Travel in city Woodstock

The Feathers Hotel in Woodstock reopens as an Experience Oxfordshire Ambassador Partner, enhancing local tourism and supporting the county’s visitor economy.

As dynamic and exciting as New York City is, America's biggest and boldest metropolis can feel a little overwhelming — and crowded — at times. Fortunately, you'll find an array of bucolic yet sophisticated towns relatively close by.

Jul 3, 2024 • 11 min read

Nestled just 120 miles north of Manhattan, New York’s Catskills beckon with rolling storybook farmland, dome-shaped mountain peaks, and enchanting towns steeped in both history and creativity. The region is vast and magnetic thanks to scenic vistas, cascading waterfalls, and ever-evolving havens for city escape artists and nature enthusiasts alike. Here, purpose-driven farms offer roadside stands, while chic lodges blend seamlessly with historic villages revitalized by artistic flair. Galleries and small boutiques dot the landscape, showcasing a creative scene fueled by urban transplants and locals alike.

To see where Cape Town's cool kids hang out, stop by the Pot Plant Club. Set amid the Victorian row houses on trendy Bree Street, the boutique, cofounded by Salik Harris in 2022, doubles as a social club for locals, who linger at the shop's café and rifle through racks of oversized jackets and denim. The emporium's collection includes emerging labels like Asa Sadan, the Paint Company, and Yarns Worldwide alongside Harris's own streetwear brand, Leaf Apparel. All were founded by talents from the Cape Malay community, a South African ethnic group with a huge impact on the city's cultural life.

During this holiday season, media outlets aren’t the only ones that are publishing gift guides. Tourism boards and attractions are also curating lists of recommendations for products and services reflecting what their destinations have to offer visitors.

If there's one thing New York City does better than most other US destinations, it's overloading the senses.