From NYC to Lake Placid, Wesley Gray heads to New York State to find out what's on offer for clients looking for a winter wonderland experience
I Love NY, the New York State Division of Tourism, recently put the spotlight on the destination’s vast winter tourism offerings on an adventure-centric trip from New York City to Lake Placid.
The FAM, which was coined Winter Wonderland, spanned five days and featured some of the state’s lesser-known destinations, highlighting the diverse landscape and tourism opportunities available in winter season.
The weeklong adventure kicked off at the TWA hotel with the I Love NY team providing an introductory presentation highlighting the locations across the state that thrive in the colder months such as Lake Placid and the Catskills.
For clients looking to kick-off their journey in NYC, The TWA Hotel at JFK Airport has redefined the hotel experience by blending historical preservation with modern luxury. The hotel is housed in the iconic TWA Flight Center, designed by Eero Saarinen in 1962. Beyond the property itself, the food and beverage offerings were nothing short of mouthwatering, from the food hall to the Paris café and the London-inspired bar, Connie Cocktail Lounge.
For those who want to experience the local craft brewery scene, the first stop on our tour came roughly an hour outside of New York City at Two Farms Brewing. The farm and brewery were founded by two couples who migrated from metropolitan New York to Sullivan County to launch their venture. Following the tour of the property, the head brewmaster provided some insights about the brewing process and how beer is made from malt, hops, yeast, and water.
After enjoying the freshly brewed samples, the group hopped in the SUVs and made the short trip to Holiday Mountain to experience a true local New York State mountain adventure.
Additional stops in the Catskills included a stop in Resorts World Catskills and the Driftwood Ranch, a property designed by architect and rodeo cowboy, “Cowboy Steve”, that’s home to more than a dozen thoroughbred horses and a herd of longhorn steer. Curated for luxury travel, the property has five upscale suites available for daily and weekly rentals which include ranch activities and select meal packages.
Further north, the FAM continued at the Roscoe Mountain Club, a golf course-turned-all-season resort in the heart of the Catskills. The last leg of the trip required the group to travel through the quaint rural New York state towns enroute to Lake Placid, the final destination of the Winter Wonderland FAM.
The Golden Arrow resort, nestled in the heart of Lake Placid downtown and right on the shore of Mirror Lake, welcomed the group to the home of the 1932 and 1980 winter Olympic games. The first stop in Lake Placid was a guided tour of the Olympic Museum, which recently received a US$ multi-million makeover and is also the home to the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” hockey between USA and The USSR. Additional stops in lake Placid included a visit to the Wild Center in Tupper Lake, a natural history museum.
For clients looking for their own Winter Wonderland experience, New York State has a lot to offer. For more information on what awaits, visit www.iLoveNy.com.
