What’s not to love about this quaint charming little village just minutes away from NYC?
If looking for a quick day trip Cold Spring NY is about and hour and twenty-minute ride on the Metro North out of Grand Central station. More than enough running times on the schedule to head out early and get home later in the evening. Makes for a perfect easy getaway to explore this wonderful little town.
Quick walk from the train station so no cars are needed. Information desk is right there at the start of Main Street to pick up a map, and public bathrooms too.
Idyllic setting right on the water. Wonderful views all around and terrific when the leaves are changing. Great location for taking some beautiful pics along the Hudson River.
Walking Main Street is like a trip to a past time. Local boutiques, specialty shops along the way, a few eateries, and the area is very clean and safe. Feels like it’s a small town set back in the 1950’s. Seems like many of the businesses knew the locals who dropped in.

If you like antique shopping there are a bunch of great stores here to rummage through. One of the shops we dropped into was huge. I mean, it was like a maze. Room after room filled with items of all kinds – jewelry, toys, collectables, furniture, housewares, clothes, and so many other long forgotten and hard to find trinkets and tchotchkes. I could have spent hours in here just looking around and rummaging through the aisles and shelves.
If you want ice cream and ice pops there are a few spots to have some homemade cold goodness. Go Go Pops and Moo Moo’s are two that we hit, and both had some great flavors to try. Oh yeah, the inner fatty in me loved the ice cream at Moo Moo’s. That was our dessert after dinner while waiting for the train to arrive.
If you like artsy and eclectic crafty things there are places here to shop for that special gift or something for your own. Very mom and pop type with friendly service.
If you like hiking in the woods there are plenty of trails up here. On the train ride up we noticed many people with gear and backpacks ready to jump off and spend a day walking through the countryside.
Coffee shops too with tables and chairs set up on the sidewalk to chill at and people watch. There is also a pub in town if you’re craving a cold beer or cocktail.
If you want to stay overnight there are a few boutique hotels/B&B’s in town. Some might be haunted from what I heard. Cool. We are looking forward to possibly spending a night there soon with Casper, then enjoying a hot breakfast in the morning.

Most places here seem to close around 6-7 pm so plan accordingly. There’s a nice bar and good restaurant or two that stay open later for dinner. If staying late there are still trains running after 8pm to get you home so no worries. When we arrived we did lunch at Cold Spring Depot and sat outside on a nice day. By dinner time we checked out Cathryn’s Tuscan Grill for a terrific candlelit meal with great service and delicious eats.
It’s almost like being away on vacation as we couldn’t believe we were still in New York. A nice escape from the rat race of the concrete jungle. Even if it was for just one day. It’s pretty amazing with how just a short trek you can discover a whole new world right in your own backyard.
Here’s a bunch of links to the town and a few assorted Yelp reviews I penned on some spots to eat, shop, snack, and dine at –
Cold Spring NY – http://www.coldspringliving.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-village-of-cold-spring-cold-spring
Cold Spring Depot Restaurant – http://www.yelp.com/biz/cold-spring-depot-restaurant-cold-spring?ylist=cold-spring-ny-cold-spring
Cathyrn’s Tuscan Grill – http://www.yelp.com/biz/cathryns-tuscan-grill-cold-spring?ylist=cold-spring-ny-cold-spring
Cupoccino Cafe – http://www.yelp.com/biz/cupoccino-cafe-cold-spring-5?ylist=cold-spring-ny-cold-spring
Moo Moo’s Creamery – http://www.yelp.com/biz/moo-moos-creamery-cold-spring
Go Go Pops – http://www.yelp.com/biz/go-go-pops-cold-spring
Cold Spring General Store – http://www.yelp.com/biz/cold-spring-general-store-cold-spring?ylist=cold-spring-ny-cold-spring
Archipelago at Home – http://www.yelp.com/biz/archipelago-at-home-cold-spring-2?ylist=cold-spring-ny-cold-spring
I *LOVE* Cold Spring! Such a great place to visit. Another wonderful stop for the perfect day is the absolutely incredible Dia: Beacon modern art museum on the banks of the Hudson. We got an obscenely early start, did coffee & shopping in Cold Spring, took in Beacon in the afternoon, then back to Cold Spring for fabulous dinner.
Best NY day-trippin ever!
Hey Barb!
All these years living in NYC and we had never even thought about doing a day trip here. Loved it. Now we have to go back and look around more. The Dia is one thing we will hit.
Our friends lived in Pawling for a couple of years. Same area?
Hey Shelley!
Nor sure as it was our first time there. Tarrytown and Sleep Hallow are also a stop away on the train. Wonderful waterside town to hit and explore.
Sounds like fun. Kind of reminds me of Vicksburg.
Keep the adventures coming.
Patricia Rickrode
w/a Jansen Schmidt
Hey Patricia!
It’s definitely a good day trip kind of town. Enough to see and do in a day trip kind of adventure.
Looks like a nice little place, though I think I could be without a haunted B&B:) What made you visit Cold Spring in the first place?
Hey Mitzie!
We were looking to do something different on a weekend and I looked up NYC day trips. We had been to Sleepy Hallow before but noticed this town along the way and decided to check it out. Nice spot. Just enough to do and shop at in town.
Gorgeous views, arts and crafts, delicious food and treats? Yeah, I’d definitely have to stay overnight.
Hey Karen!
If you like antique and hodge-podge kinf of shops, along with some cool artsy hand crafted item kinds of shops you’d like a day trip here. Yeah, we need to do an overnight stay here too. There is a B&B right on Main Street that looks great.
Though Mathair and I have never been, my father has and he says you did a beautiful job inscribing the greatest points of Cold Spring. He’s originally from Long Island and used to visit Cold Spring all the time. Moo Moo’s Creamery would be a definite hot spot for me. lol
Hello Inion/Mathair!
So cool that your dad was there! He knows what a nice quaint town this is. Oh yeah, I need more Moo Moo’s right now!
What a wonderful place! The top picture looks like an episode I remember from the old B&W Twilight Zone show. The town was adorable—total paradise. It was called Willoboughy. THIS is the kind to town I’d love to retire in!
Hey Marcia!
It was a beautiful day when we went there. Right on the water where I took that pic is the villiage square area. There was a sweet 16 going on and they were taking pictures. Plus, the leaves were starting to change in the area. Just a terrific little town along the water. Good shopping and good eats too!
This is so me! I know I would love everything about this wonderful place. Thanks for the links!
Hey Lisa!
If you have a chance on a nice weekend day go check this quaint little town out. It’s a nice day trip spot. There are a bunch more spots I could have linked here especially some cool antique shops.