8 Most Hospitable Towns In New York

The state of New York is filled with charming towns, ready to embrace returning friends, families, and newcomers in warm local hospitality. From Long Island to the Hudson Valley gems and their Catskill neighbors, hospitable towns abound. Ithaca is renowned for the waterfalls in the Finger Lakes, whereas Westport is the gateway into NY's Adirondacks on Lake Champlain.

All this friendly nature lends a refreshing vibe to a getaway for recreation and adventure away from the stuffy city. Saratoga Springs opens up its historic equestrian heart with relaxing spas and boutique shopping. It is a wonderful life in Seneca Falls to experience this summer, while Sleepy Hollow promises to be a hospitable Halloween town under an hour from Manhattan. Let's visit eight of the most hospitable towns in New York.

Greenport

Admire the wealthy mansions on the way to this coastal town via the east highway around the Great Peconic Bay. You'll discover how hospitable Long Islanders actually are — a far cry from the Hamptons — in Greenport, near the northern tip of Long Island. Greeting you with country homes and cottage stays, Village of Greenport McCann is a great campground at the heart with access to it all, including Front Street, Greenport's face. Waking up for a coastal walk, meet the sun at the 67 Steps Beach, then bask in the views along the soft sands.

Explore the serene Inlet Pond County Park overlooking Long Island Sound or the opposing Norman E. Klipp Marine Park, which also features a beachfront. Chat up some of the friendly locals through farmers’ markets and the East End Seaport Museum, then take a spin on a century-old antique carousel. The Times Vintage is a one-of-a-kind vintage clothing store, while Claudio's Waterfront extends a warm welcome to dine on a terrace overlooking the Greenport Harbor. At sunset, clink glasses at one of the world-class wineries.

Ithaca

Relive your college days on Cayuga's southern shore in Ithaca. Home to an Ivy League school and a vibrant art scene, Ithaca is eclectic, intellectual, and hospitable with a huge tourist base. Welcoming new visitors daily, many find its gardens and bakeries can give Paris a run for its money. Forego the student crowds downtown and explore the area's refreshing waterfalls in the summer. Rocky Falls dispels into Fall Creek, while the dramatic 55-foot multi-cascade Triphammer Falls tumbles over the ledge of Beebe Lake on the Cornell University campus.

The Cornell Botanic Gardens and Ithaca Falls set the scene for romance. That I.M. Pei-designed tower houses the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art with ancient Roman sculptures, plus 21st-century photography and more. Robert H. Treman and Buttermilk Falls state parks offer camping, wildlife trails, and waterfalls in a woodsy appeal for family picnics. It is just 10 minutes back to explore Ithaca's famed dining scene for every taste, from seafood to world cuisine. Browse galleries and venues for live performances and musical shows around the calendar.

Kingston

Kingston is an alluring Hudson Valley destination for budding romance and family discoveries. The majestic Catskills and Shawangunks lend a glorious backdrop for vibrant heritage. The British burned the city in 1777, the same year it became NY's first capital. Take a stroll along the mighty Hudson "lace" in authentic views of its maritime past and historic architecture. Kingston integrates history into nature along the riverfront, from the Hudson River Maritime Museum to the Rondout Lighthouse and the quiet George H. Freer Memorial Beach.

Having transformed into a transport hub for both railroad and canal, it retained the vintage facades from the 19th century. Now housing hip shops, cafes, and the arts, the Ulster Performing Arts Center presents national music and dance acts, classic films, and symphonies in a historic 1,510-seat theater. It is fun and easy to explore three distinct neighborhoods, each with a vibe and nature access points. Escape into the sprawling Sojourner Truth State Park with dog-friendly trails a hop from the sandy beach at Kingston Point Park, with a boat launch.

Rhinebeck

Across the Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge from the aforementioned NY's first capital, Rhinebeck feels even tinier against the Catskills, yet every tree-lined corner tells a story. Visitors enjoy easy access from three states for an easygoing getaway in the scenic Hudson Valley. Drayton Grant Park at Burger Hill is great for a stroll with benches to relax in fresh mountain air or enjoy the wintertime sled hill. Explore the nearby Ferncliff Forest with trails for hiking and biking. The riverfront Wilderstein Historic Site is an ornate, 19th-century Queen Anne mansion with tours.

Don't miss Esopus Meadows Lighthouse, restored to its 1871 glory and accessible by boat. Looking south along the historic railway paralleling the shore, a gold sparkle may catch your eye. Staatsburgh State Historic Site is a 65-room Gilded Age mansion with guided tours, events, and concerts. It is just ten minutes back to the town's Terrapin Restaurant, which serves New American eats in a main dining room housed in a former church, plus a casual bistro on the side. Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome flaunts early 20th-century antique airplanes that still fly in shows.

Saratoga Springs

Those who love horses as much as this vintage town will feel right at home. Saratoga Springs is one of the most refined destinations upstate, with equestrian culture in its blood. It is particularly evident in local hospitality at the antiquated Olde Bryan Inn. There's plentiful boutique shopping and galleries, plus scenic outdoors at the Saratoga Spa State Park, with trails, picnic spots, and winter sports. Work on your summer tan along the beautiful Saratoga Lake, which offers Tiki Tours, boating, and fishing. Saratoga Marketplace sells local treasures and artisan crafts.

Between specialty stores like Lifestyles of Saratoga or Mind Body Spirit Shoppe, Saratoga’s museums bring heritage to life, from Saratoga Springs History Museum to the thoroughbreds at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. The engaging Saratoga National Historical Park recreates the Battles of Saratoga. While some come for the excitement at Saratoga Race Course, others indulge in Saratoga's relaxing spas downtown plus culinary endeavors through casual and upscale restaurants, then a performance at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center.

Seneca Falls

Wine, cinema, and women's rights in the valley, anyone? Just off the western side of the long Cayuga Lake, Seneca Falls is a scenic village in the Finger Lakes region on Van Cleef Lake. Its charm lies in old Hollywood fame and the "first in" equal rights movement in New York. Drop by the National Women's Hall of Fame, then cross the Seneca River via the "It's a Wonderful Life Bridge" to the "It's a Wonderful Life Museum." This nostalgic attraction transports movie fans right into "Bedford Falls," with displays and memorabilia from the beloved motion picture.

From Seneca Falls Historical Society to Elizabeth Cady Stanton Home, Women's Rights National Historical Park honors the first Women's Rights Convention. Snap a selfie by the When Anthony Met Stanton Statue, then grab something from It's a Wonderful Life Bakery to enjoy at Suffrage Park. Seneca Falls offers easy access to Cayuga Lake State Park, popular among families and boating enthusiasts for shallows, deep-water fishing, and panoramic hilltop campgrounds. Just north, Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge is a 10,000-acre bird sanctuary.

Sleepy Hollow

Some 50 minutes from Manhattan, Sleepy Hollow inspired Washington Irving’s 1820 "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," about a schoolteacher and the Headless Horseman. Its prized possession is the 17th-century stone Old Dutch Church of Sleepy Hollow and cemetery, both from the short story, and Irving’s final resting place. Cross the bridge to the modern sculpture of the “Galloping Hessian of the Hollow.” Nothing short of NY's storytelling capital, this legendary village occupies a spacious cove on the eastern shore of the Hudson River, with many more gems.

The 1880s Sleepy Hollow Lighthouse is one of NY's most scenic, though decommissioned, with periodic public tours. The surrounding Rockefeller State Park Preserve features historic carriage roads through woodlands and meadows. Check out the riverfront Rockwood Hall, a 1,000-acre Elizabethan estate landscaped around a Rockefeller mansion. Kykuit, another one of the family's estates, offers tours of the gardens and art collection in a 40-room home overlooking Tarrytown Lakes Park. The next-door Union Church of Pocantico Hills fits a fairy tale.

Westport

Westport embraces visitors on the western shore of the long Lake Champlain across Vermont. North West Bay indents the area, which has long been attracting travelers to explore the Adirondacks, particularly the nearby Jay Mountain Wilderness. The historic Westport Golf is one of the Adirondacks' best. The Adirondack chair was invented here, and no wonder; between the lake and mountains, everything nods at relaxation post-adventure. Just north, the Split Rock Wild Mountain area offers over 11 miles of dog-friendly trails for hiking with lake views.

Lined with shops and studios, Westport's warm hospitality and outgoing vibes extend into an art and dining scene. The lake is focal, with lodgings along the shore, on-the-water restaurants, and a full-service marina. Enjoy the New York State boat launch and catch a summer concert at Ballard Park or visit during the Adirondack Harvest Festival. Depot Theatre offers professional entertainment in a restored (and active) train station. In addition, the Lake Champlain Revolutionary Quest launches here this May for the 250th American Revolution anniversary.

Each small town with a unique personality brings history alive in prolific air for new discoveries, romanticism, and a family-friendly atmosphere around modern attractions, like Ithaca's gardens and art. The last town has a revolutionary event to plan an immediate getaway. See two Rockefeller estates in Rhinebeck, then hop over the bridge to the state's first capital. Visit Greenport for a seaside escape this summer to spin on an antiquated carousel. Exchange the blaring lights of the Big Apple for a small-town embrace at each of the eight most hospitable towns in New York.