4 Day Trips From New York City
To enjoy the end of the summer and the Fall, here are a few suggestions for a getaway from the city. Our selection includes mountains, art destinations, beaches and, most importantly, attractions easily accessible by train.
COLD SPRING
This bucolic village is a little more than an hour from Grand Central Station by train (Metro-North’s Hudson Line). It has excellent hikes, a scenic Main Street and kayak tours of the Hudson. The city is also home for a private collection of Italian Postwar and Contemporary Art, Magazzino Italian Art. The museum, located a 10-minute drive from the Cold Spring train station, is open to the public for free. Book a free shuttle here.
BEACON
Located along the Hudson River, Beacon is just an 80-minute train ride from Grand Central Terminal. The main attraction is Dia: Beacon. Occupying a former Nabisco box printing factory, the museum is the home for Dia’s collection of art from the 1960’s. Its collection includes Dan Flavin’s series of fluorescent light “Monuments to V. Tatlin” (1964), Richard Serra’s Torqued Ellipses (2007) and Louise Bourgeois’ Crouching Spider (2003). Admission is U$ 15. Reduced admission and discounted Metro-North train fare with One-Day Getaway. Another nice destination in the area is the Storm King Art Center, which offers shuttle service round-trip from the Beacon Train Station on Saturdays, Sundays, and holiday Mondays. Pre-purchase is required. Book your seat. Admission to the park is U$ 18, but discounts may apply, including for the Metro-North Getaway Package.
PRINCETON
The university campus has Gothic buildings and a nice free museum – Princeton University Art Museum, with works by the likes of Jean-Michel Basquiat and Helen Frankenthaler, as well as other galleries devoted to old master paintings and ancient Byzantine, Islamic and African art. The bustling Nassau Street, just off campus, is full of shops and cafes. Northbound New Jersey Transit trains passing through Princeton Junction provide direct service to New York City.
SHELTER ISLAND
Its flower-scented roads might be more easily explored by car but, yes, you can visit by train. And, believe it or not, just in a day – but don’t expect see everything! Take the Long Island Railroad from Penn Station to the final stop at the Greenport, NY North Ferry Station. From here Shelter Island is just a short 8 minute ferry ride. The journey to the island is half the fun, but there are also beautiful beaches, well protected areas and a charming town, with an old-school vibe.
