The state of New York stands in the Northeast corner of the United States. It is small but densely populated, with the major city of New York spread on the islands at its southern extreme – this is America’s biggest city and a world trade and diplomatic centre. The state’s smaller cities include Buffalo, Rochester, Yonkers, Syracuse and Albany, the state capital. If you hire a car in New York State you’ll be able to visit the famous attractions of NYC and explore the less well-known sights of the rest of the region, which includes the unspoilt lakes and forests of the Adirondack Mountains.
For most tourists, there is one huge attraction in New York State: the Big Apple itself. The famous sights here include the Statue of Liberty, Times Square, Central Park, the Empire State Building, Ground Zero of the Twin Towers and the Grand Central Station. With a hire car it’s possible to see these first hand and tour the rest of the state too. At the opposite end of the state on the Canadian border, you’ll find one of North America’s natural wonders - the spectacular Niagara Falls waterfalls. And for a more gentle escape, the Adirondack Mountain Park is an unspoilt outdoor attraction offer walks, adventure sports and picnics.
Driving in New York State is largely the same as the rest of the US: you drive on the right and there’s a mix of congested urban streets and quieter country roads. There are a few less straightforward rules, however, such as that at some traffic lights you can make a right turn when the lights are red, but you can’t if it’s in a big city, unless a sign says you can! When you make a turn, you must signal for at least 100ft before so and you mustn’t accelerate if you are being overtaken. Also note that drivers mustn’t drive past a school bus stopped with its red lights flashing.
