New York is a state with endless possibilities for travel, from the towering skyscrapers of Manhattan to the Atlantic shore, from the mountain scenery of upstate New York to the plains surrounding the Great Lakes. It has been one of the most prosperous and populous states since the beginning of American history. One of the original thirteen colonies, New York is still the center of much of the United States' economy and finance, as well as a birthplace for art and culture.
    When most people hear the name New York, they think of New York City, a small group of islands off south-east coast which are actually closer to New Jersey than to the rest of the state. Philadelphia is closer than Albany, and Buffalo may as well be in California. Although less than 1% of the area of the state, New York City contains over half the people. The rest of the state is called "upstate New York," of just "Upstate".
    New Yorkers, meaning people who live in New York City, are made up of a wide variety of cultures and races. About one-third of the population of the city is Roman Catholic and more than ten percent is Jewish, reflecting the various foreign origins of the people. There is also a large black population, since many blacks moved up north to New York during World War I, and even more after World War II.
New York City is also home to many theaters, museums, and galleries. The best theatres in the nation are both on and off Broadway, several TV programs started in New York City, and all three major American TV networks are based here. You might even stumble across a movie being filmed while you are on the streets of New York!
    New York City's museums are also world famous - the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the American Museum of Natural History, and the Museum of Modern Art are all must-see museums in the city. New York's other cities, too, boast many fine museums, including the Rochester Museum and Science Center, the Albert-Knox Art Gallery in Buffalo, and the Everson Museum of Art of Syracuse and Onondaga County.
Of course there is more to see in New York than the cities. Upstate New York has 204 kilometers of Atlantic shoreline and 597 kilometers of shoreline on the Great Lakes. New York also has nine major rivers and around 8,000 lakes! The Adirondack in the north-east has the highest mountains in the state, reaching 1,559 meters. The Appalachian Highlands make up about one-half on New York. The Catskills are a recreation area with many mountains and rivers to explore.
    Another popular tourist destination, especially for honeymooners, is the Niagara Falls. The Niagara Falls are huge and dramatic water falls that not only provide an unforgettable tourist attraction, but are also an important source of hydroelectric power.
    New York played a part in the beginnings of U.S. history. Many battles during the American Revolution took place in New York. New Yorkers were known to be more loyal to the British government than the other colonies were. All the same, they were the 11th state to sign the U.S. Constitution.
New York is such a populated and important state, culturally, economically, and historically, that it would be hard to sum up its features in just a few words. New York City and upstate New York are so different, it's almost impossible to describe them together.

 
PICTURE GALLERY