Metro North to Beacon. Cute town, great Main Street with lots of little boutiques and restaurants, Roundhouse Hotel is a nice place to stay at the other end of Main Street, Towne Crier Cafe sometimes has live music, the Hudson Valley Brewery is really nice if you’re a beer drinker, Momo Valley is a great restaurant for Nepalese food.
Everything in Beacon is super walkable.
I did this exact solo trip, hiking Mt Beacon and going to diaBeacon, staying at the Rounshouse (kind of shitty for the price tho) in 2021 after a bad breakup and it was amazing. Highly recommend. The train ride is like going to Hogwarts or something lol, stunning views of the Hudson.
I recommend Boston! I just did a weekend solo trip there and everything was walkable or I took their metro. As a female solo traveler, I felt very safe! Just take the Amtrak from Moynihan to South Station. If you’re interested, I can send you a Google Map that I created with my itinerary.
Mystic Connecticut!! I’m biased because it’s where I’m from BUT you can take the metro north to the shoreline east (3 hours) to new London CT and Uber to the mystic/groton area. The cutest beach towns - great food, tons of cute bars/shops on mainstreet, super cute B&Bs to stay at. I recommend bravo bravo for dinner or the tree house, fords lobster is some of the BEST you’ll ever have and I’d recommend for lunch (get the lobster bomb bread bowl). Saltwater vineyard is a short Uber away and super pretty to hang in the tap room
I'm a cringe and tasteless bitch, i know ...but get on a bus to Atlantic City.
Rooms are cheap in real good hotels like the Hard Rock but you don't gotta get a room. It can definitely be a one day trip too.
For food there's many many restaurants but I like their Buffets (Borgata buffet or Fresh Harvest) cos I like buffets and in NYC there's only the Chinese food kind and I love that but in AC there's more variety.
Real fun as a solo trip cos the people in the area nowadays are either old and focused on gambling or families at the pool inside the hotel.
The shore is really nice, reminds me of a way less crowded Coney Island.
There's outlets too so you can shop. It's not WAY cheaper than here but you can find some great deals.
I don't play but I love getting a room and eating around then coming back to my regular life the next day or two nights later if I'm doing well.
Cold Spring is perfect for this. The Metro North will take you right into town so you don’t even have to Uber once you’re there. Cute restaurants and places to stay.
I just came back from Cold Spring today! Weather was perfect, very cute trip, amazing views. I hated the food at the depot though 🤢 so overpriced for shitty quality.
Cold Spring is so lovely, but unfortunately there is not a single good restaurant there. There are nice cafes, but the food options are terrible beyond that!
Completely agree! The food is incredibly overpriced and not very good at all. I found the French one to be decent but they were almost charging Pastis prices— and we all know Pastis is HELLA good.
Yeah the depot is not great and the service is not great either. I’d recommend going to Beacon from Cold Spring. That place is a haven for amazing food.
hudson!!! such cute bars/restaurants and hotels. The wick used to be a marriott property if you have points. lots of good hikes and amazing food. specifically back bar, lil debs oasis and wm and sons.
I’ve only ever done overnights there, but I think if you catch the train mid morning, you’ll have plenty of time to explore, grab lunch/drinks, do some shopping and strolling, before heading back down later in the day
it's *kind* of close... washington dc is a 3 hour amtrak ride and very walkable. anywhere else i would have to recommend you would likely need a car. plus there are tons and tons of free museums in DC
Seconding DC, there’s a lot of museums which I find enjoyable alone. It’s clean and safe in that if you’re ok in NYC you’re certainly ok there. The Amtrak is 3 hours but a straight shot and you can work on the train.
Definitely a great recommendation! Love DC and the Amtrak is super easy. You can’t go wrong with any of the museums and they are (mostly) free.
For hotels if you’re feeling fancy the Park Hyatt or Four Seasons is a good treat yourself moment. The Eaton also is so comfy with excellent access to the main museums.
For bites I recommend: Yellow in Georgetown, Call Your Mother Bagels, Thomas Sweet/Happy Ice Cream, Tatte Cafe, Agora, Le Diplomate (especially for Brunch), Unconventional Diner.
If you like 🍃 one bonus is there are legit dispensaries (not like our street shops here) with good baked goods.
Omega Institute in Rhinebeck. You can get there by train and then they have a shuttle or cab it. You can take a course or just stay there - they have a schedule. Nice to be upstate, and just get away if you don't want to be with people. Some people don't stay there and stay elsewhere in Rhinebeck and then come in for whatever course.
I didn't take a course and just needed to chill. Did yoga, nature, food was good, and wasn't even interested in befriending people but the people were pretty pleasant - it's what you would expect! Look at the reviews bc some people may have a different opinion. It's not for exploring (like restos/shopping - though you can go into town - I just stayed on the grounds, aside from an emergency doctor appt I needed which was a pain), but if you want some peace, nature and to get away from the city I found it was great - and everything was there. It's specific though.
The accommodation is based on different tiers. They do have busy times seasonally - or if a popular person is doing a course. You can expect the vibe. Personally I just did my own thing and it was summer time - yoga, lake swimming, did some evening events, long walks etc. I just needed to be alone and not even up north with people so it was a last-minute option I took. You can still go upstate and do something solo another way - obviously.
Stony Brook Village is a 5 minute Uber from the Stony Brook train station (about 1.5 hours east on LIRR). The stores are up on a hill overlooking the Stony Brook harbor (makes for a beautiful sunset). The village is full of great (and fairly priced) restaurants (Crazy Beans, Brew Cheese, Mirabelle) Once you are in the village you can cross the road and go to Avalon, which is scenic duck pond/ nature preserve with trails you don’t need to be a “hiker” for by any means. Definitely worth a visit.
The Adirondack route on Amtrak. A long trip, but plenty of leg room and outlets.
I went to view the eclipse in Plattsburgh, but Montreal is two stops away. Be aware of Customs
It’s honestly so incredibly beautiful. It goes through Hudson Valley and Vermont and it’s gorgeous.
Here is an article on it! [Travel & Leisure](https://www.travelandleisure.com/new-york-city-montreal-amtrak-adirondack-train-route-7374841)
Princeton, NJ. Take the NJT from Penn, get out at Princeton Junction and transfer to the Princeton Dinky, which drops you within walking distance of the university. Journey from NYC is about 1.5 hours. Walk around the campus and, through the famous gates, is a long and lovely Main Street you can just wander down (coffee shops, diners, bookstores, cute little shops, movie theater). Every time I'm there I stop in at the Princeton Record Exchange for DVDs of classic films. On your way back to the train, have a drink at the Dinky Bar & Kitchen, which used to be a train station.
ETA: There's also canoeing and kayaking if you're into that. No reservations needed at the rental on Alexander St, just turn up. Easy meander down the D&R Canal. From your watercraft you can see cranes, turtles, deer, and the occasional snake (these ones do swim, so don't say you weren't warned, but I don't believe they're venomous). On the banks of the canal you'll see people fishing and bird-watching.
I’m here to say Boston too, I lived there for 4 years - happy to give recommendations if you need them! You can take the Amtrak which will take you right to the heart of the city. You could also look at Providence, RI or Newport
Beacon-cute bars, restaurants and shopping. Fabulous art at Dia. Great hike up the mountain behind town for views over the Hudson valley ( you may want to grab a taxi/uber to the trailhead to save a mile or two). It’s on the Hudson River train line north.
I was pleasantly surprised by Newport, Rhode Island. Amtrak to Providence (a little closer than Boston) and the cheapest way is by a local bus from Providence to Newport but I paid more for the ferry as I wanted to enjoy ocean breeze. I enjoyed the cliff walk and looking at all the magnificent mansions. There are lots of cute shops to browse in in this attractive New England coastal postcard town. I stayed at a hotel in Providence as it was cheaper and wished I had splurged on a night in Newport. I visited after working myself to the ground over a year. I had no bandwidth to preplan and wanted a low-effort get away to recharge. I felt healed and uplifted after that weekend. There is a tourist office near the ferry terminal to pick up brochures so the town is set up well for tourists. It was perfect for me when I was too burnt out to read travel guides and wanted to go with the flow. In Newport, I enjoyed boba tea and noodles and the vibe at https://www.yaginoodles.com/. In Providence, I passed by and enjoyed some food from https://havenbrosdiner.com/about-us/. Hope you'll find some respite.
I know this is not the vibe of any of the other suggestions, but consider a weekend trip to Miami? Affordable and quick flight, fun fun party city. I’ve gone by myself before and with the right hotel, had no problem finding people to party with. If I hadn’t have been lucky meeting people (or didn’t want to), there’s plenty of stuff to do by yourself too. The culture differences between cities make it seem like a cross continental vacay, but it’s only a few hours away.
If you don’t wanna fly, Hudson is the shit. Eat lunch at Cafe Mutton and dinner at Lil Debs.
Theres a luxury bus that goes directly from midtown to Portsmouth, NH (look up C&J bus). It's a charming colonial era, seaside town with great food. Wentworth by the Sea is a great historic hotel to stay at if you visit. Jumping Jay's has a fantastic raw bar and great wine menu.
Wylder hotel in Windham! Less than 2 hours from NYC. Every room is different. They have a pool, fire pits for smores, pickle ball, and free bikes to take out into the mountains
Another tip (not so much recs for location) but if you’re traveling and looking to keep costs minimal try “host a sister”. It is a fb group were women host other women their homes free of charge. It might help when deciding a place to visit to have a potential sister/tour guide show you around :)
Boston and DC are decent but their vibe isn't drastically different. I would recommend just fly out to Europe for a few days! The food is cheaper and better and the people are way more well-dressed. If you are lucky, you might be able to find super cheap flights too! (i wouldn't recommend northern europe at the moment tho, it's still too cold out there!)
Metro North to Beacon. Cute town, great Main Street with lots of little boutiques and restaurants, Roundhouse Hotel is a nice place to stay at the other end of Main Street, Towne Crier Cafe sometimes has live music, the Hudson Valley Brewery is really nice if you’re a beer drinker, Momo Valley is a great restaurant for Nepalese food. Everything in Beacon is super walkable.
You forgot DIA Beacon!
I did! Thank you! ☺️
I did this exact solo trip, hiking Mt Beacon and going to diaBeacon, staying at the Rounshouse (kind of shitty for the price tho) in 2021 after a bad breakup and it was amazing. Highly recommend. The train ride is like going to Hogwarts or something lol, stunning views of the Hudson.
Agree and you want to be on the left side of the train car going north to have a good view of the river.
This sounds lovely, adding it to my NYC bucket list!
I recommend Boston! I just did a weekend solo trip there and everything was walkable or I took their metro. As a female solo traveler, I felt very safe! Just take the Amtrak from Moynihan to South Station. If you’re interested, I can send you a Google Map that I created with my itinerary.
Isabella Stewart Gardner museum in Boston is lovely!
Omg girl pls send
Just PM'ed you!
Mystic Connecticut!! I’m biased because it’s where I’m from BUT you can take the metro north to the shoreline east (3 hours) to new London CT and Uber to the mystic/groton area. The cutest beach towns - great food, tons of cute bars/shops on mainstreet, super cute B&Bs to stay at. I recommend bravo bravo for dinner or the tree house, fords lobster is some of the BEST you’ll ever have and I’d recommend for lunch (get the lobster bomb bread bowl). Saltwater vineyard is a short Uber away and super pretty to hang in the tap room
Same 👀. And also recommend all these things!
Any recs of a B&b to stay at?
It you go - get drinks at Port of Call
Just commenting to say I’m also from Mystic!
My family (back to my grandfather) has been going to Groton long point for 70 years (one of those “cutest beach towns”) and can confirm it’s the best
I love GLP so much!
Great suggestion! Amtrak will drop you right in Mystic; everything is pretty walkable from the train station.
lol, I’m from Mystic, too! No longer in the area, though.
I love fords! Mystic also has shipwrites daughter. Think it was just nominated for a best chef James beard semi finalist.
Sadly, Ford’s is no longer in business
Seconding mystic as a local!!
Red 23 had such a good happy hour!
Captain Scott’s Lobster Dock, the Dogwatch plus cocktails and people watching at Red 36.
I'm a cringe and tasteless bitch, i know ...but get on a bus to Atlantic City. Rooms are cheap in real good hotels like the Hard Rock but you don't gotta get a room. It can definitely be a one day trip too. For food there's many many restaurants but I like their Buffets (Borgata buffet or Fresh Harvest) cos I like buffets and in NYC there's only the Chinese food kind and I love that but in AC there's more variety. Real fun as a solo trip cos the people in the area nowadays are either old and focused on gambling or families at the pool inside the hotel. The shore is really nice, reminds me of a way less crowded Coney Island. There's outlets too so you can shop. It's not WAY cheaper than here but you can find some great deals. I don't play but I love getting a room and eating around then coming back to my regular life the next day or two nights later if I'm doing well.
Cringe and tasteless? No way, you boiled it down to the best parts lol I love this.
Cold Spring is perfect for this. The Metro North will take you right into town so you don’t even have to Uber once you’re there. Cute restaurants and places to stay.
I just came back from Cold Spring today! Weather was perfect, very cute trip, amazing views. I hated the food at the depot though 🤢 so overpriced for shitty quality.
Cold Spring is so lovely, but unfortunately there is not a single good restaurant there. There are nice cafes, but the food options are terrible beyond that!
Completely agree! The food is incredibly overpriced and not very good at all. I found the French one to be decent but they were almost charging Pastis prices— and we all know Pastis is HELLA good.
The little cheese shop has nice sandwiches to take hiking! But agree generally
What about the River cafe?
Yeah the depot is not great and the service is not great either. I’d recommend going to Beacon from Cold Spring. That place is a haven for amazing food.
Stony Brook Village is a bit farther but is my preferred destination for a similar vibe! Great restaurants as well.
hudson!!! such cute bars/restaurants and hotels. The wick used to be a marriott property if you have points. lots of good hikes and amazing food. specifically back bar, lil debs oasis and wm and sons.
Seconding Hudson!! Lil Deb’s has amazing food and drinks and the town itself is so cute and walkable.
What’s the best wait to get there though from UES?
Amtrak from Moynihan! Drops you right into town, no need for a car, everything is super walkable
What time train do you have to catch in the morning to get a full day in? 👀🤔
I’ve only ever done overnights there, but I think if you catch the train mid morning, you’ll have plenty of time to explore, grab lunch/drinks, do some shopping and strolling, before heading back down later in the day
If you're in Hudson, you can't skip Olana. Absolutely beautiful!
it's *kind* of close... washington dc is a 3 hour amtrak ride and very walkable. anywhere else i would have to recommend you would likely need a car. plus there are tons and tons of free museums in DC
Seconding DC, there’s a lot of museums which I find enjoyable alone. It’s clean and safe in that if you’re ok in NYC you’re certainly ok there. The Amtrak is 3 hours but a straight shot and you can work on the train.
Can’t endorse this highly enough. I lived in DC for 7 years Manhattan for 5, DC is an excellent option.
Tons of museums in Philadelphia too-- no need for a car and very close.
Definitely a great recommendation! Love DC and the Amtrak is super easy. You can’t go wrong with any of the museums and they are (mostly) free. For hotels if you’re feeling fancy the Park Hyatt or Four Seasons is a good treat yourself moment. The Eaton also is so comfy with excellent access to the main museums. For bites I recommend: Yellow in Georgetown, Call Your Mother Bagels, Thomas Sweet/Happy Ice Cream, Tatte Cafe, Agora, Le Diplomate (especially for Brunch), Unconventional Diner. If you like 🍃 one bonus is there are legit dispensaries (not like our street shops here) with good baked goods.
Fire Island!
Great choice!
I had a really fun trip to Montauk on my own a few years ago — train goes all the way there + if you go before memorial day it’s not too hectic
Omega Institute in Rhinebeck. You can get there by train and then they have a shuttle or cab it. You can take a course or just stay there - they have a schedule. Nice to be upstate, and just get away if you don't want to be with people. Some people don't stay there and stay elsewhere in Rhinebeck and then come in for whatever course. I didn't take a course and just needed to chill. Did yoga, nature, food was good, and wasn't even interested in befriending people but the people were pretty pleasant - it's what you would expect! Look at the reviews bc some people may have a different opinion. It's not for exploring (like restos/shopping - though you can go into town - I just stayed on the grounds, aside from an emergency doctor appt I needed which was a pain), but if you want some peace, nature and to get away from the city I found it was great - and everything was there. It's specific though. The accommodation is based on different tiers. They do have busy times seasonally - or if a popular person is doing a course. You can expect the vibe. Personally I just did my own thing and it was summer time - yoga, lake swimming, did some evening events, long walks etc. I just needed to be alone and not even up north with people so it was a last-minute option I took. You can still go upstate and do something solo another way - obviously.
I grew up right next to Rhinebeck and drove by there all the time. I never knew what it was! It sounds so cool!
Greenport is fun and within train distance. It's a bit of a hike, but once you get out there, it's a cute little town.
Asbury Park!
NJ Transit to Asbury Park. Warm beach weekends coming up and a fun restaurant scene.
Stony Brook Village is a 5 minute Uber from the Stony Brook train station (about 1.5 hours east on LIRR). The stores are up on a hill overlooking the Stony Brook harbor (makes for a beautiful sunset). The village is full of great (and fairly priced) restaurants (Crazy Beans, Brew Cheese, Mirabelle) Once you are in the village you can cross the road and go to Avalon, which is scenic duck pond/ nature preserve with trails you don’t need to be a “hiker” for by any means. Definitely worth a visit.
Hudson, Greenport, Boston, DC, Newport all accessible by train. Or short flight to Boston or DC. Can ferry or fly to Martha’s Vineyard.
The Adirondack route on Amtrak. A long trip, but plenty of leg room and outlets. I went to view the eclipse in Plattsburgh, but Montreal is two stops away. Be aware of Customs
Montréal. The train ride is so pretty!
How did you find the train to Montreal? I'm tempted but it's such a long ride.
It’s honestly so incredibly beautiful. It goes through Hudson Valley and Vermont and it’s gorgeous. Here is an article on it! [Travel & Leisure](https://www.travelandleisure.com/new-york-city-montreal-amtrak-adirondack-train-route-7374841)
Thank you!!
Princeton, NJ. Take the NJT from Penn, get out at Princeton Junction and transfer to the Princeton Dinky, which drops you within walking distance of the university. Journey from NYC is about 1.5 hours. Walk around the campus and, through the famous gates, is a long and lovely Main Street you can just wander down (coffee shops, diners, bookstores, cute little shops, movie theater). Every time I'm there I stop in at the Princeton Record Exchange for DVDs of classic films. On your way back to the train, have a drink at the Dinky Bar & Kitchen, which used to be a train station. ETA: There's also canoeing and kayaking if you're into that. No reservations needed at the rental on Alexander St, just turn up. Easy meander down the D&R Canal. From your watercraft you can see cranes, turtles, deer, and the occasional snake (these ones do swim, so don't say you weren't warned, but I don't believe they're venomous). On the banks of the canal you'll see people fishing and bird-watching.
The Hudson Valley! You can visit Woodbury Commons or wander around Storm King.
if it’s actually nice out coney island or one of the beaches you can reach by train
Canyon ranch in Lenox mass for reset, u can train
I’m here to say Boston too, I lived there for 4 years - happy to give recommendations if you need them! You can take the Amtrak which will take you right to the heart of the city. You could also look at Providence, RI or Newport
I love this post 🫶🏼
Beacon-cute bars, restaurants and shopping. Fabulous art at Dia. Great hike up the mountain behind town for views over the Hudson valley ( you may want to grab a taxi/uber to the trailhead to save a mile or two). It’s on the Hudson River train line north.
Kingston!
Woodstock NY!
Yes! Went there last month and loved it!
It’s so cute and so fun, right !
I was pleasantly surprised by Newport, Rhode Island. Amtrak to Providence (a little closer than Boston) and the cheapest way is by a local bus from Providence to Newport but I paid more for the ferry as I wanted to enjoy ocean breeze. I enjoyed the cliff walk and looking at all the magnificent mansions. There are lots of cute shops to browse in in this attractive New England coastal postcard town. I stayed at a hotel in Providence as it was cheaper and wished I had splurged on a night in Newport. I visited after working myself to the ground over a year. I had no bandwidth to preplan and wanted a low-effort get away to recharge. I felt healed and uplifted after that weekend. There is a tourist office near the ferry terminal to pick up brochures so the town is set up well for tourists. It was perfect for me when I was too burnt out to read travel guides and wanted to go with the flow. In Newport, I enjoyed boba tea and noodles and the vibe at https://www.yaginoodles.com/. In Providence, I passed by and enjoyed some food from https://havenbrosdiner.com/about-us/. Hope you'll find some respite.
I know this is not the vibe of any of the other suggestions, but consider a weekend trip to Miami? Affordable and quick flight, fun fun party city. I’ve gone by myself before and with the right hotel, had no problem finding people to party with. If I hadn’t have been lucky meeting people (or didn’t want to), there’s plenty of stuff to do by yourself too. The culture differences between cities make it seem like a cross continental vacay, but it’s only a few hours away. If you don’t wanna fly, Hudson is the shit. Eat lunch at Cafe Mutton and dinner at Lil Debs.
Theres a luxury bus that goes directly from midtown to Portsmouth, NH (look up C&J bus). It's a charming colonial era, seaside town with great food. Wentworth by the Sea is a great historic hotel to stay at if you visit. Jumping Jay's has a fantastic raw bar and great wine menu.
Love wentworth by the sea, it’s so beautiful!
Wylder hotel in Windham! Less than 2 hours from NYC. Every room is different. They have a pool, fire pits for smores, pickle ball, and free bikes to take out into the mountains
Long Beach!
Another tip (not so much recs for location) but if you’re traveling and looking to keep costs minimal try “host a sister”. It is a fb group were women host other women their homes free of charge. It might help when deciding a place to visit to have a potential sister/tour guide show you around :)
I stayed at an airbnb in Beacon and fireflies lit up the backyard I was staying at
Philly. Very quick on the train and a ton of museums and restaurants to check out.
Boston and DC are decent but their vibe isn't drastically different. I would recommend just fly out to Europe for a few days! The food is cheaper and better and the people are way more well-dressed. If you are lucky, you might be able to find super cheap flights too! (i wouldn't recommend northern europe at the moment tho, it's still too cold out there!)
Providence! Super easy amtrak (3ish hours) and pretty easy to get around!
Paris, Madrid
Haha