I Escaped N.J. for an Early Autumn Getaway to New York State and it Cured My COVID-19 Blues
It was late summer – having spent almost all my free time chilling out on various New Jersey beaches – when the idea of an out-of-state vacation took hold. The coronavirus pandemic had squelched mine (and millions of other people’s) tentative 2020 overseas and island-hopping plans. But, as various East Coast states started opening up again, the idea of a road trip became a real possibility.
The more my wanderlust grew, the clearer my criteria became: I wanted to go somewhere easily drivable; somewhere with plenty of outdoor activities; and somewhere with a nice, clean place to stay. (An Airbnb rental apartment, as it turned out.)
After a little research that included the number of COVID cases in areas we were considering, we set our sights on Ulster County, New York, a region I’d not yet explored, nestled between the Hudson Valley and the Catskill Mountains.
This was before New York announced that New Jersey met the criteria for the Empire State’s travel advisory. While Garden State residents don’t have to quarantine if traveling to our neighboring state, New York officials “highly discourage” non-essential travel right now, until our coronavirus caseload decreases.
Luckily, I was able to fit our trip in before that was a concern. Rustic, relaxing and filled with breathtaking natural beauty, this easy getaway proved the perfect anecdote to the various stressors of 2020. Our early autumn getaway provided relaxation and beautiful scenery, with the changing fall foliage.
The charming town of Saugerties – with 400 less confirmed cases of COVID-19 than my own South Jersey community – held special appeal. Located on the west bank of the Hudson, this historic community – which, in the 1800s had a booming mill industry – now has a delightful downtown area filled with boutiques, bookstores, coffee shops, and fun restaurants. Located in the northeast corner of Ulster County, Saugerties has some great outdoor attractions, too - including the mind-blowing sculpture park called Opus 40 that proved a highlight of our visit.
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