Escape from New York

© Flickr / David Berkowitz

Living in New York City can feel like you're at the center of the universe. You can order Chinese food at 3 a.m. and have your groceries delivered straight to your door. Plus, on any given night of the year, there are literally thousands of fun things to do. Still, every once in a while, after a particularly long wait for the subway, or while trudging through the rain with a broken umbrella, the charm of the city begins to wear. When it does, you can take advantage of New York's myriad of public transportation options and escape the city without renting that Zipcar.

When the need arises, hightail it out to any one these great destinations. Just check out the daily bus and train schedules and pack a book for the ride.

© Gabrielle SierraJust an hour train ride up the Hudson lies the city of Beacon, now known for its burgeoning art scene. The town itself is quite small and revolves around two main sites: Dia:Beacon and Main Street.

The Dia is one of those museum experiences that upends all previous experiences. Formerly a box printing factory for Nabisco, the actual building has floor-to-ceiling windows lining the back wall, and slanted roof slats that allow the sun to pour in. Many of the exhibit areas were created specifically for each individual piece, allowing the art to be presented in its intended form. After you have explored the museum and its grounds, grab a bite in the small café, where the menu offers locally-sourced lunch options.

Spend the remainder of the afternoon strolling down Main Street and wandering through each of the shops. Observe glassblowing at Hudson Beach Glass, buy little stocking stuffers at the local gift shops, and pick up treats for your furry friends at The Beacon Barkery. End your day with dinner at Café Amarcord for a warm bowl of pasta. Head back down toward the train station and wander around the waterfront for some last minute views of the landscape.

Mystic, CN: Holy Gastronomy

Get an early start at Port Authority for the three-hour bus ride to Mystic or splurge on an Amtrak ticket. The town of Mystic Pizza fame offers visitors much more than a hot slice, and provides the perfect antithesis to city life. Start your visit in Olde Mistik Village, a recreation of a New England colonial town. Stroll through the winding lanes and discover over 40 different shops selling food and gifts from around the world. Try the salt-water taffy and homemade fudge at Franklin’s General Store, and don’t miss the Famous Lobster Grilled Cheese at the Bleu Squid Bakery & Cheese Shop.

© Gabrielle SierraHead out of the Village and follow Route 27 toward the iconic Mystic Seaport. Just a short fifteen-minute walk and you will start seeing the sails in the harbor. Wander around the boardwalk and learn the history of the Mystic sea force. Keep an eye out for the scaffold-covered Charles W. Morgan, the oldest whaling ship in existence. As you head toward the town center make sure to examine the counterweight bridge that separates east and west Mystic. With your appetite worked up from the walk through town, visit the acclaimed Mystic Pizza shop and dig in to the local delicacy. The pizza lives up to its hype, and can rival many of the classic New York joints. If you haven’t seen the movie, don’t worry; the pizza shop has it playing on a loop.

Walk off your food coma and by ambling down Main Street, and stop for coffee at local hangout, The Green Marble. The house-brewed coffee has a cult following in Mystic, and on any given day you’ll enjoy some prime people watching opportunities. Grab a pastry to go to enjoy on the ride back to the city.

Pindar Vineyards, NY: Locavore Love

© Flickr / G. C. P. GreyJump on the Long Island Rail Road and in less than three hours you’ll arrive in Long Island wine country. Just a five-minute cab ride from the train station, Pindar Vineyards is the largest vineyard on Long Island, with over 30 years of winemaking history.

Get your drink on Sideways style in the Pindar tasting rooms, where guests can taste both red and white varieties, while learning about the wine making process. In the warmer months, the grounds are open to the public, and you can stroll through the vineyard’s backyard while enjoying the strong scent of freshly pressed grapes.

On your way out, don’t forget to stock up on bottles of wine straight from the vineyard.