7 Things to Fall in Love With in New Paltz, New York

The Hudson Valley is home to so many great hometowns and no matter which one you call home, they all have something special about them. New Paltz is one of the many Hudson Valley towns that I've called home in my life and honestly, it's one of Ulster County's best towns.

If you are looking for a great place to spend a day walking around and taking in some sights not seen anywhere else, New Paltz needs to be the next place you visit as they have a little something for everyone.

Mohonk Moutain House

If you've never been, Mohonk is one of the most beautiful places in all of the Hudson Valley! Mohonk Mountain House sits atop a huge mountain overlooking the town and has been for many many years. Mohonk is a destination meeting place for many major companies, it's a beautiful wedding venue, has a golf course, and is Ulster County's largest employer!

One of a Few College Towns in the Hudson Valley

There are two or three Hudson Valley towns, depending on the time of year that has a TON of college students that call their town home. There's Marist in Poughkeepsie, Mount St Mary's in Newburgh, and of course, SUNY New Paltz. SUNY New Paltz is home to thousands of college students every semester and thanks in part to them, New Paltz's local economy thrives. Need proof? Look at Main Street, there are more restaurants and bars open than in almost every other town in the Valley. More on the great choices for food and drink are below.

Outdoor Walking and Antiquing

If you like many and enjoy a nice outdoor walk while shopping the Water Street Market is a great place to spend a few hours. They feature a bunch of different shops that offer a variety of things including antiques, arts and crafts, food, and gifts.

Bigfoot Stays at the Local Hostel

For many years New Paltz has been home to the New Paltz Hostel which offers guests the chance to stay overnight at a really cheap rate and in some cases for FREE! The Hostel is not only a place to rest your head but for many years it was home to one of the only documented Bigfoots in the Hudson Valley...LOL!

Wallkill View Farm Market

A local farmers market might not be the first place you think to go to when you're looking for bakery goods, but take our word for it, if you like pastries and pies Wallkill View Farm Market is one of the best places for sweet treats in the area. They also have great produce products and much much more. They are located on Route 299 in New Paltz.

Bars & Restaurants We've Spent Some Time At

For many years New Paltz was one of the Hudson Valleys' best nightlife towns anywhere. We mentioned it above, with New Paltz being a college town there are a ton of bars to grab drinks at. The names of some of the bars you might have spent time at include, Foley's, Murhpy's, P&G's, McGillicuddy's, Bacchus, Joe's East-West, Giffin, and Cabalossa's to name a few. Did we forget any? As far as restaurant choices go there are so many to choose from. Some of the suggestions we got from residents include Garvin's Gastro Pub, Clemson Bros Brewery, Schatzi's Pub and Bier Garden, Main Street Bistro, and Lola's Cafe.

Home to the County Fair

The Ulster County Fair is held every year at the Ulster County Fairgrounds, located at 249 Libertyville Rd, New Paltz, NY. The fairgrounds is also home to many local events every year and was home to one of the area's biggest COVID-19 vaccine distribution sites for months during the pandemic.