Contents
2017
3 From the President and CEO of Amtrak
5 From the Department of Transportation
Commissioner
6 From Our Readers
7 From the Publisher
8 Amtrak’s New York State Route Map
10 Discounts, Rewards and Services
T ake Y our B ike O nboard 13
F lavor of the S tate —T he A mtrak and T aste NY P arternship 14
S tation S ervices G uide 16
18 Department of Transportation Updates
21 New York City
Where to first? Some of the city’s best bets
S potlight on L ong I sland 28
31 Hudson River Valley
What to do, historic and new
B ald E agles on the H udson 33
T rails & R ails 39
S potlight on C olumbia C ounty 41
42 Amber Waves
New York State’s craft beverage resurgence
45 Albany-Rensselaer
Can’t-miss sites in the Capital Region
D iscover R ensselaer C ounty 49
51 Schenectady
History, art and a vibrant downtown
53 Saratoga Springs
Races, shopping, cuisine and history
S potlight on S outhern S aratoga 56
57 Hop Aboard the Great Dome Car
59 Adirondacks
Pristine wilderness, and lots to see and do
60 Vermont
Explore the Green Mountain State
63 Central New York
Places to play and experience history
69 Syracuse
Plenty of fun, indoors and out
71 Rochester
Where to play and eat in this festive city
72 Meet Amtrak Employees
73 Buffalo
“Buffalove” lasts all year!
75 Niagara Falls
Water adventures, scenery and more
77 Across the Border to Ontario, Canada
Historic city of villages
79 Quebec: Canada
Vibrant French culture and cuisine
80 Special Section: I Love New York
2017 Important Anniversaries and Milestone Celebrations
88 Save These Dates!
Events, fairs and festivals across NYS!
96 A History of New York State’s Empire Service
PHOTOS: (COVER) FRANK JOLIN; (THIS PAGE) KEVIN BURKHOLDER
New York By Rail | 1