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All United States New York State

The Atlas Obscura Guide To New York State

807 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in New York State

Updated September 19, 2023

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New York City
City Hall Station
Manhattan
Brooklyn
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The remains of Riverside Hospital at North Brother Island
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  1. Albany
  2. Amsterdam
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  9. Centerport
  10. Cold Spring
  11. Cooperstown
  12. Dobbs Ferry
  13. Dover Plains
  14. East Hampton
  15. Elmira
  16. Hammondsport
  17. Howes Cave
  18. Hudson
  19. Ithaca
  20. Jamestown
  21. Keene Valley
  22. Kinderhook
  23. Kings Park
  24. Kingston
  25. Lake George
  26. Lake Placid
  27. Newcomb
  28. New Paltz
  29. New York City
  30. Manhattan
  31. Niagara Falls
  32. Nyack
  33. Oneida
  34. Orient
  35. Oyster Bay
  36. Palmyra
  37. Pawling
  38. Queens
  39. Red Hook
  40. Rhinebeck
  41. Rochester
  42. Rome
  43. Romulus
  44. Roscoe
  45. Roxbury
  46. Sands Point
  47. Saratoga Springs
  48. Seneca Falls
  49. Shoreham
  50. Sleepy Hollow
  51. Staten Island
  52. Syracuse
  53. Tomkins Cove
  54. Troy
  55. Wellesley Island
  56. West Point
  57. Woodstock
  58. Yonkers
Attractions
Food & Drink
Map
Leaderboards
Stories
Lists

Unusual Attractions in New York State

City Hall Station

New York, New York

Old City Hall Station

A beautiful and abandoned New York subway station from 1904, complete with chandelier.
Taxidermy and insect displays

New York, New York

The Evolution Store

A terrific purveyor of natural history objects and curios.
Interior of the Dream House

New York, New York

Dream House

La Monte Young and Marian Zazeela's "Dream House" will immerse you in an ever changing world of sound and light.

New York, New York

Roosevelt Island Smallpox Hospital Ruins

A crumbling hospital from the 1850s on Roosevelt Island.

New York, New York

The Elevated Acre

Amid the bustle and noise of the Financial District hides a secluded garden oasis above the city streets.
Mmuseumm

New York, New York

Mmuseumm

A tiny museum housed in a New York freight elevator specializes in the "overlooked, dismissed, or ignored."
The fireplace adorned by elephant tusks.

New York, New York

Explorers Club Headquarters

A treasure trove of artifacts, books, and artwork from the "golden age" of exploration.
Lexington Candy Shop

New York, New York

Lexington Candy Shop

The oldest family-run luncheonette in New York, last renovated in 1948, still serves food and drinks the old-fashioned way.
See All 807 Things To Do in New York State

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in New York State

Lexington Candy Shop

New York, New York

Lexington Candy Shop

The oldest family-run luncheonette in New York, last renovated in 1948, still serves food and drinks the old-fashioned way.
Entering the vault!

New York, New York

Trinity Place Bank Vault Bar

This lower Manhattan bar is set up in an old bank vault that rests beneath a skyscraper that hides even more historic splendor.
Ice cream cone from the Chinatown Ice Cream Factory.

New York, New York

Chinatown Ice Cream Factory

Order scoops of pandan, lychee, and black sesame at this family-run institution.

New York, New York

Goldbar

A hip bar decorated with walls of golden skulls.
See all 10 Places to Eat in New York State
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Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Atlas Obscura Itineraries

The Explorer's Guide to Hudson Valley, New York

Just a short trip north of New York City, the Hudson Valley is great for both day trips and road trips. Atlas Obscura co-founder Dylan Thuras is a local resident, and loves the natural wonders, as well as the incredible culture and history found in the region. This itinerary combines his favorite spots into one stunning road trip. Start your adventure at a living antique aviation museum near the historic town of Red Hook, and end with dinner at a Victorian resort. Along the way, you’ll make pit stops at towering waterfalls, a giant kaleidoscope, and incredible views of the beautiful Hudson Valley.

View Itinerary

Explore New York State

Art 94
Architectural Oddities 90
History 86
Museums And Collections 72
Abandoned 71
Shops 69
Cemeteries 66
Homes 63
Ruins 55
Sacred Spaces 49
Animals 47
Collections 46
Unique Restaurants & Bars 38
Places To Stay 11

New York State Leaderboard

Places Added

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Places Edited

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Places Visited

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  2. Avatar image for Anna Minster
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Recent New York State Activity

  • J

    jonathanadamkubiak

    has been to 6 1/2 Avenue: Manhattan's Secret Street

  • J

    jestax

    wants to go to Six Mile Creek

  • J

    jestax

    wants to go to Cayuga Nature Center

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    jestax

    wants to go to Spud Chuckin'

  • J

    jestax

    wants to go to Graycliff House

Stories About New York State

Hudson River Rail Excursions runs a classic car between New York and Albany to make the vintage rail experience more accessible.

Meet the People Who Keep Vintage Rail Cars Rolling Across America

About two dozen classic carriages around the country offer time travel by train.
by Justin Franz
July 6, 2023
The Seneca County Courthouse Complex in Ovid, New York, commonly known as “the Three Bears,” is a fine example of the Greek Revival style in the Military Tract, from which both the fad for classical place names and notions of classical architecture spread throughout the country.

Why Does America Have So Many Towns With Classical Names?

There are nearly 100 named "Troy."
by Frank Jacobs, Big Think
May 19, 2023

Podcast: John Brown’s Farm

A monument to a famed abolitionist and the fight for Black suffrage.
by The Podcast Team
April 20, 2023
Parts of the Buffalo area saw more than 6 feet of snow over three days in November 2022.

What Is Lake-Effect Snow?

A snowstorm that slammed into Western New York left more than six feet of snow in places. Blame the Great Lakes.
by Michael A. Rawlins
November 21, 2022

Podcast: Lily Dale Spiritualist Community

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.
by The Podcast Team
January 18, 2022
This charming rural hamlet is home to 36 practicing spiritual mediums.

To Join This Community of People Who Speak to the Dead, Prepare to Be Tested

Think you have what it takes to be a spiritual medium in Lily Dale?
by Sarah Durn
December 7, 2021
The chance to see Silver Lake's sea serpent brought the small town of Perry a much-needed boost in tourism back in the mid-19th century.

The Many Lives and Fiery Deaths of the Silver Lake Sea Serpent

A small town in western New York loves its lake monster despite a shady past.
by Nicole Hebdon
March 15, 2021
Forrest Myers's Four Corners, 1969–70.

What It Takes to Maintain 500 Acres of Art and Nature

Storm King's director of facilities has to be a landscaper, an art conservator, and even a structural engineer.
by Luna Shyr
July 21, 2020

Lists Featuring New York State

Book Corner.
The Final Cross
Edward Dean Adams Power Station
Clifton Hill

The 11 Best Places to Visit Near Niagara Falls for Curious Travelers

11

Including Book Corner, Prophet Isaiah's Second Coming House, and Edward Dean Adams Power Plant

Conjurer Jason England teaches a card trick.
Keen's Steakhouse
The New York Herald Monument.

The 11 Best Things to do Near the Empire State Building for Curious Travelers

11

Including Tannen's Magic Shop, The Conjuring Arts Research Center, and Keen's Steakhouse

The House of the Temple.
Statue of George Washington

Novus Ordo Seclorum: 14 Places to Unearth Masonic Secrets

Your best bets for gaining insight into the real history of Freemasonry.

14

Including Zedekiah's Cave, Masonic Lodge of the Andaz Hotel, and House of the Temple

The Paddington Bear statue at Paddington station.
The Alice in Wonderland statue in Central Park.
Mrs Mallard and her entire brood.
Dr Seuss, Cat in the Hat, and a book with lines from Oh The Places You'll Go.

9 Favorite Children's Book Characters, Immortalized in Bronze

Visit Paddington Bear, Ramona Quimby, and other childhood heroes in person.

9

Including Paddington Bear Statue , Alice in Wonderland Statue, and Make Way for Ducklings Statue

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