Day Trips From NYC – Let’s Go to New Paltz

The summer of 2020 has been unlike any other we have ever experienced. Sadly, the USA is locked out of traveling much of the world because of our inability to control Covid-19 outbreaks. A lifetime resident of NY state and 25 year resident of NYC, this summer I have been enjoying rediscovering my own state of New York. We recently spent some time in New Paltz, a quaint college town just under two hours from Manhattan.

Getting there :

• By car: New Paltz is a straight shot up the NY state Thruway to Exit 18. I prefer to take the Palisades Parkway to the Thruway as the drive is really pretty along the Hudson.
• By train: the closest stop to New Paltz is Metro North from Grand Central to Poughkeepsie. A cab or Uber from there is 20 minute to downtown New Paltz.
• By Bus: Adirondack Trailways runs multiple buses daily from Port Authority directly to New Paltz and may be the easiest and most direct route. From Port Authority to the bus stop right in downtown New Paltz is under 2 hours.
• The town is very walkable, however a car is needed to reach many of the nature-oriented activities.

Covid-19 Updates

Much like our review of Beacon, we can report that many of the small boutiques in New Paltz are closed during the weekdays but open up Thursday through Sunday. You also may find additional restrictions in place. For example, limiting the number of guests in a shop at one time or offering curbside pickup only. Restaurants in upstate NY are currently allowed to be open for both indoor and outdoor dining though not all are. Masks are 100% required. We will note specific COVID regulations throughout this post.

Do:

New Paltz is located in Ulster County in the midst of the Shawangunk Ridge (the Gunks). Considering it’s a town of less than 10,000 residents, it does not lack for activities. SUNY New Paltz is a university built on the hill overlooking the town and brings lots of vibrant energy to the area. There are so many things to do in New Paltz, it would be difficult to tackle them all in one day. To make planning easier, I have broken down the activities into several groups.

For the Nature Lover

The Gunks are considered one of the best sites for rock climbing in North America and one of the main attractions in New Paltz. In addition to rock climbing, hiking, biking, cross country skiing, and snow shoeing are all very popular. If you want a challenging day of hiking, or rock climbing, I recommend going from the train station directly to Mohonk Mountain Preserve. There you can pick up many trails at all skill levels for $15 fee. Note this is NOT the same place as the Mohonk Mountain House resort.

Mohonk Mountain House

Mohonk Mountain House – Grand and majestic, this Victorian castle resort is a magical (albeit expensive) way to spend your time in New Paltz. The resort offers an all inclusive package with excellent farm to table cuisine that is a foodies paradise. For the adventurer, there are countless activities including hiking, swimming, stand up paddleboarding, kayaking tennis, golf and archery. For the relaxer, there are over 600 rocking chairs, dozens of cozy fireplaces, a luxurious spa, mindfulness and meditation practices, and gorgeous wrap around porches.

If the thought of spending more than $800 per night at Mohonk Mountain House doesn’t appeal, day passes are available. You can either purchase the day pass for the trails ($29pp) or purchase a spa treatment which will give you access to the trails as well. Generally, I don’t think the day pass for the trails are worth that price – with one exception. If you have your heart set on the famous Lemon Squeeze hike or the Sky Top Tower hike, the best way to access it is from Mohonk Mountain House (for $29). While you can eventually access it from Mohonk Mountain Preserve (for $15), the total hike ends up being much longer (8-9 miles instead of about 5 miles).

Other Nature Loving Activities

Minnewaska State Park – Just 15 min from downtown New Paltz and a little past the Mohonk Preserve, lies Minnewaska State Park. A day at Minnewaska could be spent at one of it’s four crystal clear lakes. Or it could be a day long hike through 50 miles of trails and countless waterfalls.

River to Ridge Trail – A newcomer to the area, the River to Ridge Trail is a 6 mile loop that connects downtown New Paltz with the Shawangunk Ridge. It crosses working farmland and several streams. Runners, horseback riders and cyclists are welcome. This trail has some hills and is in full sun so it is not recommended on a hot day. It is super convenient for bikers as bike rentals are available right at the trailhead on Springtown Rd.

For the History/ Art Lover

A national historic landmark district, Huguenot Street is the oldest continually habited street in America. The Huguenots were a group of French protestants who fled France in the late 1600’s to escape religious persecution. They settled in the small, and still inhabited community that is now known as New Paltz.

Huguenot Street consists of seven stone house museums, a reconstructed 1717 French church, burial grounds, and a replica Esopus Munsee Wigwam. Visitors can learn the story of the French Huguenot pioneers as well as the history of the areas Native and enslaved African peoples. Self guided walking tours are available now. Organized tours are on hold due to Covid. We loved the peacefulness of wandering around the mini village of Huguenot street without car traffic and lots of shade. The pup loved it too! If you are visiting in October, don’t miss the haunted tours.

Art lovers should make time for the SUNY New Paltz campus for a look at the Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art. The museum comprises over 5,500 pieces of art in the permanent collection as well as an ever changing temporary collection. If you are traveling with teens, it’s a good opportunity to explore a SUNY college campus. Note that at publication the museum is closed due to Covid.

You can also get your art fix at the various art galleries and art supply stores right in downtown New Paltz. Main Street is home to several great art supply shops and the Rogal Art Gallery. The Water Street Market houses CronArtUSA and The Grey Owl Gallery. In addition, a short drive from downtown are the DM Weill Gallery for contemporary art, Mark Gruber Gallery for many local artists, and the Unison Arts Center for some outdoor sculpture.

Shop:

Main street is a great place to start for casual shopping in New Paltz. As a side note, remember that due to Covid restraints, much of the town is closed Mon, Tues, and Wed.

Downtown New Paltz is still living its best 60’s life at Groovy Blueberry – your favorite tie dye fantasy shop. Handmade and More has unique clothing and gifts from kitchen to closet. Water Street Market is terrific for bric a brac antique shops. And, if an upstate town didn’t have a metaphysical shop does it even exist? Awareness Shop is your one stop spot for candles, oils and sprays.

Eat:

Main Street has lots of great restaurant choices like Main Street Bistro, A Tavola Trattoria and P&G’s Tavern. Due to COVID challenges, many restaurants are still offering take out only. Therefore, we don’t eat out very much – especially if it means eating indoors. Instead, we favor nearby orchards and breweries that serve outdoors. My pick is Twin Star Orchards. It has a great atmosphere of outdoor seating and an online ordering system for pizza, burgers and cider. They even offer live music from 4-7pm on weekends.

Finally, for more day trip fun check out our reviews of Beacon, and Rockaway Beach.