Explore the Wonders of Fall in Central New York

Photo courtesy of Howe Caverns

As we embark on the autumn season, we slowly remember all of the beauty that it holds; the crispness of the air, the leaves bursting into the many colors of the rainbow, and the tasty fall inspired treats that we've all come to enjoy. There's something about the transition from summer to fall that creates the perfect ambient atmosphere to relax. Winding down from the fast paced craziness of the summer is never an easy task, but a weekend getaway in Central New York will help you embrace the amazing opportunities that fall has to offer -- walk through an underground cave, experience a live theatrical production, visit a National Historic Landmark, enjoy a unique wine slushy, and try your luck at a roulette table! With everything from small towns to big cities, the central region of New York State offers visitors wide variety of experiences!

Howe Caverns:

(29.2 miles from Amsterdam Amtrak station)

If you're looking for a trip that provides the perfect balance of historical value and excitement, look no further than Howe Caverns. Here, you will find the largest cave in the Northeast that is available to the public, with about 160,000 visitors each year. Being the second most-visited natural attraction in New York State, Howe Caverns is the perfect get-away activity for families, couples, and all those who wish to be a little more adventurous. Well-trained guides provide tours uncovering the deep myths of this land which was carved by water throughout millions of years. Visit the Cavern's most recent addition, "Howe High Adventure," featuring a number of seasonal attractions including a four-tower zip line, Sky Trail ropes course, a 26 foot climbing wall, and air jumper. There's also a new 6,000 square foot Gemstone mining building open year-round, allowing for visitors to go gemstone panning for semi-precious minerals. New for 2015, experience the thrill of the haunting adventure that is the Howe Haunted Lantern Tour. Join the exploration of the mysteries and legends of the cave while ghost hosts take you on a special two hour lantern tour.

                                                                                        Rome Capitol Theatre

                                                                                   (1.4 miles from Rome Amtrak station)

Photo Courtesy of Rome Capitol Theatre

Classic theatre and performance fans from all over the world gather to experience the hidden gem of Downtown Rome's historic Capitol Theatre. After undergoing a number of renovations since its opening in 1928, this 1,788 seat performing and visual arts space with its original Möller theatre organ, has become one of Upstate New York's most iconic attractions. The theatre holds over 100 performances a year featuring live theatrical performances, dance programs, classic silent and talking films, and world famous big bands such as Glenn Miller, Artie Shaw, and Tommy Dorsey. Maintaining its traditional sconces and chandeliers accompanied by Spanish-Morrocan themed colors, and modernistic geometric designs, this classic theatre provides visitors with a historical and cultural experience.

Old Fort Johnson

(1.3 mile from Amsterdam Amtrak station)

The Old Fort Johnson limestone house, originated in 1749, was the residence of Sir William Johnson. The British Superintendent of Indian Affairs, and hero of the Battles of Lake 

Photo courtesy of Old Fort Johnson

George and Fort Niagara resided in the home throughout the French and Indian War. Today, seasonal tours of this national historic Landmark describe the social, cultural, military and industrial past of the Mohawk Valley. A $4 entry fee will get you inside the home of the British Loyalist, where you may experience a wide array of themed events such as the "Voices of the Past," where a host will lead you through a guided candlelight tour with historic readings from the days of the French and Indian Wars.

Villa Verona Vineyard

(11.5 miles from Rome Amtrak Station)

Photo courtesy of Villa Verona Vineyard

Visit Central New York's premiere winery, Villa Verona Vineyard. The first of its kind in Oneida County, this intimate winery provides visitors with great offerings and quality. The vineyard produces its own Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, and other blends. Wine tastings are offered daily, Wednesday through Sunday, where guests may enjoy a variety of sweet to dry wines and try a unique wine slushy made from special blends. After a long day of wine tasting, head down to the beautiful gift shop where you will find yourself surrounded by a variety of gifts worth treasuring including hand-painted glassware, clothing apparel, accessories and much more.

Turning Stone Resort Casino

(10.2 miles from Rome Amtrak station)

Located just 1.7 miles west of Villa Verona Winery, the Turning Stone Resort Casino is a world-class resort owned and operated by the Oneida Indian Nation. Whether you like to spin the wheel, deal the deck, or roll the dice, Turning Stone Resort Casino brings to the table a broad range of your favorite games. In addition to 120,000 square feet of gaming, guests enjoy the abundant amenities including the Skanka Spa, five golf courses, eleven specifically themed nightlife venues and twelve dining lounges. The resort

Photo courtesy of Turning Stone Resort Casino

holds live entertainment and events in an intimate 800 seat cabaret style showroom. The venue hosts everything from chart topping singers and stand-up comedians to full scale musical productions. For the 2015 fall season, Turning Stone welcomes their 4th annual, "3 Nights of Horror." Guests, ghosts, ghouls, and goblins won't want to miss their chance at winning over $10,000 in cash prizes for three nights only.

There is no better way to spend the brisk fall season than by hopping on a train and going on an adventure. Amtrak knows just how to get you to your destination. Need another reason to get away for a weekend? Amtrak is running tons of promotions to make your travel needs easier including their Enterprise deal, where you may earn 50 Amtrak Guest Rewards points per day each time you rent, or redeem your current points for a free car rental. For more ways to enjoy a weekend in these cities, check out New York By Rail.

Have Some Fun at 2015’s Food and Drink Festivals

Have Some Fun at 2015’s Food and Drink Festivals

Whether you’re a food, beer or wine lover, there are some great offerings out there in the coming months. Food and drink festivals are being held all across New York state, and here are seven that we recommend you to check out! All are accessible via Amtrak’s fine, scenic routes: 

Montreal Beer Fest 

22nd Annual Montreal Beer Fest (takes place at Montreal Convention Center, 0.5 miles from Montreal Amtrak): Beer lovers and professional brewers will commence from June 10-14 this year at the Montreal Beer Festival. Not only will there be beer tastings, but workshops will be held where attendees can learn the art of beer brewing. Founded in 1994, this event is a hallmark of the brewing industry in Quebec and its success has led to similar showcases in Rio de Janeiro and Europe. Admission to the event itself is free, but the samplings of beer go at a rate of one dollar per ounce. 

NYC Bourbon Bash (takes place in multiple locations in NYC, you can get to all of them via Penn Station Amtrak): On June 13, at eight different bars, you can enjoy the best bourbon the Big Apple has to offer hopefully without blacking out! For $65, you can also indulge in great food and rock out to great music. A portion of all the proceeds go to various non-profit and charitable organizations. Tickets are to be ordered online and you must check in from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm sharp. The event goes on until 10:00 pm.

Saratoga Brewfest 

Saratoga Brewfest (located at the Saratoga County Fairgrounds, 6.6 miles from the Saratoga Springs Amtrak): Also on June 13, the Saratoga Brewfest will showcase some of the best local, regional and national craft beers along with great live music. More than 75 breweries are expected to participate with over 250 brews available to taste in samples. The event will also feature speakers from the craft brew industry. The festivities go on from 2:00 pm-5:00 pm, but VIPs can enjoy from 1:00 pm-5:00 pm. General admission tickets are $45 in advance and $55 at the door, while VIPs get in for $60. 

Empire Brew Fest

World of Beer Empire Brew Fest 2015 (takes place in the Chevy Court at the New York State Fairgrounds, 4.1 miles from the Syracuse Amtrak): For its 2015 outing, going from June 26th to 27th this year, this annual festival returns to Syracuse with more brewers and craft beers to go around. There will also be a Cornhole Tournament and interactive games which will test your knowledge of craft beer in addition to Giant Jenga and Giant Scrabble games for groups of friends to enjoy together! For those who are not big beer connoisseurs, there is a wine festival this year as well attached to the annual festivities. Admission breaks down like this: all day samplings are $35, the pay as you go rate is $10, and the designated driver rate is $5.

Little Falls Cheese Festival (takes place in the historic West End of Little Falls, NY, 21.6 miles from Utica Amtrak): On July 11, the scenic town of Little Falls, NY will host its annual festival showcasing delicious cheeses of all kinds. Plenty of other related products will be on hand as well, including yogurt, artisanal breads, jams and handcrafted cutting boards. Local restaurants will also be participating in a competition for the best pizza, which is the town specialty. Live music will be there, and just added is a one-act mystery play entitled “Where’s the Cheese?” performed by the town’s theater company. Admission is free, and you can call Utica Enterprise for pickup from the station to the event at (315) 736-0002.

Bounty of the Hudson Wine and Food Festival (takes place at Benmarl Winery, 11.2 miles outside the Poughkeepsie Amtrak): From July 25-26, you can sample some of the Hudson Valley Region’s finest wines and produce from local restaurants. All fourteen wineries located in the Shawangunk Wine Trail are participating this year. Along with the wines, visitors can sample local cheese, honey and baked goods while listening to some great live music. Admission is $28 and your ticket will cover the samplings from each of the wineries, the live music, and a souvenir Shawangunk Wine Trail glass. There are bus and taxi services at the station. 

Buffalo Wing Festival 

The National Buffalo Wing Festival (takes place at the Coca-Cola Field in Buffalo, .2 miles from the Buffalo-Exchange Street Amtrak Station): This festival is known as the Super Bowl for the chicken wing industry, with total attendance of over 865,000 people and 4.5 million wings served since it began in 2002. This year it will take place from September 5-6. Participating restaurants showcase their wing sauces in a competition for best sauce known as the National Sauce-Off. Other competitions include the United States Buffalo Wing Eating Championship, the Baby Wing Contest, the Amateur Wing Sauce Competition, the XXXHot Wing Eating Contest, and bobbing for wings in a bowl of blue cheese. All weekend there will also be live music and trivia contests. Admission is $5 per day, but children under 8 get in for free. Tickets are available for purchase at the gate.

There’s food and fun for everyone this year! So come on down and dive into some of the best in food and drink that each of these locations has to offer. You can get to each one of them through Amtrak , and as always, you can look into our discounts for additional savings, including our 15% discount courtesy of ILOVENY. For any other inquiries, visit the New York By Rail website.

Celebrate Spring at These Festivals

After a long, cold winter, the temperature is finally rising and the weather is getting beautiful. It's time to head outdoors and celebrate the season. New York is home to tons of events that welcome spring; between the flower festivals and food and drink festivals, there is plenty going on to keep you busy every weekend.


Buffalo Cherry Blossom Festival - Buffalo was hit hard by snow this winter, but they're ready for a "springtime blizzard" of cherry blossoms and flowers at the Buffalo Cherry Blossom Festival. The event takes place from May 2 - 9 in the Japanese Garden in Delaware Park; the focal point is the bright pink cherry trees and admission is free! Events during the week-long celebration include a tea ceremony, a tree planting, traditional Japanese performances and more. Buffalo-Exchange Street Station is 5 miles from Delaware Park.

Hudson Valley Garden Fair - The Hudson Valley Garden Fair is a great event for those with a green thumb- and even those without one! Guests can listen to a lecture on gardening, tour historic gardens, and shop the many plant and garden vendors in attendance on May 2 at Montgomery Place in Red Hook. The garden fair is 7.5 miles from the Rhinecliff-Kingston Amtrak Station.

Photo from Flickr by Liz Lawley

Rochester Lilac Festival - The history of the Rochester Lilac Festival dates back to 1890, but the tradition has remained in place and has continued to grow. From May 8 - 17, go to Highland Park to enjoy 10 days of beautiful spring blooms and live music, as well as art shows and shopping for lilac products and souvenirs. Admission to the festival is free, though a few events, like the wine and chocolate tasting, require guests to purchase tickets. The Lilac Festival is 2.5 miles from Rochester Amtrak Station.

The Albany Tulip Festival - Stroll through Washington Park and admire over 100,000 tulip bulbs in full bloom at The Albany Tulip Festival. The festival takes place on May 9 & 10, and ends with a Mother of the Year Award on Sunday, Mother's Day. Other events include the Tulip Queen Coronation and the Royal Tulip Ball. The festival is free to the public, though the Royal Tulip Ball and the Tulip Queen and Court Luncheon require guests to purchase tickets. The Tulip Festival is 2.5 miles from the Albany-Rensselaer Amtrak Station.

Ninth Avenue International Food Festival - The Ninth Avenue International Food Festival is the oldest and largest food festival in New York City. On May 16 - 17, visit the vendors that line Ninth Avenue between 42nd and 57th Streets, offering samples of food from all over the world. In addition, there are tons of merchants selling jewelry and crafts, as well as international entertainment. The festival is about 1 mile from New York-Penn Station.

Photo from Flickr by Benjamin Golub

Hudson-Berkshire Wine and Food Festival - Head to the Columbia County Fairgrounds on May 23 - 24 for the 3rd Annual Hudson-Berkshire Wine and Food Festival. The $25 admission fee covers your souvenir tasting glass, as well as all of the beer, wine and spirits samples you care to try. For food, there will be meats, cheeses and baked goods for sampling and sale. The festival is 13.2 miles from the Hudson Amtrak Station.


New York is coming alive after a long winter. Head outdoors to one of these great festivals located throughout the state. Take an Amtrak train to these destinations for a fun weekend away, and get there using a discount. For more information about these destinations and other getaway ideas, check out New York By Rail.