Looking for a reason to while away the summer in New York? You’re in luck—because there are a lot. Here are just few:

It has a great summer travel program.

It was one of the original 13 Colonies.

It was where the Revolution was saved.
 

It was where immigrants began their lives as Americans.

It has the largest city on the continent.

It has one of the best diving regions in the world.

It has the largest waterfall on the continent.

You see? The reasons are many to be in New York this summer, and the state will be happy to have you there—for as long as you like. As part of its I Love New York travel deals program, hundreds of lodging properties, including privately owned campgrounds, will take part in the popular “Stay 2 nights, get the 3rd Night FREE” offer available at www.iloveny.com/summer.

“New York State has something for everyone. From the beauty and tranquility of the great outdoors to the vibrancy of our cities; New York features unique destinations, stunning scenery and exciting adventures,” Gov. David Paterson said when the program was announced. “This summer we are offering the perfect antidote by making it easy and affordable for all travelers, including the more than 80 million people who live within a three- to-five hour drive of New York, to take that much needed summer break. We are once again encouraging New Yorkers and visitors to experience our wide variety of getaway opportunities and find another reason to love New York.”

Take a Look Back

One reason to love New York is its rich history—for starters, the state is one of the first 13—and this is the year to check it out. After all, New York is in the middle of its quadricentennial celebration of Lake Champlain, the Hudson River and New York Harbor. Four hundred years ago, two separate European explorers found their way into what would become New York, saw the bounty that was there and helped make sure others knew about their discovery. What followed was settlement, trade and the beginnings of New York’s prominence throughout American history.

You can experience a major American moment at Saratoga in northeastern New York. It was here in 1777 that American forces defeated a British army, encouraging France, Spain and the Netherlands to declare war on England. The battle, which forced England into a global defense of its territory, is considered the turning point of the Revolution. To visit the Saratoga National Historical Park is a pilgrimage; if we had failed there, there may never have been a United States.

A journey to Ellis Island in New York Harbor could also be called a pilgrimage because it is like looking into the mirror. The face of the country changed dramatically between 1892 and 1954, when more than 12 million immigrants passed through the isle on their way to pursue their American dreams. Ellis Island, now part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument, was where they made their first footsteps into America—footsteps you can still follow.

Number-one City

When you are on Ellis Island, New York City’s skyline across the Hudson River makes you turn your head. So, hop aboard one of the frequent ferries and you will soon be on lower end of Manhattan. From there, America’s greatest city is ready to be explored. Greatest is not an overstatement. It has been our biggest city from the moment we started measuring such things. It has been center of business from the country’s very start, and it has been drawing millions of people to it for many different reasons.

Some are drawn in by the color its ethnic neighborhoods. Others find excitement in its up-all-night personality. Many people come just because they want to experience being in the really big city. Then, of course, many more come for the endless shopping, world-class museums and Broadway extravaganzas.

Like the state it anchors, the city is more than can be taken in on a single trip. Even locals must plan ahead in order to reap all of what it has to offer. Of course, you can find some easy pickings, such as viewing skyscrapers from atop the Empire State Building, taking in a quick overview from the seat of a bus tour or climbing aboard a carriage for a jaunt through Central Park. And that is without even getting beyond Manhattan.

There is simply so much more to New York City.

The Great Outdoors

You can say the same about the state as whole, especially when you are talking about its natural beauty and all the activities you can find there. New York benefits from geographic good luck in that it has watery fun and scenery in about every form: oceans and beaches, streams and mountains, and Great Lakes and shorelines.

There is lots of shoreline in the 1,000 Islands region of upstate New York. Tourists have been coming to the area to enjoy the scenery of the St. Lawrence River for a long time. More recently, a new reason to enjoy the spot has risen to the surface—diving. It is being called one of the best diving places in the world and the best freshwater diving on the continent. Visibility is good and the wreck-filled history of the Great Lakes furnishes plenty of things to see.

If you prefer your view of New York’s water escapes to be from safely ashore, then head for maybe its best-known destination—the largest waterfall (by volume) in North America. In fact, Niagara Falls draws more than a million people a year to its cascade. While the biggest portion of the falls is in Canada, you can get an up close look at the precipice from the American side on Goat Island. Also on Goat Island, you can trek beneath the falls and feel their spray. Nearby, you can board a Maid of the Mist vessel and sail into the overspill and feel the falls’ drenching effects. Downstream, parks and preserves stalk the Niagara River all the way to Lake Ontario—allowing for hiking and basking in nature.

It is the same sort of adventure all over New York, whether in the Finger Lakes region, near Lake Champlain, on Lake Erie or amid Adirondack Park, which covers an area larger than Yellowstone, Everglades, Glacier and Grand Canyon national parks combined. The state provides the backdrop for any kind of outdoors undertaking. Fishing and boating are major draws, as are camping and hiking. And wildlife viewing and bicycling capture many imaginations.

What will capture yours?