11 Unforgettable Small Towns to Visit in New York
When people hear 'New York,' they automatically think of New York City, which consists of the five boroughs: Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Staten Island. Yet, there are approximately fifty thousand square miles of landscape in the state that don’t include the “Big Apple.” These towns and cities have their own share of attributes and attractions that are classified as distinctive or memorable. From the small town of Sleepy Hollow in Westchester County to the much smaller city of Olcott in Niagara County, here are eleven of the most unforgettable small towns that are ideal to visit within the great state of New York.
Sleepy Hollow
Though everyone has heard of Sleepy Hollow, first through the story, and then through a movie by the same name, this town has some unforgettable attractions that have little to do with the urban legend. One of these is Rockwood Hall State Park, providing some stunning views of the Hudson River, and another is the Sleepy Hollow Lighthouse, first built in 1883 and standing at a current height of sixty feet.
Some notable attractions related to the classic Washington Irving tale, at least in part, include the Old Dutch Church and Sleepy Hollow Cemetery. The Old Dutch Church was constructed by Frederick Philipse I shortly after the building of Philipsburg Manor during the 17th century. Sleepy Hollow Cemetery is home to the tombstone and grave of Washington Irving, as well as those of several other famous individuals.
Woodstock
The town of Woodstock, located approximately fifty miles south of Albany, boasts several notable attributes, including Overlook Mountain, which features its own mountaintop ruins, and the Catskill Center Thorn Preserve, a 60-acre preserve offering spectacular vistas of Overlook Mountain. Thorn Preserve boasts a plethora of well-manicured paths that provide its guests with tranquil, scenic strolls through the natural beauty.
Woodstock is also home to several art institutions, like Elena Zang Gallery and the Bearsville Theater. While the Elena Zang Gallery offers visitors a new look at the creations of regional and international artists, the Bearsville Theater provides insight into the performance arts through various shows held throughout the year. Since its creation, it has hosted artists such as Janis Joplin, Allen Ginsberg, and Bob Dylan.
Fayetteville
Home to Green Lakes State Park, featuring a plethora of activities from swimming, fishing, and kayaking to hiking, golfing, and observing the fauna and flora, the town of Fayetteville is a nature lover’s dream. And, if you find yourself in Green Lakes State Park during the winter season, several groomed trails are available that are ideal for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
Located just outside the city of Syracuse, Fayetteville is also home to several parks, including Washington Park and Beard Park. It is also home to several historic attractions, including the Matilda Joslyn Gage Center, housed in the suffragist’s former Greek Revival home, and the Stickley Museum. This fabulous downtown museum showcases the importance of well-made furniture.
Cold Spring
The village of Cold Spring, a part of the town of Philipstown, is situated along the eastern bank of the Hudson River, and is home to some unforgettable attractions. The most popular of these is Bannerman Castle. This historic attraction, first constructed at the beginning of the 20th century on Pollapel Island, is now a spectacular venue featuring farm-to-table dinners, tours, and even performances.
Cold Spring is also home to several parks, like Mayor’s Park, Dockside Park, and Foundry Dock Park. While all three have great amenities, including picnicking, strolling through the park, and enjoying scenic vistas, Foundry Dock Park also offers some historic value. During the American Civil War, steamboats and other watercraft utilized the 600-foot-long dock to transport weapons to the soldiers.
Corning
Just north of the Pennsylvania border, Corning boasts an abundance of spectacular attractions, some of which are truly unforgettable. The one most people have difficulty forgetting is the Rockwell Museum. Housed in the historic City Hall, which was built at the end of the 19th century, the Rockwell Museum, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, features some stunning historic exhibits that showcase America at its best.
Downtown Corning is also home to the Corning Museum of Glass, which, in itself, is unforgettable. Displaying more than 35 centuries of exceptional glass art, this unique museum is not to be missed. Additionally, in proximity to this museum, the Hands-On Glass Studio offers visitors and guests the opportunity to try their hand at the art of glass-blowing in an environment ideally suited for learning.
Saugerties
Saugerties, situated between the Ashokan Reservoir and the Hudson, is home to Saugerties Lighthouse, first constructed in 1869, which is now a Living Museum and a quaint bed & breakfast. Additionally, it features Opus 40, best described as an environmental sculpture spanning over six acres of an abandoned bluestone quarry. Created by Harvey Fite over a span of 36 years, this spectacular sculpture is well worth visiting.
Saugerties is also home to several natural attractions, including the Catskill Animal Sanctuary, which has rescued over 5,000 animals throughout its existence, and Seamon Park. Seamon Park, situated between downtown and the banks of the Hudson, offers guests the opportunity to walk and hike, as well as participate in several exciting events, including the Mum Festival in October and the Holiday Lights Festival in December.
Rhinebeck
Across the Hudson from the town of Kingston, the first capital of the State of New York in 1777, the small village of Rhinebeck has one remarkable attribute: the Omega Institute. While not perfect for everyone, this unique establishment offers a more profound understanding through various relaxation activities, such as yoga, meditation, and reading, all designed to facilitate a more profound journey of self-discovery.
For those interested in history, the town of Rhinebeck is also home to several historic attractions. Wilderstein Historic Site originated as a Victorian home constructed in 1852, while the Church of St. Peter, also known as the Old Stone Church, was built in the 18th century. Don't forget to check out the Benner House as well. Built in the mid-18th century, this house is said to be the oldest in Rhinebeck.
New Paltz
New Paltz is home to the historic Huguenot Street, running through downtown from the Carmine Liberta Bridge out past the Huguenot Street Farm. The downtown section of Huguenot Street is lined with some phenomenal stone structures, all built during the early 18th century. A couple of these buildings are the 1721 Jean Hasbrouck House and the 18th-century Deyo House.
New Paltz is also home to the Mohonk Nature Preserve, the largest private nature preserve in New York, and the Testimonial Gateway. Also part of the Mohonk Nature Preserve, the Testimonial Gateway serves as the entrance to Mohonk Mountain House, a historic Victorian mountain resort. Built in 1908, this fantastic structure was built to commemorate the fiftieth wedding anniversary of Albert and Eliza Smiley.
Tarrytown
The picturesque town of Tarrytown, situated thirteen miles north of Yonkers, is home to some phenomenal attractions, including Lyndhurst, also known as the Jay Gould Estate, which was designed in 1838 by Alexander Jackson Davis, as well as several fantastic parks.
Tarrytown is also home to the Scenic Hudson RiverWalk Park, a beautiful riverside esplanade, and Losee Park. Blended with Sleepy Hollow, the attractions in Tarrytown, as well as those in Sleepy Hollow, tend to get intermingled, allowing visitors to explore both during their visit. Some attributes not yet mentioned include Douglas Park and Patriots Park.
Nyack
Across the Hudson River from Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow, the picturesque town of Nyack boasts a plethora of great attributes that make it unforgettable. From Nyack Beach State Park, which offers water activities such as fishing, kayaking, and boating, winter activities like skiing (cross-country) and snowshoeing, and hiking several trails, to the Nyack Ghost, said to haunt several buildings in and around Nyack, this small town is well worth visiting.
Downtown Nyack is also home to several historic attractions, like Edward Hopper House. This specialty museum showcases art pieces by over 100 different artists. The Edward Hopper House is the actual house in which Edward Hopper, known for paintings such as Nighthawks (1942) and Chop Suey (1929), was born. It is also near the Ackley House, which was first constructed in 1890.
Olcott
Forty miles north of Buffalo, the quaint town of Olcott has one phenomenal attraction that significantly contributes to this town of fewer than a thousand people, making it unforgettable. It is the home of Olcott Beach Carousel Park, which, in itself, is home to a 1928 Herschell-Spillman Carousel. Although it is only open from Memorial Day to Labor Day, Olcott Beach Carousel Park is truly unforgettable.
Olcott also has an abundance of natural attractions, as it is situated on the banks of Lake Ontario, From Krull Park, featuring activities like swimming, picnicking, and ice-stating (during the winter season), as well as festivals including Olcott Pirate Festival & Car Show, to a 1931 Wurlitzer band organ, situated on Olcott Beach, there is something for everyone in this small town.
The great state of New York has an abundance of towns with truly remarkable venues. From the 1883 Sleepy Hollow Lighthouse and the 1869 Saugerties Lighthouse, both of which are stationed along the banks of the Hudson River, to the Olcott Beach Carousel Park, looking out over the even deeper waters of Lake Ontario, a plethora of these notable attractions exist across the landscape of the “Empire State,” making these phenomenal small towns totally unforgettable.
