6. Catskill
Not to be confused with the Catskill Mountains, Catskill is also a village in the Hudson Valley. This picture-perfect town is embedded with natural beauty and a vibrant downtown. Catskill’s mountain and river views are considered to be an artist’s dream and once served as inspiration for famous painter Thomas Cole, whose house in Catskill is still visitable today (and you can visit!).
Historic Main Street is lined with old shops like the Magpie Bookshop, Sister Salvage, and Spike’s Record Rack, making this town a perfect getaway for those in search of a comforting and quiet place to escape city life. Walk over the Hudson River on the Skywalk, connected to the Rip Van Winkle Bridge. Then, when you work up an appetite, head over to either Left Bank Ciders or Crossroads Brewing Company for some local drinks and food. Better yet, check both joints out as they are within a five-minute walk of each other. Spend the night in a luxury cabin at Pinewood Lodge, and embrace the natural world around you in Catskill.