10 Storybook Towns In New York

Wherever you decide to go in New York, you are sure to stumble upon some storybook towns that seem to be pulled straight out of a fairy tale. In the Adirondacks, Saranac Lake and Lake Placid impress visitors with Mirror Lake views and year-round mountain adventure tied to the region’s Olympic legacy. Cold Spring and Saugerties bring the same charm to the Hudson Valley with brick-lined historic streets and sweeping river scenery. And for an especially memorable stop, make sure to visit Cooperstown, home to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Time to discover New York's 10 most charming small towns.

Skaneateles

If you are seeking a lakefront getaway with the benefit of nearby vineyards for wine tasting, the village of Skaneateles will serve you well. On the north shore of Skaneateles Lake in the Finger Lakes region, Skaneateles is known for its elegant architecture and one of the clearest lakes in the Northeast. Downtown, Genesee Street's historic storefronts house bakeries, boutiques, and restaurants with lake views. Clift Park hugs the waterfront, with docks, picnic areas, and seasonal events. It is no wonder Skaneateles snagged the number one spot on Oprah Magazine's list of "charming American towns you haven't heard of but should visit ASAP." Stroll amid the vines at Anyela's Vineyards, and during the holiday season, don't miss the annual Dickens Christmas celebration. You will feel like you are on the set of a Hallmark holiday movie.

Cooperstown

Cooperstown is well-known by baseball lovers, as it is home to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, but the village itself has an intimate feel. Main Street stretches only a few blocks, making it highly walkable, and is lined with bookstores, baseball memorabilia shops, cafés, and historic inns that date back generations. Otsego Lake forms the backdrop just beyond downtown, with public access at Lakefront Park. If you have a less enthusiastic baseball fan in your midst, they will enjoy cultural attractions, including the Fenimore Farm and Country Village, where historic buildings and demonstrations show rural life from earlier centuries. Local breweries along the Cooperstown Beverage Trail round out an experience for everyone.

Cold Spring

Nature lovers will enjoy Cold Spring, which sits along the Hudson River. The village derives its quaint, storybook look from its 19th-century architecture. Its rows of brick storefronts now house antiques shops, art galleries, and coffeehouses. Foundry Dock Park was once a busy loading dock for an ironworks, and now provides open views across the Hudson, welcoming kayakers and sailboats. Hiking opportunities sit minutes away in Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve. Just note that the steep climb up Breakneck Ridge, one of the region’s most famous trails, is temporarily closed for reconstruction. Thanks to the Metro North rail line to Hudson, visitors can spend the morning browsing shops and the afternoon on mountain trails without ever needing a car.

Rhinebeck

Also in the Hudson Valley, Rhinebeck is a foodie haven in a small town setting. The heart of downtown houses bakeries, galleries, and farm-to-table restaurants such as Market Street, and the weekly farmer's market is a big draw thanks to the many nearby orchards in the area. A stop at Oblong Books is one of the easiest and most enjoyable things to do right in the center of town. This independent bookstore sits just off the main village intersection and has been a Rhinebeck institution for decades. Next, stop in at the Beekman Arms and Delamater Inn, which dates back to 1766. For a further exploration of the area's history, both the Wilderstein Historic Site and Staatsburgh State Historic Site are 10 minutes or less away and showcase Gilded Age grand estates and grounds.

Saugerties

You can't go wrong with a getaway in Saugerties. This picturesque village stands where the Esopus Creek meets the Hudson River, at the foothills of the Catskill Mountains. Its historic district is lively with music venues and independent shops, all of which stay open late on Saugerties monthly First Fridays. Saugerties was even home to the Woodstock 1994 rock concert on the 800-acre Winston Farm. A short drive from town leads to the Saugerties Lighthouse, a 19th-century beacon reached by a tidal causeway and surrounded by river views. Hiking trails extend into the nearby Catskills, and you will want to mark your calendar to make sure you are in town for Saugerties' major gatherings, such as the Hudson Valley Garlic Festival.

Lake Placid

Calling all winter recreation enthusiasts! Deep in the Adirondack region, Lake Placid offers the feel of a classic alpine village. Mirror Lake, right in town, reflects the surrounding peaks in a way that creates one of the most recognizable backdrops in the Adirondacks. Visitors can ski Whiteface Mountain, snowshoe, or cross-country ski in winter, paddleboard, kayak, and hike in summer, and tour The Olympic Center, ski jump complex, and other venues from the 1980 Winter Olympics all year round. Restaurants, outfitters, and cafés line the downtown blocks, ensuring everyone you bring with you has ample activities to choose from.

Saranac Lake

A short drive from Lake Placid, making it a great destination in its own right, Saranac Lake has developed its own identity through the arts, history, and access to wilderness. Colorful murals and sidewalk art line the downtown area, adding a fairytale feel, and the thriving art scene carries on in its many galleries. Saranac Lake is the place to access the Adirondack Rail Trail, a 34-mile recreational trail that is open year-round for cross-country skiing, biking, and walking. In town, historic “cure cottages” recall the town’s past as a health retreat for tuberculosis patients seeking fresh mountain air, and today, the community’s lakeside setting continues to make Saranac Lake feel both historic and outdoorsy.

Hammondsport

Hammondsport rests at the southern tip of Keuka Lake, surrounded by Finger Lake vineyards that climb the hillsides above the water. Wine shops and restaurants welcome visitors throughout the year, and in the warmer months, Depot Park offers a lakefront swimming beach, docks, and open lawns. Hammondsport also boasts aviation history, and visitors can learn more at The Glenn H Curtiss Museum, which celebrates the aviation pioneer who once lived here. Allow time for wine tasting; however, several acclaimed wineries lie just minutes away along the Keuka Lake Wine Trail. End your day in Hammondsport with dinner at Timber Stone Grill, one of the most popular restaurants in the center of Hammondsport’s small village district.

Cazenovia

If sculpture, theater, and nature appeal in equal measure, Cazenovia has it all, in a storybook village package. Its broad village green is framed by historic homes, and just beyond downtown lies Cazenovia Lake, where sailboats and kayaks can be spotted during the warmer months. A stop at Cazenovia Artisans, a cooperative gallery that features work by regional artists and makers, is a great way to experience the town’s creative side. It’s located right on Albany Street in the center of downtown. For some outdoor fun, Lakeland Park provides easy access to the shoreline, and a stroll through Stone Quarry Hill Art Park rewards visitors with sculpture installations scattered amid its trails, ending any visit to artsy and scenic Cazenovia in an exclamation point.

Little Falls

Engineering and canal history lovers will quickly fall in love with Little Falls, which lies amid one of the most dramatic landscapes along the Mohawk River. Steep rock cliffs on both sides of town create a natural corridor where the Erie Canal once carried boats through the valley. Historic warehouses, mills, and canal structures still line the waterfront, many now restored for restaurants, shops, and community events. Canal Place, a Heritage Award recipient, anchors the historic district, where visitors can watch boats pass through Lock 17, one of the tallest locks in the canal system. Be sure to stop at the Little Falls Historical Society Museum, which houses Native American artifacts, early industrial tools, and displays on the Erie Canal and local factories.

Storybook Towns Straight Out of a Novel

New York’s smaller towns offer visitors some of the state’s most memorable landscapes and, certainly, its most charming and intimate streets. From mountain villages such as Lake Placid to Finger Lakes waterfront communities like Skaneateles, each destination combines scenic surroundings with active downtown districts and cultural attractions. Pick one or more and visit for proof that you don’t need a major city to find beauty and things to do on your next getaway.