by Leigh Goessl

Created on: August 13, 2009   Last Updated: April 18, 2011

New York is a state that is full of wonderful places to go on a vacation. The diversity of landscape is amazing. From the towering buildings of New York City to the rolling open fields and majestic mountains located upstate, there are plenty of regions to choose from when you plan a trip to New York.

Depending on your time or preferences, you could either focus on one area or select a few different places to see. Road trips are always fun, and if you have the luxury of time, you can always start in New York City, spend a few days, then drive up the Interstates to Niagara Falls (this is about a 7-9 hour drive).

During your road trip you can enjoy all of the wonderful places in between. Here are a few top picks of places to see in New York State:

*New York City

Hands down, New York City is one of my favorite cities in the U.S. With so many things to see and do within the 5 boroughs, if you are only going to see New York once in your life, this is one of the regions in New York State you want to consider.

There's the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, Times Square, Rockefeller Center, South Street Seaport, Bronx Zoo, and of course all of the wonderful museums scattered throughout Manhattan; the Metropolitan Museum of Art is my absolute favorite.

New York City also has some of the most wonderful multi-cultural cuisine. From Little Italy and Chinatown to everything else, some of the best eats are located in the City. New York, hands down, has the best pizza anywhere in the U.S.

*Long Island

If the beaches are beckoning your name, Long Island has some gorgeous Atlantic coastline. There's Jones Beach, Robert Moses Park, Fire Island and of course, if you want to drive to the end, there's the lovely Montauk and the nearby Hamptons.

These are just a handful of the many beaches located on the Atlantic to the south or the Long Island Sound to the north. If your vacation falls in the warmer months, Long Island is a great area to consider.

*Hudson Valley

Just north of the City the Hudson Valley region begins. This region, which has many picturesque towns and cities along the Hudson River, is also a great place to visit.

Some great spots in the Hudson Valley include Bear Mountain, West Point, Fahnestock State Park, Village of Cold Spring (a wonderful quaint riverside town with plenty of antique shops and good restaurants), Bannerman Castle, and Boscobel. This is only a sampling of the great places to hit in the Hudson Valley.

*Catskill Mountains

The

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