New York is a state of great eats. Some of the regional delicacies born here have conquered the world, like Buffalo’s wings and Saratoga’s potato chips. Others, like Utica’s tomato pie and Plattsburgh’s Michigans, remain fiercely local treasures. But they all pair magnificently with a state park or historic site!

Follow along as our team plays sommelier with the Empire State’s distinctive dishes — and our agency’s unforgettable destinations. Pack your bags and bring your appetite!

On The Trail of Seafood and Grandma Pizza on Long Island

Nothing tops an afternoon with the family at the Robert Moses State Park Pitch and Putt like a “Grandma Pizza.” As you head back over the Inlet Bridge craving a late afternoon snack or early dinner, east or west, the choices are plentiful.

You’ll find many versions of the “grandma pie” on Long Island. It’s a thin pizza with tomato sauce, mozzarella and seasoning baked in a rectangular pan. It’s so good that the original creators flew 35 “grandma pies” to Indianapolis for Super Bowl XLVI in 2012. After taking down the pizzas, the New York Giants took down the New England Patriots for the second time in four years. Coincidence? We think not.

If it’s seafood you crave, our friends at NYS Ag & Markets and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County created a fish tale (trail). At State Parks, we know a lot about trails, but the Long Island Seafood Cuisine Trail may be the most delicious. It’s a true Taste of NY!

This fresh, friendly and fishy trail casts a line into New York’s seafood industries and strengthens the local food system. There’s a lot to hook into. There’s a Seafood Trail App, too, so you can find oysters, take out a cold lobster roll for lunch, or grab Long Island clam chowder for dinner. The North trail runs from Oyster Bay (home of Planting Fields Arboretum) to Greenport (on the way to Orient Beach). The South Trail runs from Bay Shore (where you’ll also find Captree State Park) to Montauk, home of the iconic Montauk Point lighthouse and Montauk Downs Golf Course.

—Written by John Craig, Digital Content Specialist

BEC with SPK at RSP (Riverbank) in NYC

Vibrant, exciting, full of variety: this describes the Big Apple and its popular Riverbank State Park. Overlooking the Hudson River, it’s the perfect place to sit and enjoy a casual meal. With the variety of cuisine available in New York City, it can be tough to choose!

When you’re stumped, there is no better place to stop for an affordable and tasty meal than a bodega. For breakfast, you could grab a BEC with SPK (bacon, egg, and cheese with salt, pepper, and ketchup) or maybe a bagel with a hefty schmear of cream cheese and some lox. If you’re looking for something later in the day, a chopped cheese sandwich is always a great option as well. Enjoy kicking back, taking in the skyline views, and munching on some delicious NYC eats!

Comfort Food and Camping in Central New York

You know what they say: when in Rome, do as the Romans do!  And in Rome, New York, they enjoy some tomato pie. If you’re visiting Delta Lake State Park, skip a night of cooking and try out the region’s beloved tomato pie. Take a bite out of “la dolce vita” (or “the sweet life”) by enjoying a slice in the sunshine and watching the water.

But you’ll want to prepare for meals at Green Lakes State Park with a local specialty you can make yourself. While you’re staying in “Salt City” Syracuse, try salt potatoes. This cheap and easy dish is the perfect campfire cooking experiment. Simply boil small, whole potatoes in heavily salted water. The ratio of salt to water is high, about one cup of salt to six cups of water. Once the potatoes are tender, enjoy them with melted butter and herbs as a side dish for your grilled goodies.  

Garbage and Grapes in the Finger Lakes and Genesee Regions

There’s nothing like spending a sunny summer day out on the water and cruising along the waves. After hours of fun and fishing at Irondequoit Bay Marine Park, what better way to round out the day than a hearty meal! Head into Rochester to try one of Western New York’s iconic comfort foods: the garbage plate. These plates get piled high with a variety of meats, home fries, macaroni salad, hot sauces and more.

Looking for a relaxing day outdoors? Check out Fillmore Glen State Park for its leisurely hikes, beautiful waterfalls, and its peaceful swimming spots. Cap off a day of lounging by the water with a tasty beverage from New York’s wine country. The Finger Lakes region is known for its wine, and you venture on the Finger Lakes Wine Trail to discover new regional favorites! They also are known for ice wine, made while the grapes are frozen on the vine. This dessert wine is an ideal day-end treat!

— Written by Jewel Slade, Marketing Specialist 

Michigans at Cumberland Bay, Point Au Roche, or Macomb Reservation

Duke Ellington dominated the airwaves when the Michigan first burst on to the Plattsburgh scene, and the dish is still popular now that we’ve traded gramophones for smart phones. This summery treat consists of a hot dog in a split top bun covered in a slightly spicy meat sauce.

Michigans have a special charm when they’re eaten on Lake Champlain, though. Don your swimsuit, grab your beach blanket, and take yours to Cumberland Bay State Park. They’re the perfect beach treat on a hot day! Or fuel up to walk the trails of Point Au Roche further down Route 9 or Macomb Reservation out in Schuyler Falls.

The origin of the Michigan remains murky, but its place in North Country culture shines bright. An annual festival celebrates it, multiple restaurants around town serve it, and Plattsburghers make their own version at home. The city even has a recipe on their website if you want to join them!

Thousand Island Dressing and a tour of the Thousand Islands State Parks

Tangy, pink, and ubiquitous – Thousand Island dressing is not only a salad aisle staple, but a popular “secret sauce” in diners and fast-food restaurants, including McDonald’s, whose Big Mac sauce is a variant. Like many local delicacies, its history is tangled in legend, with three Thousand Islands towns claiming to be its birthplace. Depending on who you believe, it was developed in Clayton by Sophia LaLonde to entertain her fishing guide husband’s clients; cooked up in Alexandria Bay by Boldt Castle chef Oscar Tschirsky; or sold to Tschirsky by an elderly French chef who made his home on Grenadier Island.

A tour into the condiment’s history doubles as a tour of one of New York’s most delightful regions. Start in Alexandria Bay with Keewaydin or Grass Point State Parks and enjoy their beaches, trails and St. Lawrence views. Follow the Seaway Trail down to Clayton and leave the shore behind to boat out to the historic Rock Island Lighthouse and the peaceful Canoe-Picnic Point State Park.  Once you’ve returned to the mainland, continue on the Seaway Trail and get a view of Grenadier Island as you complete your journey at Long Point State Park on Chaumont Bay.

— Written by Kate Jenkins, Digital Content Specialist 

Apple Season at the Walkway Over the Hudson

There’s something special about enjoying a crisp, juicy apple while standing 212 feet above the Hudson River, surrounded by breathtaking panoramic views of scenic foliage and the historic river below. The Walkway Over the Hudson, a former railroad bridge turned longest elevated pedestrian bridge in the world, provides the perfect setting to savor the simple joys of all things apples.

New York is the second-largest apple producing state in the country and averages 29.5 million bushels of production annually! The Hudson Valley region is one of the state’s top apple-growing regions, so take a bite into your next adventure and experience the Walkway Over the Hudson. Whether you bring a bag of fresh-picked Empire, Honeycrisp, or McIntosh from a nearby orchard, grab a local cider from a vendor during one of the Walkway’s events, or indulge in the perfect combination of apple-cider donuts, apples just taste better with a view.

This elevated park stretches 1.28 miles between Poughkeepsie and Highland for walkers and cyclists to explore with each step offering a new angle to enjoy both your apple and the surrounding landscape.

Apple season in the Hudson Valley is a celebration of harvest, and there’s no better way to honor it than with a locally grown apple and a Walkway visit. As they say in Poughkeepsie, an apple a day keeps the doctor away and a stroll on the Walkway will surely brighten your day.

— Written by Tyler Wilcox, Community Relations Representative

An All-American Feast in Albany and Saratoga

Known for its historic architecture, political significance, and proximity to New York’s most scenic landscapes, the Capital Region of New York is also known for its all-American specialties of mini-hotdogs, mozzarella sticks and potato chips.

An icon of parties and a symbol of the United States, the potato chip traces its origins to Saratoga Springs with the Speck family. Depending on which version of the origin story you subscribe to, the person responsible would more specifically be restaurateur George “Crum” Speck. While the story is disputed, one thing that’s absolute is the importance of “Toga Chips” in the region and their impact on America culture. These thinly sliced and oil-fried potato delights were originally heavily salted and served to wealthy clientele visiting the Spa City. Today, the potato chip is enjoyed by everyone, and comes in all kinds of flavors and styles. Stay true to this Capital Region classic with original kettle style chips. When picnicking on the lawns of Saratoga Spa State Park, pack a bag or two of this salty American treat. 

A less familiar Capital Region favorite is Melba sauce paired with mozzarella sticks. This sweet, tangy condiment has a similar consistency and flavor to raspberry jam. Unlike jam, the raspberries are not cooked down in Melba sauce; instead, all of the ingredients (“raw” raspberries, sugar, and lemon juice) are blended at once. It’s unknown why this sauce has become popular in Albany, but the pairing actually makes sense when you think about it. Soft cheese and raspberries are often paired on charcuterie boards. Also, New York style cheesecake? That’s just Melba! The sweet and salty snack combination is best enjoyed right before a trip to Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site in the heart of Albany. But wash your hands before your visit. You wouldn’t want to get Phillip Schuyler’s house all sticky with raspberry sauce, right?  

Mini-hots with chili sauce in Troy, Cohoes and Watervliet are the region’s signature dish. They’re eaten in a style similar to sliders, meaning — by the dozen. These small dogs rest on a fluffy bun and are served with mustard, fried onions and, of course, Greek chili sauce, as “inventor” Strates Fentekes intended. In the historic Riverspark area, there are a few different restaurants, each with their own take on the classic sauce. It’s worth putting your palate through the gauntlet to find your go-to spot. Pairing well with “Toga Chips” and Melba mozzarella sticks, the mini-hot dogs round out this picnic of snacks, making a great and hearty final course. Located in the birthplace of these little dogs, Peebles Island State Park is an the ideal place to enjoy your bounty while it’s hot — and miles of trails to explore while you work off your feast. 

— Written by Jennifer Robilotto, Public Affairs Assistant & Lifelong Captial Region Resident 

Icons, Secrets and Sweet Endings in the Buffalo-Niagara Region

The Buffalo-Niagara region is rich with local specialties, but none is more iconic than the Buffalo wing. Simply called “wings” by locals, this spicy snack rose to popularity in the 1970s and has never stopped soaring. Pair the region’s greatest culinary icon with its greatest natural icon: Niagara Falls State Park, 20 miles north of Buffalo.

But if you crave a dish found nowhere else, go for a beef on weck sandwich. Thin-sliced roast beef, thick salt-covered kimmelweck roll, a little horseradish — perfection! This uniquely Western New York sandwich is perfect with the Lake Erie and skyline views at Buffalo Harbor or Woodlawn Beach State Parks.

While you’re looking out, reflect on the region’s recent turnaround. In the last twentieth century, the area struggled and stagnated in the wake of factory closures and population loss. Frank Lloyd Wright’s Darwin Martin House symbolized the decline: closed to the public, deteriorating, a squandered opportunity. But as the new millennium dawned, a new day for the site began. Today, the fully-restored masterpiece welcomes architecture lovers from around the world and symbolizes the region’s rebirth. Pair this sweet ending with dessert and try some sponge candy, an airy, crunchy toffee covered in chocolate.  

— Written by Kate Jenkins, Digital Content Specialist 

A special thank-you to I Love New York for their assistance with photos. All uncredited food photos are stock images. All uncredited photos of parks and historic sites are by OPRHP staff.