While making the best of fall, travel the old romantic way—by train—and skip town for a fireside escape to Cold Spring, New York. There is enough dependable charm, secluded spots, and affordable trappings to keep you and yours truly in the moment, and it’s only 50 minutes north of Manhattan.
Come Sunday night, you will not have remembered the last time 24 hours went by at such a leisurely pace—despite the wealth of diversions before you.
Perched on the Hudson River, Main Street’s bustling scene will have window shoppers and bargain hunters titillated by the vintage Chanel jewelry at Heavenly Treasures (93 Main Street, 845.265.5532), the wide assortment of 18th and 19th century furniture and accessories at Jane Krenach Antiques (114 Main Street, 845.265.5002, janekrenachantiques.com) and the rare Beatles collectors items, super hero figurines, and classic Schwinn bikes at Serious Toyz (82 Main Street, 845.265.6543, serioustoyz.com).
In between antiquing or browsing through the ever-friendly, fully stocked Merritt Bookstore (66 Main St., 845.265.9100, merrittbooks.com—celebrating over 30 years in the Hudson Valley) grab a cup of coffee at Cold Spring Café (129 Main St., 845.265.9471) a quaint, local spot in the heart of the village. Or take the coffee to go, map out walking directions to the enchanting must-see Boscobel House, built in 1808 and open for the season until December 31, 2013. Boscobel is a 1.5 miles stroll from the Cold Spring train station, or you can call a taxi in advance at 845-265-TAXI.
Wanting to unwind for a cozy couple of hours before dinner, you are warmly welcomed back at the Pig Hill Inn (73 Main St., 845.265.9247, pighillinn.com) an intimate setting yet only a short distance from the train station in the middle of the village.
Built in 1825, this rustic place is one of the oldest operating inns in all of New York, and has a variety of unique, themed rooms, all of which sport four-post beds, homey quilts, and working fireplaces. Each unit is stocked with all the necessary tools for fire construction, including a starter log for novices. (Word of warning: make sure to keep the flames under control to avoid going to bed sweaty.)
A delicious dinner awaits at Le Bouchon (76 Main St., 845.265.7676), just down the street from the inn. With scarlet red walls, a well stocked wooden wine rack, and an array of angled mirrors, the restaurant does its best to emulate a Parisian bistro experience. The menu focuses on classic French fare like mussels, cassoulet, and steak au poivre. Any of these dishes would go well with a bottle of Bordeaux or Burgundy from their Francophilic wine list.
If you’re in the mood for something light try one of the specials, which usually feature a fresh catch of the day, and pair it with a glass of the superbly smoky house white, a Pouilly-Fume. The dessert menu is heavy on chocolate, so have a few decadent spoonfuls at the end of your meal, then take the rest to go back to your room.
How to get there: Cold Spring is accessible from Grand Central Station via the Metro-North Railroad’s Hudson Line to Cold Spring Station. For the latest schedule click here. For more ideas for things to do, check out our previous article on Cold Spring.
Photo: Whiskeygonebad, Riveredger
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
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Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram