Things to Do in Central New York
Meet Central New York’s Local Champions
Four locals. Four counties. Their favorite places, straight from the people who know them best.
Meet the championsQuick answer
What are the best things to do in Central New York?
Locals recommend walking the Erie Canal towpath at Schoharie Crossing, digging for Herkimer diamonds, touring breweries in Utica and Cazenovia, and exploring small-town museums, orchards, and trails. This guide shares the favorite places of four Local Champions across Montgomery, Herkimer, Madison, and Oneida counties.
What Is a Local Champion?
Visit CNY’s new campaign hands the microphone to the people who know Central New York best, and the stars of the show come straight from our own communities. Maybe you’ve spotted them pouring a pint, leading a walk along the old towpath, or handing a hammer to a first-time gem hunter.
We call them Local Champions because each one stands up for their hometown every day, cheering on neighboring businesses, welcoming newcomers, and sharing their favorite places with anyone who asks.
None of our Local Champions are tour guides. They’re everyday locals and small business owners who love where they live, and they’ve happily taken on the role of spokesperson for their corner of the region. We sat down with each of them to hear what makes their county special and where they’d send a friend visiting for the weekend.
Meet the Champions
Montgomery County
David Brooks
Education Director, Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site
Erie Canal history, towpath trails, river towns and fall orchards.
Meet David
Herkimer County
Dr. Renee Scialdo Shevat
President, Herkimer Diamond Mines
Dig for diamonds, paddle West Canada Creek, stroll Little Falls.
Meet Renee
Madison County
Cody Fedele
Director of Hospitality, Meier’s Creek Brewing Company
Fire pits and flights, Cazenovia Lake and a hidden-gem brewery.
Meet Cody
Oneida County
Fred Matt
President, F.X. Matt Brewing Company
Brewery tours, Utica’s museums and the Boilermaker.
Meet FredCentral New York at a Glance: Top Picks by County
From the locals who live there.
| County | Local Champion | Top Picks |
|---|---|---|
| Montgomery | David Brooks | Schoharie Crossing, Empire State Trail, Arkell Museum, fall orchards |
| Herkimer | Dr. Renee Scialdo Shevat | Herkimer Diamond Mines, West Canada Creek, Little Falls |
| Madison | Cody Fedele | Meier’s Creek Brewing, Cazenovia Lake, Lower Lake Brewery |
| Oneida | Fred Matt | F.X. Matt Brewery Tour, 1888 Biergarten, Proctor Park |
Brew Central picks
Breweries in Central New York: Quick Guide
Our Local Champions point beer lovers to these breweries in Central New York:
- Meier’s Creek Brewing Company, Cazenovia (Madison County): fire pit, flights, and a free disc golf course.
- Lower Lake Brewery, Hamilton (Madison County): Cody’s hidden-gem pick.
- F.X. Matt Brewing Company, Utica (Oneida County): VIP tour and the 1888 Biergarten.
- Oneida County’s Heart of NY Craft Beverage Trail: about a dozen breweries and wineries to explore.
More Coming Soon
We have more friendly faces to introduce. Keep an eye out as we unveil Local Champions from Chenango, Schoharie, Otsego, and Broome counties in the weeks ahead.
Chenango County
Champion coming soon
Schoharie County
Champion coming soon
Otsego County
Champion coming soon
Broome County
Champion coming soon
About the Campaign
First, a huge thank you to David, Renee, Cody, and Fred for sharing their time, their stories, and their favorite spots with us.
Visit CNY created this digital campaign, in collaboration with I LOVE NY, to introduce travelers to Central New York and inspire them to plan a trip. We built it on a simple belief: the best way to get to know a place is through its people.
Explore Central New York
Pair a morning at the diamond mines with an afternoon on the Erie Canal towpath. Follow up a brewery tour in Utica with a sunset pint in Cazenovia. Central New York’s counties sit close together, which makes the region perfect for road trips and long weekends.
Browse our travel guides