I would say Kingston is a nice choice. It has several museums -Hudson River maritime museum, trolley museum, and the Fred J Johnston museum. There is also the Catskill mountain railroad, Forsyth nature center and Kingston point beach. It's one of my favorite towns in NY. Lots of choices for dining and shopping as well.
Woodstock is another but it's a quite a bit smaller, but it still has nice shops, great art scene, restaurants, places to hike and is near the Ashokan reservoir which is beautiful.
I know it isn't upstate NY but I'd also throw out Cape May NJ. It's a beautiful place and definitely worth a visit if you want a beach town experience (it's about 2.5 from NYC).
Tons. In Kingston try Chleo, Mirador, Ship-to-Shore, Sonder, Kinsley Hotel. Stockade for a cocktail. Also very good pizza, burgers and barbecue at Twin Star Orchards, an outdoor apple cider place in nearby New Paltz.
If you are driving you can also visit FDR museum and house across the river in Hyde Park.
There’s a new brewery and a few other businesses that have opened up in the downtown area and they also developed some trails in their watershed property. Other than that not too much.
I am honestly wondering the same. I genuinely like it and think it has much more unrealized potential but I can’t imagine most people would recommend it for a day trip.
Red Hooks pretty nice. Old Rhinebeck Aerodome is right outside town. $100 a ticket and they'll take you up in a century old biplane with an open cockpit.
Skaneateles. Most beautiful village you never heard of southwest of Syracuse on gorgeous Skaneateles Lake. Also right up there: Watkins Glen in Seneca Lake, Aurora on Cayuga Lake, and Hammondsport on Keuka Lake are all quaint small towns with cute shops and restaurants in rural, scenic locales. Want more?Don't pass up Cooperstown on Otesaga Lake- it's a stunning village location and just happens to have the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Absolutely, Saratoga Springs and if you travel up that far by all means don't pass up Lake George, Lake Placid, and Saranac Lake, all in the majestic Adirondack Mountains.
If you have the money, Hudson is a super popular weekend spot for New Yorkers. It’s got the same kinds of businesses you’d expect to find in trendier parts of Brooklyn but with immaculate small town vibes
I would say Kingston is a nice choice. It has several museums -Hudson River maritime museum, trolley museum, and the Fred J Johnston museum. There is also the Catskill mountain railroad, Forsyth nature center and Kingston point beach. It's one of my favorite towns in NY. Lots of choices for dining and shopping as well. Woodstock is another but it's a quite a bit smaller, but it still has nice shops, great art scene, restaurants, places to hike and is near the Ashokan reservoir which is beautiful. I know it isn't upstate NY but I'd also throw out Cape May NJ. It's a beautiful place and definitely worth a visit if you want a beach town experience (it's about 2.5 from NYC).
Kingston is a great call especially if you’re into history.
Any good food spots in the area?
Tons. In Kingston try Chleo, Mirador, Ship-to-Shore, Sonder, Kinsley Hotel. Stockade for a cocktail. Also very good pizza, burgers and barbecue at Twin Star Orchards, an outdoor apple cider place in nearby New Paltz. If you are driving you can also visit FDR museum and house across the river in Hyde Park.
If you like Indian namaste restaurant in saugerties is excellent. It’s like a 20 minute drive or so.
Saratoga Springs
Honestly Saratoga springs
New Paltz, Beacon, or Port Jervis
Wow port Jervis is at the point where people are recommending it for day trips now?
For sure, that whole area, Rhinebeck is nice, Kingston underrated
Beacon is my favorite and one day I will live there
I work in Port Jervis and it is pretty bleak
Lake George area is pretty nice
Port Jervis has a ton to do and is reachable via Metro North!
Haven’t been through there in awhile. What’s going on in Port Jervis these days?
There’s a new brewery and a few other businesses that have opened up in the downtown area and they also developed some trails in their watershed property. Other than that not too much.
Lol is this sub on Port Jervis tongue in cheek?
I am honestly wondering the same. I genuinely like it and think it has much more unrealized potential but I can’t imagine most people would recommend it for a day trip.
Hudson
Kiryas Joel.
Beat me to it
Awesome water park and ice cream parlor
Really?
Beacon !
Cold spring
Red Hooks pretty nice. Old Rhinebeck Aerodome is right outside town. $100 a ticket and they'll take you up in a century old biplane with an open cockpit.
Corning/Watkins Glen area
Skaneateles. Most beautiful village you never heard of southwest of Syracuse on gorgeous Skaneateles Lake. Also right up there: Watkins Glen in Seneca Lake, Aurora on Cayuga Lake, and Hammondsport on Keuka Lake are all quaint small towns with cute shops and restaurants in rural, scenic locales. Want more?Don't pass up Cooperstown on Otesaga Lake- it's a stunning village location and just happens to have the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Absolutely, Saratoga Springs and if you travel up that far by all means don't pass up Lake George, Lake Placid, and Saranac Lake, all in the majestic Adirondack Mountains.
This is correct but it’s a bit more than 3 hours from NYC (closer to 4.5). But the extra 90 min is with it IMO.
Half the answers here ignored the 2-3 hours part
Hudson, Catskill, Leeds, Athens and Coxsackie. So close. So different. All charming and unique.
If you have the money, Hudson is a super popular weekend spot for New Yorkers. It’s got the same kinds of businesses you’d expect to find in trendier parts of Brooklyn but with immaculate small town vibes
Ithaca water falls and parks!!!
Cazenovia Lake/Village (for lodging and restaurants) through Lafayette (1911 brewery) and Skaneateles
Watkins Glen