Thinking of a city break in New York?

Read our brief city guide to New York below to help you decide if a weekend getaway or short break in New York is what you want, then click on New York short break packages to view our short break packages to New York.

New York City – known to many as the Capital of the World! Harlem is one of New York City's and one of New York State's great treasures. Its long and rich history traces back to 1637, when it was first settled and named New Haarlem after a small town in Holland. After the Dutch immigrants of the 17th century and the Jewish immigrants of the 19th century, a wave of African-Americans arrived from the south in the 1920s.

Begin your tour in Albany, at the New York State Capitol. Here you can get a sense for the history of New York and its people. Take a guided tour of the Capitol building, located on State Street, which was completed in 1899. Walk through the adjacent Empire State Plaza, where you can enjoy viewing mammoth contemporary paintings, part of the largest public modern art collection outside of a museum. You'll also want to spend time at the nearby New York State Museum.

Take a bicycle tour through the Hudson Valley, an area blessed with world class attractions for visitors interested in recreation, art, culture, history, general entertainment, superb restaurants, the breathtaking beauty of the countryside, or local wineries and farmers markets.
New information published by the Adirondack Park Visitor Interpretive Centers in Paul Smiths and Newcomb opens up a whole world of little known pleasures for visitors to the 6 million-acre park. "Family Camping Itineraries in the Adirondack Park" offers detailed information on the attractions, scenic roads, fishing, boating, history and New York State campgrounds close to all the fun. Itineraries include a "Lake Champlain Compass of History" tour, the "Tri-Lakes Traverse" tour and the "Adirondack Heydays" tour, with details about canoe and boat launches, garnet mines, swimming and more.