This Charming Small Town Is Easy to Reach From New York City — and It’s Home to a Historic Mountain Resort

Here's what you need to know before visiting New Paltz, New York.

With only 7,500 residents, New Paltz is a small community located just 90 minutes north of New York City. The town is perhaps best known for two things: a branch of State University of New York (SUNY), and the historic, 144-year-old Mohonk Mountain House resort, which is 15 minutes from town.

Of course there's more to New Paltz than these two attractions. The downtown area is something of a hippie destination, full of independently owned businesses, from gift shops and fashion boutiques to restaurants and bars. New Paltz is also an ideal home base for some magnificent hiking in the Shawangunk Mountains (one of many great upstate New York hiking destinations). To make the most of a trip to New Paltz, here are our tips on what to do and where to stay in this funky little town.

Related: The 12 Best Small Towns in New York

​​Best Things to Do in New Paltz

If you like to shop, plan on spending most of your time downtown. Water Street Market is a European-style shopping area that functions as a community gathering space, and it's lined with boutiques and cafes. Stroll and dine here, then fill the rest of your day with stops at other downtown establishments, including Ritualist, Ridge Tea & Spice Shop, Groovy Blueberry, Inquiring Minds Bookstore, Manny's Art Supplies, Hudson Valley Goldsmith, and Krause's Chocolates of New Paltz.

Board game enthusiasts won't want to miss Gunks Gaming Guild & Cafe. To take in a live show, head to the Denizen Theater. And Historic Huguenot Street, a National Historic Landmark District, is great for architecture appreciators, as it is home to a collection of 17th- and 18th-century homes. If you head to the campus of SUNY New Paltz, John R. Kirk Planetarium and Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art are both worthy of a visit.

Spending time in town might only be beat by enjoying the wilderness around it. Just a 15-minute drive from downtown is the Mohonk Preserve, and right next to that is Mohonk Mountain House. Between them, there are more than 80 miles of hiking trails to explore. Mohonk Preserve has five public trailheads across its 8,000 acres. Mohonk Mountain House's private trails are available to guests, or visitors who purchase a hiking trails pass. Don't skip the trek to Sky Top Tower. From it, you can see six states on a clear day. Note that getting to the tower requires scrambling up and squeezing through lots of rocks. You can also visit Mohonk's iconic summer houses, or wood gazebos, that are perched on cliffs all around the property. If you don't have a car to get to trailheads, consider hiking the six-mile, River-to-Ridge Trail — or just a portion of it — from New Paltz itself.

Where to Stay in New Paltz

Mohonk Mountain House is undoubtedly the most famous and luxurious hotel in New Paltz. Since 1879, the family-owned resort has been entertaining guests with outdoor activities like boating on the lake, archery and tomahawk throwing, tennis, and golf. The property also offers a full schedule of cultural, music, and art events, plus forest bathing and meditation sessions. Pro tip: You don't need to be an overnight guest at the hotel to book a spa treatment, and a day spa booking grants you access to the main house and grounds, plus Mohonk's tradition of afternoon tea and cookies.

On the other end of the accommodations spectrum is budget-friendly New Paltz Hostel and Hampton Inn by Hilton New Paltz. The area also has many popular bed and breakfasts, such as Inn at Kettleboro, Moondance Ridge B&B, Mountain Meadows Bed & Breakfast, and Watergrass Hill Bed & Breakfast.

Where to Eat and Drink in New Paltz

Start with breakfast at one of downtown's many bakeries, cafés, and coffee shops, all of which are popular with local students and residents. We recommend The Bakery (grab a seat in one of the cozy booths upstairs); Main Street Bistro, which has been open for decades; Mudd Puddle Coffee Roasters & Cafe, where you can purchase coffee beans to brew at home; and Lagusta's Luscious Café for vegan eats, drinks, and homemade chocolates.

For casual lunches and dinners, you will still be downtown. Try Pho Tibet, Schatzi's Pub and Bier Garden, or Lola's Cafe for a dine-in meal. If you're looking for carry-out options — say, to pack with you on a hike — Russo's Italian Deli has must-try sandwiches.

Though New Paltz is a pretty casual town, there are some upscale options available. Runa Bistro serves international fare, including French, Bengali, North African, Basque, and Vietnamese cuisine. For Italian, head to A Tavola Trattoria. And over at Mohonk Mountain House, you can book the nine-course Chef's Table dining experience, or attend the monthly five-course wine pairing dinner, both of which highlight local farm-to-table cuisine.

And finally, if you're looking for drinks — alcoholic or otherwise — we have a few recommendations. Stop at Green Bar for fresh juices, Fuschia Tiki Bar for rum cocktails, and Huckleberry for a drink on a great patio. For beer and a game of pool, visit Bacchus Restaurant, Brewery & Billiards.

Best Time to Visit New Paltz

New Paltz is a year-round destination, with tourism peaking in the summer when the weather is warm. It can get a little crowded during summer, though, with road trippers coming in from New York City, so we point to fall as the best time to visit, when the crowds are thinner and the weather is pleasantly cool for hiking. Winter is a win for anyone who loves to cross-country ski or snowshoe, and spring brings some of the best hotel deals.

Getting There

New Paltz is located off Interstate 87, about 90 miles north of New York City. Though downtown New Paltz is walkable, it's best to have a car to get out to the hiking trails and nature preserves.

If you don't have a vehicle, New Paltz is still accessible. Take either a Metro North or Amtrak train to Poughkeepsie, and from there take a taxi to New Paltz, or opt for an Ulster County public bus. Adirondack-Pine Hill Trailways bus service, which covers New York State, also has a stop in New Paltz.

The nearest airport is New York Stewart International Airport (SWF) in Orange County, a 30-minute drive south of New Paltz. Other nearby airports include Westchester County Airport (HPN, 75 miles away), Albany International Airport (ALB, 80 miles away), Laguardia Airport (LGA, 80 miles away), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR, 85 miles away), and John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK, 90 miles away).

For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on Travel & Leisure.