School’s out, the temperature is rising, and everyone’s thoughts are turning to summer getaways. If you’re looking for a new place to spend an afternoon, a weekend, or longer and not break the bank doing it, you’ve come to the right place. We asked our Fun Experts to take you on a tour of some of the lesser-known, hidden-gem spots in our system, and they delivered: fascinating history, peaceful lakeside oases, and camping away from the crowds. Let’s go!

Valley Stream State Park, Hempstead

A dad sits with a couple of pizza boxes at one of the many picnic tables at Valley Stream State Park on a comfortable Wednesday evening in June. From there, he can keep an eye on his three children – ages 8, 5 and 2 – on the playground. All around is laughter on the swings and slides.

Nearby, another mom (with her mom) is watching her 11-year-old son at the playground. They’ve been coming to Valley Stream in Nassau County since he was barely a year old. And across the way, a mom from Queens watches her seven-year-old make some new friends. It’s their first time at Valley Stream to check out the accessible playgrounds.

There’s plenty to do at Valley Stream State Park. This day-use park is surrounded by residential neighborhoods. The park has lots of picnic areas with tables, fireplaces and grills plus biking, pavilions and ball fields. There are spots for horseshoes, volleyball, basketball, nature walks, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. The tree covering provides a lot of shade to keep families cool.

Valley Stream gets overlooked sometimes for its much older, bigger and more famous parks just to the east — Bethpage (16 mi.), Jones Beach (19 mi.) and Robert Moses (32 mi.) — but it’s well worth the pull-off of the Southern State Parkway. It stretches through the town, crossing a main drag of traffic for joggers, bikers and parents with strollers for those that want to take a longer walk or ride.

If kids want to do more than swing and slide, they can explore the outdoors on the Squirrel Nut and Hickory Nut nature trails. You can just picture the kids tromping over the leaf-lined paths. Hide and seek is a must! There is a small brook running through those trails with plenty of mud to get into.
— Written by John Craig, Digital Content Specialist

Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms State Park, New York City

New York is one of the world’s most vibrant cities, with more history, culture and nature than one person could experience in a lifetime. Here, the extraordinary is commonplace, and it’s no wonder that a monument to one of the most significant American presidents designed by a leading twentieth century architect gets overlooked. But Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park designed by Louis Kahn is worth a visit.

Situated across the East River from the United Nations, Kahn took advantage of the triangular shape of Roosevelt Island in designing a monument to a president he revered. It’s a spot of beauty, peace and power — but it’s always sought to provide inspiration and civic engagement as well as relaxation. The Four Freedoms Conservancy “advances President Roosevelt’s legacy and inspires, educates, and engages the public in the ideals of the Four Freedoms: freedom of speech and expression, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear.” Take an audio tour, or experience one of the parks many public programs.
— Written by Kate Jenkins, Digital Content Specialist

Mills-Norrie State Park, Staatsburg

Underrated Mills-Norrie State Park is made up of two adjoining parks, Ogden and Ruth Livingston Mills Memorial State Park and Margaret Lewis Norrie State Park, connected on the west by the Hudson River in Duchess County. Together, they comprise more than one thousand acres ideal for walking, jogging, hiking and cycling.

Not far from more high-volume tourist destinations like Walkway over the Hudson State Historic Park to the south and Minnewaska State Park Preserve to the west, Mills-Norrie visitors can enjoy campground accommodations (46 tent sites and 10 cabins) and access to the park’s signature River Trail, treating them to fabulous views of the Hudson River on paths that are quiet and not heavily traveled by visitors.

Gilded Age mansion tours are close by at neighboring Staatsburgh State Historic Site, a must-see for history or design lovers, plus the park boasts a Department of Environmental Conservation environmental center, a 145-slip marina, and the Dinsmore Golf Course, one of the oldest public golf courses in the country. Nearby towns and cities like Hyde Park, Rhinebeck and Poughkeepsie offer great options for cultural and recreational activities and dining.

“With unobstructed views of the Hudson River that are free of any railroad tracks, Mills-Norrie really is a hidden gem for anyone looking to unplug and have a relaxing day or weekend in the Hudson Valley,” said Park Manager Matthew Canning. What are you waiting for?
— Written by Lacey Seidman, Deputy Public Information Officer  

Revolutionary War Sites Along the Hudson

Have you heard the buzz about the 250th Revolutionary War commemoration? 2026 will be a historic year of celebration and reflection, particularly with New York’s rich Revolutionary War history. There was conflict on New York’s soil throughout all seven years of the war, and much of it was centered on the Hudson River.

The historic sites along the Hudson in the Palisades region (the eastern side of the river) provide a crash course in this history. The nation’s first publicly-owned historic site, Washington’s Headquarters, is the heart of the epic that unfolds through Fort Montgomery, Knox’s Headquarters, New Windsor Cantonment, Senate House, and Stony Point Battlefield. Even the nearby National Purple Heart Hall of Honor has ties to our nation’s founding. The sites hold exhibits, re-enactments and themed tours to bring history to vivid life.

As you come for the history, you can stay for the scenery. “Stony Point Battlefield is so breathtakingly beautiful. It’s tucked down in a neighborhood, you wonder where you’re going, and it just climbs, climbs, climbs,” said Historic Site Regional Supervisor Stacey Matson-Zuvic. “It’s not just the history… but these beautiful settings that come hand in hand with them.”
— Written by Kate Jenkins, Digital Content Specialist

Max V. Shaul State Park, Fultonham

Looking for “off the beaten path” but still close to it all? Your next outdoor adventure should include a visit to Max V. Shaul State Park. Located less than an hour and a half south of Saratoga Springs, the 70-acre park is located along the Schoharie Creek at the base of Toe Path Mountain.  

Home to 30 campsites tucked away in the woods, Max V. Shaul allows you to enjoy a less-crowded campground with activity fields and playgrounds great for families and kids. The park is near the Schoharie Valley, which is rich with farm stands and rural villages, as well as hiking options like Mine Kill Falls, Vroman’s Nose, Looking Glass Pond, and the Long Path. The park is also a short drive from Mine Kill State Park, which features an Olympic-sized pool, wading pool, and diving pool in the spring and summer at no cost. 

And if you’re popping by for a day visit, the park has a pavilion to rent for birthdays, graduations and other gatherings. The park also happens to be a hotspot for birding, attracting a variety of birds year-round thanks to its unique geography, including golden eagles soaring overhead and cerulean warblers known to nest in a nearby floodplain forest. Take your leashed dog along any the trails or stop in to say hello to the friendly staff ready to greet you! 
— Written by Maddie Gionet, Director of Marketing

Macomb Reservation State Park, Schuyler Falls

Plattsburgh’s Cumberland Bay and Point Au Roche State Parks are crowded with picnickers, swimmers and would-be Champy spotters. But there’s a third park in the area that provides a taste of the Adirondack Park experience with the conveniences of the nearby town. Macomb Reservation State Park is a 20-minute drive from the SUNY Plattsburgh campus, and a world away along the Salmon River. The park offers fishing, nature trails, picnic grounds, ball fields and more than 100 electric and non-electric campsites. Dive in and cool off at the man-made Davis Pond away from the crowds. Bring your canoe or kayak, plan for an afternoon of bird-watching, and relax!
— Written by Kate Jenkins, Digital Content Specialist

Delta Lake State Park, Rome

Delta Lake is a sleepy state park in Rome. With its woodsy nature trails, over 100 camping spots, and its beautiful sandy beach, it makes for a perfect weekend getaway in upstate New York. This park is an ideal spot to enjoy an afternoon of fishing for trout, pike, bass, bullhead or perch. It is also a great spot to have a picnic in the grassy fields or barbeque in one of its many pavilions while the kids take advantage of the colorful playground facilities.

If you plan to spend the night under the stars at Delta Lake, there are pet-friendly and electric sites. Whether you’re there for the afternoon or plan on staying a long weekend, Delta Lake State Park is a park that anyone can enjoy for a low cost this summer.
— Written by Jewel Slade, Marketing Specialist

Midway State Park, Bemus Point

Built in 1898 as a “trolley park” to attract trolley riders, Midway State Park has survived the demise of its trolley line and all of the changing tastes, major events and economic headwinds of the past 125 years to become one of the oldest continually operating amusement parks in the country. “This is a park where kids are brought by their parents, who were brought by their parents, who were brought by their parents,” said park manager Marla Bingham-Melcher. In 2004, New York bought it from the family which had operated it since the 1940s, ensuring its future.

Most of the park’s rides are historic, dating from the mid-twentieth century. An arcade contains games from ski-ball to classic video games to modern attractions, all spitting out tickets to be redeemed for prizes. Concession stands provide snacks. Mini-golf, music, magic shows and more complete the experience.

“It’s not screen-centric. It’s different than what you usually get. It’s truly a little classic family amusement park. It’s nice and small. You can do the park in a couple hours. It’s a nice day trip for the kids, especially if you’ve got little ones,” Bingham-Melcher said.
— Written by Kate Jenkins, Digital Content Specialist

Fillmore Glen State Park, Moravia

Fillmore Glen State Park is a true oasis in Moravia. Dense woods huddle into the park’s long, narrow gorge, and its hiking trails showcase spectacular Finger Lakes views. Offering features for every visitor, the park has 60 campsites, a full-service cottage located on the shore of Cayuga Lake at Long Point, a stream-fed swimming pool and fishing in the Owasco Lake inlet. Nature buffs and forest bathers can delight in unique geological formations, a botanically rich glen and — count ‘em! — five waterfalls.

If winter activities are more your speed, hiking, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling are permitted on unplowed roads.
— Written by Lacey Seidman, Deputy Public Information Officer 

Evangola State Park, Irving

Nestled along the shoreline of Lake Erie about 30 miles south of Buffalo, Evangola State Park is a true hidden gem in Western New York. Far from the crowds and noise of more well-known destinations, this serene lakeside haven offers stunning natural beauty with a beautiful half-mile sandy beach and peaceful atmosphere that invites relaxation and discovery. The park’s crescent-shaped shoreline creates a perfect setting for swimming, picnicking, and a picturesque view to watch the sunset on Lake Erie that rivals any location on the Great Lakes.

With over 700 acres, the park’s woodlands and open meadows provides scenic trails for hiking, birdwatching and even disc golf, while it’s campgrounds, yurts and picnic shelters offer a charming escape into nature. Whether you’re seeking a quiet weekend getaway or an off-the-beaten-path adventure, Evangola’s multitude of experiences and welcoming vibe make it one of the region’s best-kept secrets.
— Written by Tyler Wilcox, Community Relations Representative