Escape the City: The Coolest Weekend Getaways from New York City

The name Sleepy Hollow might raise the hair on the back of your neck, but the village formerly known as North Tarrytown (they voted to change the name to Sleepy Hollow in 1996) and its larger neighbor Tarrytown bloom with charm.

The Tarrytown Third Friday entertainment series turns the business district into a street party with live music, food, and a jolly atmosphere. Day to day, one of the prettiest towns in America (according to Forbes magazine) is chock-full of gourmet food, antiques and art galleries.

Don’t miss a visit to Kykuit, the Rockefeller Estate. Extensive gardens, beautiful views of the Hudson Valley and a remarkable art collection are all found at this lush property, home to four generations of one of our country’s most powerful families.

Hungry? The Taco Project for a succinct menu of fresh tacos and a friendly, casual space or The Twisted Oak for a locally-infused, sophisticated take on American bistro cuisine.

Following the conversion of a Nabisco box factory on the banks of the river into the Dia:Beacon Art Foundation, Beacon has been sparkling with creative energy while holding onto its tranquil, small-town roots. The gargantuan factory space provides ample room to display the collection of large sculptures and installations, also allowing visitors to admire them from all angles. On show are pieces from notable artists like Agnes Martin, Joseph Beuys and Andy Warhol. Outside the 34 acres of grounds have been artistically shaped into gardens that beg for a leisurely stroll.

A huge selection of boutiques and the weekly Sunday Farmer’s Market offer hand-made and artisanal gifts such as light fixtures, glass, hats and snacks which nod to Beacon’s many creative merits and the burgeoning creative community that calls it home.

Hungry? The Dogwood pub offers a warming selection of comfort food (including lots of vegetarian options), craft beer and live music. Locavores love to frequent the unpretentious and delicious Homespun Foods.

For those looking to spend the weekend wine-ing and dining, Hudson has emerged as a true foodie destination- and with New Yorkers having taken note and packed their weekend totes- reservations are often required.

Brunch is a Hudson weekend necessity. Turn it into a verb with some brunching in the garden at Red Dot, the town’s oldest continuously operating restaurant. Lunch comes next at Grazin’. The farm-to-table restaurant serves up 100% animal welfare approved meats.

For dinner, Crimson Sparrow’s tasting menu changes every month, employing a mix of classic French cooking techniques and standout Asian flavors. Their wine selection, favoring heavily on French, is extensive. Another fusion heavy menu is presented at Hudson Food Studio. Their sesame-crusted tofu with white miso gravy, greens and rice noodles is the definition of “umami”.

Hungry? Probably not. Sick of food? You’re out of luck as the theme continues to all corners of town. Find vintage cookbooks at Hudson City Books or drive out to the nearby farms including Old Field Farm who supplies some of Manhattan’s best restaurants with produce and eggs. On the main drag, Warren Street, you’ll find Flowerkraut, an odd combo of floral studio and sauerkraut shop as well as other boutiques selling ceramics, spices and other Instagrammable-must haves.

While Shelter Island is truly the perfect place to spend the day in an Adirondack chair doing nothing but watching the waves and listening to the birds’ chirp, the coastline and terrain beg for a meander. The Island, accessible only by ferry from Greenport or North Haven, is easily discoverable via bike or foot. Trendy boutiques and craft breweries can also be found, bringing the nice parts of city life to this sleepy yet hip patch of land.

The Mashomack Nature Preserve is a tangle of hiking trails that take you across all parts of Shelter Island’s quintessential landscape, guiding you through marshes, meadows and tidal creeks, oftentimes joined by ospreys.

The coastline hides three lovely beaches for any occasion: Wades is for families, Crescent is hip and Shell is private and quiet. If you are coming with kids, Whale’s Tale is a mini-golf paradise of maritime-themed kitsch.

Hungry? After a round of grueling mini-golf, the best ice cream and cannolis on the island are at Whale’s Tale. Feeling the freshly harvested, market price, local seafood vibe? Snack on the raw bar at the marina-front restaurant SALT.

Dating back to 1623, Portsmouth has been brewing upon the remnants of the American Revolutions, fishing and shipping traditions to emerge as a hip, locavore-loving destination. What better way to spend a weekend than breathing in that fresh, salty air and dining on the ocean’s bounty? Let’s dive into a Portsmouth weekend getaway from New York City.

The town is centered around Market Square, a collection of brick and clapboard commercial buildings that showcases the beauty of New England coastal life so well. Today locally-owned shops sell anything from jewelry, to toys and even cigars.

A local gem is the Strawbery Banke, a 10-acre outdoor living museum collection of houses, gardens and taverns that go back to the 17th century. Step back in time through the portal here with costumed interpreters and artisans displaying the colonial way of life in Portsmouth through coppering, boat building, pottery and weaving.

The best way to see the town is naturally by boat while heading towards the Isles of Shoals, a collection of small historic islands with a monument to John Smith (of Pocahontas stardom) as well as several 18th century stone buildings. Another boating option is the Heritage Harbor Cruise that lasts just over an hour.

Hungry? Slurp them raw, fried, marinated and even stuffed at The Franklin Oyster House plus plenty of options to suit the oyster-haters. The black truffle salt fries at Lexie’s Joint take casual to upscale without a white tablecloth.

The only cheesy thing about Mystic isn’t just the made-famous-by-film pizza joint. The former seafarer’s village is a popular spot for seekers of salty air and salt water taffy wares (the best to be found at Franklin’s General Store).

The Mystic Seaport is one of the best maritime museums in the country and has managed to recreate the spirit and anatomy of the town’s history. The 40-acre Seaport Museum has an impressive collection of Tall Ships open for climbing including the Charles W Morgan, the oldest remaining wooden sailing whale ship.

The marine theme continues across many of the shops and galleries that dot the seaside abode. Walk across Main Street from east to west across the Mystic River Bascule Bridge and hopefully witness the hydraulic action. There is an overarching feeling of quaintness about, making Mystic the perfect place to relax. An afternoon cat nap in Mystic is strictly guilt-free.

Hungry? Famous Mystic Pizza is deep kneaded and dripping with toppings and a tasty tomato sauce. It’s a rite of passage for any visitor. The Engine Room is home to burgers, beers and bourbon and a great happy hour from 4-6 p.m.

A winning combination of quaint college town and outdoor dreamland, a weekend in New Paltz is an all-inclusive getaway for greedy weekenders who want it all. Located between several preserved forests, those who fancy themselves “outdoorsy” will delight in hundreds of miles of trails at their New Paltz doorstep, ready to be trotted, run, biked or sauntered over.

Huguenot Street has taken the gold medal for the longest continuously inhabited street in all of America, dating back to when the Huguenots first fled persecution in France during the 1600s. You can find traces of the town’s beginnings at Jean Hasbrouck House, once a family home and village store as well as the church graveyard.

Soaring pine trees move up towards the Shawangunk Ridge which casts a shadow over the town but spotlights it as one of the best places to rock climb in the country. The ridge is part of Minnewaska State Park, conveniently home to waterfalls, sparkling lakes that are even open for scuba diving.

If you’re looking to be alone with your thoughts, the Mohonk Preserve occupies 8,000 acres of land with dense forest, fields, and tinkling streams.

Hungry? The quaint Village Tea Room comes with a delicious assortment of European bistro food from local farmers. Huckleberry fuses lip-smacking cocktails with upscale pub grub with options for vegetarians and meat lovers alike.

Born and still living in Asbury Park is locally adored legend Bruce Springsteen who should be testament enough to visit the city, regardless of whether you’re vying for a glance of The Boss or escaping NYC. A burgeoning LGBT scene since the mid-2000’s has raised the formerly derelict city into the beautiful mermaid New Yorkers enjoy for many a weekend today.

The mile-long boardwalk is the perfect place to begin getting acquainted with the town. The atmosphere here is cooler than the average boardwalk with foodie worthy offerings of ceviche and empanadas at Runa, vegetarian Korean tofu tacos at Mogo and a vegan take on the ultimate boardwalk staple, the ice cream. Shops aren’t limited to magnets and muscle tees but sell stylish souvenirs from local designers.

Not missing from the boardwalk is Madame Marie’s Temple of Knowledge where you can get your fortune told and the pinball machine mecca at Silverball Museum. The live music scene one of the draws for coming to Asbury and venues like The Stone Pony and Wonderbar often host a spur of the moment secret performance from the Boss as well as local and national acts.

Hungry? It wouldn’t be a visit to the Jersey Shore without an Italian sandwich- the Speakeatery makes a “so stuffed it’s silly version” with homemade mozzarella. With sun comes beers and the ones at Asbury Festhalle & Biergarten are accompanied by German pretzels, weiners, wursts and schnitzels.