New Paltz is a charming town of 14,000 in Ulster County, NY west of the Hudson River that dates back to 1678. The main street has a large number of charming local stores, cafes and restaurants.
I enjoyed:
Water Street Market: This is a small collection of 20 boutiques, galleries and restaurants along with a theater and other services in downtown New Paltz at 10 Main St.
Historic Huguenot Street: This is a National Historic Landmark District that includes the DuBois Fort, a colonial stone house that is now the visitors center. Huguenot St. is the oldest authentic museum street in the US and dates back to 1677. The area was settled by French Huguenots. There are a number of historic stone houses and a reconstructed 1717 French Church. My Grandmother was a DuBois who settled here, so it was a treat visiting the old family homestead for the first time!
Unfortunately the restaurant I enjoyed has since closed. But other recommendations I read about include Main Street Bistro for their award-winning breakfasts and The Station at 5 Main St. for Italian specialties.
Also recommended is Lagusta’s Luscious Commissary at 11 Church St. This is a vegan-vegetarian cafe also serving coffee, tea drinks and sweets. A Tavola Trattoria is popular for Italian specialties using locally sourced ingredients at 46 Main St. For cocktails and local beers, Huckleberry is the place to go. 21 Church St.
If you have the time, you might plan a visit to the Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art at SUNY New Paltz.
To stay in the area, the Hasbrouck House in nearby Stone Ridge is a lovely inn. The Mohonk Mountain House is an historic property from 1869 and is a National Historic Landmark. It is a large resort with many rooms along with a spa and restaurants. They feature many special events throughout the year including music, art workshops, dance classes plus food and wine tastings, demonstrations and workshops.
I also just read that The Inn at Kettleboro is a lovely place to stay. It is located in historic home originally built in 1830. The inn opened in 2014 after an extensive renovation. It is located on 12-acres of apple and peach trees and offers beautiful views of the Shawangunk Mountains.
With many artists in the area, you might enjoy the Woodstock – New Paltz Arts & Crafts Fair at the Ulster County Fairgrounds each Memorial Day and Labor Day Weekend.
