it all and explore the Appalachian Trail or Pawling Preserve. Interestingly, Pawling is home to the oldest public golf course in the United States. Find out more about Pawling on their website.
- North Creek
Sonja Stark/Flickr
David/Flickr Along the Hudson River, all the way up in the Adirondacks, you’ll find the small town of North Creek. It’s filled with charm and is perhaps best known for being the home of Gore Mountain, a popular place with skiers.
- Geneva
Ben’s photoblog/Flickr
Keith Ewing/Flickr One of the best parts about finding a new place to visit in New York is enjoying the views! The small town of Geneva has some incredible views. It’s also located right along the Finger Lakes’ region famous wine and beer trail, so you’re just a hop and a skip away from great drinks.
- Pittsford
Keith Ewing/Flickr The town of Pittsford has under 1,500 people, but it’s loaded with charm and fun events. Located in Monroe County, this is one of the many amazing towns you can find along the Erie Canal. It’s definitely one of the coolest small towns in New York! Their town website lists many of their upcoming festivals and events.
- Canton
wabisabi2015/Flickr
Decaseconds/Flickr Up north, where so many of our hidden gems lie, you’ll find the small town of Canton in St. Lawrence County. The area has a rich Native American history.
- Mattituck
Peter Dutton/Flickr
Jorge Quinteros/Flickr Another one of our regions known for producing flavorful wine, the small town of Mattituck is great place to sit back and enjoy an adult beverage. It’s also the location of an annual watermelon festival: yum!
- Geneseo
Benjamin Esham/Flickr
Eric O’Brien/Flickr Geneseo is right along the Genesee River and also isn’t far from the stunning Conesus Lake. This is the perfect area to explore and catch an unforgettable sunset: truly one of the best small towns in New York!
Do you have any other favorite small towns in New York that you love to visit? A good story about how you stumbled upon them? Share your stories in the comments!
Kat Stan/Flickr
New Paltz is not too far from Minnewaska State Park (a great day trip in New York!), this remote area is a fantastic place to take a scenic drive. There are wonderful local trails to explore. The State University of New York at New Paltz is located here, so it’s got a great college town feel to it! Have you ever been to New Paltz?
Jordan Confino/Flickr
jar [o]/Flickr
Located on the west side of the actual Raquette Lake, the small town can be found in Hamilton County. Right in the middle of the wilderness, the area is a great place for camping and a wonderful place to go and just slow down for a minute. There’s nothing like relaxing out in nature. Did you know that Raquette Lake (the body of water, not the town) is the largest natural lake in the Adirondacks?
Russ Nelson/Flickr
rachaelvoorhees/Flickr
What’s a small town without a gorgeous waterfall? Perhaps nothing without being the hometown to a famous author like L. Frank Baum, known for The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Home to the All Things Oz Museum, Chittenango is one of the best small towns in New York!
Jay Erickson/Flickr
A remarkably serene and stunning area, Pawling is the perfect place to visit if you’re looking to do some exploring. Get away from it all and explore the Appalachian Trail or Pawling Preserve. Interestingly, Pawling is home to the oldest public golf course in the United States. Find out more about Pawling on their website.
Sonja Stark/Flickr
David/Flickr
Along the Hudson River, all the way up in the Adirondacks, you’ll find the small town of North Creek. It’s filled with charm and is perhaps best known for being the home of Gore Mountain, a popular place with skiers.
Ben’s photoblog/Flickr
Keith Ewing/Flickr
One of the best parts about finding a new place to visit in New York is enjoying the views! The small town of Geneva has some incredible views. It’s also located right along the Finger Lakes’ region famous wine and beer trail, so you’re just a hop and a skip away from great drinks.
The town of Pittsford has under 1,500 people, but it’s loaded with charm and fun events. Located in Monroe County, this is one of the many amazing towns you can find along the Erie Canal. It’s definitely one of the coolest small towns in New York! Their town website lists many of their upcoming festivals and events.
wabisabi2015/Flickr
Decaseconds/Flickr
Up north, where so many of our hidden gems lie, you’ll find the small town of Canton in St. Lawrence County. The area has a rich Native American history.
Peter Dutton/Flickr
Jorge Quinteros/Flickr
Another one of our regions known for producing flavorful wine, the small town of Mattituck is great place to sit back and enjoy an adult beverage. It’s also the location of an annual watermelon festival: yum!
Benjamin Esham/Flickr
Eric O’Brien/Flickr
Geneseo is right along the Genesee River and also isn’t far from the stunning Conesus Lake. This is the perfect area to explore and catch an unforgettable sunset: truly one of the best small towns in New York!
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Address: New Paltz, NY 12561, USAAddress: Raquette Lake, NY 13360, USAAddress: Chittenango, NY 13037, USAAddress: Pawling, NY 12564, USAAddress: North Creek, NY 12853, USAAddress: Geneva, NY 14456, USAAddress: Pittsford, NY 14534, USAAddress: Canton, NY 13617, USAAddress: Mattituck, NY, USAAddress: Geneseo, NY 14454, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Places To Visit In New York July 01, 2021 Lisa Sammons What are some good museums in New York? New York is loaded with great museums. No matter what your interest, you’re sure to find it here. The Corning Museum of Glass is absolutely beautiful and very educational. Needless to say, we’ve got some really great art museums like the Hyde Collection in Lake George. And did you know we’re home to the only knife museum in the western hemisphere not affiliated with a manufacturer? What are some of the best beaches in New York? Lake Ontario alone has wonderful beaches, no need to even go to the ocean! If you’re looking for something secluded, Green Lakes State Park is wonderful. The small town of Henderson is loaded down with beaches. What are some natural wonders in New York? Here’s our list of the 14 most incredible natural wonders in New York. From the height of the Adirondacks to the depths of the Howe Caverns, all of these are definitely worth a visit.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Places To Visit In New York
July 01, 2021
Lisa Sammons
What are some good museums in New York? New York is loaded with great museums. No matter what your interest, you’re sure to find it here. The Corning Museum of Glass is absolutely beautiful and very educational. Needless to say, we’ve got some really great art museums like the Hyde Collection in Lake George. And did you know we’re home to the only knife museum in the western hemisphere not affiliated with a manufacturer? What are some of the best beaches in New York? Lake Ontario alone has wonderful beaches, no need to even go to the ocean! If you’re looking for something secluded, Green Lakes State Park is wonderful. The small town of Henderson is loaded down with beaches. What are some natural wonders in New York? Here’s our list of the 14 most incredible natural wonders in New York. From the height of the Adirondacks to the depths of the Howe Caverns, all of these are definitely worth a visit.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
New York is loaded with great museums. No matter what your interest, you’re sure to find it here. The Corning Museum of Glass is absolutely beautiful and very educational. Needless to say, we’ve got some really great art museums like the Hyde Collection in Lake George. And did you know we’re home to the only knife museum in the western hemisphere not affiliated with a manufacturer?
What are some of the best beaches in New York?
Lake Ontario alone has wonderful beaches, no need to even go to the ocean! If you’re looking for something secluded, Green Lakes State Park is wonderful. The small town of Henderson is loaded down with beaches.
What are some natural wonders in New York?
Here’s our list of the 14 most incredible natural wonders in New York. From the height of the Adirondacks to the depths of the Howe Caverns, all of these are definitely worth a visit.
