2025's Most Underrated Towns In New York

The year 2025 is shaping up to be a great one for travel, and if you live in the northeastern United States, you do not need to stray far to find something new and interesting to explore. Whether you are looking for a weekend escape to the lake, want to learn more about the state's longstanding history, or simply want to save some money and travel locally, there are many hidden gems to check out in New York this year.

Today, we will cover some of these underrated destinations and suggest the best nearby attractions that are open to visit in 2025. From lesser-known, historic ski towns to enjoy this winter to some of the country's most wonderful parks and everything in between, let's dive in!

Hudson

Hudson, located along the eastern shore of the Hudson River, is a beautiful small community just over a 2 hour drive from dowtown New York City. Unlike some of the more crowded tourist spots in the Hudson Valley, it sits just far enough away from NYC, and features enough worthwhile attractions, that it appeals more to those looking to stay for multiple days rather than just an afternoon escape.

Downtown Hudson's Warren Street is a great place to start your visit, as many of the town's best local businesses are located here, including restaurants, boutiques, and hotels. The thoroughfare is particularly known for its selection of cafes and bars that are currently open, like Nolita's Cafe and Gallery or BackBar, making it a nice spot to take a stroll at any time of the day.

Hudson’s historical significance is also worth noting. The town's very well-preserved landmarks and its role as a former whaling port beckons back to its founding in the 1780s. To learn a bit more about the area and see some of the area's natural surroundings in 2025, the Hudson Riverfront Park provides a quiet space to take in river views, and the nearby Olana State Historic Site offers both historical sites and expansive landscapes designed by renowned artist Frederic Edwin Church.

Little Falls

This classic upstate New York town rests along the Mohawk River in Herkimer County and is surrounded by dense forests, lakes, and other gorgeous natural scenery in all directions. Little Falls' name comes from the series of small waterfalls that shaped its early development as a mill town.

Further explore the region's vital waterways at the Canal Place, a historic district that contains the remnants of the Erie Canal and its locks. Here, you can learn about the town’s industrial past at the Herkimer Home State Historic Site, former residence of Revolutionary War hero Nicholas Herkimer.

Little Falls remains connected to its agricultural roots as well, with a huge variety of productive farms in this fertile region of the state. The Little Falls Cheese Festival, held annually in July, celebrates the region’s dairy industry, with artisanal cheese producers from across New York offering samples and sales.

Outdoor enthusiasts can access the Erie Canalway Trail, a 400-mile multi-use path that passes through Little Falls, providing a new place this year for you to go biking, hiking, or simply embark on a canal-side walk.

Ticonderoga

Ticonderoga, situated between Lake George and Lake Champlain, makes for an incredible lakeside destination to visit in 2025. It is a deeply historic place too, with a low-key atmosphere that sets it apart from more commercialized destinations in the Adirondacks.

The town is best known for Fort Ticonderoga, a key site in both the French and Indian War and the American Revolution. The fort offers reenactments, guided tours, and access to the King's Garden, which is a home to historic horticultural practices and themed gardens that continue on to this day.

Besides its historical significance, Ticonderoga supports some surprisingly big local industries. For one, it is home to the iconic American pencil brand, which still produces the classic No. 2 pencils under the Dixon Ticonderoga name. Furthermore, the Ticonderoga Heritage Museum, located in an industrial building that is well over a hundred years old, highlights the town’s other papermaking and graphite-mining histories, along with other local areas of interest.

For outdoor activities, visitors can explore the northern reaches of Lake George via boat tours, or hike Mount Defiance for sweeping views of the surrounding waterways. Ticonderoga’s more remote location means it is less crowded than other lakefront towns in New York, such as the ones in and around the famous Finger Lakes region.

Owego

Owego sits on the banks of the Susquehanna River in Tioga County near the Pennsylvania border. It's notable for its downtown area, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and houses many of its best amenities and landmarks.

One of Owego’s key draws is the Tioga County Historical Society Museum, which features exhibits on local history, including a collection of Native American artifacts and Civil War memorabilia. Moreover, Courthouse Square acts as more of an outdoor museum, and if the weather is good, you can stroll among this urban greenspace and admire the old-school architecture and the community's ornate war memorial.

If you're looking to spend some time outdoors, be sure to visit nearby Hickories Park, which has a network of riverside trails, sports facilities, and campgrounds just east of Owego. The Susquehanna River also provides spots to launch your boat and/or go for fishing.

For a taste of delicious local produce, check out the 43rd Strawberry Festival this summer, attracting visitors with local food vendors, live music, and parades.

Despite its historic charm and access to outdoor activities, Owego remains less frequented by tourists, allowing you to explore its streets and attractions without the crowds typical of more popular Upstate NY destinations.

Delhi

The Catskill Mountains are quite popular, recognized by many across the country. But most choose to stay at more popular towns like Woodstock during their visit. Located in the western Catskills along the West Branch of the Delaware River, Delhi is a truly underrated community in the area that is full of charm that you can immerse yourself in 2025.

Delhi is home to SUNY Delhi, which contributes to a vibrant yet unpretentious art scene. The college's Farrell Center often hosts public events, including theater performances and art exhibits, making it a lesser known, but still worth seeing, cultural hub in New York.

The town is also situated in a very rural portion of the state, one with excellent soil and thus, a sizable community of farmers and gardeners. If this sounds like something you'd want to explore more deeply, make a trip out to the Delhi Farmers' Market, which is held from May to October but only on Wednesday afternoons in 2025. Despite its limited hours, it is a somewhat exclusive highlight for those who want locally grown fresh produce, dairy products, and handmade goods from regional vendors.

The rolling hills of the Catskills are also very well known for the plethora of outdoor adventure you can find in them. Nearby, you can go hiking and fishing in the nearby Delaware Wild Forest, which offers quiet trails and access to numerous natural streams. The West Branch of the Delaware River is also a popular spot for fly fishing.

Additionally, the Delhi Covered Bridge, built in 1870, provides a glimpse into the town’s history, and is an amazing place to visit in the fall when the dense foliage changes color, making a picturesque backdrop for landscape photographers.

Also note that in the winter months, Belleayre Mountain Ski Center sits about a 45-minute drive east of Delhi and is one of the most popular ski areas in New York.

Saranac Lake

Saranac Lake, located in the heart of the Adirondack Mountains, is an often-overlooked alternative to its more popular neighbor, Lake Placid. The town has all the amenities you could want for a weekend trip to the mountains this year, from top-tier lakeside resorts to a well fleshed out culinary scene and beyond.

Find scenic accommodations at almost a dozen different locales like Voco Saranac Lake NY, which sits right on the shores of Lake Flower, or the Ampersand Bay Resort, a wonderful hotel that overlooks the larger Lower Saranac Lake nearby.

Serving as a main gateway to outdoor activities in the Adirondacks, make a point of getting out to some of the area's quieter lakes and forests, which provide opportunities for paddling, hiking, and cross-country skiing, while the Saranac Lake 6er hiking challenge draws adventurers to climb six local peaks.

The town's history as a former tuberculosis treatment center adds a unique dimension as a current tourist destination. The Saranac Laboratory Museum offers you an interesting window into this chapter, featuring exhibits on medical history and the town’s role as a health destination. The town's historic “cure cottages,” where patients once stayed, can also be seen, with numerous sites like Camp Intermission and Adirondack Cottage Sanitorium serving as a couple of still-standing examples.

Batavia

Batavia is located almost exactly midway between Buffalo and Rochester. Known as the birthplace of Western New York, Batavia played a key role in the development of the Holland Land Company, which helped settle much of the region in the earliest days of the 1800s. Today, the Holland Land Office Museum is housed in a historic stone building from the period and hosts exhibits on local history, including artifacts related to early pioneers and notable residents.

The region is notable for its vast farmlands, where regional farmers sell fruits, vegetables, and greenhouse products, some of which are open to the public, like Underhill Farms just north of Batavia. The town also hosts the annual Genesee County Fair, one of the longest-running fairs in New York that puts on livestock exhibitions, local craft vendors, and other traditional fair attractions the whole family can enjoy.

For something a little more active, you can explore the nearby Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, a cool spot known for its web of hiking trails, prime birdwatching locations, and even seasonal hunting.

Youngstown

If you're keen on seeing the Great Lakes in 2025, then Youngstown should be on your to-do list as the weather begins to warm up. Located at the mouth of the Niagara River on Lake Ontario, this is a wonderful lakeside destination with a longstanding history, as well as numerous attractions for all interests.

Youngstown’s waterfront is a major draw, as it provides access to fishing, sailing, and other kinds of boating on the vast waves of Lake Ontario. The town’s marina and the adjacent Niagara River Recreation Trail also attract visitors looking for a quieter alternative to the busy Niagara Falls area.

The nearby Four Mile Creek State Park is the place to go for more on-land activities outdoors, containing well-maintained walking trails with views of Fourmile Creek, sandy beaches on the Lake Ontario Shoreline, picnic areas, and campgrounds.

The town is home to Old Fort Niagara. Adjacent to Fort Niagara State Park, this landmark is a 17th-century fortification that had seen several important conflicts in America's past, including the French and Indian War, the American Revolution, and the War of 1812. The fort now offers year-round reenactments, various exhibits, and guided tours, providing in-depth knowledge about the area's eventful military history.

Explore Smalltown New York this Year

Make 2025 a time for adventure, whether it's in the great outdoors or within New York's many historic small towns. From the scenic Hudson Valley to its highly overlooked western half, those living in the northeast have many easy to access options to explore a truly underrated destination this year.

Use this list as a way to start planning your next outing, and see a variety of other places in New York you never knew existed along the way!