The Great Northern Catskills of Greene County: Good Food, Great People, Gorgeous Views Fall is here and that means a journey to scenic Greene County, brimming with life. The view from the top of the Hunter Mountain Scenic Skyride For more than 30 years, I have been hiking, camping, swimming and traversing the Catskill Mountains in New York’s majestic Hudson …
Continue reading
The History and Beauty of New York State Parks
The History and Beauty of New York State Parks The splendor of New York State is all within reach — thanks to Amtrak. Saratoga Spa State Park | Photo courtesy of NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Movie stars, rappers, presidents, jam bands, television shows, and tragedies. The many connections to American culture – old and new – …
Continue reading
Hyde Park NY: History at Every Turn
Editor’s Note: New York by Rail updated this past blog experience to include current information. Halfway between Albany and New York City lies the historic town of Hyde Park, New York. Best known as the hometown of President Franklin Roosevelt, and his equally famous wife, Eleanor, the town is actually bursting with interesting historic sites of national importance. When I visited, I [...] Continue reading
Surprises And Delights Abound in Westchester County
The High Line is first and foremost a park, with green space, areas for children to play, tai chi classes, joggers, strollers and many places to simply hang out and watch the world go by.
Continue reading
Miss New York’s Visit to the Great Northern Catskills of Greene County
Exploring the Great Northern Catskills of Greene County with Miss New York With its natural splendor and memorable can’t-miss spots, Great Northern Catskills of Greene County makes the Empire State proud. On a beautiful, sunny Friday morning, I embarked on a journey to the Great Northern Catskills of Greene County, to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Hudson-Athens Lighthouse. I …
Continue reading
Walkway Over the Hudson: A Great Day Trip
As a former resident of the Hudson Valley and current resident of New York City, the longing for days of bucolic serenity are encountered more often than not. With Labor Day approaching, I began to research a day-trip getaway to escape the encroaching tourist chaos before coming across an obvious choice.
Continue reading
Experience the Solar Eclipse with Amtrak
All aboard for this once in a lifetime event in Buffalo, Rochester, Niagara Falls and more. By Charles Fulco and Amanda Pleper-Wetmore This blog was provided exclusively to New York By Rail by Charles Fulco, NASA Solar System Ambassador and Teacher, Brooklyn Friends School and Amanda Pleper-Wetmore, President, Brooklyn Friends School Astronomy Club in collaboration with other BFSAC students. Hey, …
Continue reading
Things to Do in New Paltz: An Insider’s Guide
New Paltz Restaurants, Hiking and Attractions Editor’s Note: New York by Rail updated this past blog experience to include current information. Picture a groovy small town with mountainous landscapes and a caring community. Right in New York’s Hudson Valley, about a 20-minute drive from the Poughkeepsie Train Station is the picturesque town of New Paltz. Home to the State University of New [...] Continue reading
Kingston, NY: Touring Ulster County’s Cosmopolitan City.
Editor’s Note: New York by Rail updated this May 2023 blog experience to include current information. KINGSTON, NY:Touring Ulster County’s Cosmopolitan Center By Olivia Abel Everyone focuses on something different when you mention Ulster County, NY. Some people coo: “Oh, the stone houses.” Others immediately think about the county’s stunning natural beauty. The Shawangunk Ridge, home of world-class rock climbing …
Continue reading
New York Breweries, Craft Beer and Beverage Trails Worth Visiting
This blog has been updated to reflect current information Saranac Matt Brewing Company Central New York Distance from Utica Station (UCA): 1.3 miles The Saranac Matt Brewing Company is a must-see destination in Utica. Located right in Central New York, and under the leadership of the fourth generation of the Matt family, the Saranac Matt Brewing Company serves a vast variety …
Continue reading
Rye Playland: A Historic Amusement Park with All-New Attractions
Rye Playland has been a beloved part of my life for decades. When I was a child growing up in southern Westchester, part of my birthday celebration each June included taking a few friends to the art deco amusement park nestled on the Long Island Sound. This celebration kicked off the summer season. Our first ride at Playland was always …
Continue reading
CATSKILL, NY: Art, the river, a vibrant Main Street—and the best pierogis around.
I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I headed to Catskill, NY for a recent visit. I knew that the former industrial village, perched on the hilly shores of the Catskill Creek, right where it empties into the mighty Hudson River, has undergone a renaissance in recent years. Of course, former manufacturing hubs morphing into cute, urban-chic tourist destinations [...] Continue reading
Woodstock: A Peaceful Getaway
This blog has been updated to include new information. A town built on the arts, community and tourism, Woodstock, NY enriches the senses and generates a sense of place with its vast history. With plenty of things to do and sites to visit, Woodstock surely does not disappoint. During a recent visit I made to the Ulster County town that [...] Continue reading
A Walking Tour of Poughkeepsie
Poughkeepsie Train Station, home to Amtrak Editor’s Note: New York by Rail updated this past blog experience to include current information. Designed by the same team that crafted Grand Central Terminal, the Poughkeepsie Train Station is a gateway to the history, arts and culinary offerings of the Queen City. Opened in 1918, the station is perched just off Main Street near the Hudson …
Continue reading
NY Maple Weekend
Editor’s Note: New York by Rail updated this past blog experience to include current information. Visit the farms of New York’s maple sugarmakers during Maple Weekend! During Maple Weekend, which actually takes place over two weekends, March 18-19 and March 25-26, almost 150 maple producers, farms, and sites across New York open to the public to share how maple syrup is made from …
Continue reading
Rhinebeck Country Charm
Editor’s Note: New York by Rail updated this past blog experience to include current information. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ol9wi25CEAw Upstate adventures are a breath of fresh air, especially for those coming from the hustle and bustle of New York City. It is the perfect opportunity to catch your breath and unwind. Let Rhinebeck be your ultimate escape during any season. After a quick hour and …
Continue reading
Greene County: Fall Fun in the Great Northern Catskills
Greene County of the Great Northern Catskills, is a place for art and scenic beauty. A place the Romantics would easily refer to as the Sublime. You can say it lives up to its name, situated within the Catskill Mountain range, surrounded by greenery. But even Greene County eventually turns red, yellow and orange. I had escaped into the Great …
Continue reading
Greene County: Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival
Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival in the Great Northern Catskills When I think about highlights from a recent trip I took to Greene County, New York, I struggle to determine which of these favorite things was my favorite, favorite thing. There was the Reuben Egg Roll at the Old Factory Brewing Company in Cairo; and homemade cinnamon doughnut at the Catskill …
Continue reading
East Durham: Ireland in the Catskills
The Great Northern Catskills are home to its own little piece of Ireland The rolling green fields, friendly folks and Irish pride can make you feel like you’ve boarded a plane and landed on the Emerald Isle for an extended visit. You have instead found your pot of gold in the Great Northern Catskills—East Durham to be precise. And with …
Continue reading
Discover New Rochelle: Restaurants, Parks, and Attractions
Visit New Rochelle for a fantastic dining experience, gorgeous parks and exciting attractions, all right outside of New York City. If you’ve ever visited Westchester County, you know it’s a perfect, easy getaway destination. With its close proximity to New York City and its sweeping views of the Hudson River or the Long Island Sound, visiting Westchester is convenient and [...] Continue reading
The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze at Van Cortlandt Manor
Witness more than 7,000 spooky, hand-carved pumpkins illuminate the grounds at The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze at the historic Van Cortlandt Manor.
Continue reading
Family Fun in the Great Northern Catskills of Greene County
The Great Northern Catskills of Greene County is certainly a region of New York that stays true to its name. Entering the county is a lush sea of greenery. The Catskill Mountains and their various creeks and streams follow you everywhere you go. Just walking or driving down the street is an unforgettable, scenic masterpiece. As a nature lover and [...] Continue reading
Kingston: Touring the Historic District
The history of Kingston, NY emanate from its tall, industrial-era buildings and far beyond this community’s borders with deep roots in America’s beginnings.
Continue reading
Breweries and Things to Do in the Catskills
Editor's Note: New York by Rail updated this 2017 blog experience to include current information. Traveling has always been something that I've wanted to do. As a student I was lucky to have traveled abroad, studying English literature and psychology, on top of interning with two independent publishing companies in London, England. Amidst catching the tube to different pubs, museums, and [...] Continue reading
Bannerman Castle: Exploring Pollepel Island
Editor's Note: New York by Rail updated this Aug. 2020 blog experience to include current information. There are many sights from an Amtrak window seat. Whether passing by the Palisades or West Point, the eye-catching views constantly remind passengers how amazing train travel can be. For example, riding Amtrak, between Croton-Harmon (CRT) and Poughkeepsie (POU), the train passes the famous Bannerman Castle, [...] Continue reading
Visiting Hudson’s Olana State Historic Site
High above the Hudson Valley, in Columbia County, New York, sits a mansion that encapsulates so much of what defines the region, draws people to visit and keeps them here to live. With commanding views of the Hudson River, Olana State Historic Site is towering in its presence and inspiring with its design. A landmark like no other, a point [...] Continue reading
Travel with Pets on Amtrak: Tips & Guidelines
Don’t leave your furry friend at home this #holiday season! Make a reservation to #travel with your pet on @Amtrak. #travelingwithpets #petsonamtrak #amtrakpets #holidaytraveling
Continue reading
Exploring the Great Outdoors: A First-Timer at Windham Mountain Bike Park
Editor's Note: New York by Rail updated this October 2018 blog experience to include current information. On Saturday, June 20 Windham Mountain opened its bike park for visitors again, after a long few months at home. Windham Mountain is closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation with increased protocols to ensure the health and safety of guests. The bike park is only open [...] Continue reading
Traveling on Amtrak Amid COVID-19
Please note: Mackenzie Martinelli is the daughter of New York By Rail publisher, Tom Martinelli. Traveling during a pandemic would provoke uncertainty or even fear for most, but when it is your supposed graduation weekend and you do not have a suitable car, traveling via Amtrak is still a good and safe option. My college graduation from the University at Buffalo [...] Continue reading
A Weekend in Port Jervis
A city in Orange County, Port Jervis sits at the confluence of New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, surrounded by forest, soft hills, and valleys.
Continue reading
The Adirondack
From Manhattan Island to the Île de Montréal, the Adirondack Amtrak train travels one of the most scenic routes in the world.
Continue reading
How the City of Yonkers Won an Amtrak Stop
An Amtrak stop for Yonkers, New York? It made sense. After all, Yonkers is the largest municipality in Westchester County and the fourth largest city in the state, with 200,000 residents.
Continue reading
Five Special Spring Festivals
Spring has sprung, and festivals across New York are celebrating! Need another reason to get away for a weekend? Here are fun events you can take Amtrak to.
Continue reading
Celebrating New York Maple Weekend
Visit maple producers across NY to learn about the sugarmaking process, its traditions and taste pure maple syrup in its many forms – right from the source!
Continue reading
Enjoying the Ride at Rye Playland
Playland is the ideal park for a fun family day and everyone else. With the variety of child and thrill rides, on-site and waterfront dining options and attractions like the beach, pool, concerts and Friday fireworks, Playland is unlike any other New York amusement park.
Continue reading
Escape to Southern Ulster County
Ulster County is the perfect getaway from New York City. Just 90 miles north and a 1.5-hour Amtrak train ride from Manhattan, this 250,000-acre rural playground has it all. With opportunities to bike and hike across the Walkway Over the Hudson or along the county’s 350 miles of trails, rock climb at Shawangunk Ridge, sample farm-to-table restaurants and shop at [...] Continue reading
Train Pals!
Picture a crowded commuter train, everyone absorbed in their phones, tablets and newspapers. Not so on the Empire Line’s 5:47 p.m. train from Penn Station to Rhinecliff! It’s party time with your train pals!
Continue reading
Hudson River Train Tour: Castles, Lighthouses, Mansions and More
The free Hudson River Train Tour app is part travel guide and part audio tour. It helps you plan visits to the historic, natural and cultural attractions located near Hudson Valley train stations.
Continue reading
Fun & Gaming at New York’s Newest Resort Casinos
From poker rooms with a high-stakes hush to a hall of buzzing slot machines searching for Lady Luck, New York’s newest casinos are taking gaming entertainment to new levels.
Continue reading
Happy 50th Anniversary Empire Service!
The Empire Service has not only survived the ups and downs of the last half-century but also become a mainstay among New York rail-travelers. What the future holds for intercity service in Upstate New York is hard to predict, but hopefully, the high-speed rail service will continue to serve the public.
Continue reading
Discover New York’s Museums with Don Wildman
Greetings, fellow travelers! Thanks for joining me on my sprawling journey to New York’s amazing collection of museums. I’ve embarked – with the generous help of New York By Rail and I Love New York – on a statewide odyssey to explore the astonishing depth and breadth of a distinctive collective community — New York’s museums, learning a few of the remarkable things they have to teach along the way.
Continue reading
Ask a Local – Hudson Valley
Sari Botton moved to the Hudson Valley in 2005. As a writer living in Kingston, she is editorial director for the nonprofit TMI Project, which offers storytelling workshops, and runs Kingston Writers’ Studio.
Continue reading
Barn Dance at Kaatsbaan International Dance Center
Kaatsbaan International Dance Center | Photo by Jaqi Medlock Great art takes time. But, especially in New York City, time is money. That’s what led a group of New York-based dancers and choreographers to the realization that rising rents were having a detrimental effect on the state of American dance.
Continue reading
Bald Eagles on the Hudson
Watching the world go by your window is part of what makes riding Amtrak so pleasurable. This is especially true when the scenery includes the Hudson River and surrounding woodlands. It’s such a relaxing view that it can lull you into dreaming—unless you’re searching for Bald Eagles on the Hudson. Surprising to many train travelers, Bald Eagles live along the …
Continue reading
A Day Trip to Columbia County
Columbia County has it all; cozy boarding, Broadway-style musicals, classic American BBQ, historic landscapes and mansion to explore and much more!
Continue reading
Amber Waves – Craft Beverage Industry in NYS
Craft beers, cider and spirits return to New York State. Think of American alcoholic beverages, and chances are your mind wanders West, to Colorado’s mountains, Kentucky’s pot stills and St. Louis’s breweries—toward endless Midwestern fields of grain. But it wasn’t always that way. In the early 1900s, New York State was a leader in brewing cider and beer and distilling spirits. …
Continue reading
New York’s Top Craft Breweries and Distilleries
New York’s travel expert Josiah Brown, aka the New York Sherpa, lists some of his favorite craft breweries reachable with Amtrak and Enterprise.
Continue reading
9 Things to do Around Memorial Day Weekend
Memorial Day is right around the corner, and even though it lands on a dreaded Monday this year, there are still plenty of New York State events ready to kick off the summer with a burst of American Spirit! From celebrations of American music and its icons to locally sourced food at top-tier restaurants and breweries, this Memorial Day should be a time to remember!
Continue reading
9 Ways to Celebrate the Arrival of Spring
With the wacky weather this year, it looks like the warm weather is finally here to stay. Tulips will be seen peeking from the ground and the sun making its way from behind the clouds. It’s time to head outdoors and embrace all this newfound beauty. Fortunately, there are a number of events throughout New York State accessible via Amtrak …
Continue reading
Baseball Stadiums reachable via Amtrak
Whether you’re a hardcore sports fanatic or someone who is simply looking for a fun outdoor event, baseball games are an exciting experience for the whole family. You’re not tied down to only sitting on the bleachers, however. You may also enjoy some of the other recreational activities offered by the stadiums, or visit the Baseball Hall of Fame in …
Continue reading
See Incredible New York Landmarks on Amtrak
What’s That? | NY Landmarks | New York By Rail Have you ever looked out the window of a train and seen a beautiful building or landmark fly by? On Amtrak routes across New York, there are many impressive sights that will catch your eye!
Continue reading
Your March Madness Survival Guide
March is known as a month of “madness.” Luckily, we’re here to help you escape this maddening time of year! New York isn’t totally overwhelmed by the fever of basketball this year, so there’s no shortage of things to distract you from the constant barrage of tournaments! There are many fun, eclectic events this March—all accessible by Amtrak. Get ready to enjoy days filled …
Continue reading
Amtrak’s “Great Dome” Car Returns!
Ride Amtrak’s “Great Dome” Car This Fall! For a limited time this fall, The Amtrak Great Dome car has returned to New York. This annual tradition allows passengers to see the leaves change, the beautiful bodies of water flow and the major cities of New York all while comfortable in a train car. PHOTO FROM ELEVATION MAP LOGS Amtrak Great Dome …
Continue reading
