Vacation Ideas From New York City

Fall Weekend Getaways from NYC
Instead of going through the trouble of renting a car and driving in the city, area residents can rely on New York and New Jersey public transit to get to a variety of lovely day trip destinations, including charming towns throughout the Hudson Valley that are home to famed historic attractions.
More than 578 miles of coastline extend around New York City's boroughs, which are bordered by the Atlantic Ocean along Brooklyn's southern coastline and by the waters of the East and Hudson Rivers around Manhattan.
Leaving New York—even just for a little while—always felt like loosening something tight. One train ride, one highway curve, and the skyline gave way to trees, river towns, stillness. I remember leaning back in a window seat as city noise faded, and thinking, “It’s not far, but it feels like freedom.”
What stayed with me were the soft shifts: fog on the Hudson, old bookstores in towns with creaky sidewalks, wildflowers leaning through fences on quiet back roads. I wandered through mountain trails, lakeside mornings, and tiny cafés where no one needed to be in a rush—and I came back each time feeling lighter, like I’d stepped outside of time for a little while.
Whether you’re dreaming of weekend getaways, coastal trains, cabin stays, or just a breath of fresh air beyond the boroughs, these guides gather the escapes that helped me reset. Close enough to reach. Quiet enough to matter.
Things to Do in The Finger Lakes Region, NY
Things to Do in Penn Yan (Finger Lakes Wine Country)
Beacon, NY: Culture, Nature, and Creative Energy
This Is Why Saranac Lake, New York is a Worthy Road Trip Stop
Things to Do in Long Beach, New York
Drive-in Movie Theaters in New York State