8 Best Small Towns In New York For A Crowd-Free Summer
It is hard to resist the magnet of energy that is New York City. Yet upstate New York holds quiet alternatives for travelers who want art and nature without the crowds. Aurora sits on Cayuga Lake in the Finger Lakes wine country. Cold Spring opens onto the Hudson River and Hudson Highlands State Park. Saranac Lake sits in the Adirondack Mountains with two lakes on its edge. These eight small towns offer a different pace of New York summer.
Aurora
Aurora is a quiet pocket of the Finger Lakes, a gateway to explore the beauty of Cayuga Lake. You can either opt for a historical boat tour, which allows you to take in the beauty of the lake while time-traveling back into the past, or take a wine cruise through the lake to wineries like Long Point Winery. Bianconi Tours offers both options, as well as a sunset cruise, perfect for couples or families who want to create memorable moments together away from the crowds.
If you travelled to Aurora by car and venturing on your own time is more your pace, you will love the 87-mile Cayuga Lake Scenic Byway loop. It offers captivating scenes of not only Cayuga Lake but also of rolling hills, vineyards, and waterfalls. Finally, you can't leave Aurora without getting a souvenir from MacKenzie-Childs, the studio and shop of famous pottery maker Victoria MacKenzie-Childs.
Cold Spring
Bordered by the Hudson River to the west and Hudson Highlands State Park to the north, Cold Spring offers fun summer days on the water and scenic summer hikes. The shores of the Hudson River in Cold Spring are a great launching point for kayaking, canoeing, and paddleboarding expeditions. Hudson River Expeditions is a great place to rent your watersports gear, and they also offer moonlight paddles and firework tours.
For those who prefer their nature adventures in drier conditions, venture onto the trails of Hudson Highlands State Park, which include a steep ascent up Breakneck Ridge, where you will be rewarded with a wide view of the Hudson River and the Hudson Highlands. You can also take a break from nature and discover this small town's historic district, which includes 19th-century buildings like the West Point Foundry Preserve and the Putnam History Museum.
Saranac Lake
This quiet upstate New York town is a great place to discover an easy pace. Its proximity to the Adirondack Mountains and the serene waters of Lake Colby and Lake Flower make it a great summer getaway town. Mountain bikers can discover the challenging Adirondack Rail Trail, or if you prefer a challenge without bikes, you can hike the McKenzie and Haystack Mountains.
Cool off from biking and hiking at Lake Colby Beach or laze on its shores to get some rays. Saranac is also known as a town for artists and has a number of art galleries, including the Adirondack Artist Guild, where visitors can peruse a variety of local art. To top off a visit to Saranac Lake, you have to ride the famous Adirondack Carousel, featuring artistically carved representations of Adirondack wildlife.
Sleepy Hollow
Sleepy Hollow is rooted in American folklore and hauntings attributed to the 1820 short story "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow." However, the community is rich in history and features fun local events and outdoor activities in the summertime. Sleepy Hollow's Jazz Forum Arts Summer Concert Series is a treat you can't miss if you are visiting Sleepy Hollow in August, and you also must stop by the Tarrytown & Sleepy Hollow Farmers Market.
Rockefeller State Park is great for its hiking trails, but if you want a less strenuous activity, take a slow walk along the Hudson River to the scenic Sleepy Hollow Lighthouse. But if you are visiting Sleepy Hollow in honor of "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and its writer, Washington Irving, you can stop by his grave at the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery to pay your respects. You can also see the people who inspired his work at the Old Dutch Burying Ground.
Rhinebeck
If art, history, and comforting bakeries tick all your boxes for a crowd-free summer getaway, Rhinebeck is the town for you. Rhinebeck's historic village is renowned for its 18th- and 19th-century architecture, as showcased in landmarks such as the Beekman Arms, built in 1766, and the 19th-century Queen Anne mansion Wilderstein Historic Site.
Its art scene is also renowned, as it is home to the annual Rhinebeck Crafts Festival, and THE CENTER for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck, where you can catch upcoming talent perform in plays and musicals. And in Rhinebeck, the best way to complement history and art is by indulging in its local bakeries, such as Bread Alone Bakery and Cafe, where you can sit back and enjoy a warm cup of coffee and freshly baked goods.
Ellicottville
Ellicottville is known as a winter destination because of its renowned ski slopes, but it is secretly a great summer getaway filled with a mixture of challenging and relaxing summer activities. It is home to Skyhigh Adventure Park, where you can zip line through trees and navigate through bridges, ladders, and obstacle courses.
In the summertime, Ellicottville's Holiday Valley Ski Resort may lack snow, but it turns into a great spot for e-biking, hiking, and features a challenging golf course for avid golfers. For a more relaxing stay in this gem of the Allegany Mountains, you can sunbathe on the shores of Spruce Lake or sample local beer at the award-winning Ellicottville Brewing Company.
Skaneateles
Nothing can beat summer by a wide blue lake, which makes Skaneateles one of New York's best-kept secret summer lake towns. Skaneateles Lake will not disappoint when it comes to activities such as scenic cruises, boating, fishing, cycle routes, and hiking trails. Skaneateles Lake also features Clift Park, which is part of a beach and a launching point for fishing and boating expeditions.
Downtown Skaneateles is also worth a slow-paced stroll, as it boasts great restaurants like the casual Doug's Fish Fry and high-end options like Rosalie's Cucina. And if you want a keepsake to remember your time in this scenic town, stop by Skaneateles Artisans to purchase handmade art made by local artists.
New Paltz
Set in the Shawangunk Ridge on the shores of the Wallkill River, New Paltz is the perfect town for a crowd-free summer if you prefer a mixture of outdoor activity with history and art. The Wallkill River will provide visitors with an array of options when it comes to river activities, and Minnewaska State Park and Mohonk Preserve will not disappoint with their mixture of biking and hiking trails.
History buffs will marvel at the well-preserved Huguenot Street Historic District, which features the 18th-century Crispell Memorial Walloon Church and the Jean Hasbrouck House, a great example of preserved Hudson Valley Dutch architecture. New Paltz is also home to the Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art. It boasts six galleries, which house works from artists in the mid-Hudson Valley region.
A Different Side of New York
Visiting these towns will change your perception of a New York summer and show you a different side of the state that doesn't involve concrete jungles, fighting your way into a subway cart, and practicing patience while waiting in a long line to experience art, culture, and entertainment. All you have to do is head north of New York City, and you will experience towns with a different pace, energy, and way of living.
