New York City weather sure has been keeping us on our toes lately.! One week we’re basking in a false spring, the next we’re bundling up against a sudden chill. It’s enough to make anyone crave a little escape.
Believe it or not, though, spring is coming. By this Friday, March 20th, the city will be welcoming a new season sure to bring blooming flowers and park hangs. And with the warmer days come a new must-do: planning your spring getaways!
Even in the greatest city in the world, sometimes it’s fun to slip away from the concrete jungle—and the best part? You don’t even need a car. Some truly incredible spots are just a train ride away from NYC.
Take Cold Spring for example. This fairytale-like village has been described by locals as “Brigadoon stuffed into a neighborhood deli”—a historic escape that feels worlds apart from Manhattan, yet sits just 70 minutes north on the Metro-North Hudson Line.
What To Do In Cold Spring
The village offers a rare balance of high-energy adventure and slow-paced wandering. Whether you want to scale a mountain or hunt for a rare 1920s lamp, there’s a corner of the village for you.
- Hike Breakneck Ridge: For the thrill-seekers, this is one of the most popular (and challenging) scrambles in the Hudson Valley. The reward? Unrivaled panoramic views of the Hudson River.
- Explore the Cornish Estate Ruins: For something a bit more atmospheric, take a walk to the ruins of Northgate, an old 1910s estate. It’s hauntingly beautiful and perfect for photography.
- Stroll Main Street: Cold Spring is an antiquer’s paradise. Spend your afternoon ducking into shops like Cold Spring Antiques Center or browsing curated home goods at Pink Olive.
- Kayaking on the Hudson: If the water is calm, rent a kayak from Hudson River Expeditions to see the village and the surrounding Highlands from a completely different perspective.
Where To Eat And Drink
The culinary scene in Cold Spring is robust, offering everything from “grab-and-go” hiking fuel to sophisticated riverside dining.
- The Cold Spring Depot: Located right at the tracks, this 1893 train station turned restaurant is a local staple. Grab a seat by the outdoor fire pit and enjoy a hearty burger or a bowl of clam chowder.
- Hudson Hil’s Kitchen & Market: The ultimate spot for a farm-to-table breakfast. Their chocolate chip pancakes and local eggs are legendary—just be prepared for a bit of a wait on weekend mornings.
- Moo Moo’s Creamery: No trip to Cold Spring is complete without a scoop from “The World’s Best Ice Cream” shop. It’s located right on the waterfront, making it the perfect dessert to enjoy while watching the sunset.
- Barber & Brew: A unique hybrid spot where you can get a fresh haircut in the back and a flight of local craft beers in the front.
Hollywood Moments
Sure, its 19th-century Main Street is a favorite Instagram backdrop for weekend visitors. But film buffs know it for a different reason: the riverside charm of Cold Spring set the moody, tense tone of HBO’s The Affair.
The village’s timeless architecture and mist-covered hills provide a natural cinematic “grit” that directors love. The village and it’s nearby surrounding areas have served as backdrops for various indie dramas and psychological thrillers over the years, including:
- Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (2025): The latest installment in Rian Johnson’s whodunnit franchise brought Benoit Blanc to the streets of Cold Spring. Residents spotted film crews capturing establishing shots along Route 9D and North Street, with Cold Spring Pizza serving as a local backdrop to ground the mystery in a real-world upstate setting, according to regional production reports.
- The Seagull (2018): Starring Saoirse Ronan and Annette Bening, this Chekhov adaptation was filmed largely at Arrow Park, located just across the river. The production relied on the “timeless, lakeside dacha” aesthetic that defines the Highlands region to stand in for the Russian countryside, as noted by the Hudson Valley Film Commission.
- A Quiet Place (2018): While the Abbott family’s farmhouse was located in nearby Pawling, John Krasinski utilized the surrounding Hudson Valley to create the film’s “eerie stillness.” Key sequences were filmed just minutes away in Beacon and on the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail bridge, as per the film’s IMDb locations page.
How To Get There From NYC
No Hollywood budget? No problem. Getting to Cold Spring is arguably the easiest “nature fix” available to New Yorkers. You can essentially trade your skyscraper views for mountain vistas in the time it takes to watch a movie.
- The Train: Head to Grand Central Terminal (or Harlem-125th St) and hop on the Metro-North Hudson Line toward Poughkeepsie.
- The Route: Try to snag a window seat on the left side of the train heading north—you’ll get front-row views of the Hudson River and the Palisades the entire way up.
- The Cost: An off-peak ticket costs around $15 one way, and around $21 for a peak ticket.
- The Arrival: The beauty of Cold Spring is its walkability. The train station drops you off right at the foot of Main Street, so once you step off the platform, your car-free weekend has officially begun.
Sometimes one of the best parts of living in NYC is getting the easiest access to that perfect day trip—just don’t forget to come back!