Looking for a cheap day trip or weekend getaway that’s not far from NYC and accessible by train? Cold Spring NY is the answer!
DILEMMA: you live in NYC, you’re car-less, you’re stressed about work, the weekend subways never run on schedule, and all you can hear from your bedroom window are sirens and angry women screaming about their idiotic ex-lovers (ok, that last part might be limited to Brooklyn..)
Strapped for time, you want to escape the rat race for a little while and take off for somewhere romantic.
SOLUTION: Jump on the Metro North – Hudson Line from Grand Central and take it to Cold Spring, NY ($12 one way; about 50 min ride).
I’ve been taking occasional trips to Cold Spring for the past 8 months every time I’m on the verge of going crazy from the chaos of the City, but can’t take time off from work. It’s a small village with only a few residents (about 2,000) and a TON of charm. Situated right on the Hudson there are stunning views and walking trails, a quaint little main street lined with shops and cafes, and an old-fashioned ice cream shop called Moo Moo Creamery for the summer months.
It’s also home to the coziest little inn I’ve ever seen: The Pig Hill Inn.
It’s only about 4 mins walking from the train station, which is a nice walk even in the snow. The rooms here are NOT cheap (think about it, they’ve gotta be used to wealthy Wall Streeters looking for a weekend escape). Normally I only take day-trips to Cold Spring, but this was a special circumstance: (early) Valentine’s day!
We were greeted with warm apple pie, coffee, cocoa, and tea.
The inn is filled with trinkets, paintings and antiques, many of which are for sale. There are quite a few pigs…
Each of the rooms have their own vibe, decor, and names. Ours was “Enchantment” and it certainly lived up to its name. What could be cozier than a bed that feels like you’re resting on clouds and a fire crackling at the foot of the bed?
Perhaps drinking champagne in a Jacuzzi bubble bath with soft classical music in the background…
Oh, and did I mention there is SILENCE? Something I had always taken for granted before I moved to NYC, but I’ve learned that it can be worth more than gold and is essential to my sanity.
There’s no shortage of restaurants nearby but our host recommended two that were a block away: Brasserie Le Bouchon if you’re craving french cuisine, or Kathryn’s Tuscan Grill for some authentic Italian. We chose the Italian (I’ve never been a huge fan of French food), and we were not disappointed.
I didn’t get any good photos of Kathryn’s Tuscan Grill due to the dim lighting, but it was well decorated with intriguing paintings and Valentine’s day decorations. Most importantly the food was to die for. The menu offers traditional pasta dishes like potato gnocchi with lamb ragu, as well as plenty of gluten-free options, including the special I got, which was a perfectly moist chicken breast covered in pancetta and fontina cheese, served with garlic mashed potatoes and sauteed kale. I recommend the affogato (gelato covered in espresso) for dessert.
The next morning we were the only people in the breakfast den at Pig Hill, and we were served like Greek gods with fresh berries, pastries (yes, there was a gluten-free one for me!), coffee, tea, fresh OJ, and choice of omelette or belgian waffle. I had the gluten-free version of the belgian waffle, which surprisingly was not at all dry and chalky like gluten-free baked goods tend to be.
It doesn’t get much better than this for a romantic Valentine’s day getaway if you’re near NYC. Especially if the thought of spending one more dinner bumping elbows with the couple sitting next to you at a tiny over-priced restaurant in Manhattan is enough to push you over the edge, and make you run through the streets of the Lower East yelling at everyone to just go home because there’s too many damn people living here! (And for the record, yes, I have been tempted to do that.)
Happy Valentine’s Day everyone! What’s your favorite weekend/day trip?
