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We all know that life’s a little sweeter with friends by our side, and Palentine’s Day is the perfect time to celebrate those special bonds. While traditionally celebrated on February 13th (or even February 14th), any day is the perfect excuse to make memories with your favorite people, especially in a place as memorable as New York! Whether you and your bestie are indulging in a boozy brunch in an idyllic town, or a night of fine dining and a show in the city, letting your creativity flow in an arts class, or exploring the great outdoors across the state’s stunning landscapes, there’s no shortage of ways to have fun with friends in the Empire State.
Dine and Delight Like a Star
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Indulge in a night of fine dining with your finest friends, and take it up a notch by pairing your meal with a world-class show. While there are plenty of top-tier performance venues across the state, why settle for anything less than the best? NYC Broadway Week is on now through February 9, and Off-Broadway week runs from February 17 to March 9, offering you the chance to enjoy a variety of spectacular shows with 2-for-1 tickets. But the stars don’t just exist on stage– elevate your evening with a Michelin Star dining experience before or after your show at La Grande Boucherie or Le Bernardin. Up in Schenectady, Proctors Theatre offers the perfect blend of Broadway magic and small-city charm. From February 18-23, the theater hosts Broadway sensation Life of Pi, and you can pregame the production with a memorable meal at one of the area’s top restaurants, like Daley’s on Yates, MILAS, or Chez Nous.
Create Together
Unleash your inner artists with a diverse range of creative classes. Channel Picasso as you paint and sip at Pinot’s Palette, with themed sessions like Magical Northern Lights or Sunset Stroll, available at their Fishkill and East Meadow venues. In Manhattan, Paint ‘N Pour offers high-energy playlists, chef-curated bites, and an open bar with top-shelf options, perfect for fueling your creativity. Painting With a Twist, with locations across the state, invites you to unwind with friends, enjoy wine and snacks, and paint a masterpiece. In Troy, the Arts Center of the Capital Region offers an array of hands-on classes, from stained glass to sculpture, dance, and jewelry making. At Board & Brush, with locations throughout New York, you’ll craft trendy farmhouse-inspired wooden pieces. Try your hand at glassblowing at the Corning Museum of Glass or make custom ceramics at Cone Zero Ceramics in Catskill. Light up your life with your favorite scents by creating a homemade candle at Poured Candle Bar in Hudson, Wax ‘n Wix in Lake George, or Pure Placid in Lake Placid.
Stir Up Something Special
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Good friends and good food? Yes, chef! Treat yourself and your bestie to a memorable Palentine’s Day by signing up for a cooking class. Whether you’re perfecting Asian street food, sushi, or the flavors of Tuscany at the Culinary Arts Center in Buffalo, or mastering lemon meringue pies and croissants at Capital Cooks in Colonie, there’s something for every taste. Get hands-on with homemade pretzels or brew your own kombucha at New York Kitchen in Canandaigua, or whip up a delicious brunch spread or surf and turf at The Cook’s Studio on Long Island. The perfect recipe? You, your friend, and some mouth-watering memories.
Raise a Glass to Friendship
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New York State is a haven for craft breweries, wineries, cideries, and distilleries, and a great drink is better with good company. Grab your friends and dive into a cider flight at Albany’s Nine Pin or Walden’s Angry Orchard, or explore the self-serve wine machines at Schenectady’s Shaker & Vine, where you can sample over 70 wines, all at the touch of a button. Head to Adirondack Winery in Lake George for a signature wine tasting while you test your trivia knowledge. The brew crew will rejoice at Cooperstown’s Brewery Ommegang, Wood Boat Brewery in Clayton, or Ellicottville Brewing Company, where you can savor New York’s finest brews straight from the tap. If you like keeping your options open, Last Chance Antiques & Cheese Café in Tannersville offers over 300 beers, 100 whiskeys, and an extensive cocktail and wine menu. Want to extend the fun? Make it a sip and stay friends getaway at one of the state’s unique drinking-and-lodging destinations.
Feast with your Brunch Buds
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Gather your brunch crew and raise a mimosa to some of the most satiating brunch spots across New York State. Make time for Friends with Benedicts at The Merc in Saratoga Springs, or indulge in the popular raspberry oatmeal pancakes and biscuits and gravy at Cafe Madison in Albany. Over in Glens Falls, Farmacy will keep the drinks flowing with unlimited Bloody Marys or mimosas paired with a chorizo burrito. For an Insta-worthy brunch that’s full of flavor, Phoenicia Diner serves up locally smoked trout or lox on a Brooklyn bagel. Kitty’s in Hudson has the perfect combo of fried hash brown balls and skillet cakes, while Toast on Long Island brings shrimp and grits and steak and eggs to the table. In Manhattan, Jack’s Wife Freda offers a unique rosewater waffle or a zesty green shakshuka. If you’re in Syracuse, Rise N Shine has fun, inventive dishes like pancake sushi and an eggs Benedict flight. In Utica, Ocean Blue takes brunch to the next level with all-you-can-drink champagne, mimosas, and dishes like corned beef hash and a fresh raw bar. For a true comfort-food feast, head to Toutant in Buffalo for BBQ hash and Nashville hot chicken, or head to West Rose in Ellicottville for a breakfast pizza that’s perfect for sharing.
Put Your Skills to The Test
Ready for an epic adventure with your partner-in-crime? Whether you’re aiming for the bullseye or cracking codes, there’s a place for you and your crew. Head to The Yard in Albany, where you can enjoy axe throwing, indoor yard games, snacks, cocktails, and booze-infused ice cream all in one spot! If you’re in Manhattan, Live Axe lets you throw like a Viking while sipping craft beers or unleash your inner rage in their rage room. Up in Queensbury, Adirondack Axe offers the ultimate “Bash It” experience, where you find catharsis in the form of smashing glass. Over at Far Shot in Syracuse, you can level up your coordination skills with axe throwing, knife throwing, or archery. For those who love a challenge, test your wits at The Great Escape Room in Rochester or Queens with rooms like The Haunted Hotel or Bros For Life: Fraternity Heist. Escape Time Adventures in Wappingers Falls has you racing against the clock to escape the Voodoo Swamp or defeat Dracula. And if you’re in Watertown, All in Adventures lets you step into the shoes of a special agent or fight your way out of a zombie apocalypse.
Stroll Side by Side
Photo courtesy of Rachel Dymond
Hike side-by-side along New York’s vast network of trails, where every path offers something unique. Stroll beneath snow-dusted trees and alongside sparkling streams at Five Rivers in Delmar, or venture to Poet’s Walk in Red Hook, where a one-of-a-kind, rustic gazebo awaits with sweeping views of the Hudson River and surrounding mountains. Keep the good times flowing as you trek to majestic frozen waterfalls scattered across the state, offering a winter wonderland unlike any other.
Find Serenity at The Spa
Pamper yourselves to the ultimate self-care day with your best friends by indulging in a rejuvenating spa experience. Mirbeau Spa, with locations in Albany, Rhinebeck, and Skaneateles, offers day passes that give you access to herbal-infused steam rooms, saunas, serene resting areas, and aqua terraces complete with fireplaces and hot tubs. Plus, enjoy expert-led yoga and fitness classes and delicious on-site dining. At the Roosevelt Baths & Spa in Saratoga Springs, customize your perfect spa day by choosing three or more services, and get 10% off your personalized package, and don’t miss the mineral bath! Turning Stone’s spa in Verona blends soothing treatments inspired by Oneida traditions, earning it multiple awards for its serene ambiance and modern amenities. If you’re on Long Island, East Wind’s 10,000-square-foot facility offers everything from saunas and steam rooms to a relaxation lounge and a state-of-the-art salon. And in NYC, treat you and a friend to a two-for-one deal at QC NY Spa on Governors Island during the city’s Must-See Week (through February 9).
Adventure Seekers Unite
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Embrace the winter chill like snow bunnies and soak in the fresh mountain air. Hit the ski or snowboard trails at West Mountain, Belleayre, Peek ‘n Peak, or Song Mountain, then cheers your pal to a day of fun with a drink and a bite in the cozy lodge. If you’re craving outdoor thrills without much effort, grab a tube and race your crew down the tubing parks at Hunter, Gore, Plattekill, or Greek Peak. Rev your engines and satisfy your need for speed on a snowmobiling trek through the stunning Adirondack wilderness with C+C Adirondack Snowmobile Tours.
Explore New Places
Create unforgettable memories as you and your friends explore New York’s most charming towns, each with its own unique vibe and hidden gems. If you’re craving a picturesque, movie-like setting surrounded by snow-capped mountains and a love for sports, Lake Placid is calling your name. For those who dream of strolling down a quintessential main street lined with boutiques, restaurants and bars, Rhinebeck, Hudson, and Saratoga offer the ultimate main street experiences. If a serene winter day along a sparkling lake is more your style, Skaneateles and Lake George are the retreats you’ve been searching for. To live out a New York minute, take your bestie to Manhattan and step into the scenes of some of your favorite iconic movie and TV moments.
Make New Furry Friends
Feeling feisty? Rally your best moral support and “name a roach” at the Bronx Zoo in honor of someone special (or not-so-special). The quirky and creepy crawly February tradition is back for its 14th year. If madagascar hissing cockroaches aren’t your thing, escape to Mariaville Goat Farm, where you can cuddle up with baby goats in a cozy yurt on a picture-perfect rural farm. Over at Animal Adventure Park in Harpursville, book an encounter with sloths, bearcats, or capybaras, or get creative with a penguin painting session! At the Long Island Aquarium, you and your bud can snap a selfie with a penguin or test your courage with an extreme adventure: the Shark Dive experience. For a more peaceful outing, enjoy a serene nature walk with an alpaca at Buck Brook Alpacas in Roscoe.
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