From the state bird and flower to the state snack and motto, New York State has plenty of history, culture, and stories to tell. Take a tour across the Empire State to discover the meaning behind its most recognizable state symbols and uncover ones you may not even know exist. Check out I LOVE NY’s Kids Guide & Activity Book for a state symbol scavenger hunt and discover adventures that the entire family will remember for a lifetime.

New York State Flower: Rose

New York’s official state flower is one of the most beautiful blooms out there, and throughout the spring visitors have their pick of the best places to stop and smell the roses. In New York City, stop into the Brooklyn Botanic Garden throughout June (peak rose season) and head to the Cranford Rose Garden, one of the largest rose collections in North America with some plants surviving from the original 1927 planting! 

Western New Yorkers should consider the rose collection at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Garden, specifically their Trial Rose Garden where horticulturalists are testing rose cultivars to find a sustainable, hardy rose variety. In the Capital-Saratoga Region, Schenectady’s Central Park Rose Garden is astonishing in spring, with hundreds of fragrant blooms to discover. Couple your interest in presidential history with a garden trip and make a plan to visit the rose garden at the FDR National Historic Site in Hyde Park.

New York State Motto: “Excelsior,” Ever Upward

Credit: @beautifulmoments514 on Instagram

Nothing exemplifies the New York State motto of Excelsior more than taking to the air! Experience hundreds of hot air balloons in flight at the annual Adirondack Balloon Festival, or take a trip of your own over gorgeous Letchworth State Park with Balloons Over Letchworth. 

More of a direct thrill-seeker? The zipline at Peek’n’Peak Resort has the exhilaration you crave. Take the whole family up into the trees at the Wild Center & Wild Walk in the Adirondacks and see what life looks like from a bird’s eye view. At the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome, witness daring feats performed by professional pilots in a variety of exciting aircraft from throughout aviation history. 

New York State Fossil: Sea Scorpion

Credit: C. Chesek/AMNH

Aren’t we glad these critters aren’t wandering the oceans anymore! You can take a look at some of the fauna that filled New York millions of years ago by checking out fossils and specimens at the Museum of the Earth in Ithaca, the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, or the New York State Museum in Albany. Want a more hands-on experience? Dig your own fossils at the Penn Dixie Fossil Park & Nature Preserve, or head up to the Adirondacks to visit the Gilboa Museum & Juried History Center and see how you stack up compared to the amazing collection of fossilized trees from New York’s primordial forests.

New York State Animals: Eastern Bluebird, North American Beaver, Snapping Turtle, Brook Trout, and Nine-Spotted Ladybug

New Yorkers love our natural state, and the animals chosen to represent us can be found across the state! To learn about the Eastern bluebird and beyond, make a visit to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology to discover the birds of New York State and see how scientists study them to learn more and inform conservation efforts worldwide. If you can’t make the visit, be sure to check out their live bird cams! Still can’t get enough birding? Test your skills with the I BIRD NY Challenge!

See the life cycle of native trout and other fish at the Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery & Aquarium in the Hudson Valley, and learn about our relationships to the earth and all the plants and animals that surround us at the Akwesasne Cultural Center and Museum in Central New York. Visit the turtle pond and learn the Haudenosaunee creation story of Sky Woman’s journey to the back of the great turtle at the Iroquois Museum. 

Zoo New York in Watertown is the only zoo in the world dedicated to New York’s wild animals and wild places with species that are, or at one time were, native to New York State. Head to the Hudson Valley, where Bear Mountain Trailside Museums & Zoo will bring you up-close to resident wildlife, mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish.

State Fruit: Apple

Credit: @indianladderfarms on Instagram

Of course we have to mention our official state foods – and what great opportunities visitors have to learn about them and taste New York for themselves! If you’re interested in a pomological (the study of fruit!) experience, New York is home to world-class apple orchards with extensive U-Pick offerings. In the Hudson Valley, Hurds Family Farm is a 7th-generation family farm offering acres of orchards to pick from, and a bar and café in their barn. The Thousand Islands is home to Behling Orchards, a 5th-generation family farm growing over 15 varieties of apples. Central New York’s Fly Creek Cider Mill & Orchard offers tours of the historic mill, a tasting room, and more to learn about apple processing from tree to plate (or pie, or donut, or bottle).

Credit: @hueybethany on Instagram

For a large variety and the opportunity to check out small businesses’ offerings, you can’t miss a farmers’ market. In the Capital-Saratoga region, the Troy Waterfront Farmers’ Market is a longstanding local tradition. Ithaca Farmers’ Market in the Finger Lakes is not only exciting but beautiful, nestled right on the Cayuga Lake inlet – and yes, you can get there by boat! A great market in the Hudson Valley is the Beacon Farmers’ Market, voted the best of the Hudson Valley in 2023, 2024, and 2025. NYC has its own famous market with the Union Square Greenmarket, which started small in 1976 and now features over 140 vendors.

State Shell: Sea Scallop 

Stop into the South Street Seaport Museum in NYC and see exhibits about whaling, boating, port life, and of course seafood throughout New York City’s history. More of a hands-on taster? Jerry & The Mermaid on Long Island serves up local, fresh Peconic Bay scallops that are sure to delight. 

State Snack: Yogurt

For yogurt, New York’s dairies are frequently-awarded and for good reason. The Argyle Cheese Farmer in the Adirondacks crafts not only cheese but other dairy products, including yogurt, from their herd. Jewett’s Cheese House in Central New York specializes in cheddar, local products, and of course yogurt! 

Don’t forget to post photos of your New York adventures on Instagram with #iSpyNY and tag us on Facebook!