Beautiful New York Travel Places For Local Tourism

Updated 2025

New York State boasts of many beautiful regions like the Hudson Valley, Finger Lakes, the iconic Niagara region, and many more, where residents visit to wind down, relax from the capitalistic rat race, and boost domestic tourism.

There is no better time to embark on New York State tourism and its many local activities than for day trips and weekend getaways via train travel, especially if you have flight anxiety with the latest plane mishaps.

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Read below for beautiful New York places to explore for New York State residents or anyone keen on U.S. domestic tourism these days.

 

Beautiful New York Travel Places in New York City

#Roosevelt Island

This literal slice of land isn’t far away in upstate New York; rather it is right in the middle of New York City between Queens and Manhattan, and technically in the borough of Manhattan. Surprisingly, many New York City dwellers pass through but never alight to explore the island… but you know that your girl has! Lol.

I have been several times and that is enough to experience the island on a cheap New York day trip because you can walk its length while seeing allegedly haunted ruins, its plethora of parks and open spaces, and the scenic Promenade with views of Manhattan.

Roosevelt Island access is easy via the 2nd Ave tram, subway on the F, NYC ferry, or bus from Astoria, and points of interest for a beautiful New York travel day at Roosevelt Island are:

• The Promenade. East River views of midtown Manhattan made better in cherry blossom month.
• Four Freedoms Park. Expanse of space sometimes with art exhibits but mostly empty. Bliss!
• Southpoint Park. Green space to adequately implement social distancing and breathe clean air. I mean… no pollution, no noise, just birds chirping and SPACE!
• Lighthouse Park. An actual lighthouse is across the road from a former asylum, both of them with their own paranormal stories, but even better again is the…space! There is ample tree shade for a small picnic and a chill day out experiencing this beautiful New York place for local travel.

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See NYC ferry routes and schedules HERE.

#Governor’s Island

Another beautiful New York place is Governor’s Island in New York City.

Governor’s Island is green and walkable with nature activities, biking, and a luxury wellness spa. The island is open year round and accessible via the NYC Ferry or Water Taxi.

Points of interest to do on a day trip to Governor’s Island are:

• Hammock Grove. What better spot to flop down and ponder the state of the planet?
• The Scramble. Huge slabs of granite rock to scramble upon.
• Zip lining. My first experience with this was on Governor’s Island and it gave me the courage to try platform ziplining in Costa Rica, so thank you New York!
• Biking, tandem biking, quadra cycles, wall climbing and mini golf, are a handful of fun activities to experience on Governor’s Island.

You don’t need a small loan for Hudson Valley region or upstate New York activities, space and views when you can experience all this on Governor’s Island for a full day and still return home to binge watching duties.

 

 

Beautiful New York Travel Places

#Staten Island, NY

I know what you’re thinking as a five borough dweller, “Staten Island for local travel??” Very much so. As a NYC resident, I’ve probably been to Staten Island a total of five times.

Staten Island is known as the (Un)forgotten Borough.

Well, that changes as local travel introduces us to places and activities in our backyard, and Staten Island has some really beautiful places in New York for easy day tripping from other boroughs.

Points of interest for a beautiful New York travel day on Staten Island are:

• St. George’s Ferry Terminal: This is a fave spot when taking the ferry, as you can take iconic photos of downtown Manhattan from the Staten side. The terminal has restaurants on the pier.
• Snug Harbor Cultural Center: This is a cultural centre and botanical garden as well as an oasis of wellness. There are educational tours, horticultural lessons and arts available all seasons. Advanced reservations are mandatory for certain events.
• Fort Wadsworth: Right by the Verrazzano Bridge, it is now part of the National Parks Service after its closure in 1994. Access to the actual fort is locked but view it from a vantage point near the bridge. If you’re game, walk through a shaded grove to get a spooky vibe. It is a sunny day but walking through this grove gives me deja vu to horror movies and seeing as the Black person always dies first, you can’t blame me for being jumpy.

Speaking of spooky, I learn that the fort has real haunting where people report being transported to Civil War era and seeing spooky soldiers wandering through walls. Okay then! You need a car to visit the fort as Staten Island is not like the rest of the boroughs with accessible subway system but the grounds are open to walk round.

• Historic Town of Richmond: Do you know that there is a preserved living museum on Staten Island? I do not, so colour me stunned when I visit Historic Richmond Town with 300 year remnants of a thriving community harking back to Dutch colonial times. I experienced a historical Christmas candle light tour at Historic Richmond Town with period reenactments of early Christmas and Sinterklaas and got to see real hearth cooking with Dutch oelykoeks rolled in cinnamon and sugar (I ate 6 in one go and threw up on the Staten Island ferry on my return).

 

 

Beautiful New York Travel Places in the Hudson Valley Region

#Beacon, NY

You can enjoy Hudson Valley region activities on a day trip without pledging a small child, and Beacon is just the place for it. A friend and I experience the City of Beacon for a day of easy adventure, sight-seeing, and a different change of scene, and I happily discover that it definitely ranks as a beautiful New York place to experience for local travel.

Beacon is within 2 hours of New York City in the Hudson Valley region so a full day trip is possible either by car or Metro-North rail. Instead, Beacon forms from two villages – Matteawan and Fishkill Landing in 1913 – and dates back to 1709, where the name is said to come from a beacon that shone in the Fishkill Mountains to warn troops of the arrival of the Continental army.

There is something for everyone in Beacon: history, culture, activities, and food.

Points of interest for a beautiful New York travel day in Beacon are:

• Bannerman Island. Construction of the Scottish-like castle begins in 1901 by David Bannerman, which he uses as storage for his munitions. The island is steeped in Native and Dutch folklore and of course, is said to be haunted. Bannerman Island has timed slots in a new reservation system but you can experience a tour and hike and it is one of the highlights of travel in Beacon.
• Dia: Beacon. Located in a former Nabisco factory, Dia is a popular art exhibition space and it is open with advanced reservations and timed tickets.
• Main Street. A mile long road featuring quaint local businesses like shamans, magick shops, Hudson Beach Glass, a shop on just soaps, artisanal foods and drinks … and so much more! You will have a TREAT exploring Main Street, taking numerous pics of unique street art, popping into interesting stores and wandering the streets. For a New York City resident, this is bliss!
• Fishkill Creek. Vis Kill is Dutch for “fish creek,” named for the abundance of fish in the stream. The name is anglicized upon British take over, to Fishkill Creek. Fishkill is a tributary of the Hudson River and flows to a small estuary south of Beacon. So, imagine my pleasant shock when I discover a mini waterfall on Fishkill Creek at the end of Main Street! It is the perfect spot for your obligatory insta shot, clean air, and a relaxing ambience to end the day. This is certainly a beautiful place New York has to offer.

Note: You have to cross short *disused* tracks to get to the other side and there are no benches to sit on by Fishkill Creek, but there are local cafes and restaurants across the road for you to enjoy waterfall sounds.

 

#Hudson, NY

Hudson is my first brush with the Hudson Valley region in New York State and I totally fall in love where its fall colours are one of the pulls to the area for locals and visitors alike. Hudson is like Beacon in its setup: small “city”, quaint shops, locally made products, walkable, abundance of green space, restaurants, architecture, murals … you name it.

Do Hudson as a day trip or a weekender via Amtrak train travel for a quiet getaway from the bustle of New York City.

Points of interest for a beautiful New York travel day in Hudson are:

• Ferry Tours: There are multiple tours to the Athens lighthouse, fall colours and sunset ferry tours during select seasons from Henry Hudson Waterfront Park Memorial Day through Labor Day and I am keen on experiencing this as part of New York travel in the Hudson Valley region.
• Festivals/Events: There is everything from Hudson Pride in June, Hudson Black Arts & Cultural Festival in August to Winter Walk in December. You don’t necessarily have to plan travel around a festival as just experiencing the city is a lovely treat.
• Walking Tours: If you’re keen on culture travel, you’ll love self-guided tours on Hudson’s early days, cemeteries, and churches through the free geotourist app, available on Google Play and iOs.
• Green Spaces: Isn’t this what you’re escaping New York City for? All that green space and fresh air, you’ll find in abundance in Hudson. Check out Henry Hudson Waterfront Park (behind Amtrak station), Thurston Park, Promenade Hill Park, and many more.

Hudson History Highlights

• Founded as a whaling port that could launch ships without attracting the eye of the British Royal Navy.
• Home of libertine pleasures – brothels and gambling houses – in the past that attracted famous gangsters to the city.
• Columbia Street – formerly Diamond Street – was for a notorious gangster, Legs Diamond, and was a brothel street.
• Hudson lacks national chains and thrives with hundreds of independent shopkeepers and locally made products.

Travel vicariously in 30 seconds with a Reel of Hudson Valley adventures

#Rhinebeck, NY

Rhinebeck Village is your quintessential Hudson Valley small town that fools you into thinking it’s sleepy and lethargic. False! It is where NYC residents escape for historic bnbs, spas, local shops on Main Street, and a handful of high-end dining.

Blink and you’ll miss it, Rhinebeck is easily done via Amtrak from Penn Station in NYC, but be mindful that you need to call in advance for a taxi to meet you at Rhinecliff Station. I learn this the hard way when a friend and I go for the Hudson Balloon Festival at Dutchess County Fairgrounds, only for us to wait 40 mins for an Uber because there were no station cabs.

In early December, Sinterklaas Winter Festival is a very popular event I highly recommend everyone to experience in Rhinebeck. You will gawk at stilt walkers, street bands of all genres playing Christmas tunes and even pop culture tunes – one band played Beyonce’s “Crazy in Love” – stuffing your face with Dutch sweets and pastries, and so much more.

Sinterklaas, also known as The Feast of St. Nicholas is a popular festival left over from Dutch settlers, in Rhinebeck. I experienced this unique festival in 2021 and had an amazing experience.

>>> REEL Through Rhinebeck SINTERKLAAS WINTER FESTIVAL<<<

Rhinebeck highlights are:

• The Amsterdam restaurant for high end dining comparable to any big city.
• Dutchess County Fairgrounds for Hudson Valley Balloon, Food & Wine and other festivals.
• Rhinebeck Farmer’s Market.
• Main Street of local businesses, restaurants, and quaint stores.
• Samuel’s Sweet Shop owned by Paul Rudd and a partner. You didn’t know that, did you?
• Sinterklaas Winter Festival

There’s so much more to do in Rhinebeck Village to suit every taste so don’t forget to pop in for a day trip or a lazy weekend.

 

#Sleepy Hollow & Tarrytown, NY

These two towns in Westchester County referred to as TaSH – Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow – are a doable 40min car ride from Harlem or 1 hour Metro-North train ride for a fun day trip from New York City. Most people know of Sleepy Hollow from Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and its characters, Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman.

TaSH is full of historic homes, nature trails, tours, events, and many pointers to the Headless Horseman legend for keen fans. Sleepy Hollow is a small town and doesn’t have the brick architecture or unique local businesses that Beacon or Hudson have; Tarrytown is much larger with spread out city vibes.

Points of interest for a beautiful New York travel day in TaSH are:

• Sleepy Hollow Cemetery: See the Irving family grave plot and grave sites of notable New Yorkers such as Andrew Carnegie, William Chrysler, and one of the Rockefellers. You can do your own self-guided tour up till 4.30pm, when cemetery gates lock.

Tip: Take a cemetery map from the front office/chapel to figure out the maze of headstones for a statue of the Headless Horseman and Headless Horseman bridge on the Pocantico River.

Sleepy Hollow is famous for its Hallowe’en events featuring Headless Horseman reenactments with haunted hayride activities in October.

• Old Dutch Church: The church makes a feature in Irving’s Sleepy Hollow legend where the Horseman tethers his horse among the spooky gravestones, but it is a real church present since New York’s Dutch colonial times in the 1680s. The church has its burial ground where Irving’s family grave plot lies and both the burial ground and Sleepy Hollow cemetery are considered one big cemetery by visitors even though they’re actually separate.

• Historic Homes: There are a plethora of historic homes in the area with the main ones being Kykuit, Rockefeller Mansion; Washington’s Sunnyside, Philipsburg Manor, and Lyndhurst Manor. The Hudson Valley region boasts of historic homes of the people and culture of the day, for example, Philipsburg Manor was home to enslaved people and there are period reproductions from the perspective of these inhabitants and their work.

• Farmer’s Market: This is a chance encounter in Patriot’s Park where organic produce from Hudson Valley farms are on display. I discover many varieties of tomato than I thought possible, groundcherries = a cross between a tomato and cherry, and pastries to sate your sweet tooth. Look up Saturday times and go before it closes at 2.30 pm.

Croton Lighthouse: Do you know that there is a lighthouse in TaSH? It was installed in 1883 and has over 78 years of operation with a history of generations of keepers and their families. There are Hudson kayak tours of the lighthouse so call ahead for timed slots, if available.

TaSH is an interesting location and it is easy to explore by vehicle as not every point of interest is walkable.

 

Hudson Valley Region

#Historic Peekskill

Peekskill is an hour from New York City by train or car and is most definitely a day trip escape for NYC residents looking for an accessible town to explore.

Arriving by train, alight at Riverfront Park and walk to a taco spot, Hudson Creamery, and Peekskill Brewery. Downtown Peekskill – Main Street, N & S Division Street – is a 20 min walk or a 3 min taxi ride from Metro North station.

Points of interest in Peekskill are:

• Stunning water front with scenic mountain views
• Peekskill Brewery
• Peekskill Trolley Company
• Downtown Peekskill – eateries, a tea room, historic architecture etc
• Independent stores
• Historic Peekskill

DYK that George Washington gave the West Point command to Benedict Arnold in Peekskill on Aug 3, 1780? Arnold attempted to betray the Revolutionary Army to the British. Share on X

#Village of Cold Spring

Cold Spring, a small village in Putnam County, is thus far my top five most beautiful New York travel places.

Unlike Peekskill, the walk from Metro North station to downtown Cold Spring is a ten minute leisurely stroll along a quiet back road and over a railway bridge. It requires no vehicle.

October is a prime month for stunning fall foliage, covering the grounds in mushy leaves of reds, oranges, and gold.

What is there to do in Cold Spring?

A lot…from markets, an old-timey trolley, stunning views of the Hudson Valley region to nature trails, a charming Main Street, and a scenic water front, Cold Spring is small but mighty in scenery and activities.

Beautiful New York Travel Places For Safe Covid Travel

#Albany, NY

Every New York State resident has been to Albany for a variety of reasons: SUNY, education, family, civil service career etc, but have you ever explored Albany just for its culture travel? Didn’t think so.

Albany is not the city that pops to mind when you hear the word “tourism”.

Cue my travel to upstate New York just before our initial New York pause in early March 2020. You know how fond I am of day trips so Albany is affordable if you’re on a tight budget and have no intention of staying over. Albany truly surprises me as I notice a lot of attractions never observed on my first visit so I explore with a friend who is finishing from SUNY.

Points of interest for a beautiful New York travel day in Albany are:

• New York State Capitol Building: This stunning edifice blows me away because it is a European style castle built as a government building with architectural marvels, like a million dollar staircase, 77 carved sandstone faces, a haunting and a stunning Moor Assembly staircase. If you’re an amateur architecture nerd and culture travel lover, a free tour will divulge interesting stories of the Capitol Building and its alleged haunting.
• Downtown Albany Historic District: This is very interesting to walk through if architecture and history are your travel interests. The Historic District covers State, Broadway, Pine, Lodge and Columbia Streets, including such beauties like the former Governor’s Mansion and the home of Charles Dickens’ biographer, both of which are now regular homes. Most buildings were erected between 1810 and 1930 and are a current mix of commercial and residential properties.
• Self-Guided Tours: What better way to explore Albany than with self-guided tours on the Historic District? No need to interact with strangers and you can go at your own pace.
• New York State Museum: Across the road from the New York State Capitol Building, the free museum explores the history and culture of New York State, from the Native people & culture, to the Dutch and British invasion; African enslavement and evolution of Black culture in 1950s Harlem, the original A subway train; 9-11 history, and so much more.
• Day Trip Activities: From wineries, steam boat cruises to kayaking and hiking, Albany and its surrounding towns offer interesting travel for local travelers from New York City and other parts of the state.

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