We want to visit our son who lives in New York City but we may get overwhelmed by the big city after a couple of days. Where might we stay that is a 1 or 2 hour train ride from Manhattan, that has a small town feel, and where we can all hike just from walking from our door (like an airbnb door)?
I have read that Beacon is nice but I know nothing about it.
Any ideas would be much appreciated!!
Posted by
5878 posts
I have not been to Beacon, but I think you are on the right track in looking up the Hudson. I have visited Peekskill several times and hiked at Bear Mountain. I was staying with friends with a car, so you may need to delve into Maps to find a place where you can set off on foot. Tiny Cold Spring is cute (had a great dinner there on last visit), and there are state parks all along both river banks, so I think you can find something.
Posted by
St. Louis metro area
171 posts
You may want something along the Hudson line run by Metro-North. Beacon indeed falls along this route and is worth some further investigation. I haven't been there, but hear good things from friends who live a little further than a 2 hour train ride but in that general vicinity.
Posted by
Maryland
138 posts
Hi mistimetotravel,
We just got back from visiting Beacon and Hudson areas. Beacon was very nice, with many brick buildings and factories that were lost to the economy many years ago renovated and repurposed with restaurants, pop up shops, bakeries, breweries and stores, etc. They were all cool to see and visit. Walking the Main Street is very nice. They also have a large creek that runs through the town that was very impressive with a hotel/restaurant called The RoundHouse that overlooks the waterfall/creek.
We stayed at the RoundHouse and really liked it.
Posted by
New England, USA
41 posts
Beacon is lovely. Cold Spring is right down the road and is also nice. Will you have a car? It may be difficult to be easy walking distance to both the train station and a trailhead.
Posted by
OP
622 posts
Thank you everyone for your replies. They are very helpful. We will not have a car and will take the train from NYC to the place we will stay and would like hiking trails a short walk away.
Posted by
5878 posts
I think your best bet would be to use Google Maps to locate train stations close enough to parks along the river, then choose a place within walking distance of a train station to stay. I liked Bear Mountain enough that I'd consider it worth it to pay for a ride there and back and spend a good chunk of a day there.