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Top Weekend Getaways From New York City

Where to go to escape from New York City for a weekend.

Adirondack Mountains

New York City is one of the prime travel destinations in the world, but there is more to the region than just Times Square, the Statue of Liberty, and fascinating museums and world-class entertainment, dining, and nightlife, and taking trips outside of the city should be a prime directive for tourists and locals alike. There are so many incredible weekend getaways from New York City, but here are our top three:

Hudson, New York

Hudson New York

Sitting in the heart of the Catskill Mountains just outside of the Big Apple is the small city of Hudson, New York. With just 10,000 residents, it is a place to sit back, relax, and enjoy the vibes of small town culture. Growing weary of the ever-rising prices, many artists and former hipsters have jumped ship on NYC and Hudson is one of the places they’ve landed. There’s incredible local history, vintage shopping, well-preserved architecture, art galleries, and even an opera house. When looking for a respite from big city life, take the short two-hour ride out to Hudson is just the ticket.

Shelter Island

Located right between North and South Fork on Long Island, Shelter Island is a small 8,000 acre island that presents the perfect escape for those looking to take a break from the hustle and bustle of New York City. The place seems to have been forgotten by time, and is full of Victorian and Colonial homes, has some of the best seafood restaurants, and miles of uninterrupted beaches. What’s even more is that you can only get here by ferry from either Greenport or North Haven, which lends to its authentic nature. So hop aboard and ride over, watch the ospreys, go swimming, hiking, or just sit back and relax in a place which presents no indication of being a mere 90 miles from Midtown Manhattan!

Lake Placid, NY

Adirondack Mountains

F0r those looking for a more robust excursion, Lake Placid in the heart of the Adirondack mountains is as good of a destination as any. First of all, the nature in the Adirondacks is real. This means deep forests, legitimate mountains, and wildlife — including bears. So go hiking up New York State’s highest mountain, go kayaking on Mirror Lake, or just sit back in an Adirondack chair and watch the world go by. When you’ve had enough of nature, head into town where you can find a wide variety of boutiques, flavorful local restaurants, and, yes, the facilities which hosted the Winter Olympics in both 1932 and 1980 (remember the Miracle on Ice? Well, it happened here.) Lake Placid is the place to go if you’re looking to really get out to a place that is about as un-New York City as you can get — which is, ultimately, what you’re looking for in a weekend getaway.

Girl in snow
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  • Madi August 14, 2019, 4:14 pm

    Those are beautiful travel destinations! Love it.

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  • Rose August 14, 2019, 6:14 pm

    I never knew of these places before, I definitely need to go check them out!

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    • Wade Shepard August 15, 2019, 12:35 pm

      Excellent! Let us know how it goes for you.

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  • Jaclyn August 20, 2019, 2:38 pm

    These all look awesome places. I have family in upper state New York and I love it up there! I have never visited lake placid but one day soon I will!!

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  • Erin October 7, 2019, 12:01 pm

    I love these ideas! Lake Placid is one of my favorite weekend trips.

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  • Ryan October 8, 2019, 9:09 am

    The Hudson Valley is a beautiful place this time of year, great photos!

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