{"id":2833,"date":"2019-05-08T15:52:55","date_gmt":"2019-05-08T15:52:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/com.sx-magazine-wp.sixt.io\/magazine\/?p=2833"},"modified":"2023-05-26T12:24:46","modified_gmt":"2023-05-26T12:24:46","slug":"best-small-towns-near-new-york-city","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sixt.com\/magazine\/travel\/best-small-towns-near-new-york-city\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 5 Small Towns to Escape to From New York City"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/b>New York City is made up of five boroughs: Manhattan<\/a>, Brooklyn, The Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island. Each one is its own cultural world. It\u2019s easy to get caught up in the urban landscape and forget that there are gorgeous vistas, historic villages and fun day trips from New York. While you may also consider visiting Niagara Falls<\/a> if you have a couple of extra days on hand, here are five short drive getaways to tempt you to leave the boundaries of NYC<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Book NYC Car Rental<\/a><\/p>\n

1. Asbury Park, New Jersey<\/b><\/h2>\n

A mecca for Bruce Springsteen fans, Asbury Park is a short drive south from Manhattan. The New Jersey seaside town with a population of\u00a0more\u00a0than\u00a016,000 has seen revitalization in recent years but still retains its retro charm. Stroll the boardwalk and stop at a clam bar. Walk or pedal bikes or boats along the shore. Don\u2019t miss the\u00a0Silverball\u00a0Museum, home to a rotating collection of 600 pinball and video arcade games. Asbury Park is still known for its thriving music scene, so make sure to schedule the time to check out some of the best nightlife on the Jersey Shore.<\/p>\n

\"Asbury
A view of Asbury Park on the Jersey Shore<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

2. Mystic, Connecticut<\/b><\/h2>\n

Less than 3 hours\u2019 drive northeast of New York City, Mystic, Connecticut is a great place for a family trip. This scenic maritime town along the Mystic River has a famous seaport, historic ships, and an interactive children\u2019s museum. Take a leisurely stroll through the quaint 19th-century seafaring Olde\u00a0Mystick\u00a0Village. Have a meal of fresh seafood in one of the local restaurants. Try homemade ice cream before heading over to the Mystic Aquarium to hang out with whales, penguins, and dolphins.\u00a0The movie \u201cMystic Pizza\u201d, starring Julia Roberts, Lili Taylor, and Vincent D\u2019Onofrio was set\u00a0here\u00a0and\u00a0the\u00a0shop sign still hangs\u00a0awaiting\u00a0your selfie!<\/p>\n

3. Hyde Park, New York<\/b><\/h2>\n

The natural light and vistas of the Hudson Valley have\u00a0inspired artists like Remington, Cole, Church, and Cropsey, who were part of the Hudson River school. The area has long been a weekend getaway for New Yorkers. Hyde\u00a0Park, located in\u00a0Dutchess\u00a0County with a population of 21,000, offers a glimpse of the area\u2019s rich history. Visit the late 19th-century\u00a0Beaux-Arts-style\u00a0Vanderbilt Mansion. The Roosevelt National Historic Site is well worth a trip. It includes the 32nd\u00a0president\u2019s lifelong home, the FDR Presidential Library, and Museum, as well as Eleanor Roosevelt\u2019s home. You can end your tour at the Culinary Institute of America, which runs four public restaurants, as well as seasonal pop-ups.<\/p>\n

\"Vanderbilt
The Vanderbilt Mansion near Hyde Park, NY<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

4. Cold Spring Harbor, NY<\/b><\/h2>\n

Long Island is famous for The Hamptons and pop icon Billy Joel. There\u2019s much more to this\u00a0area\u00a0east\u00a0of Manhattan, including beaches, vineyards, historic homes, lush gardens, and a sailing and boating culture. The tiny hamlet of Cold Spring Harbor has only 5,000 inhabitants. Founded as a whaling community, it is now home to the Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery and Aquarium, as well as the Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum. Head east to neighboring Huntington for great dining and nightlife or pack a picnic and head west to Oyster Bay for a visit to the Sagamore Hill National Historic Site, home to 26th\u00a0president Theodore Roosevelt.<\/p>\n

5. Woodstock, NY<\/b><\/h2>\n

Woodstock is known for the famous music festival. Although the festival\u00a0actually took\u00a0place just outside the town, the spirit that fueled this legendary event was pure Woodstock. Located in Ulster County, north of New York City, the town has about 6,000 inhabitants. The first artists\u2019\u00a0colony was formed in 1903 and\u00a0creative types\u00a0have been gravitating here ever since. Some of the more celebrated\u00a0artists, writers, and musicians\u00a0who have created and lived in Woodstock include Bob Dylan, Neil\u00a0Gaiman, Carla Bley, David Bowie, Amy Tan, and Rachel Yamagata. While it may have transitioned from hippies to hipsters recently, this rich history is still available to explore, along with art galleries, hiking trails,\u00a0and great dining.<\/p>\n

Book NYC Car Rental<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

New York City is made up of five boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, The Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island. Each one is its own cultural world. It\u2019s easy to get caught up in the urban landscape and forget that there are gorgeous vistas, historic villages and fun day trips from New York. While you may also consider…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":34,"featured_media":2838,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-2833","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-travel","8":"entry"},"yoast_head":"\nTop 5 Small Towns to Escape to From New York City | SIXT rent a car Magazine<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"It\u2019s easy to get caught up in the urban landscape of New York City and forget that nature, historic villages and fun destinations are a short drive away.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, 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