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Your low impact staycation begins at the majestic Grand Central Station. You can do the freeze-in-place thing if you want, but just make sure you're up and running when the Metro-North train pulls in because these 11 day trips are car-free and bike-friendly.
Museums, outdoor hiking, indoor climbing, hitting the slopes, perfecting your down dog, and eating locally grown goodness--it's all just a train ride away. So bring some good reading and meet us at Grand Central to explore what we New Yorkers call "upstate"...with a little of Connecticut tossed in for good measure.
11 Ways to Take a Metro-North Staycation
1. Grand Central Terminal
Get yourself a taste of historical urban grandeur before bidding adieu to the Big Apple for a day.
2. The Rock Club
The Rock Club (TRC) is close enough to allow for a long staycation visit. From novices seeking skills to veteran climbers in search of the "radically extreme," TRC's 15,000 square feet of terrain provide about 80 climbing stations with over 200 individual routes.
Metro-North Directions: New Haven Line to New Rochelle (about 30 minutes from Grand Central, TRC provides train station pick-ups)
3. Cold Spring/Breakneck Ridge
The town of Cold Spring has something for everyone--from antiques to kayaking. Just two miles north is Breakneck Ridge, a popular hiking destination known for its panoramic views.
Metro-North Directions: Hudson Line to Cold Spring and/or Breakneck Ridge (about 53 miles from Grand Central)
4. DIA: Beacon
In 2003, Dia Art Foundation opened Dia: Beacon, a museum housed in a nearly 300,000-square-foot historic printing factory, featuring a permanent collection of major works of art from the 1960s to the present.
Metro-North Directions: Hudson Line to Beacon Station (about 59 miles from Grand Central)
5. Harriman State Park
The second largest state park in New York at 46,613 acres, Harriman is renowned for its 31 lakes, public camping area, great views, and 225 miles of hiking trails. Wildlife sightings may include deer, otters, and the occasional Timber Rattler.
Metro-North Directions: Port Jervis Line to Tuxedo Park Station (about 37 miles from Grand Central)
A diverse museum and learning center "dedicated to the visual arts as a vital force for life-long learning." Be sure to check out its Sculpture Garden and Norwegian spruce trees.
Metro-North Directions: Harlem Line to Katonah (about 41 miles from Grand Central)
7. Appalachian Trail
The nation's longest marked footpath--approximately 2,178 miles--the Appalachian Trail (AT) touches 14 states and traverses eight national forests. Ranging in elevation from 124 feet to 6,625 feet, there's only one spot on the enture AT that is accessible via railroad and fortunately for us, that railroad is Metro North.
Metro-North Directions: Harlem Line to Appalachian Trail (about 66 miles from Grand Central)
T-Ridge offers 30 trails, 3 chairlifts, a t-bar, a handtow, and a magic carpet--but don't forget to keep your skiing and snowboarding as green as possible.
Metro-North Directions: Harlem Line to Patterson Station (about 60 miles from Grand Central)
9. Harlem Valley Rail Trail
You and your two-wheeler can take the Harlem Line to its last stop to find 46 miles of bike trails--broken into six sections--that was once the northern route of the New York and Harlem Railroad. Download a map before heading up.
Metro-North Directions: Harlem Line to Wassaic (about 82 miles from Grand Central)
10. Greenwich, CT: Bruce Museum
Originally built as a private home in 1853, the Bruce Museum declares its mission as promoting "the understanding and appreciation of Art and Science to enrich the lives of all people." This includes a permanent exhibition dedicated to the environment. During summer months, the Bruce also offers a free Seaside Center.
Metro-North Directions: New Haven Line to Greenwich, CT (about 28 miles from Grand Central)
11. Greenwich Yoga
More than just two of the northeast's best yoga facilities, Greenwich Yoga also offers a food co-op, a holistic center, and an organic café built entirely of eco-friendly materials--from shelving constructed from plant stalks to drinking straws made from corn. Be sure to tell Gina and Stan that Mickey Z. sent you.
Metro-North Directions: New Haven Line to Greenwich, CT (about 28 miles from Grand Central)
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