Without getting into the sweaty, smelly details, summer is definitely not New York City's most flattering season.
So rent a car and get out of town for the weekend.
Need ideas on where exactly you should go? Visit Upstate New York; these 4 spots are definitely worth exploring while the weather is still warm.
1. Go whitewater rafting in Indian Lake
Don’t let the name fool you — what you’re really here for is whitewater rafting.
Record snowfall this winter means the rivers in this region are higher and more intense than usual.
It’s easy to get the hang of it along the casual float down the Indian River before merging with the Hudson for a six-hour, 17-mile ride through untouched wilderness.
Continue your water adventures at Garnet Hill Lodge, which sits on a 2-mile lake with a sandy beach, floating docks and free use of canoes and kayaks.2. Live as a bird at The Wild Center
2. Live as a bird at The Wild Center
sbehrhof Back in #NY but our adventure is not over yet! Stopped in Tupper Lake to visit the #TheWildCenter and do the #TheWildWalk. An amazingly cool walk through the treetops complete with a giant #spiderweb we could climb in and and a bird's nest to view the mountains from. This picture was taken from inside the #birdsnest looking out at the path. A magical experience. #alwaysanadventure #exploreall50 #project50before18 #BehrhofsDoNewEngland #roadtrip #lasthurrah #daysix #Adirondacks #nature #birdseyeview.
This gem of a nature center will take you into the Adirondacks, no hiking experience necessary.
Feel what it’s like to walk on the area’s mossy bogs, roam the center’s miles of trails, take a canoe ride (offered daily during the summer) or try your hand at re-creating the region’s natural beauty in its studio.
New this summer is Wild Walk, described as the “High Line of the forest,” that lifts you into the tree canopy to experience how birds live, including a human-size nest and the migratory birds’ version of the board game Life.
3. Soak up some culture in Saratoga Springs
fromo_toga Congress Park, Saratoga #saratoga #saratogaspringsny #upstateny #upstatenewyork #congresspark #canfieldcasino
Way more than a college town with horse racing, Saratoga Springs is a must-do for its therapeutic mineral baths and vibrant arts scene.
Check out a classic Irish jam session at The Parting Glass, discover new music at Skidmore College’s rooftop concerts and over a latte at Caffe Lena, the oldest coffeehouse in the U.S.
Or see works by masters like Picasso and Rembrandt just as they hung in the turn-of-the-century homes that house the Hyde Collection.
4. Picturesque Lake Placid is great without snow
This city hosted the Winter Games twice, in 1932 and 1980, and kept up the facilities as a training ground for future medal hopefuls. Visitors can skate on the same rink where the "Miracle on Ice" hockey game happened and stand on the dizzying ski jumps.
In the summer, watersports and hiking keep this charming resort town bustling, but you should just as well spend the weekend strolling the idyllic main street, eating barbecue that holds its own against any in the city at Smoke Signals or sipping wine on Top of the Park’s lakeside patio.
By: Eva Kis, Metro New York
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Check out 9 Things You Have to Do in Queens Like, Right Now.
[Feature Image Courtesy Instagram]