For the past couple of months individuals have become accustomed to staying at home and finding new ways to stay busy – especially with virtual events. However, more and more regions across New York state are reopening, with phase four just around the corner for many Upstate NY areas and phase three for Mid-Hudson.
What does phase four mean? Well, many attractions, museums and more are going to be open for visitation again. It is a perfect time to start planning for when you feel comfortable traveling.
So where should you visit? Take a virtual tour of New York’s best virtual offerings and experiences right now. Love one of the listings? Plan your next trip to the brick and mortar via Amtrak when the attraction reopens. For those still in earlier phases, like downstate New York, make sure to fill your calendar with the virtual option until it is safe to travel.
Photo courtesy of Fort Ticonderoga. Fort Ticonderoga is offering an online virtual “Soldier’s Life” program for those interested.
Perfect for History Lovers
Thomas Cole Historic Site is hosting a variety of online experiences for people of all ages. Children can check out the virtual views and coloring activity with PDF coloring pages ready to be printed. Alternatively, the Historic Site is also offering curriculum-based writing prompts designed for K-5 and 6-12. For those who want to visit the grounds and building exteriors now, use the “Explore at Your Own Pace” digital education guide.
Catskill, NY | 5.1 miles from HUD | Phase Three
Fort Ticonderoga is offering online programs, at-home activities, an online collection database and more. Grouped by age level, visitors can find activities ranging from building a 1776 Soldier’s Hut to 1774 A Soldier’s Mess Cooking Activity. Learn about a soldier’s life with lessons about personal equipment, food and clothing.
Ticonderoga, NY | 1.0 miles from FTC | Phase Three
Hudson Reality Capture allows for a 3D tour of several different museums. Explore the spaces of the Albany Heritage Area Visitors Center, the Burden Iron Works Museum, Rensselaer Model Railroad Society, Rare 19th Century Urban Horse Stables and more. The virtual 3D tours allow for you to walk through on your own while reading the detailed information boxes.
Various Locations | Phase Three
Photo courtesy of Don Stahl, Dia Art Foundation, New York. The Dia: Beacon is currently closed at this time but stay up to date with virtual events online.
Want to Brush up on Your Art Skills and Knowledge?
Dia: Beacon is publishing videos and podcasts with a Watch & Listen initiative while its doors remain closed. Tune in to talks with individuals like Donna De Salvo and Yasmil Raymond or find out more about book launches like The Art of Return by James Meyer.
Beacon, NY | 12.4 miles from POU | Phase Two
Albright-Knox Art Gallery is offering a handful of different events like a Descriptive Teleconference Tour which welcomes adults who are blind or partially sighted to learn about selected works, or Virtual Art Today designed for individuals with early-onset dementia. Beginning in July, the Gallery is offering a Virtual Summer Art Class for several different age groups.
Buffalo, NY | 6.3 miles from BFX | Phase Three
George Eastman Museum has it all. Think hands-on activities, digitized films, virtual talks, virtual tours and even music playlists. Someone from all ages will find something to enjoy at home. Learn how to make a flipbook or a pinhole camera, color pages of film stills from the Moving Image Collection, cook Onions Au Gratin from George Eastman’s Camp Cookbook or visit the YouTube channel for past lectures and new tutorials.
Rochester, NY | 2.0 miles from ROC | Phase Three
Photo courtesy of the Museum of Food and Drink. The museum is temporarily closed at this time. Stay tuned for COVID-19 updates on their site.
Food-Guru’s Galore
Taste of Buffalo isn’t letting the coronavirus end the fun! This year it is at home for all to enjoy. The 37th year of the nation’s largest two-day festival is taking place on July 11-12. Mark your calendars now. Although it is now hosted online, there is still going to be cooking demonstrations, live music, contests, games and more. See what else you need to know here.
Buffalo, NY | 0.8 miles from BFX | Phase Three
The Culinary Institute of America is offering expert advice and tutorials for everyone from a prospective student to a veteran chef. Learn how to cut carrots, fill a pastry bag, make chicken broth or how to sharpen your knife skills. They even are offering recipes made from ordinary, pantry staples.
Poughkeepsie, NY | 3.1 miles from POU | Phase Two
The Museum of Food and Drink is hosting Instagram Lives every Friday at 3 p.m. with champion of Food Network’s Chopped Eric Kwan. Viewers are encouraged to send an email with the subject line “Pantry Challenge” to info@mofad.org where they can submit up to five ingredients for Chef Eric Kwan to create a dish.
Brooklyn, NY | 6.0 miles from NYP | Phase One
Photo courtesy of Power Yoga Buffalo. At this time, Power Yoga Buffalo is hosting Zoom classes throughout the week while its doors remain shut due to COVID-19.
Relax at Home
Rainbow Body Yoga is bringing exercise to you! Every day of the week, excluding Tuesdays, the studio is hosting online, live classes for $10. Each class is taking place via Zoom. Join in on a Monday morning for Align & Flow with Barbara Eichin or wind down the week with the Spirit Love Yoga session on Saturdays with Paige McNamara.
Red Hook, NY | 7.6 miles from RHI | Phase Two
Omega Institute knows just how overwhelming 24/7 family time can be. Thankfully, they have put together an online resource for coping ideas, stating “Self-care is essential for both you and the children.” View quick videos to show your children how to execute the superhero pose, how to put them to sleep with bedtime yoga or try the family-friendly walking meditation.
Rhinebeck, NY | 10.5 miles from RHI | Phase Three
Power Yoga Buffalo is offering a number of yoga classes via Zoom throughout the week. Wake up early and join the 6 a.m. session with Lauren on Tuesdays or catch Ashley at 7 p.m. on Thursdays. There is a time offered by Power Yoga Buffalo that works for everyone!
Buffalo, NY | Elmwood location 3 miles from BFX | Phase Three
The Wolf Conservation Center hosts several live webcams of the endangered wolves. The Wolf Conservation Center is closed at this time.
See What These Animals Are Up To
Aquarium of Niagara is posting informational videos on both its website and its Facebook page about a variety of different underwater animals. Take a closer look at coral, clownfish and anemones, California sea lions, octopus, jellyfish and more.
Niagara Falls, NY | 1.3 miles from NFL | Phase Three
The Wild Center is hosting a variety of different at-home experiences while the grounds remain closed. Stream one of the live cams to see marsh turtles, otter pups, otter falls or a peak at the landscape of Whiteface Mountain. At the Wild Content Hub you can find videos of trained dogs tracking Adirondack moose, learn about the good and the bad of mosquitoes and more. However, one of the best ways to stay connected with The Wild Center is through the live educational distance learning programs on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11 a.m.
Tupper Lake, NY | 62.6 miles from WSP | Phase Three
Wolf Conservation Center is giving us a peak into the private lives of its “ambassador” wolves, Alawa, Zephyr and Nikai, and seven elusive packs of critically endangered wolves. Complete an ethogram to find out exactly what the wolves behavior means. Find out more about the livestream here.
South Salem, NY | 21.3 miles from CRT | Phase Two
Photo courtesy of the RMSC. While they are temporarily closed at this time, they are offering several online activities.
A Fan of All things Science?
Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science & Technology (MoST) is offering mini-experiments and informational tid-bits on its Facebook page. Learn how to measure volume, make a homemade spectroscope, make a mini rain barrel and more. Anyone who is interested in physical science, engineering design, earth and space science or life science, then this is for you!
Syracuse, NY | 3.5 miles from SYR | Phase Three
Museum of Innovation and Science (miSci) is posting fun and engaging educational videos from miSci educators. Learn about zodiacal constellations, Betelgeuse and Orion. Or, see how cryptography and soundwaves work. This is perfect for all ages.
Schenectady, NY | 0.7 miles from SDY | Phase Three
Rochester Museum & Science Center (RMSC) has a collection and library that is going to keep anyone busy for days. The collection has everything from books about outer space to media of historic interviews. All you have to do is search the online catalogue. Additionally, RMSC is offering an online forest school, astronomy course, virtual planetarium shows, science story times and science experiment videos throughout the week.
Rochester, NY | 1.6 miles from ROC | Phase Three
Get Started On Your Virtual Tour!
In short, it is the perfect time to stay busy at home while thinking about a future trip. If you enjoy one of these events, make sure to start thinking about planning your next trip to visit them via Amtrak.
Take Amtrak to Any of These Locations
Experience these destinations via Amtrak when the time is right —Don’t forget to use Amtrak’s See New York and Save 15% discount!
Rent a car with Enterprise! Pick up your reserved NYTRAIN Enterprise Rent-a-Car right at several of the Amtrak stations. Use discount code NYTRAIN.
