The ultimate NY road trip: 62 quirky attractions that deserve a spot on your bucket list

New York boasts countless unique, off-the-beaten-path attractions, from bizarre museums to unusual cemeteries, forgotten local heroes and quirky art installations.

We’ve uncovered 62 of these hidden gems — one from each county in the Empire State. Have you visited any of them yourself?

Albany County

Nipper

If you head to the Capital Region, you can stop by and say hello to the 28-foot-tall dog statue, Nipper! Based on a photograph of a real-life dog, Nipper served as the mascot of the RCA Victor Company for over a century and weighs a whopping 4 tons. The black and white canine statue was once the tallest object in the Albany landscape, so much so that a guidance beacon was attached to one of his ears to protect him from being damaged by low-flying planes.

Location: 991 Broadway, Albany

Allegany County

Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame

The Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame (BKBHOF) is the only hall of fame dedicated to celebrating past and current bare-knuckle boxers, according to Allegany County’s travel website. Located in Belfast, BKBHOF is housed in the barns where the storied bare-knuckle boxer John L. Sullivan trained for his last fight. Pay a visit to “knuckle town” in Western New York to learn more about this sport’s history.

Location: 5 Hughes St., Belfast

Bronx County

Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto

Nestled amid the hustle and bustle of the Bronx sits Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto. Built in 1939 for $10,000, the grotto is a replica of a French grotto where a 14-year-old girl claimed to have seen the Virgin Mary in 1858. The grotto is part of St. Lucy’s Roman Catholic Church and is popular among parishioners and neighborhood residents alike, believed to hold the same healing qualities as the waters in the French grotto. The grotto is located south of the Williamsburg section of the Bronx, east of the Bronx Zoo and the New York Botanical Gardens.

Location: St. Lucy’s Church, 833 Mace St. (at Bronxwood)

Broome County

Final resting place for Exterminator and Sun Briar

An underdog horse from Upstate New York named Exterminator defied 30-1 odds to win the Kentucky Derby. A last-minute replacement for the injured Sun Briar, owned by Binghamton’s Willis Sharp Kilmer, the unexpected victory made Exterminator one of thoroughbred racing’s most improbable champions. Both Exterminator and Sun Briar are buried in a pet cemetery near Binghamton’s Ross Park Zoo, which is open to the public.

Location: Whispering Pines Pet Cemetery, 2850 Gardner Road, Binghamton

Cattaraugus County

Griffis Sculpture Park

Cattaraugus County boasts one of the nation’s oldest and largest sculpture parks: Griffis Sculpture Park. Located in Ashford Hollow and East Otto, the park is unique in that each of the 250 large-scale pieces is designed to be played with and climbed on, making it an ideal spot to bring kids.

Location: 6902 Rohr Road, East Otto

Cayuga County

Copper John

The “Copper John” statue, depicting a Colonial soldier, has stood atop the Auburn Correctional Facility’s walls since 1821. Created by inmates, this unique figure has become a symbol of the maximum-security facility. Due to weathering, the statue has been replaced periodically, with its most recent restoration prompted by concerns about its anatomical accuracy. Historically, a sentence to Auburn was referred to as “going to work for Copper John.”

Location: Auburn Correctional Facility, 135 State St., Auburn

Chautauqua County

Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum

Located in the comedy legend Lucille Ball’s hometown of Jamestown, the Luci Desi Museum has welcomed visitors from across the globe for over 25 years. The museum features exhibitions celebrating the careers and lives of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, “The First Couple of Comedy,” ranging from their life stories to the creation of Desilu Studios and their lasting impact on American comedy. Visitors can take pictures of set replicas and see costumes from the hit sitcom in person.

Location: 2 W. Third St., Jamestown

Chemung County

Hellmira Prison Camp Monument

Elmira was the site of a notorious Civil War prison camp known as Hellmira. Confederate soldiers perished there at an alarming rate due to overcrowding and deplorable conditions, according to the American Civil War Museum. The camp, designed for 6,000 prisoners, held twice that number, leading to a horrific death toll. Within its first year, 3,000 of the 12,000 inmates died. Today, a memorial stands as a somber reminder of this tragic chapter in Elmira’s history.

Location: Near Water and Gould Streets, Elmira

Chenango County

Northeast Classic Car Museum

There are over 170 vintage and classic cars — and 28 motorcycles — for visitors to marvel over at the Northeast Classic Car Museum. Voted the No. 1 place to go in Norwich on TripAdvisor, the museum features five connected, climate-controlled buildings for visitors to explore.

Location: 24 Rexford St., Norwich

Clinton County

Clare and Carl’s Red Hot Stand in Plattsburgh is a North Country culinary landmark. This region of Upstate is known for its unique hot dog style, oddly called Michigans — a spicy, savory sauce similar to Texas hots. A local favorite for generations, Clare and Carl’s serves the beloved Michigans from a humble, slightly leaning building. In 2022, a historical marker honoring Michigans was erected near Clare and Carl’s, which is believed to be the specialty’s birthplace.

Location: Clare and Carl’s Hot Dog Stand, 4729 Route 9, Plattsburgh

Columbia County

Green Chair

Also called the “Big Easy Chair,” this 8-foot-tall sculpture was created in 2010 by the late Australian artist Leon Smith. The sculpture sits in front of the Roeliff Jansen Community Library and was meant to encourage viewers to curl up with a good book. If you have a little more time on your hands, a 20-acre sculpture park featuring more of Smith’s work is located in Ancramdale, roughly 25 minutes away from the Green Chair.

Location: 9091 NY-22, Hillsdale

Cortland County

John McGraw statue

John J. McGraw, a legendary figure in baseball, excelled as both a player and the longtime manager of the New York Giants. A pioneer and innovator, McGraw was a dominant personality in the sport’s early 20th century. Intriguingly, after his death, his wife discovered a secret list of Black players he hoped to sign once baseball’s color barrier was lifted. Today, a prominent monument in his hometown of Truxton commemorates this beloved native son and Hall of Famer, inducted in 1937.

Location: John J. McGraw statue, Main Street, Truxton

Delaware County

Hancock House Hotel

Eddie Murphy, an outfielder for the infamous Chicago “Black Sox,” was the only starting player untainted by the 1919 World Series scandal, earning him the fitting nickname “Honest Eddie.” Fittingly, the bar at the Hancock House Hotel in his hometown of Hancock is named “Honest Eddie’s Tap Room.” Murphy was born in the hotel, owned by his parents, and the bar displays a small collection of his memorabilia, including old photographs and newspaper clippings.

Location: Hancock House Hotel, 137 E. Front St., Hancock

Dutchess County

The Fork in the Road

Ever heard of the “fork in the road”? Well, in Milan, you can actually see one! A 31-foot tall stainless steel fork marks the literal fork in the road for travelers coming off the Taconic Parkway and heading toward Red Hook or Rhinebeck.

Location: Intersection of Route 308 and Route 199, Milan

Erie County

Vidler on the Roof

In downtown East Aurora, a giant statue of Ed Vidler, a founder of Vidler’s 5&10 Store, waves from atop the family’s department store. Known locally as “Vidler on the Roof,” this figure stands as a landmark for the store, which boasts an astounding selection of over 100,000 items and calls itself the largest five-and-dime in the world.

Location: Vidler’s 5&10 Store, 676-694 Main St., East Aurora

Essex County

Tahawus Ghost Town

Tahawus was the company town of the Adirondack Iron Works, an iron extraction and smelting company that operated until 1857 when it went dormant, according to The Adirondack Council. Near the abandoned town, on the trail to Mount Marcy, then-Vice President Teddy Roosevelt was informed of President McKinley’s death and learned he had become president of the United States. Visitors can explore the eastern ghost town, including going inside buildings.

Location: 7 miles off Route 28N in Tahawus

Franklin County

Wilder Homestead

Almanzo Wilder, born in Malone, married Laura Ingalls in De Smet, South Dakota, on Aug. 25, 1885. He shared stories of his rural upbringing with his wife, who transformed them into “Farmer Boy.” While Laura achieved greater fame with her “Little House on the Prairie” series, “Farmer Boy” remains an American classic. The Almanzo Wilder Farm near Malone, the only original home on its original site featured in the Little House books, is now a museum and tourist destination, according to its website.

Location: Almanzo Wilder Farm, 177 Stacy Road, Malone

Fulton County

Glove Theatre

Gloversville, once the glove-making capital of the United States, employed a third of its population in the industry, boasting over 200 manufacturers, according to the Glove Theatre’s website. While those days are gone, the city retains a playful reminder of its prosperous past: the Glove Theatre.

Location: Glove Theatre, 42 N. Main St., Gloversville

Genessee County

Jell-O Gallery Museum

Jell-O’s origins are in Genesee County, and the official Jell-O Gallery Museum in Le Roy offers a fascinating look at its history. Visitors can explore vintage advertising displays, listen to classic jingles, and browse what’s arguably the best gift shop of any Upstate museum. The museum addresses the age-old rumor about a human brain and a Jell-O mold emitting identical electromagnetic waves. True or false? They’ll tell you the answer!

Location: Jell-O Museum, 23 E. Main St., Le Roy

Greene County

New York’s Mount Rushmore

Zadock Pratt, founder of Prattsville and once owner of the world’s largest tannery, channeled his wealth and resources into creating the town that carries his name. At the southern entrance to Prattsville, Pratt Rock features a series of hand-carved emblems within a cave-like formation accessible by a hiking trail. Robert Ripley famously dubbed it “New York’s Mount Rushmore,” according to the Great Northern Catskills of Greene County website.

Location: Route 23, Prattsville (a large sign and parking area denotes the location)

Hamilton County

The Miniature Route 66

Over 14 years, John Van Buiten and his friend Richard Koert meticulously constructed their own miniature Route 66 in Speculator, beginning with a gas station in 2000, the Adirondack Explorer reported. Each 96-square-foot structure — a nod to the American road trip and Van Buiten’s honeymoon — was built over a year, often using salvaged materials. The collection includes a church, a post office, a general store, a barber shop, a school and an ice cream parlor, all meticulously furnished with antique objects.

Location: State Route 30, Speculator

Herkimer County

Herkimer Diamond Mines

Herkimer County’s rocks are home to abundant gemstones. Double-terminated quartz formed almost 500 million years ago and fills the rocky terrain, and because of the gems’ unique geometric shape, they resemble diamonds. Visitors can mine for their very own Herkimer diamond and enjoy other amenities the mine offers.

Location: 4626 State Route 28, Herkimer

Jefferson County

Watertown’s Area 51

Watertown’s Thompson Park is unassuming at first glance but is home to a site with numerous reports of paranormal activity. With eyewitnesses claiming to be transported to different times and places and leaving the park disoriented, this is a stop superstitious thrill seekers won’t want to miss. The vortex even received it’s own designation sign from the town in 2013.

Location: Thompson Park, Watertown

King’s County

A brave little boy’s coins

An unusual memorial to a plane crash victim exists in Brooklyn. Following a mid-air collision over Staten Island in 1960, one of the planes crashed in Park Slope. While over 100 passengers and crew members perished in the crash, 10-year-old Stephen Baltzm of Wilmette, Illinois, survived for 24 hours — the sole survivor’s struggle capturing the city’s prayers. Tragically, he succumbed to his burns. According to the Brooklyn Public Library, the change he carried in his pockets that day is now affixed to a memorial plaque in the chapel of NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, bearing the inscription that reads: “Our Tribute to a Brave Little Boy.”

Location: New York Methodist Hospital, Phillips Chapel, 506 6th St., Brooklyn

Lewis County

Lady LaWinDa Milkzalot

Lady LaWinDa Milkzalot, a 10-foot tall, 15-foot long fiberglass cow, reigns supreme as the largest cow in New York. This oversized mascot of Lowville, home to the largest Kraft cream cheese plant in the U.S., is visible from the highway. Known for her ever-changing wardrobe, including summer hats and sunglasses, Lady LaWinDa embodies the town’s connection to cream cheese, a relationship celebrated annually at the September Cream Cheese Festival.

Location: Lady LaWinDa is in front of Lowville Producers Dairy, Route 12 and Route 26, Lowville

Livingston County

Clara Barton’s House

Dansville may seem an unlikely birthplace for the American Red Cross, but it was here that Clara Barton established the organization’s first chapter in 1881. Barton, who lived in Dansville for many years, launched this pivotal humanitarian effort in the Western New York village, the Red Cross notes on its website. Today, the site houses an active Red Cross office and a small museum honoring Barton’s legacy.

Location: American Red Cross Chapter #1, 57 Elizabeth St., Dansville

Madison County

The Yellow Brick Road

L. Frank Baum, author of “The Wizard of Oz,” was born in Chittenango on May 15, 1856, and the village celebrates his legacy in countless ways. The largest event is the annual Oz-Stravaganza, a popular festival featuring parades, presentations, celebrity appearances, and all things Oz. Perhaps the most whimsical tribute, however, is Chittenango’s sidewalks, which are literally paved with a yellow brick road (albeit one made of stamped concrete to withstand winter) lining both sides of the business district.

Location: Downtown Chittenango

Monroe County

Parkside Whispering Pines Miniature Golf

Housed in a neighborhood north of Rochester, the Parkside Whispering Pines Miniature Golf Course is the oldest in the country. Opening in 1930, the course offers a nostalgic experience — windmills, painted creeks, a lighthouse — and its historical significance earned it a place on the National Register of Historic Places.

Location: 4353 Culver Road, Sea Breeze, Irondequoit

Montgomery County

Our Lady of Martyrs’ Shrine

Deemed the National Shrine of the North American Martyrs and the birthplace of Saint Kateri Tekekwitha, this site is known for being the place where three Jesuit missionaries were killed during the 1640s for their faith — the first and only martyred saints of North America. The shrine is considered among the holiest places across the state and is open to the public to visit and attend services.

Location: 136 Shrine Road, Fultonville

Nassau County

Centennial Gardens

Nestled in 12 acres, this garden served the village of Floral Park for over 70 years as an active storm basin. The basin collected stormwater in several receptacles before passing it along to a larger basin. Now, thanks to the village’s volunteers, the basin has been transformed into a public garden, complete with walking trails and wildlife.

Location: Floral Parkway and Raff Avenue, Floral Park

New York County

McSorley’s Old Ale House

Famously the last bar in the city to admit women, McSorley’s has a rich history. In its early days, the owner provided a turkey dinner for local soldiers departing for World War I. These “doughboys” then hung their wishbones on a ceiling wire, hoping to retrieve them upon their return, according to the bar’s website. For decades, the wishbones of those who never made it home have remained, a reminder of their sacrifice, suspended above the heads of patrons in New York City’s oldest Irish bar.

Location: McSorley’s Old Ale House, 15 E. 7th St., New York City

Niagara County

The Upside Down Bridge

Near Lockport’s famous “Flight of Five” locks sits an unusual structure known as the “Upside Down Bridge.” This bridge features supporting trusses hanging below the deck rather than above. While the exact reason for this design remains unknown, local lore suggests it was a deliberate attempt by competing railroads to limit the size of vessels using the Erie Canal and its locks.

Location: Lockport, “Flight of Five,” below the famous stair-step canal locks

Oneida County

Fort Stanwix National Monument

Opened in 1976, the Fort Stanwix National Monument commemorates the original fort, which protected the Oneida Carry as European nations fought for control of the portage. The Fort Stanwix National Monument offers a full-scale reconstruction of the original fort built in 1758 by the British during the French and Indian War and occupied by Americans during the Revolutionary War.

Location: 100 N. James St., Rome

Onondaga County

Liverpool Willow Museum

Liverpool, known for its iconic salt potatoes, also boasts a lesser-known history as a prominent basket-making center. The abundant reeds surrounding Onondaga Lake provided ideal material for crafting large, durable baskets, and forming a thriving industry that dominated Liverpool’s economy. The Liverpool Willow Museum showcases this heritage, displaying baskets donated by residents whose ancestors were instrumental in the trade. The museum offers workshops and exhibits, offering a unique glimpse into this fascinating aspect of Liverpool’s past.

Location: 314 2nd St., Liverpool

Ontario County

Two-story brick outhouse

Phelps is home to the only two-story outhouse in America. Built in 1869, the Victorian-style outhouse is still attached to the back of Howe House, which serves as the historical society for Phelps. In case you’re interested, it’s a six-holer – three up, three down.

Location: 66 Main St., Phelps

Orange County

Museum Village

The Museum Village of Old Smith’s Clove is a living museum dedicated to exploring and interpreting late 19th-century small-town America. From rural town life to the evolution of industry and technology, Museum Village spans from approximately 1875 to 1910. The museum includes a log cabin, a blacksmith, a drug store and more.

Location: 1010 State Route 17M, Monroe

Orleans County

Under the Erie Canal

While roads and paths often run alongside the 363-mile Erie Canal between Albany and Buffalo, there’s only one spot where you can drive under it: Medina. This short, unassuming tunnel offers a unique thrill for all drivers and passengers. Even Robert Ripley and his “Believe it or Not” recognized the unusual nature of this Erie Canal underpass, as a sign at its entrance proudly declares.

Location: Culvert Road, Medina

Oswego County

H. Lee White Maritime Museum

Nestled in Oswego Harbor and the historic maritime district, the H. Lee White Maritime Museum once served as the offices, quarters, workshop and powerhouse for a 1,000,000-bushel grain elevator, designed to capitalize on grain shipments on the Lake Ontario to St. Lawrence River commercial route. Today, the museum holds over 4,000 artifacts, including some vessels, and offers tours of the Oswego West Pierhead Lighthouse.

Location: 1 W. First St., Oswego

Otsego County

The Cardiff Giant

The 1869 discovery of the Cardiff Giant on Stub Newell’s farm caused a national sensation, sparking debate about its authenticity. This seemingly real, over 10-foot tall, nearly 3,000-pound figure was, in fact, an elaborate hoax with creators even adding realistic touches like needle pricks to the “skin,” according to History.com. Today, the Cardiff Giant resides at the Feinmore Farm and Country Village in Cooperstown, where it remains a major attraction.

Location: 5775 State Route 80, Cooperstown

Putnam County

Gold Star Mother’s Memorial

In a Carmel public park stands the Gold Star Mother’s Memorial, one of Upstate New York’s saddest statues. This sculpture depicts a World War II mother clutching a phone receiver, a crumpled telegram in her hand and a broken flower pot at her feet — symbols of losing a son to the war effort. Since 1928, thousands of mothers who have lost children in combat have displayed the Gold Star flag in their windows, a tradition this memorial represents.

Location: Putnam County Veterans Memorial Park, Gipsy Trail Road, Carmel

Queens County

Louis Armstrong’s grave

Louis Armstrong, the legendary jazz icon, is easily recognizable by his gravelly voice, signature “oh, yeah,” his trumpet and ever-present white handkerchief. His grave in Queens fittingly bears the inscription “Satchmo” and features a marble trumpet atop a white marble handkerchief, a tribute to the man and his legacy.

Location: Flushing Cemetery, 163 4th St., Flushing. (Plot is in section 9)

Rensselaer County

Uncle Sam statue

Sam Wilson, a prominent meatpacker during the War of 1812, accidentally became the inspiration for Uncle Sam. His role of marking meat barrels for the military with “US” led to the association with Uncle Sam. Wilson’s meatpacking business in Troy once shipped 5,000 barrels of meat and pork annually, according to the New York State Museum website. Today, his gravesite is marked with tributes to his status, and a larger-than-life aluminum statue of Uncle Sam stands proudly in downtown Troy.

Location: Near Riverfront Park, downtown Troy

Richmond County

The Godfather house

Located at 110 Longfellow Drive, the Godfather House — an iconic movie house — is visible from the street, according to the Smithsonian Magazine. The house’s exterior was used in numerous scenes of “The Godfather,” and recent owners renovated interior areas to resemble the Corleone estate. The house is even listed on Airbnb for diehard fans.

Location: 110 Longfellow Road, Emerson Hill, Staten Island

Rockland County

Last Stop U.S.A. statue

Camp Shanks was the largest World War II embarkation base in the U.S., according to the Historical Marker Database. Over a million soldiers came, trained and shipped out from the camp. Large transports would load the men up at the Hudson River, take them down and around the Statue of Liberty, and on to Europe for D-Day. It is estimated that 75% of all soldiers involved in the D-Day invasion came from Camp Shanks. The camp was known as “Last Stop U.S.A.” An emotional statue of a soldier waving goodbye to his buddies reminds us that many of the GIs did not return.

Location: Piermont Pier along the shore of the Hudson River in Piermont

St. Lawrence County

Largest roll of Life Savers Candy

The Largest Roll of Life Savers Candy stands as a tribute to Gouverneur native and Life Savers founder, Edward J. Noble. Originally, five of these 10-foot-long candy icons adorned the Life Savers headquarters in Port Chester. After the facility closed, the sole surviving roll was gifted to Gouverneur. (For the record, it’s Pep-O-Mint flavored.)

Location: Main Street, Gouverneur

Saratoga County

Arnold Boot Monument

Benedict Arnold, a Continental Army officer, is now primarily remembered for his infamous act of treason. However, a less-known fact is that he sustained three leg injuries during the war. The last injury at Saratoga was the most severe and plagued him throughout his life. A unique monument on the Saratoga battlefield commemorates Arnold’s injured leg, depicting his boot, pants and stirrups at the spot he fell, according to the National Park Service.

Schenectady County

Wedgeway Barber Shop

The Wedgeway Barber Shop is the self-proclaimed oldest in New York State. First opening its doors in 1912, the Schenectady shop offered a shave and haircut, with all the features of a classic barbershop — chrome and leather seating; pump-up barber chairs, the whirling red-white-and-blue barber pole outside the window; and all the combs and brushes cleaning themselves in a glass jar of blue liquid on the old marble counter top. The cash register is original, so it only goes up to $9.99, the price of a basic cut.

Location: 277 State St., Schenectady

Schoharie County

Old Stone Church

When 1,000 Loyalists and Indians laid siege to this stone fort in 1780, the walls stood and the attackers moved on. Built as a Reformed Dutch Church in 1772, the fort was an integral protector of the villages and the people of the Schoharie Valley over the years, and today is a museum, according to its website.

Location: 145 Fort Road, Schoharie

Schuyler County

Brick Tavern Museum

Step back in time at the Brick Tavern Museum, housed in a brick building constructed as a tavern in 1828. The museum is the oldest brick structure in Schuyler County and is filled with historical treasures ranging from Civil War muster rolls to vintage souvenirs from Watkins Glen State Park.

Location: 108 N. Catherine St., Route 14, Montour Falls

Seneca County

Scythe Tree

In 1861, Wyman Johnson, a young Waterloo man, thrust his scythe into a Balm of Gilead tree before departing for the Civil War, promising his mother he’d retrieve it upon his return. However, he died during the war — leaving his blade behind. Decades later, in 1918, two brothers repeated this act, hanging their scythes in the same tree as they went off to fight in World War I. But luckily, they returned. Today, three scythes, including Johnson’s original, and an American flag adorn this tree, creating a unique roadside memorial, according to Roadside America.

Location: On State Route 5 halfway between Waterloo and Geneva (mailbox number is 841)

Steuben County

Canisteo’s living sign

In Canisteo, Robert Ripley found the “World’s Largest Living Sign.” Behind the Canisteo-Greenwood school building, you can see the word CANISTEO spelled out on the small hillside. The sign is made up of 260 pine trees, according to Canisteo’s village historian, and was planted in 1933 by Harry Smith and Ed Childs.

Located: Behind the Greenwood-Canisteo school (Easily seen from the street)

Suffolk County

The Big Duck

Long Island farmer Martin Maurer constructed a colossal concrete duck to advertise his duck farm in 1931. At 18-feet wide, 30-feet long and 20-feet tall, the giant bird has become a popular photo opportunity in Flanders for both locals and tourists. The Big Duck is often adorned with festive lights during the Christmas season. Its preservation is overseen by a local group known as the Friends of the Big Duck, ensuring this national landmark remains a beloved attraction.

Location: Route 24, Flanders

Sullivan County

American flag made of bagels

Monticello is the official “Bagel Capital of the World,” a proclamation from New York’s Legislature declared in 2012. The first mass-producing bagel machine was invented here. The city holds an annual Bagel Festival and Monticello Bagel is still the go-to place for a bagel and a schmear. Just inside the front door, you will find a huge American flag made out of a red, white and blue bagels, according to the bakery’s website.

Location: Monticello Bagel, 475 Broadway, Monticello

Tioga County

Sherman tank

An important piece of history stands proudly outside the VFW Post 8104 in the village of Waverly. The green Sherman — the American tank credited with helping the Allies win World War II — is parked on the side of Broad Street beside a small memorial park. Pay the tank a visit and reflect on the brave heroes who sacrificed so much to protect the United States.

Location: 206 Broad St., Waverly

Tompkins County

TreeTops six-story treehouse

Ithaca boasts a forest canopy treehouse that is a whopping six stories tall. The treehouse, which is part of the Cayuga Nature Center, is officially named TreeTops and offers those brave enough to climb it a bird’s eye view of the center, forest and neighboring waterfall.

Location: 1420 Taughannock Blvd., Ithaca

Ulster County

Opus 40

Just outside Saugerties, you will see the amazing 6-acre bluestone sculpture known as Opus 40. The wandering piece of art encompasses ramps, bridges, walkways, stone pedestals, gracefully curving walls and jagged cliffs. It was all laid by hand by local quarryman Harvey Fite in 1939.

Location: 50 Fite Road, Saugerties

Warren County

Cherry gondolas

In 1967, Gore Mountain became the first New York ski center to use ski lift gondolas, according to the ski area’s website. More than half a century later, these red “cherry gondolas” can be found dotting the landscape of the village of North Creek. They are popular photo ops for tourists and are even used as wedding backdrops.

Location: The gondolas are located around the village

Washington County

Birthplace of pie a la mode

The old sign out front of the Cambridge Hotel declared for years the food niche for which this once glorious Saratoga Springs-area grand hotel was known: It was the birthplace of pie a la mode. A wealthy guest, professor Charles Townsend, ordered the never-before-offered warm pie with a dollop of ice cream on top in the 1890s, according to the county’s tourism website. It was such a hit that it soon appeared on the menus of fancy restaurants across New York.

Location: Cambridge Assisted Living Center, 4 W. Main St., Cambridge (the sign and other hotel historical items can be found on the main floor near the grand staircase)

Wayne County

Venus Rising from the Sea

In the heart of Wolcott sits an unusual fountain: a nude Venus, discreetly draped to avoid distracting drivers. Surrounded by cherubs, this cast iron statue, titled “Venus Rising from the Sea,” was installed in 1913.

Location: Main intersection, downtown Wolcott

Westchester County

History of Sing Sing

In the past, the worst bad guys were sent “up the river to the big house” to the infamous Sing Sing Prison, as described in an old New Yorker article. Today, a free museum chronicles the prison’s history, featuring a replica of “Old Sparky,” the state’s original electric chair.

Location: Caputo Community Center, 95 Broadway, Ossining

Wyoming County

New York’s Gaslight Village

The village of Wyoming welcomes you with a sign telling you that they are New York’s Gaslight Village. The village was built over a natural gas field which today heats many of the homes and lights the old-fashioned gas lamps along the village’s sidewalks.

Location: Flickering natural gas lamps can be seen throughout the village

Yates County

World’s largest pancake griddle

Penn Yan decided to celebrate its fame as a buckwheat producer by making the world’s largest pancake — and succeeded. On Sept. 27, 1987, the whole town got together and started creating a flapjack of monstrous proportions. It was so big that a concrete mixer truck was brought to mix the ingredients. A large fire cooked the pancake and, at just the right moment, the huge homemade griddle was flipped by a crane, according to Roadside America. The Guinness Book of World Records certified the village’s achievement. The world’s largest pancake griddle still hangs off the exterior wall of the Birkett Mills Company, sharing Penn Yan’s fame with all that pass by.

Location: 1 E. Main St., Penn Yan