Escaping NYC for a weekend isn’t always easy but here at oM our motto has always been “if you can’t make the weekends longer, strive to make them better.” That’s why we’re excited to be working with new booking platform TravelWits this summer to create great itineraries for weekend getaways according to any budget. transit time and most importantly for oM, type of transit (bus and train options abound!) Their packages even include transportation and tax all in one spot for ease, because, seriously, booking a getaway shouldn’t be difficult.
This week, we’re starting our new “Weekend Getaways on a Budget” series with a budget of $500. After searching trip packages by budget ($500 this week) we discovered the town of Peekskill and city of Providence – two places close enough for a weekend jaunt without breaking the bank. Now, which one to choose?
Option 1: Peekskill, New York
Budget for all travelers: $500
Time in Transit: 1 hour
Get There: Take the Metro-North Hudson Line ($25.50 roundtrip)
Highlights: The quaint Inn on the Hudson (from $273.30 includes tax), local art, and funky food options
Leave work on Friday with your bag packed and head straight to Grand Central where Metro-North brings you straight to Peekskill, one of the artsiest towns on the Hudson. Take a short walk from the train station to the small, yet comfortable Inn at the Hudson to settle in for two nights of lodging, sweeping views and daily breakfast. From there, downtown Peekskill is accessible by foot, and, with a copy of the Hudson Valley Center for Contemporary Art’s installations map for public art and sculptures, you can explore the town and local art for free. The rest of the weekend’s budget is enough to enjoy the delicious fare at local burger and beer spot Birds All House (Meals around $20pp) and “wheelbarrow to table” soul food joint Zephs (meals around $30pp). And since it’s only an hour back to the city on Sunday night you can maximize your weekend by staying all day Sunday and hiking the Blue Mountain Reservation (free) or shopping at the summer flea market (free to enter).
Book this trip: Head to TravelWits and search New York City to Peekskill with a maximum budget of $500. After choosing the Inn on the Hudson as your lodging, find the best things to do in Peekskill with a map and recommendations to plan your full weekend of adventure.
Option 2: Providence, Rhode Island
Budget for all travelers: $500
Time in Transit: 3.5 hours
Get There: Take the Peter Pan bus from NYC to Providence (as low as $25 roundtrip)
Highlights: The historic Providence Biltmore Hotel (From $323.43 for two nights), public art installations and the always rotating dining options.
Known as the creative capital, Providence is an excellent place to escape for a weekend of art and history that’s easy to access by both bus and train. Start your weekend by checking in at the historic Biltmore Hotel in downtown Providence. Built in 1922 and on the list of Historic Hotels of America, the Biltmore offers an architectural glimpse into Providence history combined with comfortable digs and an on-site spa courtesy of years of multi-million dollar renovations. If you can sneak up a day early (Summer Fridays anyone?) we recommend Gallery Night (free), a gallery crawl for residents and visitors of Providence alike on select Thursdays. Even if you can’t make the official tour they publish their map online so you can do a self-guided walking tour of galleries, many of which are open on weekends as well.
The go-to art spot for any weekend visit is the RISD museum, which is free every Sunday year round and has everything from ancient art to rotating textile exhibitions. For summer travelers, don’t miss WaterFire, a free public lighting exhibit on select nights throughout the summer.
Book this Trip: Head to TravelWits and search New York City to Providence with a maximum budget of $500. Book the Providence Biltmore and head to A Closer Look at Providence’s Cultural and Culinary Attractions for even more ideas of things to do and where to eat in the Creative Capital of Rhode Island.
Top photo: liz west
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.
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.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
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