15 Fall Foliage Getaways from NYC

It’s clear from the outset that Kinsley is a beautiful hotel, fit for guests who expect more than unblemished greige carpeting from their stays. Backed by developers CBSK Ironstate, its fresh decor (the hotel is housed in a former State of New York bank building from the 1860s, and needed a high-touch reno) is the masterful work of the New York-based Studio Robert McKinley, a design firm known for its sophisticated, if slightly bubbly, spaces; think: solid-wood midcentury credenzas; ivory-and-maroon checkered hallway carpeting; deep red oriental rugs; white-as-the-driven-snow Frette linens; a bar that just looks like it makes a delicious, complex cocktail (and boy, does it); and a top-tier selection of art, dispersed all around the space. In short, good looks are a cornerstone of the project. The 42-room hotel, restaurant, and cocktail bar are all part of a collection of four architecturally distinct buildings, tastefully restored from the 17th to 19th centuries. That said, don’t miss the on-site dining at the Kinsley, where the seasonal, New American menu comes courtesy of famed Freemans restaurateur (and possible pickling genius) Taavo Somer, or the bar, where you’ll find unfussy, albeit complex cocktails in an intimate, well-lit space. Kingston, in many ways, feels like Brooklyn—if Brooklyn wanted a hit of fresh air. You’ll find the same kooky, slightly off-beat vintage shops and artfully spare apothecaries lined with overpriced tinctures, along with the same bushy beards and blunt bangs plastered on the folks that frequent them. —Betsy Blumenthal, Condé Nast Traveler contributor

Fall festivities: The on-site restaurant offers autumn dishes like roasted squash and apple-stuffed pork tenderloin; you can also enjoy craft cocktails made with apple cider and local spirits in the chic, historic setting. Off-property, visit Kingston’s farmers market, where you can pick up seasonal produce and handmade fall goods; take a quick drive to Olana State Historic Site, the home of late artist Frederic Edwin Church, for a hike and sweeping views of the Hudson Valley’s fall foliage. Hudson River Maritime Museum will give you a peek into the region’s history, then enjoy a scenic riverfront walk for even more fall colors.

How to get there: Around a two-hour drive or a two-hour Metro-North train ride to Kingston from Grand Central. The town is walkable, so the train is a convenient option for this urban-meets-rural getaway in the heart of the Hudson Valley.