CHIC RETREATS: WEEKEND GETAWAY (NEW PALTZ)

Now I may be biased because it’s my home town, but New Paltz is honestly the perfect little hipster town with so much to offer. If you take the bus from Port Authority, it will drop you off right smack dab in the middle of downtown New Paltz in just an hour and a half! So it’s super easy and convenient for a weekend getaway. It has a plethora of Air Bnb’s, affordable hotels, or if you really want the full experience with jaw dropping views, you have to stay at the Mohawk Mountain House (Review coming soon). And a side perk, Uber is available.

When people retreat to small towns they generally go to relax, but sometimes can get bored after a day or two. Well that’s where New Paltz is different. It offers so many local activities, so if you do find yourself going a bit stir crazy you have options.

Think Williamsburg but in a rural hometown setting. Known for its loose hippy mentality, rainbow flags supporting gay pride and everyone in between, New Paltz is a place where everyone is welcome. With a lively downtown scene offering cool pubs and restaurants, a rustic coffee shop, a retro record store, and a bouquet of unique boutique shops. You can find everything from funky clothing, to incenses and candles, to handmade jewelry, to homemade and locally grown food, sweets, and even supplies for cannabis (for those with a prescription only ;) and so much more!

Summers consists of the popular bike trails, hiking Mohawk Mountain, wine tastings, swimming and fishing in the fresh water lakes, the Ulster County Fair, or even sky diving, which is offered a few miles out of town in Gardiner.

Fall has to be my favorite season for sure in New Paltz! From pumpkin picking to apple picking, the best haunted house hands down called The Headless Horseman (a few miles out in Ulster Park), to the changing of the leaves in the mountains, it’s all truly captivating.

Winters are a bit more quiet for super relaxed retreats, however still offer gorgeous winter wonderland views, amazing holiday-lit houses. The pubs never die down, and there are amazing restaurants such as the Gilded Otter, Bacchus, A Tavola Trattoria, Garvan’s Gastropub, Lemongrass, Tokyo Sushi, Huckleberry and so much more! The food options are truly endless for such a quaint town.

New Paltz is also where the SUNY College is located, so weekends are filled with the lively bar crowds of students and local residents usually at McGillicuddy’s and P&G’s. Its the kind of town where the locals know they will always bump into someone they know, but also a place to meet people from all over the world due to the college and visiting tourists. It’s truly a place that brings people together and reminds me of a town right out of a Hallmark movie which I love since I’m all sappy and stuff. New Paltz will offer fresh air, friendly greetings and feel good exploring that will awaken all the senses. And it’s just 84 miles from Manhattan!

CLICK ON THE PHOTOS BELOW TO SHOP/EXPLORE:

Unfortunately, Reformation no longer has this dress I wore above in yellow. However they do in a red and black print.