How much do New Yorkers need the Rx of a runaway weekend?
Restaurants to line the streets. Clubs to light up the night. Parks to soothe the senses. Therapists to ease the nerves. Theatre to delight the spirit.1.6M Manhattanites. 22 Sq. Miles. The one thing this oasis doesn't have is space.
Some are content to live their lifetime on the island. But for those of us willing to break the barrier of muddy Hudson water to the world beyond, a palette of color, bouquet of fresh air, and arm upon arms length of "wide-open" awaits.
A train to Westchester would settle stomachs for a few. A car-ride to Connecticut would quench for many. Shoot for maximum strength and head for New Hampshire.
The trees are popping with reds and yellows, lining the highway like a regiment of brightly colored soldiers whose uniforms are soon to fall. The mountains hedge the bluing sky. The smell of smoldering fire and pine is instantly nostalgic to even the most cynical among us.
The prescription of space is filled.
Chartered in 1765, North Conway has developed into a mecca for those seeking solace among the birches. Known for its year-round resorts, superior ski-slopes, and abundant outlet shopping it offers a plethora of options without a plethora of people.
Among the activities suggested are a trip to the Conway Scenic Railroad bed that stands in the center of town. The line is still active on a sleepy schedule. The rails behind the main line offer a diverse yard of historic cabooses, engines, and passenger cars. While not leaf peeping one is fascinated by the free roaming opportunity to peep into the windows of locomotive giants. Some however, have been converted into small homes. So... careful where you peep.
Outlet stores available for the rainier days include Gap, Banana Republic, J.Crew, Brookstone, Ralph Lauren, and Factory Brand Shoes (an amazing selection with unparalleled prices). Most are located at Settler's Green Outlet Village.
For a sunnier outcome hiking options are abound. Suggested is Cathedral Ledge, a well-known climbing spot with breathtaking views of the Sacco River Valley and Echo Lake below. To make a day of it take two cars and drive one to the top for instant gratification, then take the trail leading to the base. Roughly an hour and a half through old love-etched pines, rock waterfalls, and rich moss that bursts from trunks a verdant green. You'll find too an odd collection of relics sprinkled toward the base including a 1930s rusted out truck that leaves one to wonder how it arrived. The chrome on the bolts still shines in the pockets of sun that make it through the trees.
Echo Lake's placid surface and silent surround is the reward for the journey. Navigate its circumference to find a hidden path to the nearby White Mountain Hotel and Resort where you can nestle up with some hot chocolate outside on the Adirondack chairs.
The long drive home provides a buffer for reacclimating to the city, and in a day or two you'll have plunged back into the throbbing pulse. Now though, when the subway doors get stuck, when airless elevators are stuffed with coughing coworkers, and when your favorite bar has no room for it's regular guest you'll remember the journey. You'll have maintained a small sense of space in your heart -- a nostalgic injection at the right moment.
A prescription for peace in the city that never sleeps.
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