31 days in New York State Itinerary

Writer Pearl Buck once called New York City “a place apart,” and this giant urban center remains unlike any other in the world.

9/11 Memorial and St. Patrick's Cathedral will appeal to history buffs. Visiting Nature Horizons Tours and Boat Tours & Water Sports will get you outdoors. Step out of New York City with an excursion to Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center in Wappingers Falls--about 1h 30 min away. The adventure continues: admire the masterpieces at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, take a stroll through Times Square, go for a walk through Central Park, and pause for some photo ops at Statue of Liberty National Monument.

To see other places to visit, photos, ratings, and tourist information, use the New York City tour itinerary planner.

Brussels, Belgium to New York City is an approximately 11.5-hour flight. The time zone changes from Central European Standard Time to Eastern Standard Time, which is usually a -6 hour difference. Expect a bit warmer temperatures when traveling from Brussels in May; daily highs in New York City reach 24°C and lows reach 15°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 6th (Sat) so you can drive to Stony Brook.

Stony Brook is a hamlet and census-designated place (CDP) in the Town of Brookhaven in Suffolk County, New York, on the North Shore of Long Island. Step out of the city life by going to Bayard Cutting Arboretum and Massapequa Preserve. You'll find plenty of places to visit near Stony Brook: Argyle Park (in Babylon), Fire Island National Seashore (in Patchogue) and Gardiner County Park (in Bay Shore). Next up on the itinerary: identify plant and animal life at Avalon Park & Preserve, stroll around Cordwood Landing County Park, admire the majestic nature at Bethpage State Park, and head outdoors with Captain Fish of Port Jefferson.

For ratings, maps, traveler tips, and tourist information, go to the Stony Brook trip maker site.

Traveling by car from New York City to Stony Brook takes 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive. In May, daily temperatures in Stony Brook can reach 24°C, while at night they dip to 12°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 9th (Tue) to allow time to drive to Montauk.

Montauk is a census-designated place (CDP) that includes the hamlet with the same name located in the town of East Hampton in Suffolk County, New York, on the eastern end of the South Shore of Long Island. Camp Hero State Park and St. Therese of Lisieux Catholic Church will appeal to history buffs. Get outdoors at Sea Turtle Dive Charters and Montauk Downs State Park. Step out of Montauk to go to Sag Harbor and see Foster Memorial Beach, which is approximately 38 minutes away. There's much more to do: immerse yourself in nature at Montauk Point State Park, take a stroll through Main Beach, enjoy the sand and surf at Gin Beach, and tour the pleasant surroundings at Ditch Plains.

To find ratings, other places to visit, maps, and other tourist information, read our Montauk trip tool.

Drive from Stony Brook to Montauk in 2 hours. Alternatively, you can drive. In May, plan for daily highs up to 21°C, and evening lows to 11°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 12th (Fri) so you can drive to Southold.

The Town of Southold is one of ten towns in Suffolk County, New York, United States. Get in touch with nature at Fish North Fork and Orient Beach State Park. Get some cultural insight at Wine Tours & Tastings and Castello di Borghese / Hargrave Vineyard. Venture out of the city with trips to Quogue Wildlife Refuge (in Quogue), Pike's Beach (in Westhampton Beach) and Mashomack Preserve (in Shelter Island). The adventure continues: identify plant and animal life at Elizabeth A. Morton National Wildlife Refuge, make a trip to Congregation Tifereth Israel, get a taste of the local shopping with Alex Ferrone Gallery, and learn about winemaking at Waters Crest Winery.

For photos, other places to visit, maps, and tourist information, you can read our Southold online visit planner.

Drive from Montauk to Southold in 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive. Expect a daytime high around 20°C in May, and nighttime lows around 13°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 15th (Mon) so you can travel to Croton on Hudson.

Croton-on-Hudson is a village in Westchester County, New York, United States. On the 16th (Tue), identify plant and animal life at Mianus River Gorge Preserve, identify plant and animal life at Ward Pound Ridge Reservation, look for all kinds of wild species at Wolf Conservation Center, then look for all kinds of wild species at Teatown Lake Reservation, and finally grab your bike and head to North County Trailway. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the next day: identify plant and animal life at Brinton Brook Sanctuary, tour the pleasant surroundings at Westchester Trail Rides, then immerse yourself in nature at Rockefeller State Park Preserve, and finally walk around Anthony Wayne Recreation Area.

To see ratings, maps, more things to do, and more tourist information, refer to the Croton on Hudson online route builder.

Explore your travel options from Southold to Croton on Hudson with the Route module. May in Croton on Hudson sees daily highs of 24°C and lows of 12°C at night. Cap off your sightseeing on the 17th (Wed) early enough to go by car to Albany.

Albany is the capital of the U.S. state of New York and the seat of Albany County. Visiting New York State Museum and The Windham Path will get you outdoors. Your cultural itinerary includes sights like Hanford Mills Museum and Lotus Fine Art and Design. Change things up with these side-trips from Albany: Grafton Lakes State Park (in Grafton), Frost Valley YMCA (in Claryville) and Delaware Otsego Audubon Soc. Sanctuary (in Oneonta). Next up on the itinerary: admire the sheer force of Cohoes Falls, Falls View Park, take in the awesome beauty at Overlook Mountain, identify plant and animal life at Albany Pine Bush Preserve, and relax and rejuvenate at Savor Spa.

To see traveler tips, other places to visit, maps, and other tourist information, use the Albany online journey planner.

You can drive from Croton on Hudson to Albany in 2.5 hours. Expect a daytime high around 25°C in May, and nighttime lows around 11°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 20th (Sat) early enough to drive to Lake George.

A playground for America’s wealthy families, Lake George was nicknamed "Queen of the American Lakes." While these families often stayed in private country houses, a tourism industry built up around them in the early 20th century facilitated by two YMCAs.

Escape the urban bustle at Freshwater Therapy and Veterans Memorial Park. You'll find plenty of places to visit near Lake George: Lake Placid (Uihlein Maple Research Forest & Heaven Hills Trails), Black Mountain (in Whitehall) and Tongue Mountain Range Trails (in Bolton Landing). And it doesn't end there: identify plant and animal life at The Schumann Preserve at Pilot Knob, take your sightseeing to a higher altitude at Adirondack Mountains, take a peaceful walk through Charles Lathrop Demonstration Pack Forest, and hike along Cat and Thomas Mountains.

For photos, more things to do, reviews, and more tourist information, read our Lake George road trip planning app.

Traveling by car from Albany to Lake George takes 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a bus; or take a bus. In May, plan for daily highs up to 25°C, and evening lows to 9°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 23rd (Tue) so you can go by car to Rochester.

Blending big-city culture with small-town charm, Rochester sits on the southern shore of Lake Ontario.

Escape the urban bustle at Montezuma Audubon Center and Fish Hatchery at Powder Mills Park. Do some cultural sightseeing at Cayuga Wine Trail and American Civil War Memorial. Change things up with these side-trips from Rochester: Huckleberry Swamp (in North Rose), Naples (Cumming Nature Center & Parish Glen / Conklin Gully) and Lazy Acre Alpacas (in Bloomfield). There's much more to do: look for all kinds of wild species at Beaver Lake Nature Center, explore the activities along Skaneateles Lake, explore the landscape on two wheels at Genesee Riverway Trail, and hike along Turning Point Park.

Plan my trip to Rochester with suggested itineraries provided by Inspirock.

Traveling by car from Lake George to Rochester takes 4.5 hours. Alternatively, you can fly; or do a combination of bus and train. In May, daily temperatures in Rochester can reach 24°C, while at night they dip to 11°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 27th (Sat) to allow time to drive to Niagara Falls.

The city of Niagara Falls houses the U.S. half of the famous waterfall that straddles the border between Canada and the United States.

Escape the urban bustle at Niagara Falls and Niagara Wine Trail USA. Get out of town with these interesting Niagara Falls side-trips: Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve (in Depew), Our Lady of Victory National Shrine & Basilica (in Lackawanna) and Penn Dixie Fossil Park & Nature Reserve (in Blasdell). There's much more to do: see what you can catch with Brookdog Fishing Co, admire the majestic nature at Devil's Hole State Park, step off the mainland to explore Three Sisters Island, and make a trip to Goat Island.

For more things to do, where to stay, traveler tips, and other tourist information, read our Niagara Falls online trip itinerary maker.

You can drive from Rochester to Niagara Falls in 2 hours. Other options are to take a train; or take a bus. In May, daytime highs in Niagara Falls are 24°C, while nighttime lows are 11°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 31st (Wed) early enough to travel back home.