8 Best Towns In New York For A Two-Day Recharge
Fall is an exciting time in New York, lighting up the small towns of the Empire, carpeting mountain ranges, and ringing the iconic Hudson River. Whether you're a planner or an impromptu kind of person, you won't be remiss in these eight best towns in NY to recharge on a quick trip.
Each exudes warm charm, with historic streets and rustic nature, for a chill two days by the lake, browsing art, or even holiday shopping. So whenever you need to hit a reset from the Big Apple, your city, or even out of state, the first town is near Connecticut.
Amenia
It is all about hiking, golf, and cinema on repeat in this tiny hamlet on Route 44 near the Connecticut border. Meaning "pleasant to the eye" in Latin, Amenia locals enjoy horseback riding and fly fishing at the confluence of two creeks and the Ten Mile River, while the short but steep Stissing Mountain Trail to a historic fire tower offers sweeping views of the Hudson Valley. Troutbeck, a historic hotel, completes a dreamy escape with a heated pool and fire pits encircled by Adirondack chairs.
Hike or bike the winding 26-mile Harlem Valley Rail Trail, a paved route right from town, with zen-inspiring views of the bale-dotted pastures, lush woodlands, and the Berkshire foothills. In the evening, catch a movie under a starry sky at Four Brothers Drive-In, open through late fall with yard games, mini golf, and an elevated snack bar, plus a vintage Airstream. After a weekend of antiquing, architecture, and handmade gifts, how about a frozen treat for the road from Fudgy's Ice Cream?
Bethel
Some 100 miles northwest of NYC, Bethel is the grounds of the original 1969 Woodstock Festival. Encompassing several lakeside hamlets, White Lake draws anglers with bass and trout, plus motorboats on the large, eponymous lake to the east. Just north, Bethel Woods Center for the Arts is a music and arts complex on the festival grounds with an amphitheater and an intriguing museum. The multimedia exhibits and a movie theater lay out the '60s and the iconic festival.
Just up the hill, Woodstock Monument transcribes the magnitude of the event in scenic surroundings, from the events leading up to what unfolded on the nearby former dairy farm that weekend in mid-August. No summertime weekend escape is complete without Lake Superior State Park, a sunny slice of recreational haven. In addition to a sandy beach and a boat launch for the non-motorized lake, visitors can rent paddle- and rowboats. Stay at the historic campground or Driftwood Ranch.
Chatham
Escape Berkshire-style on the northern edge of the Hudson Valley, a mere 30 miles or minutes south of Albany. Surrounded by thriving farms, Chatham builds creativity into the foothills near the Taconic Parkway, where Chatham Travel Lodge invites you for a rest after a winding foliage drive, between art galleries and thrift stores along the main street, with Chatham Brewing across, drop by the landmark Old Chatham Country Store in the square.
After stocking up on local cheeses and pantry essentials with an ice cream cone to-go, it's time to pick evening entertainment, like the deliciously historic Crandell Theatre, one of the county’s oldest and largest movie theaters. Built in 1926 by Walter S. Crandell, this 534-seater reminisces of its origins as a vaudeville house with a brick and stucco facade and Spanish-style arches and lanterns. From a huge balcony to an impressive orchestra pit, the concession stand popcorn will take your last restraint.
Cornwall
Just 1.5 hours from NYC, Cornwall greets you with familiarity and comfort in the beautiful Hudson Valley surroundings. Drop by the Hudson Highlands Nature Museum, with a play area and an outdoor discovery center for all ages. Tangled in miles of hiking and woodland trails, babbling brooks, and abundant wildlife, the riverfront hamlet of Cornwall-on-Hudson houses the 1,884-acre Storm King State Park, with a natural spring and leaf-peeping atop Butter Hill Mountain, overlooking the river.
Catch a glimpse of the Bannerman Castle on a Hudson River island, an abandoned military warehouse glammed up in gothic features with boat access and walking tours on site. Many know of the spectacular Storm King Art Center, a 500-acre open-air sculpture park, with tram tours and bike rentals to explore giant art in vast sky and landscape views. When it's time to turn in, the unpretentious Cadet Motel for under $100 or Cromwell Manor Inn will appease every budget.
High Falls
Just two hours north of Manhattan, this peaceful Hudson Valley hamlet offers two days of tiny-town charm in grand scenery, surrounded by U-pick orchards, with a flair for the arts. Kids are enthralled meeting over 380 sweet rescued animals at the Woodstock Farm Sanctuary, while Stone Mountain Farm is an art gallery tucked off to the side in a slice of nature. The industrial-era landmarks and the roaring waterfalls at the heart anchor the town's rich heritage to Rondout Creek.
Browsing the walkable Main Street shops and restaurants, the D&H Canal Museum details living culture and history along the Delaware and Hudson Canal, with a trail from the doorstep to walk along the historic waterway. Meanwhile, the CS Coach House blends convenience with riverside serenity near Mohonk Preserve trails. A morning hike to Bonticou Crag or along the Table Rocks loop for a picnic lunch with amazing views of the Catskills will leave you feeling recharged.
Livingston Manor
This atmospheric town in the Catskills offers a tranquil pace and plentiful outdoor activities. Between the covered bridges and small-town wanderings, there's something to pique everyone's interest, like the Catskill Fly Fishing Center & Museum or Catskill Art Space along the main runway by local artists with two stories of compelling works. The Upward Brewing Co. is an aesthetic spot with a dog- and kid-friendly feel and an outdoor space, serving up great beer and food, plus live weekend music.
The cute Catskills town on the outskirts of the former Borscht Belt is absolutely gorgeous, with locals fly fishing in the crystal-clear water. From tasty pizza to smoked trout dinners—everything promises to unwind and recharge over two days. Livingston Covered Bridge is a Catskills postcard, next to the historic Vantran Covered Bridge—an engineering feat of woodwork. Choose between the top-rated Arnold House and Antrim Streamside, with quaint rooms and well-appointed cabins in nature.
Saranac Lake
Some 60 miles from the Canada border, Saranac Lake is worth waking up earlier for a drive, even for two days. Vacationers do, year after year, to its upper New York reaches in the gorgeous Adirondacks on Lake Flower. From beaches and island camping on the Lower Saranac Lake to hiking, skiing, and snowshoeing, the towering Mount Baker Peak is about to be lit up in foliage. The bright and beautiful village complements the vivid natural vistas, with preserved architecture and a river walk.
Browsing Main Street's shops, cafes, and galleries, the Saranac Laboratory Museum reveals the town's history as a center for tuberculosis treatment. Saranac Carousel is a nostalgic landmark, with 24 beautifully hand-carved, painted animals, all native to the area, to hop on for a magical ride—old-fashioned fun with an artistic spirit for every age. Between plentiful cabin rentals and the Point, a Relais & Chateaux resort, you're sure to find a modest or luxe mountain-cabin experience.
Woodstock
Peace, love, and compassion define Woodstock as much as the iconic festival, which took place southwest of the town of Bethel. The town's borrowed name celebrates the spirit with creative, musical, and bohemian flair in the Catskills. The rustic Bearsville Theater is a live music venue, and the iconic Woodstock Playhouse has been staging performances since the 30s. Meanwhile, Thorn Preserve—Catskill Center is dog-friendly, so you can explore and relax on a picnic with rolling views.
For a two-day weekend getaway in the warm weather, Kenneth L. Wilson Campground is a popular base, minutes from the expansive Ashokan Reservoir, which supplies 40% of New York City's drinking water. It was built by dozens of different communities that relocated here over a century ago. Hotel Dylan is right by here along the highway to kick up your feet after a hike along the popular Ashokan Rail Trail, completing a 12-mile circuit mostly along the reservoir.
Are you hyped for the earthy scent from the crunching leaves along a path sunlit in golden foliage? Hudson Valley towns offer an easy escape from NYC. Meanwhile, upstate New York is unlike any other place in the world, completing a unique fall experience.
Catskills or Adirondacks? It is time to choose which scenery you'd like to complement the crisp autumn evenings. You can recuperate from city life in just two days in Saranac Lake, a historic tuberculosis center retreat.
