Read Top brief weekend trips around the East Coast
After fifty weeks of work, your paltry two weeks of vacation probably don’t seem like nearly enough time to fully recharge. While you may have some difficulty convincing others that you deserve more time to go galavanting around the globe, you can still get in the rest and relaxation you need with a few brief weekend trips around the East Coast.
The Hudson Valley: Only a quick drive or train trip NYC, with many of its towns accessible via Metro North and Amtrak, New York’s Hudson Valley region has won over countless city dwellers looking for a change of pace. This beautiful segment of New York state is home to amazing activities throughout its many charming towns, like Croton-on-Hudson’s Storm King sculpture park, Beacon’s Dia:Beacon contemporary art museum, West Point’s famed military academy, and Rhinebeck’s numerous historic sites.
The Catskills: Just 100 miles north of New York City, the Catskills have become a haven for weekenders over the past few decades. Once the home to some of the nation’s most popular resort, this lush New York mountain range has reinvented itself with boutique hotels, like Phoenicia’s Graham & Co., fabulous dining destinations like Peekamoose and The Lucky Dog, and quaint towns that are perfect for a quick recharge without venturing too far from home.
Litchfield, CT: Small town charm and American history collide in beautiful Litchfield, Connecticut, making it an ideal location for taking a break from your everyday life. This tiny town, which has a population of just over 8,000, is the hometown of many important historical figures in U.S. history, including abolitionist Harriet Beecher Stowe, Revolutionary War hero Ethan Allen, whose birthplace you can tour, and Litchfield Law School founder Tapping Reeve, whose eponymous institution still stands today.
NYC: There’s one thing that natives and visitors alike can actually agree on — there’s no place in the world like New York City. Home to the world’s best art, entertainment, nightlife, and culinary culture, the city is a dream destination for many travelers. Even those who call the city home year-round can appreciate a staycation in NYC, taking in Broadway shows, hitting up celebrity hotspots like ABC Kitchen, Cipriani, and Tao, and kicking up their heels in one of the city’s beautiful, amenity-packed luxury buildings, like Gilded Age beauty The Astor on the Upper West Side.
Newport, RI: One of the East Coast most beautiful destinations, Newport beckons visitors with its gorgeous waterfront location and its world-famous architecture. Home to many Gilded Age mansions, including Kingscote, Chateau-sur-Mer, Miramar, and The Breakers, this charming city has become a popular destination at Christmastime, when Newport’s historic houses are decked out for the holidays. Starting on the first day of December, visitors can enjoy holiday-themed entertainment, from performances of the Nutcracker by the Island Moving Company to lantern-guided walking tours of the city’s famous sites.
You don’t have to go far from home to have the vacation of a lifetime — the East Coast is home to plenty of perfect destinations for an amazing mini-trip.
