New York News Today

As much as we love New York City, sometimes the best thing you can do is leave it — just for a day. The beauty of NYC is that you're a short train or bus ride from beaches, mountains, historic towns, vineyards, and some genuinely stunning scenery. You can swap skyscrapers for forests and be back in time for dinner. Whether you're a visitor wanting a change of pace or a local craving some green, here are the best day trips you can pull off without a car (mostly) and without a ton of planning. The Hudson Valley: Scenery and Small Towns Head up the Hudson River and the landscape opens into rolling hills, riverside towns, hiking trails, and some of the prettiest scenery in the Northeast — especially in autumn, when the foliage is unreal. The train ride along the river is half the experience. You'll find charming villages full of antique shops, farm-to-table restaurants, art galleries, and historic estates. It's the quintessential NYC escape. The Beaches: Sand Within Re...

You've landed. Now comes the part nobody puts on the postcard: actually getting from the airport into the city. New York is served by three major airports, each with its own quirks, and the wrong choice here can mean the difference between a smooth arrival and an hour stuck in traffic on the first day of your trip. Here's a clear, no-nonsense rundown of your options from each airport, plus how to avoid the classic first-timer mistakes. JFK: The Big International Hub JFK is the largest of the three and where most international flights land. It's out in Queens, a fair distance from Manhattan. Your best options: AirTrain + subway: Take the AirTrain to a connecting subway station, then ride into the city. It's by far the cheapest option and avoids traffic entirely, though it takes longer and involves a transfer with luggage. Taxi: There's a flat metered fare to Manhattan from JFK (plus tolls and tip). Convenient and door-to-door, but you're at the mercy of ...