Things to See in Western New York State

Things to See in Western New York State
While many of the traditional tourist sights in New York have their focus in the Big Apple or the Catskills, the western half of the state also has a lot to offer. The most famous sight, just to the northwest of Rochester, is Niagara Falls. Here are a few other great destinations.

Griffis Sculpture Park

The largest sculpture park in the United States, Griffis Sculpture Park contains more than 250 large sculptures. The park is open May through October, making it perfect for warm-weather strolls. The immense sculpture garden is nestled within the even larger Ashford Hollow Park.

Griffis Sculpture Park
6902 Mill Valley Road
East Otto, NY‎
(716) 667-2808‎

Cayuga Lake Wine Trail

The Finger Lakes, located southeast of Rochester, are well-known for their wineries. The hills around the Cayuga, Seneca, Canandaigua and Hemlock lakes are New York's largest wine-producing region. The Cayuga Lake Wine Trail is the oldest in the country, formed by a cooperative of grape growers. The Cayuga Lake Wine Trail includes 16 different wineries.

Dunkirk Lighthouse

Situated on the shores of Lake Erie, Dunkirk Lighthouse stands 61 feet tall. Unlike many historical lighthouses, the Dunkirk still has its original Fresnel lens. This allows its light to project 27 miles into the lake, making it one of the brightest beacons in the Great Lakes. The Dunkirk Lighthouse also contains a veterans museum with an extensive collection of military memorabilia.

Dunkirk Historical Lighthouse and Veterans Park Museum
Dunkirk, NY 14048

Letchworth State Park

Known as the Grand Canyon of the East, Letchworth State Park contains a number of waterfalls and ravines. The numerous falls along the Genesee River carved a gorge with 550-foot rock walls. In addition to the cataracts spread throughout the park, Letchworth also contains New York's highest waterfall. Inspiration Falls plummets nearly 350 feet, making it one of the highlights of the park's impressive natural landscape.

Letchworth State Park
1 Letchworth State Park
Castile, NY‎
(585) 493-3600‎

Article Written By Louie Doverspike

Based in Seattle, Louie Doverspike has been a professional writer since 2004. His work has appeared in various publications, including "AntiqueWeek" magazine, the "Prague Post" and "Seattle Represent!" Doverspike holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Hamilton College.

Write for Trails.com
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