A Taste of New York State

Fly from the UK to New York City, USA.

Three nights at the Arlo SoHo put you right in the middle of downtown Manhattan. Spend your first days finding your feet in the city, with a guided food tour taking you through some of its most interesting corners, from old world delis to modern bakeries. Once the jet lag settles, you're ready for the drive north into New York State proper.

Drive north into Dutchess County and the Hudson Valley, where the Inn at Bellefield in Hyde Park makes a good overnight stop. Hyde Park is home to the Culinary Institute of America and the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library, both worth an hour or two if timing allows. It's a quieter pace after Manhattan, with the Hudson River and the surrounding farmland setting the scene for the days ahead.

Continue north to Saratoga Springs, checking into the Inn at Saratoga Springs for two nights. The town built its reputation on its mineral springs, and Congress Park is still the place to sample them, alongside the surrounding gardens and the town's Gilded Age architecture. Saratoga's racecourse and downtown restaurants give the evenings their own pace.

From Saratoga Springs, the drive continues west to the Finger Lakes and three nights at the Inns of Aurora Resort & Spa on the shore of Cayuga Lake. Your Finger Lakes Crafts & Drafts Pass, an experience covering the region's wineries, breweries and cideries, is yours to use at your own pace across one of America's most established wine regions.

The route west takes you through Rochester, worth a stop for a Garbage Plate, the city's own late night diner classic piled with meat, home fries and a distinctive hot sauce, before continuing on to Niagara Falls. Two nights at The Giacomo Hotel put you within walking distance of the falls themselves, and the US Niagara Falls & Maid of the Mist Tour gets you close enough to feel the spray.

Drive from Niagara Falls to Buffalo, the city where Buffalo wings were first served. It's worth stopping for a plate before your flight home, a fitting last taste of New York State ahead of the journey back to the UK.