Top 7 Underrated Weekend Getaways for New Yorkers in Summer 2024
Top 7 Underrated Weekend Getaways for New Yorkers in Summer 2024 - Montauk's Hidden Coves and Seafood Shacks
Montauk's unique geological formation, known as the Montauk Point Moraine, was created by glacial deposits during the last ice age, resulting in its distinctive landscape of hidden coves and rugged coastline.
The waters around Montauk are home to over 450 species of fish, making it a prime location for both commercial fishing and recreational angling.
Montauk's seafood shacks often source their catches directly from local fishermen, with some establishments receiving their daily supply mere hours after the fish are pulled from the ocean.
The Clam Bar at Napeague, a popular seafood shack, sits on a narrow strip of land between the Atlantic Ocean and Napeague Bay, offering diners a rare 360-degree water view while they eat.
Montauk's fishing industry contributes significantly to New York State's economy, with the port landing over 11 million pounds of fish annually, valued at approximately $17 million.
What else is in this post?
- Top 7 Underrated Weekend Getaways for New Yorkers in Summer 2024 - Montauk's Hidden Coves and Seafood Shacks
- Top 7 Underrated Weekend Getaways for New Yorkers in Summer 2024 - Saratoga Springs Horse Racing and Mineral Baths
- Top 7 Underrated Weekend Getaways for New Yorkers in Summer 2024 - Lake Placid's Olympic Center and Whiteface Mountain
- Top 7 Underrated Weekend Getaways for New Yorkers in Summer 2024 - Cooperstown's Baseball Hall of Fame and Brewery Ommegang
- Top 7 Underrated Weekend Getaways for New Yorkers in Summer 2024 - Thousand Islands' Boldt Castle and St.Lawrence Seaway Cruises
- Top 7 Underrated Weekend Getaways for New Yorkers in Summer 2024 - Hudson's Antique Shops and Farm-to-Table Restaurants
- Top 7 Underrated Weekend Getaways for New Yorkers in Summer 2024 - New Paltz's Mohonk Mountain House and Minnewaska State Park
Top 7 Underrated Weekend Getaways for New Yorkers in Summer 2024 - Saratoga Springs Horse Racing and Mineral Baths
Saratoga Springs is gearing up for an exciting summer in 2024, with the historic Saratoga Race Course set to host the prestigious Belmont Stakes.
Beyond the track, visitors can indulge in the city's famed mineral baths, a centuries-old tradition that continues to draw wellness enthusiasts.
The Saratoga Race Course, established in 1863, is the oldest organized sporting venue of any kind in the United States.
Its 40-day summer meet attracts over 1 million visitors annually.
The waters emerge from the ground at a constant temperature of 55°F (8°C) year-round.
The Travers Stakes, run at Saratoga Race Course since 1864, is the oldest major thoroughbred horse race in America.
It offers a purse of $25 million as of
Saratoga Springs has 21 public mineral springs, each with a unique mineral composition.
The Saratoga Casino Hotel features a 1/2-mile harness track that operates year-round, offering a different style of horse racing compared to the thoroughbred racing at Saratoga Race Course.
The Roosevelt Baths & Spa, opened in 1935, still uses the original pipes to deliver mineral water directly from the springs to its treatment rooms.
The water's high mineral content gives it a distinctive rust color.
Saratoga Race Course is one of the few tracks in North America that still uses a bell to signal the start of a race, rather than an electronic buzzer.
This tradition dates back to the track's founding in the 19th century.
Top 7 Underrated Weekend Getaways for New Yorkers in Summer 2024 - Lake Placid's Olympic Center and Whiteface Mountain
The iconic Olympic Center houses the Lake Placid Olympic Museum, showcasing the 1932 and 1980 Winter Games, while also hosting a diverse calendar of events and competitions.
The Olympic Center in Lake Placid is home to the "Miracle on Ice" hockey rink, where the 1980 US hockey team famously defeated the Soviet Union en route to winning the Olympic gold medal.
The Olympic Jumping Complex at Lake Placid features the largest ski jump in the United States, with a total height of 256 feet and a K-point (the point at which the jumper leaves the takeoff) of 125 meters.
The Olympic Center's Herb Brooks Arena, named after the legendary coach of the 1980 US hockey team, has a unique "floating" floor design that helps reduce the impact on athletes' joints.
Whiteface Mountain is home to the only alpine skiing venue from the 1980 Winter Olympics that is still in use today, with the Downhill and Super-G runs remaining an integral part of the mountain's offerings.
The Lake Placid Olympic Museum features a collection of over 20,000 artifacts, including the original Olympic torch from the 1980 Games and the jersey worn by goaltender Jim Craig during the "Miracle on Ice" game.
The Olympic Center's 1980 Rink, where the "Miracle on Ice" occurred, has a unique design that includes a concrete slab floor, rather than the traditional ice rink surface, to accommodate a variety of events beyond just ice sports.
Whiteface Mountain's summit, at an elevation of 4,867 feet, is the fifth-highest peak in New York state, offering breathtaking views of the Adirondack Mountains and the nearby High Peaks region.
Top 7 Underrated Weekend Getaways for New Yorkers in Summer 2024 - Cooperstown's Baseball Hall of Fame and Brewery Ommegang
Cooperstown's Baseball Hall of Fame and Brewery Ommegang offer a unique blend of sports history and craft beer culture.
The Baseball Hall of Fame continues to draw baseball enthusiasts with its extensive collection of memorabilia and interactive exhibits.
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown houses over 40,000 three-dimensional artifacts, including the earliest known baseball card from
Brewery Ommegang, located just 7 miles south of Cooperstown, utilizes a unique open fermentation process for some of its beers, a technique rarely used in North American breweries.
The Hall of Fame's library contains over 3 million documents, including box scores from nearly every professional baseball game ever played.
Brewery Ommegang's water source is a natural spring on the brewery property, contributing to the distinct flavor profile of their Belgian-style ales.
The Baseball Hall of Fame's Plaque Gallery features 333 bronze plaques as of July 2024, with new inductees added annually.
Brewery Ommegang's castle-like building was inspired by traditional Belgian farmstead breweries, complete with a cobblestone courtyard.
The Hall of Fame's collection includes Babe Ruth's bat from his 60th home run in 1927, which weighs exactly 36 ounces and measures 25 inches long.
Brewery Ommegang produces a series of Game of Thrones-inspired beers, officially licensed by HBO, featuring unique recipes and collectible bottles.
The Baseball Hall of Fame's "Sacred Ground" exhibit showcases a collection of over 1,400 baseball cards, including the rare T206 Honus Wagner card, valued at over $3 million.
Top 7 Underrated Weekend Getaways for New Yorkers in Summer 2024 - Thousand Islands' Boldt Castle and St.
Lawrence Seaway Cruises
Thousand Islands' Boldt Castle and St.
Boldt Castle, a testament to love and luxury, stands as a magnificent architectural marvel on Heart Island, inviting visitors to explore its storied past.
The St.
Lawrence Seaway cruises provide a picturesque journey through the archipelago, showcasing the region's stunning landscapes and offering glimpses of other historic landmarks like Singer Castle and the Rock Island Lighthouse.
Boldt Castle features 120 rooms, including 30 bathrooms, making it one of the largest private residences ever built in the Thousand Islands region.
The St.
Lawrence Seaway, completed in 1959, is a system of locks, canals, and channels spanning 2,340 miles from the Atlantic Ocean to Lake Superior.
Boldt Castle's indoor pool, designed in 1904, was among the first of its kind in a private residence in North America.
The Thousand Islands region is home to 1,864 islands, with the criteria for being considered an island requiring it to be above water 365 days a year and support at least one living tree.
Boldt Castle's power house contains a generator that was capable of producing enough electricity to power the entire island, a remarkable feat for its time.
The St.
Lawrence Seaway allows ships to bypass Niagara Falls, lifting vessels a total of 551 feet from Montreal to Lake Erie through a series of 15 locks.
Boldt Castle's sixth floor was designed as a children's playhouse, complete with its own kitchen, dining room, and bedrooms.
The Thousand Islands-Frontenac Arch region was designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2002 due to its unique ecosystem and biodiversity.
The St.
Lawrence Seaway handles more than 200 million tons of cargo annually, with ships traversing its length in about 7 days.
Boldt Castle's marble staircase in the grand hallway weighs over 2,000 pounds and was quarried in Italy before being shipped to Heart Island.
Top 7 Underrated Weekend Getaways for New Yorkers in Summer 2024 - Hudson's Antique Shops and Farm-to-Table Restaurants
Hudson's antique shops and farm-to-table restaurants offer a unique blend of vintage charm and culinary innovation.
The town's Warren Street is lined with eclectic boutiques and carefully curated antique stores, where visitors can unearth one-of-a-kind treasures.
Meanwhile, the local dining scene has embraced the farm-to-table movement with gusto, showcasing the bounty of the Hudson Valley's agricultural heritage in creative and delicious ways.
The town's farm-to-table movement is supported by over 5,000 acres of farmland within a 20-mile radius, ensuring fresh, locally-sourced ingredients for its restaurants.
Hudson's antique shops collectively house over 1 million individual items, ranging from 18th-century furniture to mid-century modern decor.
A recent study found that Hudson's antique shops contribute over $20 million annually to the local economy.
One of Hudson's farm-to-table restaurants operates its own 10-acre farm, producing over 200 varieties of heirloom vegetables exclusively for its kitchen.
The average age of items sold in Hudson's antique shops is 87 years, with some pieces dating back to the 17th century.
Hudson's restaurant scene has seen a 300% increase in farm-to-table establishments over the past decade, now boasting 15 such eateries.
A local antique shop recently discovered a previously unknown work by a prominent 19th-century Hudson River School artist, valued at over $500,
One of Hudson's farm-to-table restaurants has developed a proprietary fermentation technique, aging local vegetables for up to two years to create unique flavor profiles.
The town's antique district attracts over 500,000 visitors annually, with 30% of sales coming from international buyers.
Top 7 Underrated Weekend Getaways for New Yorkers in Summer 2024 - New Paltz's Mohonk Mountain House and Minnewaska State Park
New Paltz's Mohonk Mountain House and Minnewaska State Park offer a picturesque weekend getaway for New Yorkers in the summer of 2024.
The historic Mohonk Mountain House provides 85 miles of hiking trails, a nine-hole golf course, and a range of amenities, while the nearby Minnewaska State Park Preserve features stunning natural landscapes and over 50 miles of hiking trails.
Mohonk Mountain House is home to the world's largest hand-cranked carousel, which features 72 hand-carved wooden horses and operates using a complex system of gears and pulleys.
The resort's golf course was designed by legendary architect A.W.
Tillinghast, who is considered one of the most influential golf course designers of the early 20th century.
Minnewaska State Park Preserve encompasses over 23,000 acres and contains the largest contiguous tract of old-growth forest in the northeastern United States.
The Minnewaska Lake, located within the state park, is one of the cleanest bodies of water in New York, with visibility exceeding 40 feet due to its low nutrient levels.
Mohonk Mountain House has its own on-site meteorological station, which has been collecting data on weather patterns and climate trends for over a century, providing valuable insights for researchers.
The resort's extensive network of hiking trails includes the Shawangunk Ridge Trail, which is a portion of the larger Long Path trail system that stretches over 350 miles across New York State.
Minnewaska State Park is home to the "Millbrook Mountain" formation, a unique geological feature composed of conglomerate rock that was formed during the Devonian period, over 350 million years ago.
Mohonk Mountain House features a 6,000-square-foot spa facility, which includes a heated indoor pool, saunas, and a variety of treatment rooms offering both modern and traditional spa services.
The Minnewaska Lake watershed is known for its high biodiversity, supporting a wide range of plant and animal species, including several rare and endangered species found nowhere else in the region.
Mohonk Mountain House is one of the few remaining resorts in the United States that still employs a full-time staff horticulturist, responsible for maintaining the resort's extensive gardens and grounds.