While New York City is great, sometimes you need to get out of the city to maintain your sanity. These 13 New York escapes are great trips for you and your partner. Since they’re all relatively close to the city, they’re great weekend getaways.
Lake George, NY
Enjoy summer lazing in Lake George. Cool down by boating on the lake and enjoy some gorgeous skies.
Dutchess County and the Hudson Valley
Dutchess County and Hudson Valley are less than a two hour drive away from the city. The area is known for gorgeous scenery, outdoor adventures, historic mansions and a burgeoning local dining scene.
In the fall, you can find numerous apple orchards with u-pick apples. This is a great activity for families and couples alike. It provides great photo opportunities, too — so go ahead and do it for the ‘gram!
Beacon, New York
If you and your partner are art buffs, a trip out to Beacon, home to the Dia: Beacon art museum, might be the perfect day trip. You can get lost in the 240,000 square foot modern art haven. Notable artists such as John Chamberlain, Dan Flavin, Richard Serra, and Andy Warhol all have art here. The space itself is interesting, too: it used to be a Nabisco box printing factory.
While you’re in Beacon, you can also check out the city’s Second Saturday, a citywide celebration of the arts on — unsurprisingly — the second Saturday of each month.
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Bear Mountain, NY
If you’re an outdoorsy type, Bear Mountain State Park is a great option for a day trip. This lush green escape from New York has tons of hiking and biking trails. After you’ve worked up an appetite, settle down for a picnic in one of its picnic groves. You can also enjoy river fishing access, a swimming pool, and even a zoo.
New Hope, PA
This bucolic town in Bucks County boasts indie boutiques, eateries with seasonally-driven menus, and many cute B&Bs to stay in. While you’re here, rent a bike (or bring your own) to bike down the Delaware Canal towpath. Flower-lovers will also want to go to Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve, which has 134 acres of beautiful flowers, woodlands, and meadows.
Sea Girt, NJ
This romantic beach town is a world away from the Jersey Shore crew’s antics. It has gorgeous beaches, fantastic dining and seaside lounging aplenty. If you’re looking for a romantic escape from New York, this is a great option.
The Berkshires, MA
This luxurious yet laid-back part of western Massachusetts is like the Hamptons minus the nightlife. It has a vibrant cultural scene, with great art, theater, dance, and music. The MASS MoCA, which is in a converted factory building, is one of the United States’ biggest centers for contemporary art. It focuses on large-scale, immersive installations that many museums can’t accommodate — so visitors are guaranteed to see some unique art here.
Cape May, NJ
This seaside destination is great for the Fourth of July weekend. It has a carnival, impressive fireworks display, and many visitors during that weekend. However, it’s also good throughout the summer season. It has boardwalk vendors and dolphin-spotting tours — how romantic!
If you’re an alpaca-lover (and let’s face it, who isn’t?), you should check out Jersey Shore Alpacas. This small family-owned alpaca farm in Green Creek has well-cared for alpacas that you can feed carrots to.
Pocantico Hills, NY
Foodies have pilgrimaged to this area for years to eat at chef Dan Barber’s highly praised farm-to-table restaurant Blue Hill at Stone Barns. This also also has Kykuit, John D. Rockefeller’s family estate — walking through the estate’s Beaux Arts-style gardens overlooking the Hudson River is a great way to spend an afternoon. The gardens also boast impressive art, as they have sculptures by the likes of Calder and Picasso.
Newport, RI
This artsy town was a popular destination for artists in the late 19th century. Today, its artistic heritage means that there are some amazing art galleries here, including Yellow Peril Gallery, Chazan Gallery, and AS220.
While you’re here, enjoy the uniquely gorgeous light in Newport. Take an afternoon walk along the Cliff Walk, an oceanfront path that ventures near the Gilded Age summer cottages of America’s wealthiest families. While on the Cliff Walk, you’ll see two of the Vanderbilts’ houses (The Breakers, an Italian Renaissance mansion, and Marble House, a Beaux Arts-style minion).
Shelter Island, NY
This tranquil town between Long Island’s North and South Forks is an understated alternative to the craziness of the Hamptons in the summer. While here, rent a bike and get a takeaway lunch from local favorite Marie Eiffel Market. Take your lunch to go and explore the island’s shingled manor houses and pristine beaches.
If it’s winter and you’re desperate for a getaway, check out: Cheap Trips to Escape the Cold City and Beat the Winter Blues
The Poconos, PA
This area is a great destination for both the winter and summer months. In the winter, there’s great skiing. Meanwhile, in the summer, there’s kayaking, horseback riding and more to enjoy.
Lancaster County, PA
Amish country’s slow pace of life is a great escape from New York’s hustle and bustle. While you’re here, enjoy locally-grown food and consider joining a guided tour to learn more about the Amish.
