New York City is a pretty exciting place. Possibly the most famous city in the world (so good they named it twice), it captivates and excites visitors in equal measure. For many people, a trip to New York is more than enough to fill a vacation and will spend all their time exploring the many exciting attractions the city has to offer.

But New York isn’t just an amazing world city. It is also surrounded by beautiful countryside, fascinating attractions, and wonderful small towns, as well as a stunning coastline. Packing your bags for a few day trips to New York state and beyond during your trip to New York City is well worth considering, and will make your vacation all the more exciting.

So if you are planning to take a cruise from New York and are wondering what to do before you set sail, here are some of the best and most unusual day trips to take from New York.

The Hudson Valley

The Hudson Valley is a stunning area of natural beauty full of charming towns and unusual attractions. Beacon is a delightful example of small-town Americana, full of great eating and drinking options, and some wonderful B&Bs. The surrounding countryside is marvelous, a landscape of majestic rivers, surging cascades, and rolling hills, as well as the delightfully quirky Bannerman Castle, a weird and wonderful mock-medieval castle overlooking the Hudson itself. Don’t miss Storm King Art Center, an extraordinary 500-acre open-air art museum, showcasing some of the most impressive art and sculpture you’ll ever see. 

North Adams, Massachusetts

The pleasant town of North Adams has grown into one of the premiere arts hubs in the country in the last few decades. Boasting residencies from a diverse range of artists, with everyone from David Byrne to Xu Bing showing here, it is an astonishing place for culture vultures to visit. With the Mass MoCA Museum and the Williams College Museum, there’s something for everyone, a combination of history, art, and architecture that is as unusual as they come. For the more outdoorsy visitors, there’s excellent hiking, with the Cascade Waterfall a particular highlight.

Port Jefferson, Long Island

Feeling like a day at the beach? Golden sands and rolling waves are just a short ride away from
New York, in the shape of Port Jefferson, Long Island. Cast off the stress of the city and breathe in the fresh air, with a lovely waterfront and pristine beach, excellent watersports, and the stunning sand dunes of Pirate’s Cove. 

New Paltz, New York

One for the history buffs, New Paltz is one of the most historic places in the USA. Boasting several well-preserved houses that we already over a century old when the Declaration of Independence was signed, this charming riverside city was founded by Huguenots in the 17th century, and now maintains its aura of ancient importance with costumed performers, 30 historic buildings, and a beautiful (albeit reconstructed) 18th-century church.