Woodstock

When people think of Woodstock, they often think of the famous festival. Despite the name, the famed 1970s event didn’t take place in this small town but in Bethel, which is an hour and a half away. Nevertheless, Woodstock carries on the spirit of peace and love.

Today, the town’s main street is lined with beautiful gift shops, art galleries, custom jewelry shops, and restaurants. The town also holds many little boutique hotels, bed and breakfasts, and attractive getaway hideaways.

Woodstock is a quaint little town sitting at the base of the Catskill mountains. It is a place you want to travel to get a taste of what life in the mountains is like.

What to Do in Woodstock

Woodstock makes for a beautiful weekend getaway or travel vacation destination. For a small town, there are loads of things to keep you busy while visiting. You can enjoy everything from shopping to hiking to dining while you enjoy the music from some of the best Catskill mountain bands in the area.

Go Shopping

The main street has many cute and artsy boutique stores where you can find that one-of-a-kind item you love. You find beautiful custom jewelry shops, boho boutiques, art galleries, and antique shops mixed in with delicious restaurants. When you tire of shopping, sit in one of the quaint little coffee shops and enjoy a lovely cup of brew while you people watch.

Don’t forget to head over to the Flea Market that sits right in the middle of town behind the large parking lot. Here you can find all of those eclectic items you love.

Hiking

If you love hiking, then you’ll want to make a weekend trip to Woodstock. The town has many nearby trails to fill your weekend with activity. The first trail you want to walk is Overlook Mountain. It is not an overly difficult trail, but if you want to get to the top of the fire tower overlook, the walk may take you about three hours. Totally worth it, though, as you can see a 360-degree view of the mountains.

Another hiking option is to go to Huckleberry Point Trail which is located near Elka Park. After the hike, you can head to Oriole 9 for a wide variety of lunch options or stop into Shindig for amazing comfort food, both in the middle of Woodstock.

Enjoy The Music

Many New Yorkers take a weekend trip to Woodstock just to enjoy the live bands and the different types of music available in many of the different venues around town.

The Art

Be sure to go to the visual arts galleries and go to the uniquely interesting landscape and Sculpture Park called Opus 40. It is a world-famous landmark made by Harvey Fite. It is an authentic living and breathing sculptured park that took him 40 years to create.

How Far is Woodstock from New York?

Woodstock, New York makes for a perfect getaway because it is only two hours away from the city. You can drive the scenic drive or go straight on I-87 N. Any way you go, you’ll enjoy the scenic view as you drive along the highway.

What If I Don’t Have a Car?

You can get to Woodstock without a car. You can take the bus or train from New York City. The bus trip takes about 3 hours however you do need to make a few changeovers. The train takes two hours from New York City. You can take Amtrack from Penn Station to Rhinecliff NY and then take an Uber or taxi to Woodstock.