Insider advice on all that this diverse state has to offer, from New York City's historic West Village to the Glimmerglass Opera in Cooperstown, and from the wild beauty of the Adirondacks to prime leaf-peeping in the Hudson Valley. They've checked out all the state's best hotels and restaurants in person, and offer authoritative, candid reviews Where to find the best slice of pizza, the loveliest beaches on Long Island, the most scenic towns in the Finger Lakes Region, the original Buffalo wing, and, of course, the best homemade ice cream in the Hudson Valley. Insightful commentary on New York's wide array of historically significant sights and first class art museums, from New York City's Metropolitan Museum of Art to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.   Opinionated reviews. No bland descriptions and lukewarm recommendations. Our expert writers are passionate about their destinations--they tell it like it is in an engaging and helpful way. Exact prices listed for every establishment and activity--no other guides offer such detailed, candid reviews of hotels and restaurants. We include the very best, but also emphasize moderately priced choices for real people.   User-friendly features including star ratings and special icons to point readers to great finds, excellent values, insider tips, best bets for kids, special moments, and overrated experiences.

Neil Edward Schlecht is a writer and photographer who frequently travels along the Hudson River between an old farmhouse in northwestern Connecticut and New York City. He is the author of more than a dozen travel guides—including Spain For Dummies; Frommer's Day by Day guides to Buenos Aires, Mallorca and Menorca, and Barcelona; and Frommer’s guides to Texas, Cuba, and Peru—as well as art catalogue essays and articles on art and culture.

Marc Lallanilla has written extensively on science, health, the environment, design, architecture, and travel. A resident of New York's Hudson Valley, he is also a co-author of Frommer's 500 Adrenaline Adventures. His work has been published in the Los Angeles Times, ABCNews.com, About.com, and other online and print publications.

Brian Silverman is a freelance writer whose work has been published in Saveur, The New Yorker, Caribbean Travel & Life, Islands, and Four Seasons. Among the many topics he writes about are food, travel, sports, and music. He is the author of numerous books including Going, Going, Gone: The History, Lore, and Mystique of the Home Run, and the Twentieth Century Treasury of Sports. For Frommer’s, he has written Complete, Portable, and Budget guides to New York City, as well as New York City For Dummies. He lives in New York City with his wife and two sons.

List of Maps vi

1 THE BEST OF NEW YORK STATE 1

2 NEW YORK STATE IN DEPTH 18

3 SUGGESTED NEW YORK STATE ITINERARIES 38

4 THE ACTIVE VACATION PLANNER 48

5 NEW YORK CITY 58

6 LONG ISLAND & THE HAMPTONS 139

7 THE HUDSON RIVER VALLEY 181

8 THE CATSKILL MOUNTAIN REGION 225

9 THE CAPITAL REGION: SARATOGA SPRINGS & ALBANY 260

10 CENTRAL NEW YORK 289

11 THE FINGER LAKES REGION 306

12 THE NORTH COUNTRY 369

13 WESTERN NEW YORK 403

14 PLANNING YOUR TRIP TO NEW YORK STATE 438

General Index 455