USA Today Poll Spotlights 3 Upstate Gems

USA Today Poll Loves Upstate NY

Three small towns from Upstate New York are getting some well-deserved national attention, and now it’s up to area voters to help them win.

A new USA Today Readers’ Choice poll is highlighting the best small towns across the Northeast, with 20 nominees selected for their scenery, charm, food, and culture. Among them? Not one, not two—but three standout spots from Upstate NY.

Lake Placid, Saugerties, or Corning?

The three you can vote for are:

Lake Placid brings serious history and outdoor adventure. Known for hosting the 1980 Winter Olympics, it still offers year-round activities at its Olympic venues, along with hiking, skiing, and a growing arts scene in the heart of the Adirondacks.

Lake Placid in Autumn Credit: Canva

Corning, also known as “America’s Crystal City,” blends innovation and culture. Home to the world-famous Corning Museum of Glass, the town’s Gaffer District features restaurants, breweries, shops, and festivals that draw visitors year-round.

And then there’s Saugerties, a charming Catskills town tucked between the mountains and the Hudson River. With its artsy Main Street, antique shops, restaurants, and the iconic Saugerties Lighthouse, it’s a favorite weekend escape—especially for city visitors.

Saugerties Lighthouse Credit: Lightphoto

Vote Now Through March 30th

Now comes the fun part: voting.

You can cast a vote once per day through March 30, with winners announced April 8th.

But let’s be honest, we all know that Upstate doesn’t need validation, but winning wouldn’t hurt.

The Ultimate Guide to 32 Of the Best Upstate New York Irish Pubs

There is nothing quite like a visit to an Irish pub on St. Patrick's Day. Here are 32 of Upstate's "greenest" pubs!

There are all kinds of bars. Lounges, sports bars, dance club bars, etc. But there is something so warm and friendly, so old-timey, so "Cheers-like" about an Irish pub. Back in the day the denizens of these friendly places were usually blue collar working men and women who stopped at their neighborhood Irish bar to chat and visit after getting out of the local factory. On weekends the pub was crowded with happy people, our parents and grandparents, enjoying a sip, Bing Crosby on the jukebox, and a bowl of Irish stew.

Today, you are more than likely to find the demographics of an Irish pub a whole lot younger. And that is a good thing.

This gallery looks at 32 of the best Irish pubs in Upstate New York.

See you at one of them for St. Paddy's Day!

Gallery Credit: Chuck D'Imperio

List of Registered Animal Abusers in Upstate New York

Here is a list of people in Upstate NY charged with animal cruelty, according to the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society and the Albany County Sherrif's Department

Gallery Credit: Brian Cody TSM Albany

Source: 3 Upstate NY Towns Nominated Among Northeast’s Best — Vote Now