Woodstock, NY

Address:Woodstock, New York

Woodstock is a small town with a big reputation, but you will be surprised at how this far away New York town can be such a fun vacation spot, especially if you enjoy art, music, and nature.

Woodstock was officially created as a township in 1787. Initially, its residences flourished in the areas of farming and quarrying, and several industries sprung up, including a glass factory, tannery, and business in tourism. However, as people began to move out as a result of the factories, Woodstock became a quieter town with little activity. In the 1900s, the pace of life quickened with the establishment of art schools and organizations, and Woodstock is still home to world renowned art galleries and performing art centers. In 1969, Woodstock earned a reputation as home to one of the most exciting periods of American popular music with the Woodstock Festival of music, even though the actual festivities did not actually take place in the town.

Woodstock puts on festivals throughout the year, as well as flea markets, and fairs. The center of activity can be found on Tinker Street, where there are a number of art galleries to visit such as the Gallery BMG, the Center for Photography at Woodstock, and The Woodstock Artist's Association, which offers ongoing exhibitions. On weekends, you can visit the Woodstock Museum. For local information and brochures, stop in at the Chamber of Commerce. Another great place to shop is Tinker Village, where you will find arts and crafts including pottery and jewelry. The town is easy to walk around, but you can rent a bike for the day from Overlook Mountain Bikes, and venture the great outdoors of Woodstock. The nightlife in Woodstock can be found at Colony Café during the weeknights, and during the weekend check out the live music at Joshua's Café.

Woodstock offers many natural and authentic choices in terms of dining. Locals love Bread Alone for fresh bread in the morning, and Taco Juan's for a Mexican lunch. For dinner, try some homemade dishes at Bluestone Country Foods, or sample the food at other local favorites, including Gypsy Wolf Cantina, Landau Grill, or Mountain Gate.

Woodstock offers several lodging options that are pleasant and have great views of the mountains. We recommend the Woodstock Inn on the Millstream, the Twin Gables Inn, or the Wild Rose Inn, which are all centrally located and offer pleasant accommodations. Nearby to Woodstock there is Barclay Heights Bed and Breakfast in Saugerties, which offers affordable packaged deals. Guest cabins are also available at Chezbevet, and vacation rentals are available for longer stays.

Woodstock is located over 2 hours away from New York City, and can be reached on the Adirondack Trailways from New York's Port Authority or off New York State Thruway 84 by car. The nearest car rental agency can be found in Poughkeepsie, but if you really want to fit in with the locals, we recommend that you rent a bike instead.