Bye-Bye Brooklyn: 6 End of Summer Getaways
Weekend Trip:
New Paltz, NY
The Shawngunk Ridge stretches up through New York State as part of the Appalachian Mountain range. Also known as “the Gunks” the mountains that comprise the Ridge are the ideal venue for hiking, horse back riding and other fun, outdoors-y activities that are not so easy to come by in Brooklyn. This area is perfect for a weekend stay because you can head over to the historic Mohonk Mountain House and feel extravagant at the money you drop there, then eat at Karma Road, a local vegetarian restaurant, and feel all pious again.
But mostly, go hiking around the Mohonk Preserve. Look across the crystalline expanse of Lake Mohonk and pray that it never gets taken over by evil duckweed like our own lake in Prospect Park. And think about how, even if the story that the name “Mohonk” comes from a Lenape Indian term for “lake in the sky” is totally apocryphal, it is at least an apt descriptor.
But then also think about how “Mohonk” probably comes from the Lenape term for “hill of bears” and look around you to make sure there aren’t any bears following you.
Getting there: Drive. It’s a couple of hours. This is why Google Maps was invented.