New York State of Mind: Inspirations Close to Home
Leave the five-borough buzz behind for design troves, storybook inns, and low-stress escapes that still feed the trend radar.
Greenport Getaway: Why The North Fork Offers Respite From Hamptons Crowds
Route 25 offers a scenic option to the summer traffic on the Long Island Expressway (I-495), with views of vineyards and seemingly endless farms. Situated on the Peconic Bay and with proximity to the Long Island Sound, the charming village of Greenport has plenty of summer into fall potential. Consider staying at American Beech, with a restaurant of the same name located inside historic Sterling Square, alongside Black Llama and Tree Bars (and the speakeasy Brix & Rye next door), as a boutique hotel. Another choice, the newly renovated Sound View, serving farm-to-table seafood and specialties, feels as though you’re floating on the Sound (and features reggae and live music on the weekends). Main Street musts include Demarchelier Bistro for a Parisian touch, and The Times Vintage, for curated throwback finds.
Rosendale Refresh: Six Bells and the Village Loop
Check in at Six Bells Countryside Inn, Audrey Gelman’s lovingly restored 1850s boarding house. Eleven rooms evoke a folk tale with box beds, tin sconces, and Wally Whitehurst murals; the shop downstairs sells the same Welsh blankets and British folk china, and The Feathers Tavern serves early American country fare drawn from regional history. Three minutes away, The Big Cheese offers its signature Big Cheese Falafel or Yuval’s Hearty Bone Broth, best paired with locally brewed Calmbucha Kombucha. Walk one block to the 1940s Rosendale Theatre for a lineup that ranges from contemporary indies to retro monster flicks and silent classics. If you’re feeling crafty, Women’s Studio Workshop runs seasonal throwing and hand-building classes open to all levels. At sunrise, lace up for the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail—the 940-foot Rosendale Trestle delivers Catskill panoramas in perfect golden light.
Warren Street Wander & More: Hudson’s Style Stroll
A little further up from Rosendale, Hudson offers a one-mile style stroll along Warren Street packed with cafés, indie design shops, and natural-wine haunts. A few minutes from the station sits The Maker Hotel & Café, a velvet-lined hideout where a cappuccino doubles as a mood board. Down the street, Finch Hudson mixes mid-century lighting with vintage designer decor, while Flowerkraut and The Quiet Botanist stock wild bouquets and dried-flower apothecary goods. Pick up picnic-perfect cheeses at Talbott & Arding! Next, browse indie fashion at MADE x Hudson, then stop at Jamestown Hudson for contemporary apparel; the store recently hosted a Tiny Tim Rescue Fund pop-up by CFDA designer John Bartlett in partnership with Spectrum Designs and Unshattered, complete with Todd Oldham hand-painted ceramic dog bowls. Finish with a natural pour at Grapefruit Wines, Malaysian street food plus frozen Negronis at BackBar.
If you’re up for a longer Hudson-Valley circuit, hop back in the car (or catch the next southbound train) and continue to Rhinebeck and Beacon for a new set of stops. Rhinebeck’s Beekman Arms & Delameter Inn (America’s oldest operating Inn since 1766 and an excellent brunch choice) and Cinnamon Restaurant make for a fantastic visit. While Beacon is famous for a huge arts scene, the must-visit is Dia (part of a constellation of 12 locations and sites). In the Autumn, consider apple picking (and day drinking) like the RHNY at Weed Orchards & Winery.
Why It Matters: Slow travel favors depth over distance, turning a getaway into a design-savvy day trip built around one walkable hub, shopping-rich strolls, and maker meet-ups where every quilt or cheese board has a story. Spots like Six Bells, American Beech, and Warren Street fuse lodging, dining, and curated retail into tight micro-itineraries brimming with content. For creatives and brands, these towns serve as living mood boards and real-time playbooks for experience-driven commerce.
