New York

10 Weekend Getaways in New York Full of Nature and Historic Charm

There's more to New York than the Big Apple. Head upstate for these 10 weekend getaways in New York full of nature and historic charm.

Ducking in and out of the boutique shops and antique stores along Narrowsburg‘s main street, we were drawn to a charming home-goods shop called Nest. Inside we found an insanely well-curated selection of chic, artisan-crafted goods sourced from countries all around the globe. Intrigued by the caliber of the collection, we began chatting with the shop owner, Anna Bern, to find out more.

Bern is a former Design Director at Vogue and spent years at W Magazine, but craved a slower pace of life. Her story is like that of so many others we’d come across on our travels in Upstate New York. These former creative types who left the big city to follow their passion and open their own business, are the drivers behind the recent revitalization of Upstate towns and cities.

These days, destinations Upstate offer everything from newly renovated inns and delicious farm-to-table restaurants to amazing outdoor activities and world-class art exhibitions. Whether you’re looking for a family getaway, a friends trip filled with adventure, or a romantic couples retreat, there’s a destination calling your name in Upstate New York.

Albany

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Albany is the state capital and one of the oldest surviving settlements of the original 13 colonies. Suffice to say, there’s plenty of history to soak in here not to mention the city’s renowned art and architecture.

In the downtown area, the pièce de résistance is Empire State Plaza. Here you’ll find an underground shopping mall filled with public art installations. Above ground, you can’t miss The Egg. The performing arts venue is home to two theatres and has become one of the most iconic landmarks in Albany.

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Where to Stay in Albany

Walking distance from the plaza, the Renaissance Albany Hotel is the ideal place to stay when in town. While the property has all the modern conveniences you would want, it also feels incredibly charming with dark wood paneling and timeless black and white marble floors. The central downtown location makes it easy to explore the city on foot, and you’ll find yourself just steps away from the Hudson River.

Once you’ve finished exploring the city, the on-site steakhouse, Wellington’s, has a chic lounge for cocktails and serves prime cuts of meat for dinner.

Renaissance Albany Hotel

Top rated
Albany
9.2 Excellent (1589 reviews)

Beacon

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Beacon’s location in the Southern Hudson Valley and accessibility by train make it an ideal destination for New York City dwellers in particular. However, its vibrant art scene and excellent hiking trails attract visitors from all over the state. Wake up early to hike the Mt. Beacon trail and catch a magnificent sunrise at the top.

For an afternoon activity, Dia:Beacon cannot be missed. Known as the “daylight museum”’ for its huge skylights above and housed in what used to be an old Nabisco factory, the acclaimed museum showcases an array of contemporary artwork.

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The best place to stay in Beacon is the funky, industrial-style boutique hotel, The Roundhouse Beacon At Beacon Falls. Set in an old mill factory overlooking a waterfall, the property boasts modern guestrooms, a cool industrial-style bar space, and a sustainably focused farm-to-table restaurant, Roundhouse.

The Roundhouse At Beacon Falls

Beacon
7.4(22 reviews)

Buffalo

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If you’ve heard of Niagara Falls, then perhaps you’ve heard of Buffalo, New York. The city, built on the shores of Lake Erie, is just 16 miles from Niagara Falls, so it’s a great home base if you plan to visit. The three epic waterfalls straddle the border between Canada and the United States. Grab the kids and get soaked by the crazy plumes of water at the falls.

The second largest city in New York, Buffalo is an ideal destination for families and sports fans. Both the Buffalo Bills NFL football team and the Buffalo Sabres NHL hockey team call the city home, so sports fans are sure to be entertained fall through spring.

If you don’t have tickets (or don’t want to brave the cold), head to one of the great sports bars in town. The Anchor Bar has world-famous wings, while (716) Food & Sport is more of a luxury sports-watching experience with 76 state-of-the-art screens including a 38-foot video screen above the bar. For those looking for a fun weekend brunch experience, look no further than Trattoria Aroma. The upscale eatery in downtown Buffalo serves modern Italian fare and has an impressive Bloody Mary list on the weekends.

Year-round, you can take in the work of famed American architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The Darwin Martin House, a Prairie school style estate, or the Wright Filling Station, a posthumously completed gas station designed by Wright in the 1920s, are both great examples of Wright’s talent.

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Where to Stay in Buffalo

While you’re in Buffalo, stay at The Mansion on Delaware Avenue. The historic boutique hotel serves breakfast and complimentary cocktails each evening and offers complimentary Land Rover transportation within a three-mile radius.

The Mansion On Delaware Avenue

Top rated
Buffalo
9.4 Excellent (1430 reviews)

Hudson

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The city of Hudson perhaps best embodies the wave of urban revitalization that has swept over the Hudson Valley in recent years. Artisan run boutique shops – like Lili & Loo with handcrafted home-goods galore – and farm-to-table eateries line the city’s main drag, Warren Street. Foodies or couples looking to celebrate a special occasion should snag a dinner reservation at the city’s acclaimed restaurant, Fish & Game. The James Beard Award-winning eatery serves an innovative, seasonal tasting menu with ingredients sourced from local Hudson Valley farms.

Beyond the charming downtown, Hudson lies in one of the most scenic spots along the Hudson River. Explore the bucolic hillsides, venture out for a hike, or check out the nearby Thomas Cole National Historic Site and learn about one of America’s first and most influential landscape painters.

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Where to Stay in Hudson

For your weekend stay, book a room at the Inn at 34. The innkeepers reside at this restored home located one block from Warren Street, and they grow produce in the back garden as fresh ingredients for breakfast.

Inn At 34

Hudson

Ithaca

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Outdoors lovers flock to Ithaca, New York for all four seasons. The city’s location at the base of Cayuga Lake makes it an ideal place for exploring the entire Finger Lakes Region. In the warmer months, get out on the water for boating, fishing, and kayaking, or stay on land and sip your way around the Cayuga Lake Lake Wine Trail. Come winter, you can snowshoe and cross-country ski at the Cayuga Nature Center or tie up those laces to skate around the ice rink near Rice Hill.

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Where to Stay in Ithaca

For those looking for a quiet, cozy place to stay, look no further than La Tourelle Hotel & Spa just outside of the city. The small family-run property boasts both a bistro and a spa.

La Tourelle Hotel & Spa

Top rated
Ithaca
9.4 Excellent (1502 reviews)

Kingston

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In 1777, Kingston was named the first state capital of New York. While it no longer holds that title, Kingston is still one of the oldest cities in the state and one of the best destinations for a weekend getaway in Upstate New York.

Diego’s is one of the tastiest restaurants in all of the Hudson Valley, making finger-licking good tacos and other savory Mexican food. Run by a husband and wife team, Diego’s serves outstanding Mexican street corn, tacos, and margaritas. It’s worth the drive to Kingston alone.

Diego’s is ideal for lunch, but for dinner try to snag a table on the patio at Boitson’s. Start with an order of their famous Buffalo Cauliflower. (It tastes just like chicken wings.)

From May to November, Kingston has a great Saturday Farmer’s Market. Local vendors set up stalls to sell homemade soups, freshly-fermented kimchi, ginger tonics, and gorgeous blooms.

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Where to Stay near Kingston

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The Hasbrouck House in nearby Stone Ridge is without a doubt where you should stay during this weekend getaway. The newly-renovated Dutch Colonial mansion has everything you could need for a romantic escape. Once you’re all checked-in, linger around the dimly lit bar over a few cocktails, then enjoy an amazing meal at Butterfield. While exploring downtown Kingston is a must, it will certainly be hard to pull yourself away from the Hasbrouck House pool during the warmer months.

Hasbrouck House

Stone Ridge
9.5 Excellent (34 reviews)

Lake Placid

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Just over five hours north of busy New York City, Lake Placid is an oasis of outdoor activities and relaxation. Lake Placid has twice hosted the Winter Olympics, and you can visit the sites where those world-class athletes competed and see how you compare.

Outdoor enthusiasts will love all the activities available in the heart of the Adirondacks. Do your best figure skating impression at the Olympic Oval, the same ice rink where Olympians speed-skaters competed during the 1932 and 1980 games. Hit the slopes at White Face Mountain, the fifth tallest peak in the country. Featuring the largest vertical drop in the East (3,430 feet!) and 87 trails, Whiteface Mountain presents skiers with challenging slopes and long, fun runs.

At the ski jump used for the 1980 Olympics, anyone with acrophobia may want to confront his or her fear. While you can’t actually ski there, the chair-lift ride up remains quite nerve-wracking. At the end of the tall lift, you’ll ride an elevator up even higher to the top of the jump to take in the view from the athletes’ vantage point. The panorama shot you get of the Adirondacks all around is pretty unbeatable.

At the Ausable Chasm, an expansive sandstone gorge, outdoor lovers can bike, raft, repel, tube, and rock climb – all while enjoying the stunning views. In the colder months, the tour includes snowshoes or ice cleats and you’ll see the frozen Ausable River, amazing ice and rock formations, and the chasm blanketed in powder. Hit the Adirondack Coast Wine Trail to tour the vineyards and sample some local flights – sure to warm you up from the inside out.

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Stay warm at Whiteface Lodge where the cozy, cabin-feel of this lodge is exactly what you’re looking for in a quintessential Adirondacks stay.

The Whiteface Lodge

Top rated
Lake Placid
9.7 Excellent (878 reviews)

New Paltz

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New Paltz is a wonderful town to visit for a relaxing, outdoor-oriented weekend getaway. For those coming from New York City, it’s less than a two-hour drive. Start with a morning hike along one of the best trails in the state, the Lemon Squeeze. The trail begins at the Mohonk Mountain House and offers everything from fun rock maneuvering to incredible valley views. You can choose to undertake different sections of the trail depending on your desired hike intensity, and it’s safe for kids so long as parents are there, too. The full trail takes around four hours, while the shorter version takes one hour and is more of a rock scramble comprised of a fun mix of easy and adventurous terrain.

Following the exhilarating hike, a hearty lunch will definitely be needed. We suggest grabbing a sandwich (get the Santa Cruz) from the Main Street Bistro, a local’s favorite. Take your meal to go and enjoy a leisurely picnic by Lake Mohonk in the Mohonk Preserve.

The best way to cap off your day in New Paltz is to swing by Robibero Family Vineyards for a glass of Hudson Valley wine. Tastings are $12 per person and the family-friendly winery has a big fire pit and plenty of space for friends and family to gather.

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Where to Stay in New Paltz, NY

Choose the Hampton by Hilton New Paltz as your home base for the weekend. The guest rooms are decorated with local photography and have all the modern amenities you could ask for following a long day of outdoor adventure.

Hampton by Hilton New Paltz, NY

New Paltz
9.4 Excellent (2027 reviews)

Phoenicia and Woodstock

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Phoenicia is the epicenter of activity in the Catskill Mountains. The town straddles Esopus Creek, which is one of the best spots for fly-flying on the East Coast. In the spring and summer, Esopus Creek flows fiercely with small rapids prime for water tubing. Town Tinker Tube Rental offers flat-bottom and open tubes for a fun afternoon with your friends or family on the water.

You won’t have a problem finding a good meal in Phoenicia. Perhaps the most famous (and Instagrammable) is the Phoenicia Diner off Route 28. Pony up to the bar at this classic, old-school diner for some savory yet simple, eggs, bacon, and hash.

Come dinnertime, you should take it up a notch and reserve a table at the Phoenicia Steakhouse. While it’s more upscale than the famous diner, Phoenicia Steakhouse offers a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere with mouth-watering steak and pasta dishes.

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Where to Stay Near Phoenicia

In keeping with its small-town charm appeal, Phoenicia doesn’t have too many hotels to choose from in town. However, nearby Woodstock is an ideal home base for your adventures in Phoenicia and the rest of the greater Catskills region. Rest your head at night at the hippy-chic Hotel Dylan located right on the main thoroughfare, Route 28.

Dylan

Woodstock
9.3 Excellent (9 reviews)

Saratoga Springs

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Saratoga Springs lies in the heart of the Hudson Valley. With a deep history of horse racing that dates back to the mid-1800s, the town has long made a name for itself for having a fun social scene with speakeasies and music clubs galore.

Set in the shadows of the Adirondack Mountains, you can spend your days watching a race, enjoying a polo match or hit the slot machines at the Saratoga Casino Hotel. To make the destination even more appealing, there are said to be 20 natural hot springs in the area. Over the years, the hot springs reputation has allowed the town to grow into a full-fledged spa destination. For an invigorating hydrotherapy experience, head to the Roosevelt Inn and Spa, where they boast a whopping 42 treatment rooms.

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Where to Stay in Saratoga Springs

For your weekend in Saratoga Springs, make Brentwood your home away from home. The cozy boutique hotel has only 12 rooms, each with great views of the racetrack. From here, you’ll be only minutes away from the downtown area and steps away from the horse races.

Brentwood

Saratoga Springs
9.2 Excellent (262 reviews)

Day Trip: Narrowsburg

About 2.5 hours north of New York City, Narrowsburg is an artsy little town set on the banks of the Delaware River. While the town itself is cozy – just 1.5 square miles total – it certainly packs a punch. Narrowsburg is home to the Delaware Valley Arts Alliance, which is the Arts Council for all of Sullivan County. This means you’ll be able to see beautiful art exhibitions in galleries off Main Street.

The artsy scene spills over into the unique shops and antique stores found throughout town. A favorite is Nest, a highly-curated lifestyle boutique. Filled with beautiful and unique home goods, art pieces, clothing, and accessories, you’ll shop alongside city dwellers that have driven up just to peruse the collection at Nest.

When you’re looking to stretch your legs, the Tusten Mountain Trail is a great hike with gorgeous views of the Delaware River. For brunch, lunch or dinner, the Heron serves amazing homemade soups and sandwiches. For a fun dinner spot, check out Laundrette. The new family-owned pizza spot at the end of town serves delicious wood-fired pizza pies.

Featured image courtesy of I Love NY