NYC holiday - getting away from it

March 24, 2009 5:53 AM

I'm visiting New York for two weeks in June, but also want to get out of the city. Where to? (btw, public transport only)

It will be my first visit to the U.S., and I'd like to see some non-city stuff for a few days. For an example, it seems that Block Island, RI would be a great place to get out to for a couple of days, with perhaps a day or so in Newport/Jamestown too (I'm quite happy with the Amtrak/flight/ferries I'd need to use). I think these places would satisify my appetite for:

- fresh air
- cycling/walking
- great views
- a little less bustle, though opportunity still for good eats/drinks

What other places perhaps closer to NYC that can offer simliar (not necessarily coastal)?

posted by nofunnyname to travel & transportation (18 comments total)

Rockaway beach is in the City, but doesn't feel like it. Transfer at Broad Channel to the shuttle to 116th rather than staying on the A to Far Rockaway.

New Haven is on the MetroNorth and has some attractions.

Montauk is within reach on LIRR and bicycle. There's a ferry between Montauk and Block Island.
posted by McGuillicuddy at 6:14 AM on March 24

Two nice quickie "one of a kind" day trips just outside of the city are Storm King Art Center, a sculpture park that's great for a picnic, and Blue Hill at Stone Barns, a four-season farm and world-class restaurant just a bit up the Hudson. You can get to Storm King via a bus from the Port Authority and to Blue Hill via the MetroNorth Hudson Line from Grand Central.
posted by bcwinters at 6:24 AM on March 24

Princeton. It's an hour and a half train ride from Penn Station.
posted by amro at 6:29 AM on March 24

The lower Hudson Valley can probably provide all four, and is easy to reach (frequent Metro-North service). Good views, great open space, quiet, and there's still eats and drinks. Beacon is probably the prototypical example -- it has the Dia museum, which is excellent, and nice Hudson views. A good place to slow down for a bit. Bike facilities are probably sparse, though.

A good place for biking (technically in the city, but very far removed from the center of it) is the Long Island Motor Parkway, a weird old decommissioned highway that runs through the woods in outer Queens.
posted by zvs at 6:32 AM on March 24

Cold Spring-on-Hudson, north out of Grand Central on the Metro North (and not to be confused with Cold Spring Harbor) offers great views, fresh air, walking, probably bike rental (though I'm not sure) and kayak rental.
posted by game warden to the events rhino at 6:43 AM on March 24

Dia:Beacon is amazing. And you can grab a snack in Beacon after.
posted by janet lynn at 7:09 AM on March 24 [1 favorite]

New Haven is on the MetroNorth and has some attractions.

My old home town, good food and a nice downtown section in places but the city is fairly built up and urban around the center, a large harbor with some nice beaches to roam around. Outside of town, along the coast are better beaches and salt marshes with lots of wildlife.
posted by sundri at 7:31 AM on March 24

Coney Island?

Some people are into wine tours in Long Island. Google NYC Wine Tours.
posted by teabag at 7:37 AM on March 24

Seconding the Metro North - take whatever line you like and you'll get somewhere nice - the Hudson line for the quaint river towns, hiking, etc., the New Haven line for the beach, shore. Its cheap, comfortable riding. The LIRR will take you out to Long Island, too - if you are up for it go to Fire Island, but it takes a few hours and train + ferry.
posted by RajahKing at 7:54 AM on March 24

Coney Island would be a fantastic detour, if most of the amusements & rides weren't
wiped off the map by a developer in the last year. The Cyclone, the Wonder Wheel, and the small amusement park around the Wonder Wheel still stand, but everything else is gone.

If you're any kind of baseball fan, see if the Staten Island Yankees are playing - it's the A-ball franchise for the Yankees. A gorgeous (and free!) ferry ride from Manhattan (should be done even w/o baseball as an option), the ballpark is steps away from the ferry terminal in Staten Island, a 7,000-seat stadium that presents baseball the way it should be seen.
posted by swngnmonk at 8:00 AM on March 24

Montauk is amazing. There are dozens and dozens of little motels there to stay at, and the train ride out there is beautiful.
posted by hermitosis at 8:20 AM on March 24

You could take Metro North to Mt. Kisko and play some disc golf.
posted by saul wright at 8:29 AM on March 24

City Island in the Bronx.
posted by jgirl at 8:53 AM on March 24

Some great answers so far, thanks. I'm especially liking the historic aspect of Princeton and the old-town Cold Spring-on-Hudson.

At this rate I think we're going to have to visit up the Hudson AND go round the coast to Block Island.
posted by nofunnyname at 9:03 AM on March 24

This is in the city, but you might miss it: Governor's Island. Its a quick and free ferry ride and it a wonderful place to have picnic and walk around. There are free guided tours of the Island's fascinating (IMHO) history. There are often outdoor musical performances there, as well as bike trails.
posted by minicloud at 9:17 AM on March 24

Also in the city and a subway ride away are the Cloisters and Fort Tryon Park.
posted by IndigoJones at 10:09 AM on March 24

Take Metro-North to visit the Vanderbilt Estate and the home of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Or take a short cruise up the Hudson River.
posted by brookeb at 10:56 AM on March 24

Well, it's now a week since I got back from my trip and we thoroughly enjoyed it.

I can recommend Governor's Island, our visit their coincided with the Jazz Age Lawn Party, so we got to hear the sounds of the Dreamland Orchestra in addition to cycling around the island and taking pictures.

We also had two nights on Block Island, which was a 3hr-ish train journey from Penn station NYC to Westerly, RI; and then a quick flight to the Island. Highly recommended - it was very peaceful (possibly as the season was only just starting) with cycling around the island and beach walks.
posted by nofunnyname at 9:27 AM on June 22