2. Canoeing and Kayaking in New York's Adirondack Mountains
When Albert Einstein needed a respite from his research, he would head to Lower Saranac Lake, or so say the folks at Ampersand Bay Resort and Boat Club. And Bela Bartok composed here. Sensing a trend? Follow their lead.

The Adirondacks are as majestic as the Rockies and as wild as Alaska. You can rent a canoe or kayak in the town of Saranac Lake for as little as $35 a day. Take to the water and listen for loons while camping in a lean-to. Or paddle by day and then relax in one of the "great camps" like White Pine on secluded Osgood Lake (it was the summer White House for President Coolidge).

Ampersand Bay pays homage to the past but has updated facilities. A suite atop its lakefront boathouse is $2,450 per week; a more modest cedar hewn cabin is about $1,500. Canoes, kayaks, and loons are complimentary.

Away.com's New York Travel Guide has even more ideas for enjoying the Empire State.