No Car, No Problem: A Reboot Escape in New Paltz NY

Want to experience a quintessentially Hudson Valley two-day getaway–without leaving a single town or even getting behind the wheel? Historic, charming New Paltz is just 1½ hours from NYC. Whether you hop a bus or hitch a ride, once you arrive, get ready to sink into all this quaint but lively town has to offer. 

Maybe you’re visiting your college student at SUNY New Paltz or want to have a birthday getaway with friends? Or perhaps you want to escape the city (or your life a few towns over) for a few days, or have decided it’s time for a media fast so that you can reignite your connection to nature and some idleness? Whatever your reason, and however you get here, we are excited to offer up an enticing and wallet-friendly itinerary for your escape– from wherever you call home! 

Step 1: Getting Here is Easy

The Adirondack Trailways bus line whisks you from Port Authority to New Paltz several times a day. (Travel tip: Get off at the Main St. bus station rather than the Park-and-Ride if you’re taking it on foot to your lodging!) Prefer trains? Book your seat on Amtrak, then catch a taxi for the quick hop into town.

Step 2: Land Somewhere Lovely

Did you know that one of the Hudson Valley’s most beloved French-ish restaurants also owns the Vanderlyn, a charming 4-bedroom, 4-bathroom inn just next door? Clare Hussain, the creative force behind RŪNA, created this chic little jewel, initially built in 1822. Inviting and flooded in natural light, this romantic, nostalgic-but-not-fussy spot is a perfect base for your time as a family, a group of friends, or a couple that wants to luxuriate in extra space to explore and rejuvenate. (Note: the inn is rented as a “location entière,” which means one must rent the whole shebang.) Tucked right off Main St, it’s mere minutes from shops, eateries, biking and hiking trails, and more of our favorite things to do in this vibrant firecracker of a town. And don’t forget to partake in the globally inspired menu at Runa, which also celebrates our local farms and purveyors. 

Other stays are just a taxi ride away:

• Mohonk Mountain House
• Minnewaska Lodge

Check in, freshen up, and take a wee respite before you slip into your Birkenstocks and hit the town. Your Upstate adventure has begun!

Step 3: Hit the Town

After you’ve grabbed a bite at Runa in their garden or sweet interior, get ready to peruse New Paltz’s cute streets. There’s so much within walking distance and shops abound: from art supplies and great independent book shops to antiques, fun gifts, and even some chic clothes. Check out some of these top picks:

• Art Supply: Manny’s
• Quirky & Wonderful Gifts: Cocoon, Handmade + More
• Books: Inquiring Minds, Barner Books
• Boutique Shopping: Indigo + Velvet, Verde, Nettle and Violet
• Organic, vegan, Fair Trade chocolate: Lagusta’s Luscious (which also makes some yummy hot drinks and baked bites in addition to their “Flaming Vulvas” and more. (You will just have to visit to understand.)
• Experience: Water Street Market—think a quaint European-inspired plaza, with more small character-laden shops; great dining and bar options, an antique center, some people watching at the fountain, or pop into Denizen for indie films or live performances.
• And don’t miss: Historic Huguenot Street. A National Historic Landmark District within walking distance of Main Street, it features original stone houses from the early 1700s built by French Huguenot settlers. This shaded lane offers a rare, immersive glimpse into colonial American life and architecture—right in the heart of town.

Step 4: Ice Cream + a Bike Ride

Don’t forget to say hi to Pat and enjoy your favorite flavor of ice cream at the Huguenot Creamery before heading over to rent your bike at one of these great spots:

• New Paltz Bike Rentals 
• Happy Trails Bike Rental

Then, grab a drink at Jar’d on Water Street Market.

Step 5. Picnic Provisions. 

You’ll want delicious and healthy snacks and plenty of water for your ride—or for the trail, park, or riverside picnic ahead.

Some faves include:

• Main Course (delicious prepared foods, salads, pressed sandwiches, and much more
• Karma Road (vegan café, chill vibes)
• Green Bar (smoothies, juices, and fresh bowls)
• Pho Tibet (grab dumplings, banh mi, summer rolls, and more for an exotic outing)

Step 6: Trails + Wild Places

New Paltz is home to some of the most inspiring views of the Shawangunk Ridge, or more affectionately called “The Gunks.” A globally beloved spot for rock climbing, hiking trails, waterfalls, and swimming holes, you can now hop on your bike or even walk to many nearby picturesque trails in the Mohonk or Minnewaska Preserves. Yes, even those with only moderate physical abilities. For the serious bike riders, you can be more intrepid and make it from town to the top of the Ridge. The Wallkill Valley Rail Trail also invites a more effortless connection from New Paltz to Gardiner in the south, or Tillson, Rosendale, Kingston and beyond. From in-town strolls to wild adventures, fun awaits, but plan well so you’re prepared.

• Rail Trail 
• River-to-Ridge trail
• Nyquist-Harcourt Wildlife Sanctuary
• Testimonial Gatehouse Walk
• Mohonk Preserve
• Minnewaska State Park
• Millbrook Mountain Trail
• Rosendale Trestle

Step 7. Rinse, Rest…Then It’s Time to Eat!

Shower off the trail dust. Maybe journal, maybe nap. Then head over to eat at one of the following or the many others in this walking-friendly town.

• Rūna (in case you missed the opportunity earlier)
• Hokkaido
• Ciao Bella

And if you can make the drive or take a taxi 5-10 minutes outside of town:

• Garvan’s Gastropub
• The Mountain Brauhaus

Step 8. Sleep Deep

Sleep, but take some time to write a few pages in that new journal you picked up in one of the book shops before bed (and/or when you wake).

Step 9.  Morning Ritual 

Have a proper cup (or two) of Joe or tea at one of these fun hubs:

• Dry Fly (also has delicious breakfast and strong wifi)
• The Ridge (also sells some baked goods, plus divine teas and spices in bulk)
• Mudd Puddle Coffee Roasters (plus breakfast as well as a lunch menu). 

Step 10. Take another bike ride or walk on one of the trails you missed…

But this time, bring along your new watercolors or sketch pad and colored pencils you bought at Manny’s art supply shop, and get those creative juices flowing as you take note of the generous bounty that is nature in the Hudson Valley. Or try a yoga class at Stone Wave Yoga, Vitality Yoga Flow, Soul Tribe or Stellar Yoga. 

Step 11. Indulge in some downtime. 

We’re talking actual stillness. Back in your room or sitting in a café, read one of those new, rare book-finds you excitedly rescued from the used books shelf of one of New Paltz’s lil shops, or enjoy some more creative or journaling time. Or notice the way the light shifts across the wallpaper or through trees’ branches…until you remember that another nap and/or cuddle time is the only next best thing. 

Step 12. Oh, do you still have energy before dinner? Games & More!

Scale the walls at BC’s Climbing Gym, or play darts, ping pong, and shoot pool at Bacchus, while grabbing some decent bar food and one of their many beers on tap. And around the corner, you can even play one of the 450 board games at Gunks Gaming Guild. (Yep, 450.)

Step 13. Craving something new? 

Refer to Step 6 and visit one of the eateries you missed, or nab a table at Parish, a New Orleans-influenced menu with a lovely view of the Gunks and you can watch the sunset while enjoying a meal and/or a drink. Or enjoy one of the many other food spots that abound in the center of town.

Tada! We hope this inspires some fun ideas and great experiences for your New Paltz-bound staycation! Let us know if you have any stories of your adventures based on this itinerary and whether you visited from out of town, or decided to “hoof it” from a nearby town. We would love to hear from you!

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