10 Gorgeous New York Towns To Visit In 2023
New York, the Empire State for every taste, invites you on a getaway from NYC into the irresistible charms of the small town, with easy access to the Big Apple scene if you desire. Take a road trip in 2023 to hit a few of these lovely towns, the nation's darlings. From majestic mountains along the wine trails to the seascape you desire year-round, the natural scenery is stunning and guarantees eye candy that soothes your mind and soul.
Choose from the boundless outdoor adventures and explore the historic heart after pursuits with cool bars, shopping galore, and a dining scene from hip to farm-to-table restos. Choose thrilling boat rides through Niagara in Lewiston, the upbeat college vibe in Ithaca, or go blindly to land a real winner. With plentiful accommodations at this time, come to waste away the last summer days to recharge or the autumnal colorful daze of sights on warm early fall hikes.
Alexandria Bay
The Thousand Islands' small town rewards all sight-seekers with scenery everywhere you look that is really spicy, unlike the salad dressing that really does originate here. Escape New York City on a beautiful sail to this whole other world for epic attractions in a dreamy atmosphere. The region is shared between New York and Canada, while the nature-adorned town in Jefferson County is its most picturesque along the shores of the St. Lawrence River. Come to get away from everything with shoreside strolls at the most picturesque views you will encounter in 2023.
Rent a pontoon boat or join the Uncle Sam Boat Tours that guide you through the area’s famed castle tours like no other. The Boldt and Singer fortresses offer a real fairytale feel in the island setting, as if a princess is under the guardianship of a dragon that will show his tail from his spy hideaway nearby. Explore the riverside village through and through and head to The Kitchen at the Captain Visger House for a farm-to-table dinner. The nearby 1000 Islands Harbor Hotel in Clayton is perfect for an all-season stay with its spacious outdoor firepit and unobstructed water views from most rooms.
Aurora
Aurora calls for a visit in 2023 from the eastern shores of the beautiful Cayuga Lake into a charming blend of the state's finest nature and culture wrapped in a small-town atmosphere. The little town has a bite of excitement from its most famous landmark, the Inns of Aurora, and the activities around it are great to scope out on a bike ride. Note the hot items along the main street to hit while taking in all the architectural sights on your leisurely stroll after. Visit now for morning swims in the lake and later for the fall foliage and scenic strolls around the shore, where the sunsets have never looked as stunning.
Immerse yourself in something new this year, like hands-on pottery and painting classes, and try the various dining cuisines at reputable restaurants, including 1833 Kitchen & Bar or Fargo Bar & Grill. Take some warm-weather hikes or combine the "good and the even better" along the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail. Get away anytime for a memorable weekend from the city into the effortlessly transforming town that shows its best side in every season. From canoeing and boating to sightseeing, bird watching, and wildlife to its on-demand shopping scene, Aurora is also a must-experience holiday time in New York.
Greenport
With the slogan "There's a reason in every season," there is also always a reason to visit gorgeous Greenport, with easy access on the North Fork of Long Island. It beckons new and returning faces in 2023 for self-guided excursions with more things to see and do than ever, like endless eating and drinking options, waterfront attractions, and tons of gorgeous vineyards. Just named one of the prettiest US cities, immerse yourself in a small seaside town's bliss with architecture galore from its seafaring glory days.
Experience this historic fishing village with varied accommodations like motels, B&Bs, hotels, and campgrounds near the beaches, as well as galleries and boutiques, antiquing, and specialty food markets, all within a hand's reach. Both basic and trendy, you will feel right at home on a getaway while shopping for fresh produce and feasting on locally grown seafood—a real bliss under a warm historic charm. Make it a summer trip for some beach time and ice cream shops in the best weather or an autumnal shopping getaway among quaint boutique stores with old-school diners in between.
Ithaca
This small college town in upstate New York is truly unlike any other along the enormous Cayuga Lake in the heart of the Finger Lakes region, with an endless string of loyal followers. Ithaca warmly embraces every new face in a lively, studious atmosphere, perfect for a visit in the fall or winter of 2023. Come for the best attractions and family strolls in between cool bookstores and cozy cafes with space for everyone to have a lovely time. The gorgeous nature calls for adventurous summertime hikes and strolls along the tree-lined streets that turn into a vibrant scene of autumn color. Take in the serene scenery through the Cornell Botanic Gardens, or follow Ithaca's Discovery Trail and visit the Science Center with your kids.
The gorgeous town with historic architecture abounds in stunning natural beauty, including gorges, waterfalls, and state parks, with some of New York's best cascades just a quick trek away, like Buttermilk Falls and Ithaca Falls. The overwhelming scenery, together with a cultural buzz from Cornell University and Ithaca College, offers a friendly environment for families and an easygoing vibe for a friends' or couples' getaway. From chasing the over 150 waterfalls to biking around the Finger Lakes wine country, there are also dense forests with wildlife trails and a superb boating scene on the southern shore of Cayuga Lake, which is excellent for swimming and fishing.
Lewiston
Lewiston, a destination town for more than just proximity to Niagara Falls, offers its charming atmosphere on a vacation getaway to relax in 2023 with feel-good pursuits. Come to Lewiston in 2023 to visit the epic falls and find excellent boutique shopping and eateries nearby the world-famous natural attraction. Take family strolls along the Center Street stretch all the way to the Niagara River, with Canada across the waters. A morning start on a relaxing note with a coffee from Orange Cat Coffee Co. will have you ready for the most popular water activity here, the famous Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours.
This adrenaline-pumping, 45-minute adventure ride into the heart of the Niagara Gorge and through the Devil’s Hole rapids is a thrilling and soaking experience to remember. With many hotspots to check off, you must try the famous Haystack Sandwich at The Silo and grab a sweet treat at Hibbard’s Original Frozen Custard before a scenic stroll through the serene Earl W. Brydges Artpark State Park in uncompromising nature and human-made beauty.
Saugerties
The small town nestled in between the Hudson River and the Catskill Mountains exudes a quiet, relaxing vibe with overwhelming scenery every way you look. Come for the nature-adorned strolls amid the attraction-laden streetscape, with something for everyone to relax on a fun, memorable getaway in 2023. Full of cuteness, Saugerties is the town to feel good about yourself and see the world as a wonderful place once again. Find leisurely activities and adventurous explorations after breakfast at the opportune Lox of Bagels, like a stroll to the Saugerties Lighthouse. The cozy Catskills town is home to the incredible Opus 40 sculpture park, with single-handedly carved marvels by sculptor Harvey Fite over a 60-acre area, and HITS-on-the-Hudson, for Olympic-level horse shows.
The riverside mountain town, like a postcard, is dotted with coffee shops, quirky cafes, and shopping spots. Enjoy plentiful farm-to-table fare from the packed Miss Lucy’s Kitchen or stop by Black-Eyed Suzie’s Upstate for an exquisite dining experience. Check out the Partition Street main drag for charming shops like the natural skincare mecca of Savor Beauty and Krause’s Chocolates on-demand sweets. Alleyway Ice Cream's Ube Heath Bar Crunch ice cream is a must-try here any season, while the Dutch is your go-to for Beer Flights and signature Dutch Burgers. Choose the boutique Diamond Mills Hotel or come for a meal at its outdoor terrace overlooking Esopus Creek.
Shelter Island
Shelter Island offers a chic escape into an all-inclusive atmosphere of timeless beauty and natural scenery. Find it in between Long Island's laidback North and South Forks' Hamptons, each just under half a mile away and only 90 miles from New York City. The historic town with under 2,500 inhabitants has welcomed rich families on summer vacations into its small island atmosphere for generations. Now with a remote, rustic, and modern feel, it offers a real relaxing getaway with refurbished hotels and leisurely bike rides that feel a whole world apart from the city. Exchange the Big Apple's hustle and bustle for Shelter Island's year-round stunning sandy beaches, such as Crescent Beach and Wades Beach House, a hand's reach away from the best boutiques and eateries.
The easygoing atmosphere here without the Hamptons crowd, despite its proximity, is a real breath of fresh air with a feel of a quiet paradise. Check into the Victorian-era Chequit Inn for a charmingly outdated and casual stay, and ride bikes around with your family like locals to explore the whole 29-square-mile scenic stretch of the island. Admire the summer cottages and hit up the island’s only supermarket for picnic provisions at the Mashomack Preserve, a protected area covering one-third of the island with over 200 bird species and hiking trails through meadows and salt marshes. Explore on foot or by boat around the drowsy beaches and coves for a scenic photoshoot and sereneness like you've never imagined achieving in 2023.
Sleepy Hollow
Just under an hour from Manhattan, there's no better place in New York than Sleepy Hollow, a small town infamous for the 1800s legend of the Headless Horseman, to visit on Halloween in 2023, just in time for leaf-peeping through Patriot’s Park. Sleepy Hollow abounds in modern amenities and historical attractions, including some of New York's best sights to explore, like Kykuit, the Rockefeller Mansion, and the picturesque Tarrytown Lighthouse.
Enjoy a quick family getaway into the most unforgettable atmosphere and natural scenery to celebrate the Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze with 7,000 carved pumpkins. The timeless town is home to many sites for story fans with vestiges of the decapitated horseman by a cannonball in battle, like the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery and the Headless Horseman Bridge. Browse through the fresh farm produce at the farmer’s market in the morning and grab a lunch before a walk on the Old Croton Aqueduct, or bring a picnic to Rockefeller State Park.
Tarrytown
The alluring town in between Sleepy Hollow in the north and Irvington in the south is truly unlike any other, with a deep history dating back to the 17th century. Just half an hour from the Big Apple, Tarrytown invites you into a friendly small-town atmosphere with history, modern attractions, and natural beauty. Take a stroll through the timeless charm of the architecture-laden streetscape amid ancient buildings like the iconic Lyndhurst Mansion and the Old Dutch Church, the state's oldest.
There is something for everyone to have a fun, relaxing time on a quick city getaway, from Lake Parks and a Lighthouse to the Music Hall, Demeter’s Tavern, and the buzzing Sports Bar. Cross the Tappan Zee Bridge, an architectural wonder, for a selfie and take an art excursion through the town's many classic galleries among unique shopping spots and dining galore in stately buildings. All the scenic vistas through the unwinding nature on all-level walks and hikes and the string of local pubs for every taste will relax and recharge you to power through 2023 until the winter holidays.
Trumansburg
Lovely, Gothic, and Modern are all in one small town, Trumansburg, offering you an unforgettable, diverse escape from the city in 2023. Immerse yourself in the town's cool local vibe on a stroll with many notable hotspots and something delightful for everyone. Architecture freaks and nature fans descend on the town for Gothic and Greek Revival styles adorned in natural scenery and the nearby sapphire-blue Cayuga Lake. Check out Garrett's right in town for house-brewed ale or the nearby Black Diamond Farm for the best seasonal cider in the area.
The appealing Main Street showcases the town's unique spirit like no other, harboring delectable cafes with farm-to-table menus, vintage stores, and pubs, among many b&bs for a weekend stay or a weeklong getaway this year. Seek the outdoors around the corner at Taughannock Falls State Park to scramble deep within or rim the gorge on a trail hike to the 215-foot-tall waterfall plunge over a vertical rock. New York's one and only national forest, the Finger Lakes National Forest, offers hiking, biking, and horseback riding trails around gorges and ravines.
New York, an enticing state for every taste, has upwards of a thousand small towns, each an alluring scene of concentrated sights and discoveries. Choose your own flavor with special features to explore on nature hikes and main street strolls in 2023.
The Empire State awaits your conquering with island locals, legends, a college crowd, and timeless charms around every corner. Find tons of family-friendly engagements and easygoing vibes to relax in cute cafes, cool bookstores, and unique shopping opportunities.
