Catch up with nature. Fulfil your cultural instincts. The New York neighbourhood offers plenty of reasons to pack bags with your partner to discover art galleries, quaint cottages, casinos, wineries, or explore day trips.
Here are some dreamy-eyed destinations near New York City to visit with your family over the weekend. Good for adventurers and sunseekers, they will give you plenty of postcard memories.
Romantic Weekend Getaways Near New York
Lake Placid:
About 290 miles from New York City, Lake Placid is a tiny village in Adirondacks that assures a quiet break from urban chaos. Conifer-covered mountains surrounding this 122-acre lake strike a chord with high altitudes. The mild climate makes the lake even more cheerful for the tourists. Fresh air, majestic mountain view, exceptional foliage, doughnuts, pumpkin, Lake Placid is perfect for a quiet walk in the woods.
Stop by at locally-owned restaurants and shops or continue to enjoy big views, big scenery and charming small-town twists. Take your camping gear to go boating, fishing or paddling. Lake Placid is wheelchair-accessible. There are no restrictions to be a part of nature. Take ‘Love Your ADK’ pledge to support preservation and care of the forests and waterways of Adirondacks. Stay at the upbeat Mirror Lake Inn where every room overlooks the lake.
Cornwall:
August and September are the most pleasant months in Cornwall, a must-visit for its green hills and sculpture installations. The 500-acre Storm King Art Center outdoor museum located in Hudson Valley supports exhibitions and has works of more than 100 artists. The conservation of modern and contemporary art and sculpture happens at a large-scale level here.
Painters’ is a Hudson Valley landmark since 1985. It houses an inn, art gallery and restaurant. Rent a bike for a day to explore and share Cornwall with your social network.
Montauk:
The chilled-out Montauk at Long Island’s East End has over 5,300 acres of beaches offering the best surfing, swimming, fishing, golfing and bird watching experience. The beautiful and pristine Montauk is a family vacation paradise with oceanfront places to stay. Montauk’s charter boat fleet of 11 charter boats, 17 retail shops, 47 lodging options and 51 restaurants is second to none. Explore nature trails, markets, seafood restaurants, music and arts here.
The historic Montauk Point Lighthouse is the national landmark. The annual outdoor Montauk Film Festival and award-winning wines and tastings open all year makes the place a popular getaway from New York City.
Cape May:
America’s original seaside resort, Cape May is gradually reopening. And, it fulfils the tourists’ bucket list of sunbathing, sea surfing, jogging, fishing, and nature walk. Cove and Poverty Beach make Cape May a beach-lovers’ paradise. The beaches are clean and family-friendly.
Signature restaurants, boutique shopping, wine tastings, a spa trip, Cape May has ample of things to keep a traveller occupied. Cape May has a rich historical legacy. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976, it has the largest collections of framed buildings of the 19th century. To see more of Cape May, walk through the town.
Bear Mountain State Park:
Located in the campground of Cranberry Lake is Bear Mountain Park. It has tall and rugged mountains and the Hudson River as the backdrop. Catch a glimpse of the numerous species of migrating hawks soaring above the historic Bear Mountain. Watching waterfowl and shorebirds is a cherished experience. Recreational opportunities include hiking, fishing, kayaking, biking, swimming, ice skating, cross-country skiing, boat rentals, zoo and trailside museum.
The Perkins Memorial Tower above Bear Mountain gives a great view of the park. The Merry-Go-Round in the Bear Mountain State Park is not an average. It has 42 hand-carved seats of animal inhabitants such as wild turkey, Canada goose, raccoon, fox, swan, deer and more. Stay the weekend at Bear Mountain Inn that has played host to Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman and Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Beacon:
The city of Beacon on the banks of Hudson valley is a paradise for art lovers and a popular weekend getaway. Dia: Beacon that evolved from a Nabisco box-printing factory houses modern and contemporary art from Dia Art Foundation. The day-long trip from NY to Beacon city helps one explore the city galleries, restaurants and bars.
Start the day tour with Beacon Bread Company that offers freshly-baked bread, bacon, salmon-lox, pickled cucumbers, peanut butter made in-house daily. Check out Hudson Beach Glass, a gift shop that promotes handmade art glass and glass jewellery. Zakka Joy is for the explorer who has a taste for art-inspiring gifts, candles, housewares, toys, jewellery and gadgets. Denning’s Point Distillery will take you through fine distilled spirits. It uses farm products from New York State. Join others in the tasting room and shop something for the home.
The Hamptons:
Long Island known as the Hamptons is a group of towns, villages and hamlets. Popular for its rural setting and modern-day amenities, the Hamptons is a popular gateway for travellers from NYC.
For the beach-hungry souls, there is the extremely popular Cooper’s Beach. The Shinnecock Golf Club is for the golf enthusiasts. The Hampton Classic, a premier destination for horse people, has been in the news for more than 75 years.
Conclusion:
These are the best weekend getaways from New York City that will keep you hooked on their soil till your plane time. Re-energize yourself by booking the tickets to any of these places. Happy vacationing with your better half!