There’s never a bad time for a restorative getaway. Honestly, a temporary escape should be a basic right for every city dweller and it’s not impossible to make that a reality especially when you can get to so many great escapes via public transit. As such, we scoured New York State and the surrounding region for the dreamist destinations for touching some grass, putting your phone on Do Not Disturb, and leaving New York City behind for a little while.
From a bomber jacket factory converted into inspiring artistic lodgings right outside of NYC to riverside vintage campers in the Catskills, these 10 retreats have something for everyone—plus, no driver’s license required.
Boheme Retreats
Livingston Manor
Hidden away in an angler’s paradise on Willowemoc Creek and surrounded by 500 acres of the Catskill Forest Preserve, Boheme Retreats is breaking the RV campsite mold with its mission of inclusivity. In creating a retro escape where every traveler can truly relax in nature, owner Keva Niver is redefining the RV experience. Among the five dashing vintage campers, spaced 25 feet apart, there’s a two-person Dutchcraft named “Shirley” and a four-person trailer called “Fannie” with two full beds and a sleeping loft. Campers are equipped with full bathrooms and a kitchenette stocked with essentials. Each site has a picnic table, umbrella, fire pit, and river tubes (available on request).
Livingston Manor
Hidden away in an angler’s paradise on Willowemoc Creek and surrounded by 500 acres of the Catskill Forest Preserve, Boheme Retreats is breaking the RV campsite mold with its mission of inclusivity. In creating a retro escape where every traveler can truly relax in nature, owner Keva Niver is redefining the RV experience. Among the five dashing vintage campers, spaced 25 feet apart, there’s a two-person Dutchcraft named “Shirley” and a four-person trailer called “Fannie” with two full beds and a sleeping loft. Campers are equipped with full bathrooms and a kitchenette stocked with essentials. Each site has a picnic table, umbrella, fire pit, and river tubes (available on request).
Nearby activities: Boheme Retreats partners with Upstate D-Tours to bring guests into the town of Livingston Manor, where you could eat and shop til the sun goes down. Drop in at The Walk In for bus-worthy Buttermilk Biscuits, then visit lifestyle boutique Concrete and Water and the artsy vinyl store Jitterbug. Get lost in a good read at One Grand Books, order chocolate croissants from the Neon Croissant, and save room for The Smoke Joint’s brisket sandwich. Upstate D-Tours can also take you to Upward Brewing, the most breathtaking brewery in the Western Catskills. Cheers with a Base Camp LagerBier after a hike in the 120-acre “Beer Mountain” preserve.
How to get there via public transit from NYC: Take the ShortLine bus to Monticello, then a 20-minute Uber ride to Boheme Retreats, located in the Covered Bridge Campground. If taking the bus, contact Kiver prior to arrival.
Estimated travel time: 2 hours
