New York State: A Regional Guide

Natural splendor abounds in this region of New York State, while offering planners a host of world-class meeting hotels, mountain-top lodges, state-of-the-art conference centers, lakeside retreats and unique off-site venues, all set against the tranquility of mountain village life. In turn, attendees will find much to do in their off time in a changing landscape comprising awe-inspiring mountains, glistening lakes, green valleys and dramatic cliffs. Of special note, the majestic Adirondack Park covers more than 6 million acres and forms the largest protected natural area in the lower 48 states of the U.S. 

Among the region’s many attractions are the following: 
• Built in 1897 in the midst of what once was a remote wilderness, the mansion within the Great Camp Sagamore complex, in what is now Adirondack Park, is a National Historic Landmark managed by a nonprofit educational institution as a public trust open to all. Once a retreat for the Vanderbilt family, the opulent mansion is a beautiful ode to the Gilded Age. Guided tours are available, though visitors will find much to enjoy outside, too, where hiking trails await and local excursions abound. The site comprises 27 buildings in all, including beautiful rustic environments perfect for company meetings or corporate retreats.

• In Old Forge, a hamlet in the town of Webb in Herkimer County, N.Y., Moose River Farm makes an ideal site for groups seeking a restful break, team-building opportunities or just plain fun. While visitors can get up close and personal with a variety of farm animals, what sets this place apart from the pack is the chance to take real live llamas on a trek against the backdrop of a breathtaking Adirondack landscape. Webb itself is a picturesque town in Adirondack Park, offering lots of shopping, dining and sightseeing.

• Named the No. 1 science museum in the country by USA Today, the Wild Center in Tupper Lake is a 115-acre living laboratory of Earth-friendly sustainable practices. The center’s 54,000-square-foot complex features the latest technologies in renewable energy, many of them adaptable to visitors’ own homes. With its innovative green roof, wood-pellet-fired heating, solar hot-water system and much more, it’s no wonder the facility is the first LEED-Certified museum in New York State. 

• Adirondack Experience, the Museum on Blue Mountain Lake offers a host of fascinating exhibitions and stories about life in the Adirondack region. With over 20 historical and contemporary buildings on 121 acres overlooking Blue Mountain Lake, the open-air campus presents unique offerings including the ADKX Boathouse and trails, the interactive “Life in the Adirondacks” and the newly opened art show, “Artists & Inspiration in the Wild.” 

• Having hosted the Olympic Winter Games in 1932 and again in 1980, four historic venues collectively known as the Lake Placid Legacy Sites offer a wide range of attractions:
     - The Olympic Center includes a conference center, skating rinks, two historic arenas plus the Lake Placid Olympic Museum. 
     - The Jumping Complex has the new Skyride Experience, a pulse gondola with stunning bird’s-eye views of the Adirondack High Peaks, and a front-row seat for actual ski-jumping competitions. 
     - Mt. Van Hoevenberg lets visitors ride the Mountain Coaster, North America’s largest such attraction, plus take luge lessons, watch world-class athletes train and more. 
     - Finally, Whiteface Mountain, just 13 miles from Lake Placid, is one of the High Peaks of the Adirondacks and offers scenic runs for skiers of all levels.

Discover more information about The Adirondacks here. 

The Capital-Saratoga region showcases a diverse array of offerings, with meeting spaces ranging from the niche upscale resort to the flexibility of a large arena. Whether the historic New York State Capital in Albany, thrilling thoroughbred racing in Saratoga Springs, Broadway-caliber productions at Proctors Theatre in Schenectady or farm tours in scenic Washington County, the area is bristling with activities, while corporate retreats will enjoy meticulously curated concierge options, and conventions and trade shows will find flexible and versatile meeting spaces.

Among the region’s many attractions: 
• In Saratoga Springs, Universal Preservation Hall is a year-round arts and community events venue. The hall hosts an exciting roster of entertainment, with music ranging from folk to rock to jazz and symphonic, along with star turns in comedy, opera and more. Originally built in 1871 as a Methodist church, the structure fell into disrepair in the 1970s and was resurrected in its current guise in 2020. Today the hall also is available for corporate events, trade shows or ticketed performances. The Great Hall is a 700-seat theater-in-the-round, while the versatile Community Room can accommodate up to 150 guests and features a concession bar, perfect for smaller events. A full-building rental also includes a stunning glass atrium and more.

•  A performing arts center in Albany’s Empire State Plaza, The Egg presents  music, art, theatre, comedy, dance and family entertainment year-round. A conspicuous feature of the capital city’s skyline, the 45-year-old venue houses two theaters encased in a comedy egg-like concrete structure. Various parts of the venue are available for group rentals; among them: The Kitty Carlisle Theatre offers 15 comfortable tiered seating rows wrapped around a dual hydraulic-lift stage, with a total maximum seating of 982. With a capacity of 450, the Lewis A. Sawyer Theatre includes six seats in an ADA accessible section.

•  Established in 1836, the New York State Museum in Albany is a center of art, science and history dedicated to exploring human and natural history. The oldest and largest state museum in the country, the facility offers collections, exhibitions, scholarship, programs, media and publications in science, history, anthropology and art. Its collections rank among the finest in many fields and total more than 16 million scientific specimens and one million cultural objects.  

• In the historic resort town of Saratoga Springs, the Saratoga Performing Arts Center is one of America’s most prestigious outdoor amphitheaters. Its tranquil setting in a 2,400-acre park preserve surrounded by hiking trails, geysers and natural mineral springs draws lovers of arts, culture and nature for performances by resident companies including the New York City Ballet, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and the Saratoga Jazz Festival. 

• Car lovers will find their motors racing at the Saratoga Automobile Museum, whose mission is to celebrate the rich history, innovation and cultural impact of the automobile in New York State and beyond. Housed in a beautifully restored vintage 1935 bottling plant, the venue offers a rich roster of ever-changing exhibits ranging from the evolution of racing helmets to the virtues of classic cars like the 1953 Chevrolet Corvette. Groups can convene in spaces such as the main hall, able to accommodate up to 300 guests for a reception, and the well-appointed conference room with seating for 25. The museum is located within the 2,500-acre Saratoga Spa State Park, in the heart of historic Saratoga Springs, famous for its legendary thoroughbred track.

• Completed in 1875 by noted architect George Post and with what is considered one of the finest 19th-century auditoriums still standing, the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1989. One of the world’s most celebrated concert venues thanks to its beautiful design and excellent acoustics, the hall presents more than 100 shows per year, from classical orchestral to modern jazz, stand-up comedy and more.

• Swift steeds of the past are the objects of veneration at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs. Now celebrating its 75th anniversary as a shrine to thoroughbred racing, the museum was the brainchild of Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney and fellow well-heeled track aficionados, and today the facility is housed in a handsome 45,000-square-foot edifice directly across from the landmark Saratoga Race Course. Exhibits include historic photographs, paintings, statuary, assorted ephemera, film and more. The entire museum or areas like the Sculpture Gallery and the Hall of Fame Gallery can be rented out for corporate receptions and dinners, nonprofit fundraisers and galas, meetings and seminars.

Discover more information about the Capital-Saratoga region here.  

A nature lover’s paradise, New York’s Catskills region is a short drive from the New York City/New Jersey metro area and is convenient to northeastern Pennsylvania, the Capital Region of New York State, Western Massachusetts and Connecticut. The area has a varied selection of event venues, both indoors and out, from modern conference facilities to rustic barns, with many facilities offering myriad team-building options. Attendees also will find a wealth of health and wellness options, along with outdoor activities for boating, hiking, biking and all manner of sports. Also known as the Borscht Belt, the Catskills region and it’s beloved resorts were the inspiration and setting for the film Dirty Dancing.

Among the region’s many attractions: 
•  A 17th-century enclave for the Seneca tribe of Native Americans, the Ganondagan State Historic Site in the town of Victor is a National Historic Landmark celebrating five centuries of art, culture and history through interactive exhibits at the Seneca Art & Culture Center, hiking paths among the site’s 500+ acres, special events (such as a Native American Dance & Music Festival in July) and more. Groups can meet in several on-site event spaces at the culture center as well as the large Seneca Bark Longhouse, fully furnished to reflect the life of a typical Seneca family from the late 1600s. 

•  For an exciting look at one of the nation’s most storied waterways, the Hudson River Maritime Museum in Kingston is the place to visit. Dedicated to all things associated with the river, this waterfront museum is home to an extensive collection of maritime artifacts and historic vessels, along with its Wooden Boat School; Sailing School; a marina with public docking; a solar-powered tour boat, the Solaris; and the Homeport Barn, a public-events space. The museum also operates the historic vintage 1915 Randout Lighthouse, the last of three such local guardians of the river. A number of on-site event spaces includes the above-mentioned barn, which can host up to 150 people; an exhibit hall, a classroom and the Solaris itself.

•  At the National Register Historic Site of the 1969 Woodstock Festival in Bethel, N.Y., the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts is a 1,000-acre campus that includes the Pavilion Stage amphitheater with a seating capacity of 16,000, an intimate 422-seat indoor Event Gallery, the award-winning Museum at Bethel Woods and two studios for creative learning programs for all ages. Concerts, art shows and special events of all kinds take place here on a regular basis, and if you stop to really listen, you can perhaps still hear the fading notes of Jimi Hendrix’s searing version of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”  

• In the town of Catskill, N.Y., in the early 1800s, a new genre of art — the works of what would become known as the Hudson River School —  was given birth by the painter Thomas Cole, whose beautiful, dreamy landscapes still resonate and bring life to the Thomas Cole National Historic Site. Here is where Cole lived and worked, and visitors can learn about his profound influence on American culture via exhibits, lectures and special programs. The venue’s gardens and grounds are well worth strolling and afford stunning views of the Catskill Mountains. 

• The Mountaintop Arboretum is a public garden dedicated to displaying and managing native plant species of the Northeastern U.S., in addition to curating a collection of cold-hardy native and exotic trees. Its mountain-top elevation of 2,400 feet at the top of the New York City Watershed creates a unique environment for education, research and the pure enjoyment of the spectacular and historic Catskills landscape. The arboretum’s trails and boardwalks connect 178 acres of plant collections, natural meadows, wetlands, forest and Devonian bedrock — a natural sanctuary for visitors interested in horticulture, birding, geology, local craftsmanship, hiking and snowshoeing.

• In the picturesque Northern Catskill village of Hobart, bibliophiles of all stripes flock to Hobart Book Village, where an eclectic collection of fascinating shops features volumes old and new. At Adams’ Books, for example, an array of publications from the 17th through 20th centuries range from the arts and sciences to theology, world history and more. Blenheim Hill Books has the goods on fiction, biography, gardening and women’s studies. Cooks and crafters will enjoy a rummaging through Creative Corner Books, while mystery and science fiction aficionados will have a blast at Quarry Books. There’s much more on offer in Hobart, including art shows and artist/author receptions, making this a delightful day trip for groups taking a well-deserved break.

Discover more information about the Catskill region here. 

Discover Oneida County

Nestled in the heart of Central New York, Oneida County offers an unparalleled blend of modern amenities and historical charm. Learn all about this destination's unique venues and impressive properties by visiting our Oneida County destination spotlight.

A bucolic destination full of rolling hills, agricultural experiences, Americana-tinged towns and lakeside retreats, the Central New York region encompasses the heart of New York State. The area offers groups of all sizes a scenic setting to stage memorable and successful meetings and events, with uniquely appealing offsite venues and an abundance of outdoor activities. 

Among the region’s many attractions:
• In the historic city of Binghamton, the Phelps Mansion Museum was built in 1871 for Sherman David Phelps, an entrepreneur and one-time mayor of the city. The house is decorated with Italian marble floors, black walnut staircases and period lighting fixtures. Also on-site is a sterling collection of art and sculpture. Mansion tours, dance parties, concerts, programs emphasizing local history and more take place under the venue’s grand 14-foot ceilings. 

• The Stanley Center is a movie palace designed by Thomas Lamb, considered one of the foremost creators of theaters and cinemas in the 20th century. The interior is awash in gorgeous details in a “Mexican Baroque” style and seat almost 3,000 patrons. Today this opulent palace is host to shows presented by Broadway Utica, including the likes of 42nd Street and Jersey Boys, as well as performers such as Jackson Browne, Jerry Seinfeld and REO Speedwagon. 

• In Cooperstown, N.Y., the Fenimore Art Museum stands on land once owned by novelist James Fenimore Cooper and is housed in a gorgeous 1933 mansion built by an heir to the Singer Manufacturing Co. fortune. The facility’s fine art collection celebrates life in early America and includes a folk art collection that displays the work of self-taught American portrait painters, quilt makers, ship carvers and others. Small groups can meet in cozy garden gazebos, while up to 1,000 guests can be accommodated for tented luncheons or dinners on the lawn.

• Attendees will become immersed in the history of America’s National Pastime when they visit the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown. The venue displays a wealth of baseball-related artifacts and exhibits, while honoring those who have excelled in playing, managing and reporting on the sport. Established in 1939, the Hall’s first inductees were Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson, Babe Ruth and Honus Wagner, all ably represented here by uniforms, balls, box scores and more. The delightful surrounding grounds are just right for a picnic. 

• Also in a beautiful setting in Cooperstown, the Fenimore Farm & Country Village has roots in the mid-19th century, when it served as a working farm owned jointly by famed writer Janes Fenimore Cooper and Judge Samuel Nelson. Today, the property is a complex that includes a working farmstead, a historic village, the Empire State Carousel, a Colonial Revival barn and a museum providing authentic demonstrations and educational programs devoted to New York’s rural history and culture. The museum has some space for meetings, conferences and receptions, while sister organization the Fenimore Art Museum, across the street, can host up to 1,000 people on its Lakeside Lawn. 

• Located in the center of its namesake campus, the Binghamton University Art Museum has a permanent collection of more than 4,500 objects acquired over the past half-century, including works on paper, paintings, sculpture and decorative arts from around the world and spanning some 5,000 years. Among the gems in the permanent collection are “Head of a Male Saint” by El Greco, “Autumn Landscape” by mid-19th century Japanese master Senzan Nagamura and “Claws of God” by Robert Ernst Marx.

Discover more information about Central New York here. 

In Southwestern New York State, the Chautauqua-Allegheny region is brimming with enchanted mountains, tranquil lakes and beautiful vineyards. The Allegheny, Lake Erie and Midway State parks are vast playgrounds dotted with beaches, walking and birding trails, bridle paths and boating possibilitiesThe region is also loaded with cultural attractions, from national museums to eclectic sculpture and art parks. Add some grand four-season resorts with a full complement of meetings infrastructure, and you’ve got a planner’s dream destination.

 Among the region’s many attractions:
• Calling all nature lovers: the Audubon Community Nature Center near Jamestown is a 570-acre wetland preserve that includes more than five miles of trails, a native tree arboretum, picnic areas and educational gardens ripe for exploration. The center itself is home to three floors of interactive exhibits, including live animals, and offers year-round programming on-site and throughout the surrounding community. There also are spaces at the center, both indoors and out, that can be rented out for group use.

• With its dramatic lakeside setting and classic architecture making it a National Historic Landmark, the Chautauqua Institution is a summer center where visitors seek intellectual and spiritual growth via a complete program of arts, education, religion and recreation. A wide array of thoughtful lectures, musical programs and theater productions can be found in the on-site Chautauqua Amphitheater, but the entire property is geared to inspiring guests and attendees with a wide-ranging array of thought-provoking and creative ideas. 

• Home to famed actor, comedian, and producer Lucille Ball, this region enjoys two cultural giants:  The Lucy Ball Desi Arnaz Museum in Jamestown celebrates the lives, careers and legacies of the “First Couple of Comedy” and their impact on the world. And thanks to Lucy’s wishes, just around the corner is the National Comedy Center, the only federally designated museum in the U.S. dedicated to the art of comedy. The 37,000-square-foot facility offers more than 50 immersive exhibits covering what has made America (and the rest of the world) laugh, from early vaudeville and innovators like W.C. Fields and Ed Wynn to today’s cutting-edge comics like Bill Burr and Sebastian Maniscalco. Visitors, who enjoy material geared to their own pre-arranged “humor profile,” can also try their hand at stand-up comedy and creating their own comic strips. The on-site 10,000+ square feet of event space can accommodate up to 450 peopleBoth are available for unforgettable offsite events.

• Named for the legendary American naturalist and conservationist, the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History pays homage to a founder of the 20th-century environmental movement with a colorful changing series of exhibits and programs that challenge visitors to confront environmental issues of regional, national and global concern. Along the way the Jamestown facility inspires visitors to help preserve the Earth’s biodiversity — with a particular emphasis on the natural area wonders of Western New York.

Discover more information on the Chautauqua-Allegheny region here.

The largest region in New York, the Finger Lakes are home to a myriad of lakeside activities, of course, but It’s also the largest wine region in the Eastern U.S. and prime for tasting tours. When it comes to accommodations, the area has more than 100 hotels ranging from a handful of large lakeside resorts to small unique inns, with options to accommodate almost any budget. Featuring two of New York's largest cities as well as small and quaint Americana towns with award winning main streets, the Finger Lakes are a favorite for planners and event hosts.

Among the region’s many attractions: 
• The National Susan B. Anthony Museum & House in Rochester features the home of the legendary civil rights leader and the site of her famous arrest for voting in 1872. This home, now officially a National Historic Landmark, was the headquarters of the National American Woman Suffrage Association when Anthony was its president. This is also where she died in 1906 at age 86, following her “Failure is Impossible” speech in Baltimore. The museum offers guided tours, group tours, virtual programs and special events. 

• Designed by noted architect Thomas Lamb, the ornate Landmark Theatre opened in 1928 as a venue for silent films, and for nearly 50 years it was a mainstay in the cultural life of Syracuse. Though closed in 1975, efforts began almost immediately to save the structure, and by the late 1970s it had become a concert hall for the likes of Lena Horne, Tony Bennett and Bob Dylan. In recent years, and with an expanded stage, the theater has hosted many top-level national acts, including Jerry Seinfeld, Jackson Brown and numerous Broadway touring shows. On the National Register of Historic Places, the Landmark can be rented for memorable gatherings of all sizes and types, from award banquets to product launches.

• Founded by an act of Congress in 1980, the Women’s Rights National Historical Park is in Seneca Falls, site of the first women’s rights convention held in 1848. Among the attractions on site are the landmarked Elizabeth Cody Stanton House, home of the early proponent of women’s suffrage and equal rights, the Wesleyan Methodist Church, where the convention was held, and more. Groups are welcome to meet in the Wesleyan Chapel and outdoor spaces such as Declaration Park and the yard at the Stanton House. 

• Established in 1951 as a gift to the nation for the famed glass company’s 100th anniversary, the Corning Museum of Glass annually welcomes over 300,000 visitors from around the world. Over 50,000 objects representing more than 3,500 years of history are included in the museum’s collection; items range from the portrait of an ancient Egyptian pharaoh to contemporary (and most colorful) sculptures. 

• In Canandaigua, New York Kitchen is dedicated to promoting healthy lifestyles and thriving communities by leveraging the stories of agriculture, food and craft beverages to inspire a creative exploration of the bounty of the Empire State. Classes range from pasta making to dessert baking to wine pairings and beyond. The facility’s Tasting Room features 60 different and ever-changing New York State wines, 10 taps highlighting seasonal craft beers, ciders, distilled spirits and nonalcoholic beverages. Groups can sip and savor in a fun, relaxing atmosphere. 

• Spanning almost 600 acres, the Ganondagan State Historic Site in Victor, N.Y., is the original location of a 17th-century Seneca town whose Native American population lived there more than 350 years ago. Here visitors will find the story of the culture, art, agriculture and government of the Seneca people and how they influenced our modern understanding of equality, democratic government, women’s rights, ecology and natural foods. Attractions include the full-size Seneca Bark Longhouse, furnished to reflect a typical Seneca family from the late 1600s, and the multi-media Seneca Art & Culture Center, which tells the story of Iroquois contributions to art, culture and society.

Discover more information about the Finger Lakes here and here.

In this region of wonders, Niagara Falls is the star, but don’t discount the many gems throughout. Here attendees can enjoy the art and architecture of Buffalo, Letchworth State Park — aka the “Grand Canyon of the East”, the charm of the historic Erie Canal, or the vast Derien Lake Amusement Park. World-class fishing, boating, skiing and biking abound for active travelers, and sports fans will want to make time for a professional hockey, football or baseball game. Area meetings and conventions take place in myriad hotels and dedicated spaces, along with major convention centers in Buffalo, Niagara Falls and elsewhere.

Among the region’s many attractions: 
• Within South Park in Buffalo, the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens is a National Historic Site, education center and tourist destination originally conceived in the late 19th century by landscape architect Frederick Law Olmstead (of New York City’s Central Park fame), glass-house architects Lord & Burnham and botanist/plant explorer John F. Cowell. Today, over 140,000 people visit annually to enjoy the amazing architecture, indoor and outdoor garden sanctuaries, special events, educational programming, workshops and more. Groups are welcome to enjoy peaceful bonding experiences, meditation and reflection.

• In Batavia, about a 30-minute drive from Buffalo and Rochester, the Holland Land Office Museum celebrates and teaches about the Holland Purchase lands, a large area in Western New York State comprising eight counties, including Niagara, Geneses, Erie and Allegany, first opened to settlement in 1800. Here, a series of permanent and changing exhibits brings the early history of the region to life with historic artifacts, films, guest speakers and more. Inside a stone building dating from 1810, the museum has two meeting rooms, the larger of which can seat up to 220 people. Next door is the bucolic Batavia International Peace Garden.

• The Genesee Country Village & Museum was founded in 1966 with the goal of preserving the architecture of the Genesee Valley region in a recreated historic village, providing context for the telling of New York State and 19th-century American history. The museum now covers 600 acres and includes the Historic Village, the John L. Wehle Gallery and the Genesee Country Nature Center, all of which provide interactive programs, fascinating exhibits and special events. 

• For more than 150 years, the Buffalo AKG Art Museum has collected, conserved and exhibited the art of its time, often working directly with living artists. Along the way, the facility has put together one of the world’s great collections of modern and contemporary art, including early groundbreakers like Degas and Gauguin and on through and beyond the modernists who defined cubism, surrealism and constructivism. 

• Established in 1885 and today the oldest state park in the U.S., Niagara Falls State Park is open 365 days a year and provides unparalleled views of the falls along with interactive exhibits, riverfront hiking trails, guided walking tours, the Cave of the Winds (where visitors descend 175 feet into the Niagara Gorge), boat tours aboard the Maid of the Mist and more. 

• Things truly get wet and wild at the Aquarium of Niagara in Niagara Falls, N.Y. Exhibits are housed in two buildings: The Main Building features a wide range of sea-going species found around the world, including Humboldt penguins, rescued sea lions and seals, jellyfish and much more. The Great Lakes 360 building contains unique exhibits depicting the diverse habitats of the Great Lakes ecosystem, with various fish, amphibians, reptiles and insects as the star attractions. A recently renovated event room can host small groups, while the Main Building can be rented out for corporate and other gatherings of up to 250 guests.

Discover more information on Greater Niagara here. 

Within 10 counties lining both sides of the Hudson River from just north of New York City to Albany and Rensselaer, the Hudson Valley is famous for its historic landmarks, outdoor sculpture parks, exclusive retreats and a justly celebrated culinary scene. Midway up the region, Ulster County alone is a favorite with nature lovers thanks to 250,000 unspoiled acres encompassing some 35 mountain peaks, 350 miles of hiking trails and a full roster of activities including hiking, biking and kayaking, along with challenging play on any of 12 golf courses. The county’s wide choice of meeting facilities can handle groups of from 10 to 1,000, with accommodations in every price range.

Among the region’s many attractions: 
• In Hyde Park, the Culinary Institute of America is not only a world-class teaching institution through which future star chefs learn their craft, it’s also a unique foodie destination for groups of all stripes. Visitors can explore the beautiful campus, participate in interactive demonstrations that delve into the science of taste, mingle with the students and enjoy delicious food at six student-run outlets. 

• The Hudson River Maritime Museum in Kingston features hundreds of items relating to the mighty river and its history, including works of art and historic vessels. Visitors also can sail on a 100% solar-powered tour boat that cruises the river as well as the Rondout Creek; enjoy absorbing lectures and film series hosted by noted authors, historians and maritime experts; and even take classes on crafts such as chair caning, furniture restoration and woodworking. 

• Planners seeking a truly immersive experience for their groups should consider the Garrison Institute in the hamlet of Garrison in Putnam County, directly across the river from West Point. With a contemplative atmosphere ideal for retreats of all kinds, the institute specializes in “resilience training” for health care providers, social workers, first responders and others who offer service to those in need, with a secular focus on the inter-connectedness of all people. 

Discover more information on the Hudson Valley here. 

Long Island — New York’s summertime playground — is studded with world-renowned beaches, historical lighthouses, premier golf courses, Gatsby-era Gold Coast mansions, award-winning vineyards and a wide variety of culinary outlets. A year-round destination easily reached by air, rail or road; this destination will delight attendees with its laid back pace while still in easy reach of New York City. For event planners, the island also is home to more than 1.5 million square feet of meeting space and over 18,000 hotel rooms. 

Among the region’s many attractions: 
• Celebrating Long Island’s rich heritage in flying and space exploration, the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City has more than 75 air and space craft in eight galleries chronicling more than 100 years of achievement in escaping the Earth’s gravity. A spectacular setting for corporate functions, the venue also has an immersive full-dome planetarium offering powerful virtual-reality experiences, and a gift shop with unique offerings such as Grumman T-shirts and custom WWII dog tags. 

• Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Old Westbury Gardens is the former home of John S. Phipps, a businessman and heir to a family fortune earned alongside Andrew Carnegie. Completed in 1906, this Charles II-style mansion is nestled amid 200 acres of formal gardens, landscaped grounds, woodlands, ponds and lakes. The Westbury House, furnished with fine English antiques and decorative arts, offers a changing roster of events including museum exhibitions, classic car shows, lectures and gardening classes. 

• In the North Shore town of Riverhead, the Long Island Aquarium is themed around the Lost City of Atlantis and features a total of more than 100 exhibits and interactive experiences, including a 120,000-gallon shark tank, year-round sea lion shows, one of the largest all-living coral reef displays in this hemisphere and butterflies from all over the world. Groups can even snorkel with tropical fish from around the world or get into a cage and submerge to visit a shark exhibit.

Discover more information about Long Island here. 

New York City

New York City offers a vibrant, ever-evolving variety of global culture, attractions and venues that blend to create an unparalleled meetings destination. Explore more by visiting our New York City destination spotlight.

There’s a never-ending plethora of things to see and do in the Big Apple, and for meeting planners, ever more infrastructure to host groups of all sizes. The city is expected to add some 6,000 new hotel rooms by the end of 2025, while the Javits Center recently completed an expansion that added 1.2 million square feet of state-of-the-art event space. From historical landmarks to cutting-edge culture, entertainment, food, sports and more, New York City retains its ranking as one of the world’s top destinations.

Among the city’s many attractions: 
• The landmark Apollo Theater in Harlem has been a celebrated stage for Black artists and voices from across the African Diaspora since 1934. Over its 90-year history, the venue’s stage has seen the likes of Pearl Bailey, Ella Fitzgerald, the Nicholas Brothers, Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, Bessie Smith and countless others. The venue also sponsors tomorrow’s stars through an education program that emphasizes the power of the preforming arts. 

• More than just a place for borrowing books, the New York Public Library on Fifth Avenue and West 42nd Street offers a wide range of activities in the heart of Manhattan. Author talks and conversations, exhibitions, and arts and crafts programs are just part of a very busy calendar. A magnificent structure, the library opened in 1911 on the site of an old reservoir with ornate detailing in its marble facade and the famous pair of stone lions — nicknamed Patience and Fortitude by locals — flanking the entrance. 

• In the Corona neighborhood in the borough of Queens, the New York Hall of Science features some 450 exhibits, workshops and activities that help explain science, technology, engineering and math. Housed in one of the few remaining structures from the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair, the center today serves more than a half million students, teachers and families a year and also serves as an ideal site for meetings, conferences and special events in spaces such as the 7,000-square-foot Great Hall and 4,000-square-foot Anthony Viscusi Gallery. 

• Founded in 1923, the Museum of the City of New York is a repository of Big Apple history located on Fifth Avenue between East 103 and 104 streets, directly across from Central Park. Recent exhibits have included displays of graffiti-based art, original art deco postcards, the amazingly detailed Stettheimer Dollhouse and actual sets used in movies taking place in New York. The museum also can host corporate events, fund raisers and more.

Discover more information about New York City here. 

The region known as 1,000 Islands is bisected by the United States-Canada border and enjoys all the benefits of the water activities on the St. Lawrence Seaway and its many tributaries. . Here is a remarkable mixture of woodlands, islands and flowing waters, known for some of the best boating and fishing in the world, not to mention a host of cultural repositories. For planners, the area offers a variety of scenic meeting, conference and convention venues, from waterfront resorts in villages such as Clayton, Sackets Harbor and Alexandria Bay to national-brand hotels in Watertown. 

Among the region’s many attractions: 
• For an offbeat day’s excursion, a visit to Boldt Castle on the St. Lawrence River will reward visitors with a beautiful six-story structure begun in 1900 as a gift for millionaire George Boldt’s wife, who died during the construction, which was then halted by the grieving husband. Finally completed and opened to the public in the 1970s, the castle rivals any of its counterparts in Europe and is accessible by tour boat, water taxi and private watercraft. 
 
• In Ogdensburg, the Frederic Remington Art Museum displays the largest collection of the great American Western painter’s work in the world in a landmark structure in which Remington lived from 1810-1816 (his widow later resided there until her death in 1918). Here are found paintings, sculptures, drawings, bronze castings and other works celebrating the colorful if often harsh lives of the cowboys, soldiers and Native Americans who lived and worked in and around the Great Plains of the U.S. 

• On a peninsula surrounded by the St. Lawrence River, the picturesque town of Clayton is home to the Clayton Opera House, a renowned year-round cultural institution for the presentation of the performing arts. A Nationally Registered Historic Place, the venue dates from the early 1900s and began life as a vaudeville house. Today the hall hosts comedians, choirs, orchestras, themed shows and more, with the beautiful river just steps away.

Discover more information on 1000 Islands here.