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Shortescapes.net is for everyone who likes to escape to the peace of the countryside away from cities and tourist crowds. Follow any Escape below for a beautiful walk or bike ride that will let you feel each locale's unique geography and history.

12 Great Experiences Near New York City, with More Destinations to Come

Featuring:

  • Walks and bike rides
  • Detailed directions and walking maps
  • Hotels, romantic inns and B&Bs
  • Restaurants and scenic picnic spots
  • Special places to shop
  • Historic sites

Inaugural Escapes

Here are the first dozen of many more special Experiences to come. Most are less than a 90-minute drive from a major city in New York, New Jersey or Connecticut. Each Escape has everything you need for a complete getaway for an afternoon, a day, or a weekend.

Escape 1: Piermont, N.Y. The Footpath From Gotham.
Sweeping river views, ancient forest roads, an abandoned industrial site, a picturesque village, and terrific country dining.

Escape 7: Montauk, N.Y. Cowboys & Tribes, Poachers & Spies.
Fabulous ocean and bay views; a shady forest; idyllic picnic spots; "walking" sand dunes; great beaches and restaurants; the lively Hamptons nightlife scene.

Escape 2: Hastings-on-Hudson & Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. A Walk Along the Aqueduct.
A relaxing, historic walk along  a centuries-old aqueduct that once supplied water to New York City; two old river towns with specialty  shops, galleries and restaurants.

Escape 8: New Paltz, N.Y. Battle to Save the 'Gunks.'
Excellent Hudson River Valley views, extraordinary rock formations, a serene mountain lake; top dining choices in a bustling college town.

Escape 3: Irvington-on-Hudson, N.Y. Irving's Sunnyside Home.
The home of legendary Washington Irving, a castellated mansion along the Hudson River, a unique riverside village with several dining choices.

Escape 9: Litchfield, Ct. The Land of Ethan Allen.

A preserve with wide lanes, peaceful forests, marshlands, and Connecticut's largest lake; a beautiful New England town with fine dining and shopping.

Escape 4: Pocantico Hills & Sleepy Hollow, N.Y. In the Land of Ichabod Crane.
Stunning Hudson River views, colonial footpaths in legend-filled forests, and the remains of a large riverside estate.

Escape 10: Ringwood, N.J. A Hideaway for Nature's Friends.
Spectacular views of a reservoir, mountains, and the Manhattan skyline; an undeveloped forest; old mines; an ecology center; historic B&Bs; good restaurants.

Escape 5:  Huntington, N.Y. In the Footsteps of Walt Whitman.
A walk through the peaceful forest and landscapes that inspired poet Walt Whitman; Long Island’s highest point; excellent dining.

Escape 11: Highland Lakes, N.J. After the Fiery Furnace.
Unique state-park woodlands that are home to black bears; a rain-forest-like swamp trail; remains of an iron-manufacturing town; a scenic lake for boating and fishing.

Escape 6: Shelter Island, N.Y. Shelter from the Storm.
Pristine woodlands and tidal wetlands; sandy, undeveloped beaches where Native Americans and smugglers once roamed; excellent B&Bs.

Escape 12: Morristown, N.J. The Soldier's Camp.

A Revolutionary War encampment and a museum in a national historical park; a stunning old forest;  fine country dining.

 

Inaugural International Escape

Escape 13: Carolles, France: The Peaceful Side of Mont-St.-Michel. 
A spectacular view of the legendary island of Mont-St.-Michel, a dramatic coastal walk through moors and forests where Romans and medieval monks once roamed.

Peter J. Riolo Real Estate