10 Coolest Towns in New York for a Summer Vacation in 2024
With the heat getting hotter and more oppressive in the summer, it is always a good idea to cool down in the countryside. Fortunately for people living in the state of New York, we give you a list of the ten coolest towns for a summer vacation in 2024, which are certain to lower those degrees to a comfortable minimum. Whether you are lounging in the beautiful waters of one of the eleven Finger Lakes or admiring the local folklore and histories in the region, these towns beyond the Big Apple are among the coolest you can find in the state. So grab some fizzy drinks and wear your most congenial clothes as you escape the summertime heat of New York in the ten coolest towns.
Ithaca
Ithaca is a perfect destination to begin and end your cool odyssey in the state of New York. The Robert Treman State Park is home to a surplus of wildlife dwelling within several deep gorges, while Cayuga Lake—one of the eleven Finger Lakes—creates a chill and relaxing atmosphere for you to break free from the heat. At the Cascadilla Gorge Trail, walk upon ancient stone paths to reach scenic views of the area, and meditate in placid falls such as Taughannock Falls, Lick Brook Falls, Buttermilk Falls, and Triphammer Falls. There are many more treasures and memories to make in Ithaca, and you can stay in this pristine town as long as you like in stupendous abodes like the Canopy by Hilton Downtown or The Hotel Ithaca.
Cold Spring
Need to cool down from the summer heat? Then soak in the waters of Cold Spring, a tranquil town located on the Hudson River and only 60 miles north of New York City. The town’s main attraction, the Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve, contains over 7,400 acres of unspoiled wilderness best seen in areas like the Breakneck Ridge or along the Hudson River. Abstract artworks can be appreciated at the Magazzino Italian Art Museum. Meanwhile, the West Point Foundry—an old-school factory which produced arms and ammunition for the Union Army during the American Civil War—thrusts people back into the intriguing past. As for magnificent accommodations like the Fat Hudson House River Inn and Pig Hill Inn, you will not worry about the scorching heat of the season in your chill vacation in Cold Spring.
Woodstock
Although not necessarily the place where The Woodstock Festival took place, the town of Woodstock is still campaigning the end of war and hatred with its many cultural and natural features. Thanks to its locus in the Catskill Mountains, visitors are treated to peaceful and lovely views along the Catskill Park Trails. From atop Overlook Mountain, you can get a good overlook of the whole land and the town of Woodstock, and might even see Bethel 46 miles southeast where the Woodstock Festival actually transpired. The Kaaterskill Falls is a quiet and isolated spot for meditation, and the Karma Triyana Dharmachakra Tibetan Buddhist Monastery gives people more time and methodologies for meditation. For those of you who wish to retire somewhere nice and quiet, the Hotel Dylan, The Inn on the Millstream, or Woodstock Way have the accommodations you need.
Bethel
When advocating for the end the Vietnam War in 1969, Bethel was a suitable spot for the Woodstock Festival thanks to dairy farmer Max Yasgur’s donation of his 600-acre plot. Janis Joplin, the Who, the Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, and 30 more sang for peace and love as a protest against the US’ involvement in the war. Today, the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts memorializes that momentous protest, and you can learn more about the festival at the Museum at Bethel Woods gives. At the end of May, do attend the Mountain Jam for a taste of what the Woodstock Festival was like. And after your exploration of the town, recharge and refreshen at the Resorts World Catskills, The Gedney House, or Kenoza Hall.
Skaneateles
Situated on the coast of Skaneateles Lake—another of the Finger Lakes—Skaneateles earned its moniker from the Iroquois word for “long lake.” The town is a gateway to the vast Bahar Nature Preserve and dynamic Carpenter Falls, where recreational activities and adventures are in abundance. Skaneateles Lake, specifically, is hailed as “the Roof Garden of the Finger Lakes” because of its 863 feet elevation above sea level. The lake is also the second cleanest lake in the Finger Lakes and one of only six natural and unfiltered water sources in the US. Skaneateles’ Genesee Street contains a historic district with Revolutionary Era architecture. Within this district is the Skaneateles Historical Society & Research Center, where you can learn about the cultural background of Skaneateles. Remember find rooms at the Finger Lakes Lodging, Hobbit Hollow House, or Sherwood Inn.
Saratoga Springs
Much like Cold Springs, Saratoga Spring is a wellspring of mystery and history. The town is famous for the Canfield Casino, a haunted structure that was once a gathering spot for New York’s most prominent individuals in the late 1800s, and was featured in the hit TV series Ghost Hunters. Saratoga Springs is also famous for the Battle of Saratoga, a turning point in the American Revolutionary War which can be visited today. For further understanding of the battle, you can study the past at the Saratoga Springs History Museum. And for relaxation, you can head to the Saratoga Spa State Park and the nearby mineral springs of the Adirondacks. Fine lodgings like the Adelphi Hotel and Embassy Suites have the daily amenities you need to enjoy your trip in Saratoga Springs.
Canandaigua
Canandaigua is a vivacious locus alongside Canandaigua Lake. Once called Ganandogan by the Seneca tribe from the Tuscarora word meaning “The Chosen Spot,” Canandaigua should be the first spot you choose for a vacation in New York. Get away from the metropolitan bustle by exploring the verdant beauties of Sonnenberg Gardens and Mansion. Adjacent to this botanical playground is the Ontario County Historical Society Museum, where one can learn all about the indigenous cultures of the area. Amazingly enough, the Granger Homestead and Carriage Museum exhibits over 100 antique carriages when Canandaigua was an ideal tourist hub for the rich and powerful. Do spend your evenings in lovely dwellings like the Bella Ella Bed and Breakfast.
Watkins Glen
Only 24 miles from Ithaca, Watkins Glen gives visitors unparalleled access to the Watkins Glen State Park and Seneca Lake, the longest of the Finger Lakes. In your adventure through the Watkins Glen State Park, you should first travel through the Southern Rim Trail, the Indian Trail, and the Gorge Trail to marvel at the 20 or more waterfalls of the region. As for Lake Seneca, you ought to go kayaking or fishing along its lengthy waters. Do not dismiss sights and spectacles of the New York wildlife at the Sugar Hill State Forest and Connecticut Hill Wildlife Management Area. And as a final topping for your trip in Watkins Glen, you can watch car races at the Watkins Glen International race track (also known as "The Glen"), where the NASCAR Cup Series, the Formula One United States Grand Prix, the IndyCar Series, and the IMSA SportsCar Championship races took place. If you are in need of a place to stay in the evenings, the Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel, Lakeside Resort, and The Hotel Laurel at Seneca have you covered.
Sleepy Hollow
Feel a cool chill in the air in the town of Sleepy Hollow. Made famous by Washington Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” you can find an 18-foot-tall sculpture of the Headless Horseman and Ichabod Crane in the town center. You can even visit the supposed bridge where the ghostly Hessian spirited Ichabod Crane away. But aside from the apparitions, Sleepy Hollow is renowned for its many Rockefeller-themed attractions—for example, Kykuit, the hilltop residence of David Rockefeller and his family; the Rockefeller State Park Preserve; and the David Rockefeller Creative Arts Center, where live performances are staged. Only midway between New York City and Cold Spring, spend your eerie evenings at the Hotel Nyack, Sheraton Tarrytown Hotel, or Sleepy Hollow Hotel & Conference Center.
Auburn
The town of Auburn, located on the north end of Owasco Lake—the sixth largest Finger Lakes—received its name from the poem “The Deserted Village” by Oliver Goldsmith. Because in this “loveliest village in the plain, where health and plenty cheered the laboring swain,” several local attractions will enchant many a visitor to stay a while in Auburn. Harriet Tubman’s house, also known as the Harriet Tubman National Historical Park, memorializes an American heroine who liberated 700 enslaved Americans during the Combahee Ferry Raid (she was also the first recorded American woman to organize an armed enterprise in the Civil War). The Seward House Museum was the former residence of William Seward, President Lincoln’s Secretary of State. At the Case Research Lab, you can learn all about Theodore Case's creation of sound film which revolutionized the film industry and established motion picture companies like Fox Films (aka, 20th Century Studios). Should you wish to rest up for another grand day, book a room at either the Holiday Inn Auburn-Finger Lakes Region, Inn at the Finger Lakes, or Hilton Garden Inn Auburn.
Conclusion
Although New York City is an enticing locus of discovery and attractions in the state of New York, it can be quite hot and stifling in the summer. A good motivation for you to go vacationing in the coolest towns in New York this 2024. You can cool down in the waters and winds of spring-named towns like Saratoga Springs and Cold Spring. Take in the scenery and the history in awesome locations like Ithaca, Watkins Glen, and Sleepy Hollow. Perhaps some of the diverse and stunning festivities in Skaneateles, Auburn, or Canandaigua will make you forget about the summer sun. Either way, the ten coolest towns in New York have what you want and need whenever you wish to relax in the summer this year.
