Some would describe me as a city girl, which is true–but I also love the outdoors & being in nature. Exploring my hometown of NY beyond the 5 boroughs has been refreshing. It’s unsurprising that many New Yorkers have never left the city, whether it be lack of resources or they just don’t know what else is out there. As one of the greatest cities in the world, I’m here to tell you: it gets even better.
NY state is massive, so if you’re looking for something different and fun without going too far, Cold Spring is a lovely day trip from NYC. I’d recommend it for families, day dates, or a relatively chill day with friends.
Cold Spring is a historic whimsical town nestled in the Hudson Valley. Me and my partner went here spontaneously on one of our adventure dates on a Monday. The town is so peaceful and gives almost a country feel. It had great energy and the locals seemed happy.
How to get there:
By Car: 1.5 hours from NYC
By Train: Metro-North from Grand Central to Cold Spring (70mins)
Things to Do:
Shopping on Main St:
We drove into town & explored Main St. (They have free parking on the main road!) The drive over was beautiful with views of the Hudson River and Storm King Mountain. I hear that in the fall, the views are stellar from the train as well!
Cold Spring is known for its antique shops, but there are quite a few other cool shops I think you should check out:
Paulette– A chic french boutique that also has a cafe. Fun fact: We met the owner, Jackie (who’s lovely) who told us that the shop is named after her mother, Paulette.
Old Souls– If you need some sick outdoors gear, this is the shop. Aidan got a really cool camo cap from here which was perfect for our hike.
Wyld– A modern boho local plant shop with air plants, succulents, self-watering pots and more for sale! Basically, a plant lovers dream.
Endless Skein– This one’s for my knitters and crocheters! So many beautiful yarns to choose from, we definitely spent a good 20 minutes in there.
Once Upon A Time– A very unique antique shop filled with trinkets and odd ends. There are some toy dolls in there that were a little creepy, so just warning you incase that’s something that’ll freak you out! Otherwise, it was definitely still interesting to look at all the little knick knacks.
Next, you’ll want to make your way down to the Cold Spring Pier. To get there, you have to go through a tunnel underneath the railroad tracks. On the other side you’ll walk straight down to the pier. The view was stunning!
While you’re over here, you’ll definitely want to go to Moo Moo’s Creamery. This place sells fresh, homemade ice cream & is very popular–I even heard people talking about it after we went on our hike. At Moo Moo’s I got the black raspberry & it was extremely rich and delicious. (Sorry for my dairy-free peeps, they unfortunately do not have any plant-based options.)
Hiking Trails/Outdoorsy Activities:
After, we decided to go on a hike! We drove about 5 mins to the Cornish Estate Trail. This is said to be the easiest hike out of all the trails in Cold Spring (1.8 mi.) There are a good amount of people hiking this trail and it’s also dog friendly. Honestly, we realized we were lowkey underprepared, but we roll with the punches and still had a great time!
Tips: Bring proper shoes, water, a hat & bug spray if you need it. Make sure to check for ticks after!
We made it to the Cornish Estate Ruins which were really cool. Since it was a summer afternoon, the trees were so lush & and the light shining through them was really beautiful. Hiking a little further, we stumbled upon a tiny waterfall.
Another great outdoor activity is kayaking on the hudson. We didn’t kayak that day, but had gone just a few days before and rented a tandem kayak for an hour for $40 with Hudson River Expeditions in Beacon, NY.
Later in the day we hiked to Little Stony Point which is across the street from the Cornish estate trail. There’s apparently a beach which we didn’t get to, (the park closes at sunset!) but we did hike to a really magical viewpoint:
Food:
Le Bouchon– French Brasserie on Main St. with outdoor seating
Hudson Hil’s– It’s closed on Monday’s & Tuesday’s so we didn’t get a chance to visit, but has great reviews for breakfast & lunch!
Moo Moo’s Creamery– Homemade ice cream
For dinner we ate at “Le Bouchon.” We sat in the backyard garden & both got the lamb burgers which were so good!
Cold Spring is such a charming town, I kept feeling like I was in some magical, fairy woodland-like dream. I can’t wait to be back.
Check out a quick reels below of our trip:
FAQ
Is Cold Spring NY worth visiting?
Absolutely! There are so many things to do in Cold Spring, NY and the surrounding areas. It’s one of my personal favorite towns to visit in the Hudson valley.
Is Cold Spring NY walkable?
Yes, Cold Spring is very walkable. You can walk down main street and visit all of the shops. When you reach the end of main street, you can walk over to Cold Spring Harbor and get gorgeous views of the Hudson river. To reach Little Stony Point and Washburn Trail, it’s a 15 minute walk from Cold Spring.
Why is it called Cold Spring NY?
Cold Spring’s name has a mythical background. Legend has it that:
“George Washington drank from a local spring and declared it to be refreshingly cold.”
https://www.coldspringny.gov/
What is Cold Spring NY known for?
Cold Spring NY is a historic village known for it’s beautiful views of the Hudson River, unique shops, restaurants and hiking trails.
Do you need a car in Cold Spring NY?
Nope! You can get there by train.
How to get to Cold Spring from NYC by train?
If you’re coming from NYC, you can take the Hudson Line to the Cold Spring stop. It’s an 1 hr & 25 mins from grand central station.
Is Cold Spring NY a nice town?
Cold Spring NY is a wonderful town! The locals were very friendly and welcoming. There’s little boutiques, plant shops, cafes and restaurants to keep you busy.
What county is Cold Spring Harbor NY in?
Putnam County.
What region is Cold Spring NY in?
The Hudson Highlands
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