The Empire State is a diverse place, dotted with sophisticated cities, soaring mountains, tranquil lakes and hundreds of miles of coastline. So it’s no surprise that New York offers an array of memorable outdoor settings for meetings, events and activities.
From thundering Niagara Falls to the scenic eastern tip of Long Island and from the towering Adirondacks to the unforgettable skyline of the Big Apple, planners find interesting places to connect groups to the outdoors. Following are a few ideas in some of the most popular regions.
Delaware Park, Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy, Greater Niagara
www.bfloparks.org
Stretching across 350 beautiful acres, Delaware Park is the most prominent part of Buffalo’s green oases designed by renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted in the late 19th century. To enjoy the picturesque setting, groups most often use the area around the Marcy Casino, a historic structure that sits near Mirror Lake.
“The Marcy Casino in Delaware Park is our premier location, with multiple indoor and outdoor settings for groups to meet at a classic waterfront location,” says Thomas Herrera-Mishler, CEO and president of the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy. “Boating on the lake in historically accurate, handmade wooden boats is a highlight in the summer months. The panoramic vistas of the park can be breathtaking.”
Additional warm-weather outdoor settings in the park include the Rose Garden, which features more than 30 flower beds with multiple varieties, and the Japanese Garden, which was constructed in 1974 by Buffalo’s sister city, Kanazawa.
Holiday Valley, CHAUTAUQUA-ALLEGHENY
www.holidayvalley.com
Located in Ellicottville, about 50 miles south of Buffalo, Holiday Valley is a year-round resort in the midst of a $13.9 million upgrade. During the warmer months, groups can make use of the newly renovated Double Black Diamond golf course, which introduced a new golf clinic this year, while the winter season translates to excitement for skiers, with access to 56 slopes and 13 lifts.
“The most unique thing about having an event at Holiday Valley is the surroundings,” says Kristen Sciara, the resort’s assistant director of marketing. “It’s just so beautiful. It’s like a vacation with a meeting. We have some really great team-building activities like our Sky High Adventure Park.”
This year, Holiday Valley’s newest outdoor venue, the Sky High Adventure Park, debuted Zip to the Bottom, a series of six zip lines that allows visitors to travel breathtakingly from the park to the base. In December, the resort will open the Holiday Valley Lodge, a new facility with 10 meeting rooms and three reception rooms. PageBreak
Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion State Historic Park, Finger Lakes
www.sonnenberg.org
In 1887, a wealthy New York City financier named Frederick Ferris Thompson and his wife, Mary Clark Thompson, built a lavish summer home in the town of Canandaigua, not far from Rochester. Today, that 40-room, Queen Anne-style residence is the centerpiece for a 50-acre historic estate that is renowned for its nine meticulously manicured formal gardens.
The venue accommodates up to 100 for meetings and works with groups to create unique “voluntourism” efforts that get attendees involved in the care of the gardens. The gorgeous landscaping provides a lovely backdrop for private events during the warmer months, with options including a 75-person carriage house and tented events for up to 250.
According to Matt Pisanzio, spokesman for Sonnenberg, the beauty of the gardens, as well as the sheer size of the property, are among the selling points for groups.
“It’s a 50-acre park,” he says. “So if you were the CEO of a company and you needed to have a private talk with just a few people, you could find a spot somewhere on the grounds where no one else is.”
Whether it’s a group of dozens, hundreds or thousands, Pizanzio says, Sonnenberg Gardens works to create the appropriate setting and experience.
Antique Boat Museum, Thousand Islands
www.abm.org
Located in Clayton, the Antique Boat Museum is a 4.5-acre campus on the banks of the St. Lawrence River. From May to October, the facility hosts boat shows, regattas, boat-building classes and other events. Groups can check out the work in progress on restored boats, and take classes about sailing, boating, seamanship, maritime knots and even how to use a GPS.
Groups can also enjoy boat rides aboard vintage craft from a variety of eras. Among the experiences that await are rowing a St. Lawrence skiff on the protected waters of French Creek Bay and relaxing aboard a sunset cruise that takes in the natural beauty of the Thousand Islands.
otesaga resort hotel, cooperstown
www.otesaga.com
Roughly 70 miles west of Albany, The Otesaga occupies 700 feet of shoreline along Lake Otsego. The AAA Four Diamond property, accommodating groups of up to 350 in elegant meeting facilities, is ideal for attendees keen on gathering in a scenic setting with plenty of outdoor recreational options.
The Otesaga was voted one of the 50 top golf resorts in the U.S. by readers of Conde Nast Traveler, and its par-72 Leatherstocking Golf Course is a highlight of the property for groups. Designed by Devereux Emmet in 1909, the 18-hole course boasts an 11-acre driving range, and lessons are available. Golf tournaments are a popular way for groups to use the course.
Other outdoor recreational options include skeet-shooting competitions, fishing and canoeing. PageBreak
Sagamore Resort, lake george
www.thesagamore.com
Since it first opened in 1883, this Lake George resort has been a legendary getaway in the Adirondacks, and group activities are a big part of the allure. This year, the Sagamore Resort debuted some $5 million worth of renovations, including a restored exterior, an expanded new lobby and 37 new guest rooms.
Outdoor activities at the Sagamore include golf and team-building activities such as fishing charters, tennis and the increasingly popular stand-up paddle boarding clinics.
“We are committed to providing a high-quality and fun-filled experience as groups develop valuable life-enhancing skills,” says Ike Wolgin, owner of Lake George Kayak Company, which organizes the clinics. “Whether indoors or outdoors, you will find our programs stimulating and engaging.”
The Sagamore is also a good base for exploring other outdoor group activities in the region, according to Tanya Brand, meeting and event promoter for the Warren County Tourism Department.
“The Lake George area in New York’s Adirondacks is a four-season meeting destination filled with adventurous meeting possibilities,” she says. “Whether it’s white-water rafting, boat cruises, hiking, horseback riding or winter skiing, the Lake George area means big fun and beautiful scenic settings.”
olympic facilities, lake placid
www.orda.org
Lake Placid was the site of the Winter Olympics in 1932 and 1980, and there are numerous ways for groups to experience a bit of Olympics history and get in on the outdoor action. Aside from holding events at the Olympic Center, where the famed 1980 “Miracle on Ice” took place, meeting programs that incorporate the Olympic Sports Complex and the Olympic Jumping Complex can also be arranged, and group activities can include bobsledding, biathlon, skiing and ice hockey, complete with a medal ceremony.
Edith Macy Conference Center, Hudson Valley
www.edithmacy.com
Convenience is a big selling point for the Edith Macy Conference Center, which sits on more than 400 wooded acres in Westchester County, just 45 minutes from New York City and 10 minutes from the Connecticut border. Soon after leaving the bustling metropolis that lies to the south, groups can find themselves enjoying time on the conference center’s grassy grounds along the shore of Lake Kinderogen. Volleyball, tetherball, badminton, horseshoes and croquet are among the laid-back activities offered during the warm months, while those looking for challenging team-building diversions should consider the high-ropes course, which is built and managed by Outward Bound Professional, a company that designs team-building activities and programs. Raft building and barbecue culinary events are among the additional team-building programs available—a perfect outdoor complement to the more than 14,000 square feet of indoor meeting space.
“Macy is ideal for all types of group activities,” says Sherri Hoy, director of sales at Edith Macy Conference Center. “We have such a variety of spaces and offerings, there is truly something for everyone.”PageBreak
Hunter Mountain Resort, Catskills
www.huntermtn.com
Located in the scenic town of Hunter, this year-round resort offers lodging, dining, meeting space and loads of outdoor activities.
The Kaatskill Mountain Club, for example, has various suites and condo rentals available, as well as five meeting rooms, a spa and a four-season outdoor pool. The property can arrange a variety of group activities, working with companies like New York Zipline Adventure Tours, which allows participants to “fly” at speeds reaching 50 miles an hour over the lush terrain while suspended nearly 600 feet in the air.
Other activities include geocaching, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, golfing and skiing during winter months at Windham Mountain and Hunter Mountain.
“Visitors have been traveling to the Catskills for centuries to enjoy the incredible outdoors and unique heritage,” says Warren Hart, director of economic development, tourism and planning for Greene County. “The Catskills are the ideal setting for corporate retreats or group functions.”
Pier Sixty, New YORK City
www.piersixty.com
The “Big Apple” may be known for its soaring skyscrapers, but for the best views, sometimes it pays to think on the ground level. Located at Chelsea Piers, a large entertainment and sports venue on Manhattan’s west side, Pier Sixty allows groups to enjoy the benefits of a large, well-equipped venue that features open-air spaces that incorporate beautiful views of the Hudson River.
Pier Sixty can host up to 2,000 guests, with five flexible meeting rooms and a gallery. Two rooms offer access to a 2,400-square-foot, all-season terrace with inspiring city and river views. The many sporting options of Chelsea Piers, including a golf club, which has 52 heated and weather-protected hitting stalls on four levels, are just steps away.
Larger groups can also make use of the Lighthouse, another section of Chelsea Piers, which has 10,000 square feet of flexible space, including yet another 2,400-square-foot, all-season terrace. Even indoors, the gigantic windows give a pleasant outdoor feel to events.
Wolffer Estate Vineyard,
Long Island
www.wolffer.com
Long Island is known for its array of lovely vineyards, as well as the upscale luxuries of the area known as the Hamptons. At Wolffer Estate Vineyard, groups can indulge at a 55-acre Hamptons estate that exudes stately, postcard-perfect elegance. The venue organizes casual corporate lunches that include tours and tastings (which can be made into team-building events), as well as catered wine-tasting dinners on a terrace or in the wine cellar. The centerpiece of the estate is a rustic, Tuscan-style building graced with imported stained-glass doors.
“We have a lot of events,” says Judy Malone, Wolffer’s director of communications and marketing, noting that even smaller groups with no time to organize can join the estate’s existing events, with no previous arrangements. “We have something called Sunset Friday at our Wine Stand, which has become terribly popular. We sell wine by the bottle or glass, and we also have live music.”
Mark Chesnut is a freelance writer based in New York City.
