Vacation On New York City
Vacation On New York City, Five Points, Uptown, Manhattan. Home to many tourists who come from all over the world. I love this place, but you can get tired standing in line after standing in line and then slowly walk in through the city streets to the most popular attractions. Also there’s so much more than just Central Park and The Empire State Building. Below are my suggestions on places to go that are affordable and fun
Most people dream of going on vacation to New York one day and visit it. In order to make your vacation in NY be a true success, you need to have done some preparations on it. Here are some travel tips if you are planning a vacation to NY.
Vacation On New York City
The thing about a vacation is that it is a way to learn about your own culture through the microcosm of another culture, and I don’t think there is any better place to do this than New York City . My wife and I took our first visit there together in 2012, when my wife was still in school. We had looked at cheap flights to New York here and into hotels as well as Times Square hotel prices. Expedia is a good place for this kind of research since you can compare them all at once. It amazes me how deeply layered New York City is with beauty, history, art, food, business and everything you could ever imagine.
New York City has always been one of my favorite places to visit. It’s full of culture, food, and great people.
While we can never quit NYC, with it amazing restaurants, internationally-recognized bars and world-class museums, the crowds, the hustle and the pace, however, can lead to some serious stress and, well, sometimes we need a break.
Fortunately, the location of our fine city affords easy access to many other exciting, yet more relaxed destinations. These weekend getaways from NYC offer fun, relaxation and a little something different not too far from home.
Whether you’re taking a car or public transportation, these destinations are easily accessible in five hours or less. Enjoy nature, chill by a lake, take in some art or do a little shopping. From quaint towns to beachy locales, a weekend away will be just the thing to recharge. If you don’t have a whole weekend to spare, consider one of these day trips from NYC. Looking for a longer getaway? A road trip from NYC might be for you. But these weekend getaways are just right, opening up a whole new world in upstate New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and more.
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Weekend getaways from NYC
Photograph: James Schwabel / Alamy
1. Bear Mountain, NY
1hr 15 mins from NYC
In the time it would take to make it across town during rush hour, adventurers can get to Bear Mountain for an easy escape from city madness.
Do this: The state park, situated in the mountains rising from the west bank of the Hudson River, which offers a bevy of hiking and biking trails, as well as picnic groves, lake and river fishing access, a swimming pool and a zoo.
Stay here: Bear Mountain Inn, originally built in 1915, hosted Eleanor Roosevelt, Harry Truman and Dwight Eisenhower back in the day, and has been extensively renovated to include 15 luxury guest rooms, plus a spa and a restaurant.
2. Asbury Park, NJ
1hr 30mins from NYC
The summertime gay community in this shore town has actually been active since the 1950s—and over the past few years, the scene’s really heated up.
Eat here: MOGO Korean Fusion Tacos, a favorite among both visitors and locals.
Stay here: Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel, which was originally designed by noted Beaux Arts architect Whitney Warren.
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3. Beacon, NY
1hr 30mins from NYC
Beacon is steeped in history (Beacon Mountain, the tallest point of the Hudson Highlands, played a significant role in the American Revolution), but besides its storied past, it’s also packed with modern-day culture. The city has an arty, indie spirit that attracts…arty, indie people.
Do this: A former Nabisco box-printing facility on the banks of the Hudson, Dia:Beacon holds collections from the 1960s to the present. Exhibitions meld with works on long-term view from artists including Walter De Maria and Dan Flavin.
Stay here: Sitting at the base of Mount Beacon—a mile and a half from the town’s center—the Swann Inn of Beacon is a charming bed-and-breakfast. Situated in an 1866 Gothic house, it has five uniquely decorated rooms, which all have retro-cool vibes that would make Wes Anderson blush, including the Red Parlor Suite, a romantic respite complete with a friggin’ front porch).
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Photograph: Courtesy Inn at Bowman’s Hill
4. New Hope, PA
1hr 45mins from NYC
New Hope is Bucks County’s jewel, unhurried and unassuming, with indie boutiques, seasonal-focused eateries and forget-all-your-troubles B&Bs galore. Between hopping to different quaint spots, be sure to get back to nature. We suggest cruising on a rented bike down the Delaware Canal towpath.
Do this: With 134 acres featuring hundreds of species of native plants (including more than 80 that are rare or endangered) and stunning woodlands and meadows throughout, Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve offers guided walks in addition to talks and workshops (“Focus on Ferns,” anyone?).
Stay here: A AAA Four Diamond winner for eight consecutive years, The Inn at Bowman’s Hill is damn swoonworthy. Rooms, like Fountain View and Orchard Retreat, have heated tubs for two—if that’s your bag. For platonic pals, there’s the Penthouse Suite, with its private deck and panoramic views of the property.
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Photograph: Jim Smith Photography
5. New Paltz, NY
1hr 45 mins from NYC
Beyond all the worth-the-trip views of riverside bluffs and verdant trees, New Paltz is the most historic on this list, with preserved houses that were around 100 years before we even became the U.S. of A. So, yeah. Pretty old.
Do this: Learn about the lives of the 17th-century Huguenot settlers, as performers (dolled up in duds from the period) take you through 30 buildings over 10 acres, including seven historic homes and a reconstructed 1717 church. (Want to retain the back-to-basics spirit as you take in the National Historic Landmark District? Leave the selfie stick at home.)
Stay here: Mohonk Mountain House, set in the Shawangunk Ridge on Lake Mohonk, is sporting and sophisticated, a sort of East Coast version of The Shining grounds (without all the killing and stuff). Whether you choose one of the classic, wood-paneled rooms and suites or one of its private cottages two miles away, your nightly rate gets you access to a range of complimentary activities like boating and swimming, not to mention meals in its dining room.