Visiting, yes. Moving, no.

If you've never visited New York State before, there is a lot worth doing, even beyond the city. I believe the worst thing you can do as a tourist here is stay within the walls of Manhattan. What tourists don't seem to understand is that Manhattan is not New York. The city is not a real place, it's a mish mosh of transplants, tourist traps, pricey clubs and eateries, and office buildings. It's a figment of your imagination that all the New York movies and TV shows you've watched over your lifetime have created in your head. I stress this: it's not real. If you visit, I implore you to hop on the train and visit the boroughs. Queens and Brooklyn, in my opinion, have the most to offer.

 

Before you visit though, here is the most important piece of advice I can give you: stand aside. If you don't want to get cussed out, pull over to a side when you want to stop and look at something or figure something out. I don't know why people can't seem to grasp this simple concept, but the sidewalk/aisle/escalator/whatever is not yours; you're in a city of 9 million people, be respectful and stand aside. Also, while we're on helpful tips, please use your feet like you have somewhere to go. If you can't walk quickly and start holding up people behind you, again, stand aside and let them pass. New Yorkers get a rap for being rude, but this isn't really the case. Getting from point A to point B in a timely fashion is part of our culture (ever heard of the term "New York minute?"). We all have things to do and places to be. You wouldn't go to a foreign country and disrespect that country's culture, so please don't come to NYC disrespecting ours.

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Anyway,  I digress. Traveling across the state isn't difficult and can introduce you to so much more than just taxis and bright lights. You can take the Long Island Rail Road into Nassau and Suffolk Counties, take the Metro North upstate, or take an Amtrak to the parts of the state that Metro North doesn't travel to.

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If you're into cities, this is the best it's gonna get, so New York is the spot for you.

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If you're into the outdoors, we have part of the Appalachian Trail, Niagara Falls, lots of camping, hiking, and skiing opportunities upstate.

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If you're into beaches, we have that. They're disgusting, but we definitely have them lol.

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If you're looking for a coastal getaway, we have the Hamptons and Fire Island for you.

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If you're looking for a real-life Epcot experience, we have Queens, the most diverse place in the world, here for you.

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Honestly, no matter what you're looking for, you're basically guaranteed to find it somewhere in New York State. Yes, that includes the 8% taxes on our already astronomical prices (we're talking $8 for a well shot or a beer during happy hour), but it's worth it.

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If you're interested in visiting, feel free to peruse my NYS travel ideas down below!