As a lifelong New Yorker, Balance is key. Yes, the city’s constant pulse is exciting, but you also need to take a break from it. hear yourself think. Taking a quick day trip outside of New York City Can do the trick. Open skies, winding pathways, and sunsets that are not interrupted by skylines, can bring our minds (and bodies) back to equilibrium. It’s for this reason that I have a list of places to escape where there is just enough adventure, stillness, and beauty to rejuvenate all my senses.
Enjoy the serenity and freedom of a car-free city Fire IslandThe vineyard-lined roads and steep hills of Mattituck in the New England coast are a great place to start. North Fork of Long IslandThere are a number of places in the vicinity where time passes slowly and there are no skyscrapers on the horizon. The farther north you go, the Hudson Valley draws you in with charming towns like Cold Spring and Beacon—perfect for nature strolls, river views, and art that surprises you (we’re looking at you, Dia Beacon). And for those who want to stretch their legs—and maybe their weekend—the CatskillsThe journey is well worth it because of the creative river towns and wooded trails.
A quick escape will reveal a world of wonders beyond the city’s skyscrapers. Far and wide—any which way—there are short and sweet retreats that feel a world away from the hustle and bustle of the city itself, but can be reached in about two hours by car, train, bus, or ferry. You’ll find out how to reach the destination without any stress and where to stay when your day trip turns to a weekend. Find out our seven favorite day trips for a quick getaway from New York.
- Take a trip to the nature and enjoy it with art: Beacon & Cold Spring, NY
- Barefoot luxury is a great way to have fun. Fire Island, NY
- To go vineyard-hopping or to the coast: Mattituck, NY
- History (and Halloween!) lovers: Sleepy Hollow, NY
- If you’re looking for waterfront dining or art fairs, then: Sea Cliff & Port Washington, NY
- A taste of Jersey Shore Spring Lake, Avon-by-the-Sea, & Asbury Park, NJ
- For arty antiquing and woodsy trails: Woodstock & Phoenicia, NY
Beacon & Cold Spring, NY
How to get there Metro-North’s train from New York City to Beacon, or Cold Spring takes 1 hour and 30 min. The drive is only 12 minutes.
Hoping on a train is a cinematic experience. Hudson Valley—especially when it’s for contemporary art, colorful main streets, and sweet, sweeping river views. Beacon has a strong culture and nature focus. Dia BeaconMain Street has cool kid shops, minimalist masterpieces, and more. Just across from the Hudson RiverCold Spring has a colorful, romantic atmosphere. The town is filled with cozy antique shops, galleries that you can pop into and out of at will, scenic hikes such as Breakneck Ridge and waterfront ice-cream shops that offer a picturesque view. Seven Scoops, in Shrub Oak, has one of the best brownies sundaes. A visit to the two makes for a perfect in-and-out day—or weekend, with art galleries and outdoors in one fell swoop.
Where to eat
Beacon
