While spring may be unpredictable with a frequent mixture of both sunny and rainy days, we've created the ultimate bucket list here at Only In New York that will help you enjoy this season to the fullest. From outdoor activities to the perfect places to take shelter from the rain, there's something for everyone on this exciting list. Ready to start filling up your calendar adventures? Then keep scrolling to see what we've got in store for you.
1. Take a hair-raising walk across the Fall Creek Suspension Bridge.
Walk 140-feet above Fall Creek at Cornell University's jaw-dropping suspension bridge. Spanning across 270-feet, you'll be able to feel the bridge moving and even slightly bouncing as you walk across it. An exciting stroll to add to your day, you can read more about this bridge if you click here.
2. Come and meet April the Giraffe at Harpursville's Animal Adventure Park.
Out in Broome County just a half-hour outside of Binghamton, the Animal Adventure Park will be opening on May 16th. Home to over 200 animals, the most famous resident of New York's Animal Adventure Park is April the Giraffe. To read more about all the different animals that you can meet, click here.
3. Hike around one of New York's most unique bodies of water at Green Lakes State Park.
One of the only meromictic lakes in the world, Green Lake will blow you away with its jaw-dropping clarity and vibrant color. A lake you can not only hike around but also swim in, you can see right to the bottom of Green Lake since the water experiencing no turnover. To see more gorgeous photos and footage of this breathtaking state park, click here.
4. Take a getaway to the Finger Lakes with an overnight stay at Mill Creek Cabins.
Out in the small town of Lodi where you're just minutes away from New York's only national forest, Mill Creek Cabins sits on 40-acres of secluded land in the Finger Lakes. At Mill Creek Cabins you'll have your breakfast delivered to your door in a basket each morning, you can walk around and explore the property that overlooks Seneca Lake. To read more about why you'll love to stay at these cabins, click here.
5. Spend the night and dig for diamonds at Herkimer Diamond Mines.
Made up of three Herkimer diamond mines, visitors of this unique outdoor adventure can dig for their own diamonds! Also featuring its own campground full of charming cabins and even a luxury treehouse that you can spend the night in, the diamond mine experienced a terrible fire last year but is thankfully back open for business for you to enjoy. To read more about what this diamond mine has to offer, click here.
6. Get out of the rain and experience what it's like to go skydiving indoors.
Located in Yonkers, iFly Westchester is the only place in New York where you can enjoy indoor skydiving. Visitors of iFly Westchester can fly inside of a wind tunnel and experience what it's like to go skydiving, all without having to jump out of a plane! To read more about what you'll experience at iFly, click here.
7. See how spring transforms Akron Falls Park into a luscious sea of green.
A stunning gem of Erie County, Akron Falls Park features short hiking trails that will lead you to Akron Falls and have you walking along Murder Creek. Flowing at 40-feet tall, Akron Falls is amazing to check out during the spring when New York is experiencing all of that seasonal rain that makes our waterfalls look so beautiful. To see what it's like to explore this park and to find out more, click here.
8. Take the family to the Medina Railroad Museum for a Day out with Thomas.
Featuring one of the world's largest model train layouts, the Medina Railroad Museum is packed full with more than just amazing local history. Taking place this year on May 19th, 20th, 26th, and 27th, visitors can a Day out with Thomas where you'll get to ride on the famous tank engine himself and enjoy tons of other Thomas-themed fun. To read more about why you'll love this little museum, click here.
9. Experience the UFO Capital of the East Coast during Pine Bush, New York's UFO Fair.
Happening this year on Saturday, May 19th, Pine Bush, New York will be hosting their annual UFO Fair. Known for being the UFO Capital of the East Coast, this small town in Orange County has a long history of experiencing encounters with extraterrestrial beings. To learn more about how this town came to be so well-known and what the residents here have experienced, click here.
10. Get out on the St. Lawrence River with Uncle Sam Boat Tours.
Right in the heart of the Thousand Islands, Uncle Sam Boat Tours operate from April through October each year. Offering a variety of boat rides that will take you around the St. Lawrence Region and even take you into Canadian waters, Uncle Sam Boat Tours also provides the shuttle from Alexandria Bay to Boldt Castle starting on May 12th this year. To find out more about what you can experience with Uncle Sam Boat Tours, click here.
11. Now that the snow's melting away, you can finally test your bravery by going for a memorable drive down the Upper Delaware Scenic Byway.
Stretching across 70-miles of New York, down near the Pennsylvania and New Jersey borders you can find our state's most curvy road. Roughly an hour and a half drive from start to finish, the scenic byway takes you through Delaware, Sullivan, and Orange Counties as you wind along this jaw-dropping road. To read more about what you can expect while driving along this byway, click here.
12. Take a walk out to the ocean through Fire Island's Sunken Forest.
A 1.5-mile long boardwalk that takes you through New York's Sunken Forest and out to the ocean, this amazing trail is unlike any other in our state. One of the few Maritime Holly Forests that exist in the world, hiking along the Sunken Forest Nature Trail will make you feel like you're in another world. To read more about this amazing trail, click here.
13. Take a ride up to the Adirondacks and hike to Kunjamuk Cave.
A cave that's surrounded by mystery, no one has ever seemed to quite figure out how Kunjamuk Cave came to be! Within the town of Speculator in Hamilton County, explorers can go for a quick hike that will lead them to a cave that's 15-feet deep and 8-feet wide. The perfect adventure for the whole family, you can read more about the legends of this cave if you click here.
Need more ways to stay busy this season? Then read about how You Can't Miss These 12 Spring Festivals In New York That Are Right Around The Corner!
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