This blog has been updated to reflect current information Saranac Matt Brewing Company Central New York Distance from Utica Station (UCA): 1.3 miles The Saranac Matt Brewing Company is a must-see destination in Utica. Located right in Central New York, and under the leadership of the fourth generation of the Matt family, the Saranac Matt Brewing Company serves a vast variety …
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Howe Caverns: Tour & Stay
Editor's Note: This blog was updated from a past New York By Rail experience visiting Howe Caverns Roaming through limestone corridors, vast galleries and beneath colossal boulders, I’m 156 feet below the earth’s surface in a cave, six million years in the making. With strange formations, flowing sheets and dripping stalactites, the solid rock walls appear fluid-like. Continuing down a [...] Continue reading
Travel with Pets on Amtrak: Tips & Guidelines
Don’t leave your furry friend at home this #holiday season! Make a reservation to #travel with your pet on @Amtrak. #travelingwithpets #petsonamtrak #amtrakpets #holidaytraveling
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Where the Railroad Meets the Farmer
A train trip through Upstate New York aboard Amtrak takes you past many farms; fields of corn, apple orchards, and dairy cows flashing by outside the window. Yet there is one place along the Empire Corridor where the state’s cornucopia of agricultural abundance comes in direct contact with our intercity passenger rail system - the farmers market at the Utica [...] Continue reading
Placing My Toes in The Travel Waters: To Utica for a Haircut, via Amtrak
Amtrak is requiring face masks during the coronavirus pandemic to ensure the safety of its customers. Between my last haircut in January and my cancelled March appointment, my hair became like wearing a sweater. While mostly in isolation, outside life was keeping an eye on a horse, tending to a veggie garden, and indoor – binge watching of movies. I [...] Continue reading
Home Run!
New York By Rail publisher, Tom Martinelli, an avid baseball fan, caught-up with Jeff Idelson, president of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.
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Celebrating New York Maple Weekend
Visit maple producers across NY to learn about the sugarmaking process, its traditions and taste pure maple syrup in its many forms – right from the source!
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Best Ski Resorts in New York
New York has some of the best places to ski in the Northeast! Avoid getting cabin fever by visiting some of the best ski resorts in New York.
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Adventure Tours at Howe Caverns
After getting a first taste of the jagged rock formations and glimmering waters that lurk below the surface of Howe Caverns, you can journey deeper into the mysterious caves. The Howe Caverns Adventure Tour goes beyond that of the traditional tours, giving amateur spelunkers a bolder subterranean experience.
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Make Lasting Memories on the Erie Canal
A gentle breeze brushes my hair as I take a seat at the bow of the Lil’ Diamond III. As the clouds dissipate, the sun breaks through and shines above the ceaseless stretch of tree-lined and crystalline waterway ahead. Today, I’m cruising the Erie Canal.
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Day Cruise on the Erie Canal
A gentle breeze brushes my hair as I take a seat at the bow of the Lil’ Diamond III. As the clouds dissipate, the sun breaks through and shines above the ceaseless stretch of tree-lined and crystalline waterway ahead. A structure appears in the distance, and a group of passengers flood onto the benches around me. We gape upward as the boat glides casually beneath an imposing guard gate, a guillotine-style gate designed to isolate sections of the Erie Canal in the case of an emergency.
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The “New” Erie Canal Turns 100
Although the canal was first completed in 1825, it was re-routed and enlarged in a massive 28-year project ending in 1862, which resulted in an essentially new canal. Its present-day course and configuration opened to navigation in 1918, marking 2018 as the 100th anniversary of New York’s storied waterway in its current form.
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The Class of 2018: Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
For baseball fans, the National Baseball Hall of Fame is a must-see. A nonprofit museum committed to the preservation of baseball history, the Hall celebrates the game’s legendary players, managers, umpires and executives and is a repository of archives, artifacts and exhibits.
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The Fabulous Beekman Boys
Hosts of the Cooking Channel’s, The Fabulous Beekman Boys, magazine publishers and hosts of seasonal festivals that attract visitors from around the world, Brent Ridge and Josh Kilmer-Purcell oversee what NASDAQ calls “one of the fastest growing lifestyle brands in the country”.
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Happy 50th Anniversary Empire Service!
The Empire Service has not only survived the ups and downs of the last half-century but also become a mainstay among New York rail-travelers. What the future holds for intercity service in Upstate New York is hard to predict, but hopefully, the high-speed rail service will continue to serve the public.
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Discover New York’s Museums with Don Wildman
Greetings, fellow travelers! Thanks for joining me on my sprawling journey to New York’s amazing collection of museums. I’ve embarked – with the generous help of New York By Rail and I Love New York – on a statewide odyssey to explore the astonishing depth and breadth of a distinctive collective community — New York’s museums, learning a few of the remarkable things they have to teach along the way.
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Amber Waves – Craft Beverage Industry in NYS
Craft beers, cider and spirits return to New York State. Think of American alcoholic beverages, and chances are your mind wanders West, to Colorado’s mountains, Kentucky’s pot stills and St. Louis’s breweries—toward endless Midwestern fields of grain. But it wasn’t always that way. In the early 1900s, New York State was a leader in brewing cider and beer and distilling spirits. …
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New York’s Top Craft Breweries and Distilleries
New York’s travel expert Josiah Brown, aka the New York Sherpa, lists some of his favorite craft breweries reachable with Amtrak and Enterprise.
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9 Ways to Celebrate the Arrival of Spring
With the wacky weather this year, it looks like the warm weather is finally here to stay. Tulips will be seen peeking from the ground and the sun making its way from behind the clouds. It’s time to head outdoors and embrace all this newfound beauty. Fortunately, there are a number of events throughout New York State accessible via Amtrak …
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Baseball Stadiums reachable via Amtrak
Whether you’re a hardcore sports fanatic or someone who is simply looking for a fun outdoor event, baseball games are an exciting experience for the whole family. You’re not tied down to only sitting on the bleachers, however. You may also enjoy some of the other recreational activities offered by the stadiums, or visit the Baseball Hall of Fame in …
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See Incredible New York Landmarks on Amtrak
What’s That? | NY Landmarks | New York By Rail Have you ever looked out the window of a train and seen a beautiful building or landmark fly by? On Amtrak routes across New York, there are many impressive sights that will catch your eye!
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6 Not-To-Miss St. Patrick’s Day Parades
St. Patrick’s Day parades, which once served as a way to comfort homesick Irish immigrants, now attract crowds across cultures, states, and religions. So you don’t have to be Irish to celebrate! Here are six exciting parades across New York State that are all accessible by Amtrak:
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