Tip of New York State
 

HI I am visiting Niagara Falls in October, with my daughter(4) and husband. We plan to go to Niagara,then through New York State and on to Montreal. Anyone have ideas of what to do and see, suggestions for accommodation or sights etc in New York State would be gratefully received. I am travelling from the U.K

How much time do you want to spend between Niagara and Montreal?

I recommend a tour of the Finger Lakes, which has activities for both kids and adults (approx. 2-3 hours drive east and a bit south from Buffalo). Ithaca, NY, location of Cornell University, has several excellent state parks with swimming and hiking (if you go later in October the parks might be closed for the season). The town also has a science museum and a paleontology (sp?) museum for kids, and excellent restaurants.

Some cities along the way include Rochester (Susan B. Anthony House, George Eastman Museum, and some kid oriented museums), Syracuse (Syracuse University football on Saturdays, Museum of Science and Technology), Saratoga Springs (horse racing), and Poughkeepsie (Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt houses, Culinary Institute). Poughkeepsie might be more out of the way than some of the other places I've mentioned.

I strongly recommend the Genesee Country Museum.

Their web site is:
www.gcv.org/

It is really wonderful. It's sort of south west of Rochester. October is also a good time to visit the wineries, but they might be a little out of the way to Montreal. If you're interested I like this inn:

http://www.glenora.com/inn/index.asp

I basically wouldn't recommend any of those cities, given the great small places in the area. If heading more southerly like Poughkeepsie, then by all means the Hudson mansions (Roosevelt/Vanderbilt/etc.) are much better. The 4 year old will probably like the Finger Lakes, and Lake Placid is a thought possible Blue Mountain Lake. Saratoga is not a bad idea, but don't rule out Lake Champlain. (Fort Ticonderoga should be good for your daughter) Lake George is in that area as well but swimming is too cold that time of the year, and that's all I've ever liked doing there.

Cooperstown is very nice, and even if you're not a fan of American sports, the Farmer's Museum is there. Secret/Howe's Caves are not far away for your daughter as well. So is Herkimer diamonds if that's appealing.

If you're taking a leisurely trip look into Bennington VT or Williamstown MA before heading north. (most routes will have you going east first, then north, a northeast route really isn't advised unless you travel the Canadian highway)

East of Buffalo and south of Rochester is Letchworth State Park (considered to be the Grand Canyon of the east). You could visit there on the way to the Finger Lakes. Have fun.