Summer vacation around NYC for hermits
July 2, 2024 5:16 PM Subscribe
Where I can go for summer vacation where I can avoid contact with other people as much as possible? Difficulty level: NO CAR, and ideally reachable by train or bus from NYC. Bonus points: nature and good food
1) Summer vacation (bonus: nature and good food);
2) Avoid other people as much as possible (this means a remote and isolated destination?);
3) No car.
You can’t have 1 & 2 with 3.
posted by mlis at 7:04 PM on July 2 [2 favorites]
2) Avoid other people as much as possible (this means a remote and isolated destination?);
3) No car.
You can’t have 1 & 2 with 3.
posted by mlis at 7:04 PM on July 2 [2 favorites]
Best answer: A day trip or overnight trip or multi-day hiking trip I would recommend would be hiking the Old Croton Aqueduct. This requires a little planning as the trail map is set and easy to follow but you will need to plan which part of the trail you would like to hike for how long and which villages to stop in for restaurants and cafes. The trail passes through Hastings on Hudson, Ossining, Sleepy Hollow, Dobbs Ferry, etc. You can visit the best cafes in these villages as you pass. Websites to help plan:
Friends of the Old Croton Aqueduct
Article About the Trail
Old Croton Aqueduct Trail Link
Sites of Interest Along the Old Croton Aqueduct State Historic Trail
Croton Point Park
Van Cortlandt Manor
Philipsburg Manor
Lyndhurst
Washington Irving’s Sunnyside
Lenoir Preserve
Untermyer Park and Gardens
Hudson River Museum
posted by ichimunki at 7:21 PM on July 2 [3 favorites]
Friends of the Old Croton Aqueduct
Article About the Trail
Old Croton Aqueduct Trail Link
Sites of Interest Along the Old Croton Aqueduct State Historic Trail
Croton Point Park
Van Cortlandt Manor
Philipsburg Manor
Lyndhurst
Washington Irving’s Sunnyside
Lenoir Preserve
Untermyer Park and Gardens
Hudson River Museum
posted by ichimunki at 7:21 PM on July 2 [3 favorites]
Best answer: I don't think you'll get into my sport of choice, bicycling, in a few short weeks, but, on the presumption that you do not have a mobility issue (and forget the rest of this if you do)...
... it sounds like hiking might be something to take up in general. Great trails (including the Appalachian Trail) are right off of the train lines around here, and it's an activity that generally avoids extended contact with other people + aligns you with nature. Get some hiking shoes/boots first, and read up on how to prepare for a day hike, but you can skip most of expense and intense preparation of backpack overnight camping if you're just going out for the afternoon.
As ichimunki noted, OCA has a ton of entry points along the Hudson. But that's just one of many many options. Breakneck Ridge is one of the most popular hiking spots in the region. There are also many good hiking trips out of Cold Spring and Beacon. For something that is extremely easy and doesn't even require hiking gear, consider the Walkway Over The Hudson - there are points of interests in both directions, and a train can take you to within a mile of the main entry on the east bank of the river. Also consider Bear Mountain/Harriman State Park, many of the trails along Palisades Interstate Park, and the many many options for hiking trails and multi-modal paths (rail trails and the like) if you go deeper into the Lower Hudson region, the Catskills and the Gunks, Long Island, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut or Western Massachusetts. Many of the small villages in these areas do not get loaded up with tourists for the summer, either, so they make for day trips that fit your criteria.
Or you could just start by covering Central Park very thoroughly, with its deep little-seen areas in the north end of the park and the varying terrain that can be challenging in casual shoes. (Prospect Park, Van Cortlandt Park, and Forest Park too)
posted by brianvan at 8:51 PM on July 2
... it sounds like hiking might be something to take up in general. Great trails (including the Appalachian Trail) are right off of the train lines around here, and it's an activity that generally avoids extended contact with other people + aligns you with nature. Get some hiking shoes/boots first, and read up on how to prepare for a day hike, but you can skip most of expense and intense preparation of backpack overnight camping if you're just going out for the afternoon.
As ichimunki noted, OCA has a ton of entry points along the Hudson. But that's just one of many many options. Breakneck Ridge is one of the most popular hiking spots in the region. There are also many good hiking trips out of Cold Spring and Beacon. For something that is extremely easy and doesn't even require hiking gear, consider the Walkway Over The Hudson - there are points of interests in both directions, and a train can take you to within a mile of the main entry on the east bank of the river. Also consider Bear Mountain/Harriman State Park, many of the trails along Palisades Interstate Park, and the many many options for hiking trails and multi-modal paths (rail trails and the like) if you go deeper into the Lower Hudson region, the Catskills and the Gunks, Long Island, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut or Western Massachusetts. Many of the small villages in these areas do not get loaded up with tourists for the summer, either, so they make for day trips that fit your criteria.
Or you could just start by covering Central Park very thoroughly, with its deep little-seen areas in the north end of the park and the varying terrain that can be challenging in casual shoes. (Prospect Park, Van Cortlandt Park, and Forest Park too)
posted by brianvan at 8:51 PM on July 2
if you do get to Hudson, a visit to Olana is recommended
posted by HearHere at 3:31 AM on July 3 [1 favorite]
posted by HearHere at 3:31 AM on July 3 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Ithaca has lots of good food and nature. Yes, there are people, but if you come before the college students get back it's pretty peaceful. There are direct buses from NYC and local public transportation to take you to beautiful places, many of which are within walking distance of downtown if you're into walking.
posted by mareli at 6:55 AM on July 3 [1 favorite]
posted by mareli at 6:55 AM on July 3 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Heckscher State Park in Long Island is accessible by LIRR. It's a 1 hour walk/20 min bike/10 min taxi to the park from Great River. There are nice, modern cottages facing the bay. Lots of nature and very quiet and isolated. Good food options are sparse without a car or bike though.
posted by lolibrarian at 9:21 AM on July 3
posted by lolibrarian at 9:21 AM on July 3
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posted by HearHere at 5:59 PM on July 2