A New York Getaway

New York is a concrete jungle where dreams are made of (cue the Alicia Keys), I truly believe that.. but every now and then I dream of hearing birds chirp, the crackling of a bonfire, and a bit more room than the average city apartment. So when we were invited to join our family for a getaway, there was no hesitation.

We were fortunate enough to stay at a waterfront house on Lake Greenwood. Over the 3 day weekend we hiked, checked out the local shops, and visited breweries. Greenwood Lake is a quick 1.5 hour drive out of the city and nuzzled in a small town. Driving in, the town did not look like much, but after a few days there it was easy to see the charm the locals boast about.

After our weekend getaway to Greenwood Lake we were able to compile a list of recommendations!

Where to stay: we would HIGHLY suggest staying near the lake, especially during this time of year! Waking up next to the lake surrounded by foliage is a must see. The home that our family found was a rental through VRBO - and it was unreal. So often rentals still feel like you are in someone else's space, but this home felt like ours. Between the log fire place, antique woodwork, and dining room table, it truly felt like a place we could curl up for the winter.

Where to eat/drink: After living in NYC, we have become hard core foodies. One of the best parts about traveling is trying the small town "spots," so we tend to follow the locals advice. Lucky for us - everywhere we visited had the kindest people and great food.

Coffee: We had coffee at two family owned shops while in town. The first was a small cafe called "Village Buzz Cafe." I ordered an iced vanilla oat latte [can't take the city out of the girl] and Adam ordered his usual medium roast. While we waited for our drinks we found the local's mug wall - how cute!

The second coffee shop was right down the street named "Greenwood Lake Roasters Craft Coffee." This shop had the kindest window tellers - yes, you order you coffee through the window which was so neat. The teens told us all their favorite parts about growing up in a small town. It was so special getting to chat with them and mutually admire the town of Greenwood Lake.

Dinner: On our drive in, there was a place that caught our eye due to the mural outside. When it was time to have dinner we were all excited about being able to try The Helm and see if their food lived up to their wall art. There we had IPA fondu, salmon sandwiches, and cocktails. The bar atmosphere and great food are both reasons that The Helm was busy. Other than the standard bar crowd noise, we thoroughly enjoyed our meal there!

Drinks: Over the weekend we had the opportunity to drink at both Tin Barn Brewing and Warwick Valley Winery & Distillery. Both of the venues were top notch, and got bonus points for having the only thing that makes alcohol better - live music. I personally preferred Warwick Valley, due to my bias towards liquor [and the horse that greeted us]. Both venues also had great food trucks, so of course we tried them out! At Tin Barn we had warm kettle corn, which we both hadn't had in years. And at Warwick we ordered a brisket sandwich with a side of mac and cheese at a BBQ truck. Either way, you can't go wrong with good company, good music and a great brew!

Where to hike: Now I mentioned we like to eat..like a lot, so we have to work that food off somehow. Over the years Adam and I have found ourselves drawn to hiking as a form of exercise. On this trip we knew we had to find a trail and put in a mile or two. The one we chose was at Sterling Forest. Upon entering, we saw a man who was painting the perfect Sunday sky. About a mile up the trail we crossed a bridge and heard running water. At which point we went off the trail a bit and found a decently sized waterfall! This hike was enough to get our blood flowing, but was also a reminder of why we LOVE traveling to National Parks.

This trip to Greenwood Lake was a great break from our fast paced life in New York City. We are so grateful that we had the chance to enjoy the beautiful weather with our family and spend meaningful together.