New Paltz Between History, Art and the Rail Trail

New Paltz combines a route through the Wallkill Valley with insights into the history of an American settlement, an art museum and a shopping village with independently operated shops. For your trip, you can choose between outdoor activity, historical topics and art—or make these different interests the focus of your stay.

Walk or Cycle the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail

The Wallkill Valley Rail Trail section begins in New Paltz and runs 13 miles north. Its surface is stone dust; the trail is suitable for walkers and cyclists of all ages and abilities. If outdoor activity matters to you, this route offers a specific focus for planning your trip. The stated length helps you take the section into account when planning your day, without implying a walking or cycling time.

Huguenot History and the Beginnings of the Hudson Valley

On tours of Historic Huguenot Street, visitors explore the multicultural history of a unique American settlement now known as New Paltz, New York. Historic Huguenot Street is a National Historic Landmark District with seven unique early-18th-century stone houses. The settlement’s historical context and the houses give this visit a different focus from an outing on the Rail Trail: here, history and architectural heritage take center stage.

The reconstructed 1717 French Church also presents two interconnected historical themes: the multicultural beginnings of the Hudson Valley and the history of the persecution of Huguenots in France. If these topics particularly interest you, you can distinguish between the settlement’s history, the stone houses and the themes surrounding the church when choosing experiences for your trip. This makes clear that New Paltz offers more than a single historical perspective.

Art in Six Galleries

The Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art at the State University of New York at New Paltz has more than 9,000 square feet of exhibition space across six galleries. Its permanent collection includes more than 6,000 works of art from around the world and spans a period of more than 4,000 years. The collection thus combines an international perspective with a long historical span. Art lovers will find a distinct cultural focus for their stay here.

In addition to the permanent collection, the temporary exhibition program features exhibitions, installations and projects by internationally recognized artists. It also includes annual thematic exhibitions by artists from the region. The collection and changing program offer different ways to engage: one brings together works of art from around the world spanning more than 4,000 years, while the other combines international artists with annual themed exhibitions by regional artists. When deciding on your trip, you may therefore also consider whether you are more interested in the long-term collection or the different forms of the temporary program.

A Shopping Village for a Different Note

Water Street Market in New Paltz is a European-inspired shopping village with independently operated shops. This adds a distinct focus to the historical and artistic themes: browsing shops that are independently run. The Rail Trail, historic sites, museum and shopping village appeal to different interests; you can decide which of these sides of New Paltz makes it especially appealing for your stay.

Which Experiences Should Guide Your Accommodation Choice?

When choosing a vacation rental or vacation home in New Paltz, your preferred travel style may be the deciding factor: Would you mainly like to set aside time for the Rail Trail, explore the history of the settlement and the Hudson Valley, experience art or visit the shopping village? The offerings mentioned differ in both subject and form. These focus areas can help you determine the character of your stay without assuming any particular accommodation feature.

Other places in the same broader area: High Falls, Stone Ridge, Phoenicia, Kerhonkson, Kingston, Accord, Highland and Hurley.

See the broader trip overview: Ulster.