Upstate New York

Long time no post! I’ve been busy, well… not doing much, honestly. We are in a pandemic after all. But my boyfriend and I took a road trip upstate this summer that I never got around to writing about ⏤ so if you’re looking for an escape out of NYC too, you’ve come to the right place!

After recognizing that flying or leaving the country was just not gonna be an option for a while, I started looking up things to do within driving distance of the city, places to stay, and of course, all the foods. I came up with a packed 2-day itinerary of fun (and dog friendly!) things to see and do while still staying coronavirus-safe and generally distanced from other people.

Also, I’m including some places we hit on our way up to Montreal last year and my other journeys upstate because the more the merrier, right?! So, in order from closest to furthest away to the city and basically headed straight up north (sorry Buffalo), here are the cute lil towns we stopped through + some recommendations for your future road trip:

Outside of Dia: Beacon

Strollin’ around New Paltz

Lookout over the Hudson in Cold Spring

Cold Spring

~1.25 hours from NYC

This gem of a little town took me by surprise. I wasn’t expecting much, but between all the artisan-esq local stores and beeeautiful views of the Hudson and mountains behind it, I was blown away. Work your way from the most inland point of Main Street all the way down to the water. Definitely stop at Hudson Hill’s Cafe for lunch - the cajun chicken sandwich was *chef’s kiss*

Beacon

~1.5 hours from NYC

Just 15 minutes north of Cold Spring you’ll run into Beacon. Tbh, the only time I ever heard people talk about Beacon was in the context of Dia: Beacon, one of many of the Dia Art Foundation’s outposts. The museum alone is reason enough for a day trip - it’s beautiful, picturesque, and super accessible by train - but the rest of Beacon is actually pretty cute too! When you’re done with the museum, stroll over to Main Street (yes, another Main Street) and check out all the eclectic shops and local restaurants. There’s even a v hip brewery at the end of Main Street!

New Paltz

~2 hours from NYC

One thing I’ve come to learn about Upstate New York is all these “mini cities” that exist throughout the state - they’re very obviously queer-friendly, BIPOC friendly, and what my mom would call “trendy.” New Paltz is definitely one of these towns. You should spend your time in and around N Chestnut St and (you guessed it!) Main Street. The cute plant shops, bars, and coffee shops will quickly win you over. Stop by the Grazery for a light bite or coffee, or the Fry Shack in the same market (who doesn’t love fresh fries?).

View from inside a Getaway House in the Catskills

Posing at Art Omi

Woodstock

~2.25 hours from NYC

Another bite-size town that’s perfect to stop through, Woodstock felt a little more touristy than not. While the iconic Woodstock Music Festival is named after this town, it technically took place almost 60 miles away (awkward). That doesn’t stop the cheesy shops from selling Woodstock-themed memorabilia and the artist vibes are still alive and well throughout the town. We stopped at the Mud Club for coffee - the surrounding area is super fun and a nice place to just sit out and relax.

Also right outside Woodstock is the Catskills Animal Sanctuary - essentially a farm but all the animals are roaming around freely and cared for, not turned into food! You can take a tour around the sanctuary to see chickens, cows, goats, and more living their best lives, which is a pretty cool experience. They’ll give you a “you should consider being vegan!” speech (it is an animal sanctuary after all) but it’s nothing pushy or awkward, just some good information.

Hudson

~2.5 hours from NYC

Situated on (you guessed it) the Hudson River, this town is the epitome of charming. It has a history of being a queer destination in upstate (in 2010, they national news when a local high school named a gay couple prom king and queen - looove!) and you can feel it just by walking around. Spend some time walking Warren St all the way to the river. The buildings alone are so historically picturesque that even if you don’t get anywhere, it’s worth the walk. If you’re craving BBQ, American Glory hit the spot.

15 minutes outside of Hudson, in the literal middle of nowhere, you’ll find Art Omi - one of the coolest sculpture parks I’ve ever been to. The park spans 120 acres and has some incredibly gigantic pieces. It’s truly an art museum without walls. Plus it’s free, dog friendly, and so big that social distancing is basically built-in!

Catskills

~2.5 hours from NYC

The Catskills really refers to a huge area, including the Catskill Mountains, so depending on where you’re going it may be closer or farther from the city. We stayed the night in a Getaway House in ‘Catskills East’ and lemme tell you - these tiny cabins are no joke. With everything you could possibly need thoughtfully provided, plus that now-iconic giant window that overlooks the foliage, it’s the most relaxing getaway you could ask for. We made s’mores, took pictures, and just chilled out for 14 hours… granted, we were then pretty much over it and continued on our road trip, but still! It was the perfect break from the city.

Also in the Catskill area is Hunter Mountain, perfect for all your skiing and snowboarding needs (or if you’re me, tubing) or some great hikes in the warmer months. We checked out some short hikes around North-South Lake which were perfect for our pup and satisfied our “see some nature views” needs.

My new goat friend at the Catskills Animal Sanctuary

Mac 'n cheese at Druther’s in Saratoga Springs

Views on Lake George

Saratoga Springs

~3.25 hours from NYC

Home of Saratoga Race Course and Saratoga Spa State Park (neither of which we actually went to because ya know, blazing through on a road trip), this town was truly the perfect stop. Way more lively than Albany, Broadway St is packed with bars, cafes, shops, the works. It felt more robust than other small towns we had stopped in, with more going on off the beaten paths as well. Stop in at Druthers Brewing Company and get yourself a beer and the loaded mac - I’m still dreaming about how delicious it was.

Lake George

~3.5 hours from NYC

The last stop on our journey up north was at Lake George, almost perfectly situated in between Montreal and NYC. Allegedly known as the ‘Queen of American Lakes,’ the lake itself is over 32 miles long - that’s one big ass lake. At the southern end is where the town itself is situated. It definitely feels a little touristy trappy in areas, but the lake itself is worth strolling around if only for a minute! We got some overpriced fried seafood that I can’t even recommend in good faith, but there are tons of restaurant choices in the area.

Gotta love Hudson

Hiking around North South Lake

Walkin’ down Cold Springs

As we move into this next phase of the pandemic, I hope some of this helps you plan a getaway up north! Be sure to give everything a double-check for updates on COVID-19 hours or temporary closures as it’s all changing all the time. Upstate NY has a lot to offer - a surprising amount if I’m honest - and is definitely worth a visit, if even for a day trip. But also, please wear a mask, wash your hands, and social distance whenever you leave your house so that we can all leave the country again one day here soon.