These Places Make New Paltz the Perfect NYC Day Trip

Imagine a town overflowing with delectable restaurants, thriving small businesses, and adorable boutique stores. It’s surrounded by mountainous landscapes, easy to walk around, and it’s all less than two hours away from New York City on public transportation.

Well, this place actually exists. It’s called New Paltz and it is one of the best places to visit in the Hudson Valley in my opinion.

I grew up in this beautiful region and I’ve spent a great deal of time in its many municipalities. New Paltz shines among all of them because it’s quaint, yet filled with entertaining things to do at the same time.

Here are my favorite places to visit when I’m in New Paltz.

Why New Paltz is Perfect for a NYC Day Trip

The Trailways Bus Station signage along the road — *The Trailways bus station in the middle of New Paltz*

🚍 It’s easy to reach on Trailways Bus – It takes less than two hours to reach New Paltz from NYC’s Port Authority and it only costs around $25 each way. This makes it perfect for a NYC day trip. I used to take this route all the time as a broke college student visiting home.

🏞️ You can escape in the mountains – Located in the Shawangunk Mountains, New Paltz has close access to gorgeous hikes, biking trails, and mountain climbing.

🚶🏻‍♀️ New Paltz is walkable – New Paltz is ideal for a day tripper because the whole town is situated around a walkable main road lined with stores and restaurants. All of the following activities can be reached on foot from the town’s Trailways Station.

My 14 Favorite Places in New Paltz

1. Krause’s Chocolates

Inside the Krause’s Chocolates — *Interior of Krause’s Chocolates*

A box with a variety of chocolates — *My selection of chocolates*

I’m not the biggest chocolate person, but if it’s a dark chocolate salted caramel piece from Krause’s in New Paltz, I’m in. This chocolate shop has been crafting delicious hand-made chocolates for nearly a century.

Whether you’re looking for the classics like me or prefer something more outside of the box like chocolate-dipped potato chips, you’ll find it here. It’s a must on any worthwhile Hudson Valley itinerary.

2. Little Light of Mine Village Candle

View of the colorful displays inside the Little Light of Mine Village Candle — *The colorful interior of Little Light of Mine Village Candle*

One of the things that makes the Hudson Valley so special is its wealth of artsy small businesses, such as Little Light of Mine Village Candle. This quirky women-owned shop is filled to the brim with fragrant, colorful candles that make for lovely gifts.

I actually discovered Little Light of Mine on my most recent stroll through New Paltz. I was pleasantly surprised by how many unique pieces were in their tiny space and the warm welcome I received from the woman working.

They also have an Etsy shop if you can’t make it in person to grab your candles.

3. Inquiring Minds Bookstore

Exterior view of the Inquiring Minds Bookstore — *The entryway to Inquiring Minds Bookstore*

As a writer, I’m a sucker for a good bookstore and one of my earliest favorites was Inquiring Minds. Located right next to Krause’s Chocolates. It’s a combo of a bookstore and a cafe, making it the perfect spot to hang out for an afternoon reading and sipping a latte.

Another reason I’m so fond of Inquiring Minds is that they have both brand-new and used books in excellent condition. So, even if you’re on a tight budget, you can still find something to take home from here. On my last visit, I picked up a used memoir called All That You Leave Behind by Erin Lee Carr. It cost just $8 and looked basically brand new.

4. Ritualist Boutique

The sign of Ritualist Boutique on the glass window — *Looking in the window of Ritualist Boutique*

The Ritualist storefront caught my eye from a mile away. Their big display window gives every passerby a glimpse into the intriguing greenery and products they offer inside.

This eclectic shop has everything from plant accessories and candles to body oil and scrubs. However, my favorite part about The Ritualist is the witchy aspect. It’s stocked up with things like raw crystals, cleansing rosemary bundles, and artfully designed tarot decks.

5. Beans Cat Cafe

The signage for Beans Cat Cafe — *The sign for Beans Cat Cafe*

I visited my very first cat cafe in Thailand and while I loved the concept, it was something I never expected to see in my home state. Much to my surprise and glee, New Paltz opened its very own Beans Cat Cafe in 2023.

In addition to a fabulously-made cappuccino, this cafe provides patrons the chance to indulge in some kitty love in their cat lounge. Inside there are toys and purchasable treats to help you bond with the cats.

All their animals are shelter cats up for adoption, so you could even leave with a new family member.

6. Manny’s Art Supplies

The cards displayed on the shelves at Manny’s Art Supplies — *Handmade cards at Manny’s*

Exterior view of the Manny’s Art Supplies — *Exterior of Manny’s Art Supplies*

I vividly remember wandering the aisles of art supplies at Manny’s with my Mom as a child. Anything an artist could ever need was conveniently right under this roof and all the possibilities left me in awe.

It’s continued to be one of my favorite places to get travel journals, paints, and any other creative tool. Even if you’re not an artist yourself, there are things like handmade greeting cards to peruse at Manny’s as well.

7. Lola’s Cafe

View of the people dining at the outdoor patio at Lola’s — *People dining on the front patio at Lola’s*

In my opinion, New Paltz has some of the best food in the Hudson Valley. If you’re only in town for the day and can’t dine with every single eatery, I’d highly recommend Lola’s Cafe for lunch first and foremost.

Specifically, their hefty bean burger with a side of fries is by far the best veggie substitute I’ve ever had. The restaurant has a large outdoor patio as well that’s ideal during the warmer bits of the year.

8. Wallkill View Farm Market

View of the pots of flowers and the pumpkins harvested around — *Flowers and pumpkins at the farm store*

View of the berries and fruits stand — *Berries and fruits for sale*

New Paltz is surrounded by farms on all sides. Since the 1970s, the Wallkill View Farm Store has allowed visitors to purchase all their freshest goods. Personally, I always go for their baked products, such as apple cider donuts or sourdough loaves.

The thing I love about this family-run country store is that they evolve with the seasons. During autumn, kiddos can pick pumpkins to carve. When it turns cold in December, they have recently chopped Christmas trees for sale. Of course in spring and summer, it’s all flowers and fruits galore.

9. Frank’s Fresh Pickling Co.

View of the traffic signages along with the Frank’s Fresh Pickling Co. sign — *The outside of Frank’s Fresh Pickling Co.*

Pickles are definitely having a moment in recent years thanks to viral TikTok trends. The best place to get your fill of these briny delights in New Paltz is Frank’s Fresh Pickling Company.

Opened in 2021, the shop has both traditional dill and more creative flavors. I tried one of the more unique options and got the habanero garlic dill pickles. I’m a huge spicy lover, so they totally hit the spot.

Beyond the pickles, Frank’s also serves excellent deli sandwiches and they sell their own line of incredible hot sauces. Their Poblano Thai Dragon sauce is my go-to for eggs.

10. Crust And Magic

The colorful displays at the entrance of Crust and Magic — *Bright and cheery entrance of Crust and Magic*

I could tell before I even walked in the door to Crust and Magic that it was going to be exceptionally cool. With a storefront that vibrant, how could it possibly not be?

Every single item at this clothing store is one-of-a-kind and showcases the designer Alexa Floresta’s distinct style. I absolutely adored their patchwork jackets and graphic tees in particular. They also peddle tons of eye-catching trinkets, keychains, water bottles, stickers, mugs, and more.

11. Heady Teddy’s Outfitters

View of the colorful storefront of Heady Teddy’s — *The unmissable storefront of Heady Teddy’s*

Heady Teddy’s is a quintessential New Paltz store considering that it’s been around for long before I was born. They call themselves “the hippiest place on earth” and that description is fairly fitting. It’s pretty much a relic of the Woodstock festival days.

They sell a medley of different items, such as funky clothing, figurines, jewelry, and gems. I always leave Heady Teddy’s with at least one pack of incense because they have such enticing scent choices.

12. LIKWID

View of the signage and entryway of blue LIKWID building — *Blue LIKWID building*

View of the t-shirts and skateboards displayed inside the store — *T-shirts and skateboards for sale inside*

While I don’t know how to skateboard myself, I have plenty of friends who partake in the sport and they all love to pop into LIKWID when they’re in New Paltz. The store has skateboards/gear for both adults and children. The friendly staff is very knowledgeable and they can be super helpful for beginner skaters.

Besides the boards themselves, LIKWID has lots of skater-style clothing and accessories. One thing to keep in mind is that the store does include a smoke shop inside, so you may want to skip it if that makes you uneasy.

13. The Bakery

View of the brick walled exterior of The Bakery — *The Bakery tucked away behind the greenery*

The Bakery was one of my mom’s favorite spots to bring my friends and I as a child. Back then, the upstairs section was a play space for young ones to have fun while their parents caught up with each other.

These days, it’s been converted into more of a restaurant space, but it still is very family-friendly. As its name suggests, The Bakery has endless yummy confections to choose from as well. My default choice is their flaky almond croissant and rainbow cookies.

14. Water Street Market

The colorful sculptures outside the Water Street Market — *Sculptures in front of Water Street Market*

The Water Street Market is like a tinier version of New Paltz inside the town itself. The shopping center features 23 different stores within the same complex and there’s a big variety here. The market has a record shop, a pet boutique, a wine bar, and even a lingerie store.

I tend to gravitate towards the Antiques Barn with its treasure trove of jewelry, glassware, and clothing. I’m also very fond of the small-batch ice cream from The Udder Place, specifically the coffee cookie crunch flavor. Plus, they have vegan options!

***

As you can see, there is an abundance of fun things to do in New Paltz even though it’s a relatively small town. That’s why I easily consider it one of the best towns in New York by a landslide.

Looking for more activities nearby? Check out my complete list of the best things to do in the Hudson Valley next.