Don slickers and power launch on a Maid of the Mist boat tour to the base of the falls. Walk down a winding staircase in the Cave of the Winds and see the Bridal Veil Falls through the mist. Or hover overhead by helicopter and photograph one of nature's most powerful forces from above. Other attractions in the area, including State Parks Visitors Center, the New York Power Authority and the Schoellkopf Geological Museum, describe the history, technology and geology of the falls. Back to top Dip in to New York State's Lakes New York is blessed with thousands of crystal lakes for the idyllic lakeside vacation, perfect for swimming, waterskiing and boating.
Cruises are popular on many of the larger New York State lakes.
Many communities have private lakeside rentals and resort hotels. Chautauqua Lake in Western New York offers camping, resorts and sailing. The 11 Finger Lakes, which Native Americans believed were formed by God's hand pressing into the land, are set amongst rolling countryside rich with vineyards. The lakes, with Native American names like Seneca, Cayuga and Keuka, host lakeside communities with such European names as Naples, Geneva and Ithaca. Lake Champlain is one of the largest lakes in the United States.