Whether you enjoy getting outdoors and hiking one of the state's famed trails, visiting its state-of-the-art museums or attending an annual festival, there are many attractions and activities that can maximize your summer in New York.

Here are eight things that should be on your bucket list to get the most out of the state during the season.

Stroll through Innisfree Garden

Innisfree Garden is a 185-acre garden that circles Tyrell Lake, making for a scenery-filled stroll. Created in the 1920s, the garden is now a combination of "Modernist and Romantic ideals with Chinese and Japanese garden design principles," according to its website.

About a 90-minute walk, the garden is perfect for a leisurely stroll, along with the main 1.3-mile trail circling the lake. Along the way, stop at one of the benches to rest and take in the scenery. There is also a picnic area where you can bring in your own lunch.

Location: 362 Tyrrel Road, Millbrook.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday until Columbus Day.
Cost: General admission is $10.

Visit the Albany Institute of History and Art

Founded in 1971, The Albany Institute is the oldest museum in New York, with more than 35,000 objects and 1 million documents encompassing the history of the Hudson Valley and the role the region played in American history overall.

The museum includes a gallery, research library and museum shop, and offers various educational programs and events to ensure you get the most out of your visit.

Location: 125 Washington Ave., Albany.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday; noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Cost: General admission is $12.

Go hiking in Southern Tier parks

Visitors walk along the Gorge Trail and pass underneath the iconic Rainbow Falls at Watkins Glen State Park. The park had over 1.2 million visitors in 2024.

There many gorgeous state parks within New York's Southern Tier, all offering unique experiences and beautiful views. Here are some to consider:

Watkins Glen State Park

1009 N. Franklin St., Watkins Glen.

Taughannock Falls State Park

1740 Taughannock Blvd., Trumansburg.

Go skating at Lake Placid's Olympic Center

Lake Placid hosted the 1932 and the 1980 Winter Olympics and the Adirondack village continues to give skaters the opportunity to take to the ice on the same rinks as gold-medal Olympians. The center also houses the Lake Placid Olympic Museum, where visitors will find America's second-largest Winter Olympic artifact collection.

Location: 2634 Main St., Lake Placid.
Cost: Indoor public skating is $15 for ages 20-64, $12 for ages 7-19 and 65+, and free for children 6 and under.
For information regarding the indoor skating schedule, visit the Olympic Center website.

Follow the Finger Lakes Wine Trail

Lakewood Vineyards is on Seneca Lake near Watkins Glen. It's been owned by the Stamp family since 1951, according to the vineyard's website.

Seneca Lake Wine Trail
- The Seneca Lake Wine Trail covers 28 wineries, with 600 varieties of wine throughout the trail.
Cayuga Lake Wine Trail
- The Cayuga Lake Wine Trail follows 10 different wineries around Cayuga Lake.
Keuka Lake Wine Trail
- The Keuka Lake Wine Trail has six different wineries. The average amount of time Keuka Lake Wine Trail wineries have been in business is 26 years, giving the trail a "rich wine heritage," according to the website.

Attend one of New York's unique summer festivals

Finger Lakes GrassRoots Fest, Trumansburg, Saturday, July 21, 2018.

There are a variety of festivals taking place throughout the state this summer, all with their own unique way of bringing people together. Here are some to consider:

33rd annual Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival of Music and Dance

Location: Trumansburg Fairgrounds, 2150 Trumansburg Road, Trumansburg.
Dates: July 17-20.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit grassrootsfest.org/.

Warwick Food Truck Festival

If you love trying new foods, the Warwick Food Truck Festival could be the ideal summer festival for you. On two dates this summer, food trucks of all kinds will be coming together, along with live music to keep you entertained while you eat.

Location: 46 Bowen Road, Warwick.
Dates: 4-10 p.m. June 5, July 3.
For more information, visit warwickfoodtruckfestival.com/.

Adirondack Wine & Food Festival

The ADK Wine & Food Festival is the top-rated annual event in Lake George, according to the festival's website, and features over 120 wineries, breweries, distilleries, food and craft vendors along with live entertainment.

Location: 17 W. Brook Road, Lake George.
Dates: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 28; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 29.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit adkwinefest.com/

Celebrate the Erie Canal bicentennial

A paddleboarder floats near the Main Street bridge as the crowd at the annual Fairport Canal Days crosses above him. The Erie Canal goes right through the village of Fairport.

Passing through the Buffalo, Rochester, Utica and Albany areas, the Erie Canal has a rich history dating back to the start of its construction in 1817 — it was completed in 1825 — and throughout the summer, there will be celebrations, presentations, musical performances and festivals to honor it.

Go to the New York State Fair

The New York State Fair is a 13-day attraction packed with activities, performances, animals, carnival rides and food vendors. Artists like Busta Rhymes, O.A.R., and Shaggy will be performing in 2025, and there will be hundreds of vendors on site.