11 Serene New York Towns For A Weekend Retreat
As the United States’ fourth most populous state with the nation’s #1 most populous city, it is easy to assume that New York abounds in massive skyscrapers and intricate concrete jungles. New York City is a dynamic and exciting urban hub worth visiting at any time. But when you can use a more serene weekend retreat, the Empire State also has plenty of enticing options for that. From venerable wine country hamlets crafting world-class varietals to a mountain ski town with an Olympic pedigree, New York has many picture-perfect towns for a relaxing long weekend. And yes, this state even has cool beach towns where you can go surfing!
For uniquely satisfying ideas for the ideal trip, take a closer look at these 11 serene New York towns for a weekend retreat.
Lake Placid
This Adirondack Mountain town is so nice that the Olympics came twice! Yes, this town really hosted the Winter Olympics in 1932 and 1980. You can start to discover Lake Placid’s storied winter sports heritage at the Lake Placid Olympic Museum, and you can tour the downhill mountain that hosted Olympic skiing races at Whiteface Mountain. (During the summer season, Whiteface is open for hiking, gondola rides, and disc golf.)
If you prefer some quieter exploration outside, try the High Peaks Wilderness to the south of town, which has a network of hiking trails that reach as high as New York’s tallest peak at Mount Marcy (at 5,344 feet above sea level). Once you are done exploring the mountains around town, settle down for the evening at the cozy yet refined High Peaks Resort by Mirror Lake and the central village.
Crown Point
Situated on the western shores of Lake Champlain, Crown Point also occupies a critical point in US history. In 1737, French forces completed construction of Fort St. Frederic and used it for raids on British settlements in the region. In 1759, during the Seven Years' War and after several unsuccessful attempts to drive out the French, British troops finally took the fort, and they proceeded to build a new fort, which they called Crown Point. When the Revolutionary War broke out, the Continental Army briefly occupied Crown Point before British forces retook control, and they held onto it until the end of the war. Today, both forts are open to the public as Crown Point State Historic Site.
Just across the street from the historic site, the Champlain Memorial Lighthouse is a lovely 19th-century lighthouse with a uniquely intricate design and a viewpoint on top to take in all the scenery of the lake below. A little way west, the Coot Hill Trail lets you ascend into the Adirondacks and catch even more spectacular views of the lake and the surrounding mountains. And a short drive north of Crown Point, the Village Inn offers very cozy accommodations by Port Henry Beach and the local marina.
Clayton
Located in the Thousand Islands region where the St. Lawrence River meets Lake Ontario, Clayton offers a large and very serene stretch of waterfront. A short drive north of town, Wellesley Island State Park has a variety of recreational opportunities available, from open campsites and a nine-hole golf course to a sandy swimming beach and miles of hiking trails (that also work for cross-country skiing during winter). For even more adventures at the river, head west to Cedar Point State Park for more swimming beaches, boat launches (and boat rentals on site), and fishing spots.
Closer to town, Zenda Farms Preserve provides a different perspective on the river as a historic farm that is now a protected bird habitat with trails open to the public. And for a more elegant take on riverfront living, check into the 1000 Islands Harbor Hotel for a luxurious retreat right by the town’s marina.
Ithaca
Nestled on the southern tip of Cayuga Lake in New York’s Finger Lakes region, Ithaca is a special town that combines Ivy League prestige with wine country charm. With Cornell University in town, Ithaca has world-class cultural institutions like the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, with a collection that spans from pre-colonization Indigenous sculptures to cutting-edge contemporary works. For a deeper dive into Ithaca’s local arts scene, visit galleries like Barbara Mink’s Mink Gallery and the State of the Art Gallery cooperative.
Just to the north of town, Cayuga Lake boasts a number of reputable wineries, including Bet the Farm and Frontenac Point, offering vineyard tours and wine tastings. For the perfect base camp to reach all of this and more of Ithaca’s special treasures, The Statler Hotel is a teaching hotel on the Cornell campus that never skimps on hospitality.
Skaneateles
Anchoring the north end of Skaneateles Lake, the town of Skaneateles offers an exquisitely elegant take on Finger Lakes life just 23 miles west of Syracuse. As one of the nation’s cleanest lakes, Skaneateles Lake is great for swimming, and Clift Park has a great beach and access point that’s open during the summer. For even more good times at the lake, Shotwell Brook is open for fishing, with a boat launch area on the western shore, and High Vista Nature Preserve on the south end of the lake for beautiful walks in the local forest and wetlands.
Heading back to town, Skaneateles offers even more delectable delights at local wineries like Anyela’s Vineyards and Eibert Vineyard. And for the ultimate wine country weekend, book a stay at the Mirbeau Inn & Spa and enjoy this splendid boutique resort with a full-service spa and a refined on-site bistro.
Niagara Falls
Spanning across the United States-Canada border, the three waterfalls and the gorge that form Niagara Falls make a truly captivating natural wonder to behold. On the US side, Niagara Falls State Park serves as a welcoming portal to the falls with its observation tower and network of hiking trails. For even more opportunities to reach the water below, sign up for a tour at Cave of the Winds or book a boat tour on the Maid of the Mist.
If you are looking for a different perspective on Niagara Falls, head to Whirlpool State Park and DeVeaux Woods State Park and hit the trails to see the iconic “whirlpool” of whitewater rapids at the Niagara River. A little farther north, Devil’s Hole State Park features incredible views of the river and gorge rock layers, and it has one of the region’s best spots for fishing. After a long day of adventures at the falls, kick back and enjoy the cozy vibes at the Butler House bed-and-breakfast at the Park Place Historic District, just a short walk away from Niagara Falls State Park.
Corning
Corning may be the most fascinating industrial town turned high-tech hub. The town may be best known for the glass-making company that shares its name, and the Corning Museum of Glass is a great place to get acquainted with the town’s glassy heritage while also discovering some 3,500 years of glass-making history (and on-site glass-making demonstrations).
Just across the Chemung River sits Corning’s current corporate headquarters. Right by Corning’s corporate campus, the Gaffer District showcases Corning’s present-day ingenuity with the Smithsonian-affiliated Rockwell Museum, along with art galleries like West End Gallery and Vitrix Hot Glass Studio. Also situated in the Gaffer District, the Gaffer Inn provides cool industrial-chic lodging and on-site dining at Burgers & Beer.
Lake George
Perched at the southeastern base of the Adirondacks, Lake George has long been crowned the “Queen of the American Lakes” thanks to its stunning natural beauty and endless opportunities for fun. Only about 60 miles north of Albany, Lake George Beach is the cherished “Million Dollar Beach” with a picture-perfect stretch of sand, a lifeguard-monitored swimming area, and a boat launch.
Right by Million Dollar Beach, Lake George Battlefield State Park lets you tour the remains of the unfinished 18th-century Fort George and a series of critical military assets used during the Seven Years’ War and the Revolutionary War. And at the nearby Fort William Henry Museum, immerse yourself in Lake George as it existed in the 1750s, complete with reenactments of period battles.
If you crave more wide-open spaces in the wilderness, head out to Berry Pond for over four miles of forest trails, and Hickory Ski Center is open for mountain hikes during the summer season. Back at the lake, Erlowest is a gorgeous Queen Anne-style estate that is now a boutique inn offering lavish accommodations and dining right by the waterfront.
Woodstock
Though Woodstock was established as a town in 1787, this Hudson Valley village suddenly took the world stage in 1969, when the Woodstock Music and Art Fair brought rock music legends like Creedence Clearwater Revival, Crosby Stills Nash & Young, Janis Joplin, and Jimi Hendrix to perform at a local farm.
These days, the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts continues to carry the rebellious artistic spirit of Woodstock with open-air and indoor performing arts stages, art studios and workshops, and an on-site museum. Heading towards town, Slide Mountain Wilderness has a network of hiking trails that reach as high as the Slide Mountain summit. (At about 4,190 feet above sea level, this is the tallest mountain within 150 miles of New York City.)
Back in town, experience more of the area’s artistic edge at the Woodstock Playhouse, Bearsville Theater, and the eclectic Mountain View Studio. And for the ultimate in local hospitality, check into the lovely Woodstock Inn on the Millstream. Yes, this bed-and-breakfast is really located along a stream!
Saugerties
Located where the Catskill Mountains meet the Hudson River is the lovely town of Saugerties. When you are ready to ascend the mountains, head west to Overlook Mountain Wild Forest and hit the hiking trails for panoramic mountain and river views. Meanwhile, in town, the Esopus Bend Nature Preserve has prime water for kayaking and paddleboarding at Esopus Creek. And at the Hudson River, Saugerties Lighthouse has stood at this site since 1869 and now connects to trails to let you explore this scenic stretch of tidal wetlands.
Right by the water, the Diamond Mills Spa Resort offers more to savor and enjoy. This glorious boutique resort features fine dining at the Blackbarn restaurant, a full-service Waterside Spa, and 30 rooms and suites with amazing waterfall views.
Montauk
Nestled on the easternmost tip of Long Island, Montauk artfully combines the high society sophistication of the Hamptons with the natural beauty of a down-home beach town. For the more authentic beach town side of Montauk, head to Montauk Point and Camp Hero State Parks for an extensive network of maritime forest and wetland trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding, along with pristine beaches with perfect conditions for surf fishing and wintertime surfing. And for more fun in the water, go to Ditch Plains Beach and take advantage of its calmer summertime waves for swimming and novice-level surfing.
If you are looking to see and be seen, The Montauket, Ocean Club, and The Bird are great bar-restaurants where you can have dinner and drinks. Also, check into Gurney’s Montauk Resort for a freshly renovated take on classic coastal luxury, complete with posh rooms and suites, the full-service Seawater Spa, and Gurney’s own private beach.
New York Has All You Need for a Great Weekend Retreat
When you can use a serene weekend retreat, look no further than the Empire State of New York. At Lake Placid, hike New York’s tallest mountains where Olympic athletes have competed. At Ithaca and Skaneateles, sip and savor many of the Northeast’s finest wines. And at Montauk, surf some of the Atlantic Ocean’s best waves and take in the refined vibes of this highly sophisticated turf. However you want to spend a long weekend, these and other New York towns provide ample opportunities for wonderful retreats to relax and recharge.
