Traveling north from NYC, there are endless small towns to spend a Saturday. Head up the Hudson River to amazing places like Beacon, Sleepy Hallow and Peekskill, NY or head northeast to Connecticut and visit adorable towns like Westport, Mystic, and New Haven. One of my favorites of these picturesque towns, just happens to be one of the easiest to travel from NYC; Cold Spring, NY.
A December Saturday in Cold Spring, NY
Board Metro North at Grand Central Station and be sure to secure a window seat on the left hand side of the train. Here you'll have gorgeous river views as you speed through small towns along the Hudson. After a quick hour and fifteen minute ride, you'll disembark in Cold Spring, right in the heart of all the action.
Follow the masses and exit the platform on the side of the tracks where the train has deposited you. You'll walk down a paved walkway, along the train tracks, and pop out near the Cold Spring Depot. In December, you'll be welcomed to town by the most delightful Christmas gazebo (and there are public restrooms nearby). From here you can head left on Main Street to visit Dockside Park along the river or head right and jump headfirst into your day of local shopping. I opted to head to the water first since it was early and some of the shops had not yet opened. Along Main Street you'll spot beloved eatery Rincon Argentino. Grab and espresso and empanada or pastry and then keep heading west until you hit the water. The view is breathtaking and you'll often see locals on the pier, painting or reading. The Bandstand marks the entrance to the pier and is the perfect place for a holiday photo-op. In the warmer months, Hudson House Inn has outdoor dining with views of the river.
Once your coffee cup is empty and you've photographed your fill of scenic river views, it's time to head back up Main St., to the downtown shopping district. Cold Spring is filled with charming gift shops, local artisans, and vintage antique shops. Each storefront is more appealing than the next but the shops become even more adorable when you step in the front door. Some of my favorite local shops are Pink Olive, Cold Spring General Store, Wyld, Spice Revolution and Split Rock Books, but also stop to enjoy the beautiful holiday decorations lining each lamp post and building. The holiday magic is more than just shopping!
For lunch, grab a bite at The Foundry Rose or Hudson Hil's Cafe and an afternoon pick-me-up at Cold Spring Coffee House or Angie's Bake Shop. Stop in all the well-stocked antique shops along Main Street and spend the remainder of the afternoon digging for lost treasures.
If you have more than a December Saturday to spend in Cold Spring, I recommend dinner at Cathryn's Tuscan Grill or Le Bouchon Brasserie. Spend the night at THE CUTEST village inn, Pig Hill Inn. Now you can wake up and do it all again tomorrow :)
Stopping for snacks and coffee aside, I like to walk up one side of the street, visiting each and every shop and then head back to the train on the other side of the road doing the same thing. You never know what you'll find tucked into the corner of an antique shop or who you'll strike up a conversation with as your puruse the goods. The local shopkeepers are all extremely friendly and knowledgeable and you can see why they call Cold Spring home. I haven't spent the night in town yet, but with it's close proximity to home, Cold Spring is one of my all-time favorite day trips from NYC.
Want more of the Hudson Valley - see my trips to Beacon in the Spring and for my Fall birthday, apple picking in September in Peekskill, and the first time I visited Cold Spring on a perfect Autumn day.
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