The best things to do in upstate New York

Can’t make it to Napa but want to spend a weekend sipping and tasting wine? Look no further than the Finger Lakes, which are gaining national adoration for the small wineries, many of which focus on Riesling. Just a short drive from Ithaca, the Cayuga Wine Trail is home to 16 wineries (and a cidery!), all of which will let you walk in for tastings for just a few dollars (bring cash). Enlist a designated driver—cell service is unreliable at best, and cabs aren’t available to scoop you off the side of the road. 2770 Ernsberger Rd, Romulus, NY (800-684-5217, cayugawinetrail.com)

Seeing Niagara Falls (from the New York side, obviously) is an American rite of passage, and as New Yorkers, you have no excuse not to take the trip up to see this breathtaking natural wonder. In addition to the iconic Maid of the Mist boat tour (you know you want a selfie in that poncho), Niagara Falls is also home to beautiful hikes, an aquarium and a panoramic restaurant. (infoniagara.com)

New York City may seem like the center of the universe, but the capitol of our state is, of course, a few hours upstate in Albany. Take a free tour of the capitol building to see where Governor Andrew Cuomo works and where the laws for New York State are decided. State St, Albany (518-474-2418, empirestateplaza.org)

Home to two of the world’s most beloved Major League Baseball teams, it’s no surprise that the Baseball Hall of Fame is in New York State. Browse the Hall of Fame Awards, memorabilia, museum artifacts and more at this historic shrine to all things baseball. 25 Main St, Cooperstown (888-425-5633, baseballhall.org)

You could spend an entire year tracing the National Park Service’s Women’s History Trail, but why not start where it all began? Women’s Rights National Park, home to America’s first official Women’s Rights Convention in 1848, includes historic landmarks like abolitionist Elizabeth Cady Stanton’s house. 136 Fall St, Seneca Falls (315-568-0024, nps.gov)

Just a short train ride from Manhattan, this critically acclaimed restaurant by chef Dan Barber serves a $238 tasting menu highlighting the flavors of the Hudson Valley. Sure, it’s expensive, but can you really put a price on excellence? Those who don’t want to splurge can still visit the Stone Barns Center and eat at the café for a taste of local deliciousness. 630 Bedford Rd, Pocantico Hills (914-366-9600, bluehillfarm.com)

New York City may be surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, but that can’t compete with the serenity of a lake. This Adirondack destination truly has something to offer all year round, whether you want to get cozy in a cabin in colder weather or rent a cottage to sail and swim to your heart’s content in the summer heat. (lakegeorge.com)

New York State’s craft beer scene is worth exploring beyond the confines of Brooklyn Brewery and Singlecut Beersmiths. Syracuse’s Empire Brewing Company opened a more rural brewery in nearby Cazenovia in 2016 to encourage agricultural tourism and craft brewing. Take a tour, drink beer, enjoy yourself, repeat. 33 Rippleton Rd, Cazenovia (315-655-2337, empirebrew.com)