Upstate New York/Upper Hudson River Valley Weekend
 

My wife and I live in New Jersey in the NYC area. Looking for a quick, relaxing getaway in late March/early April that is a short drive. Shopping, eating and scenery will be the main focus.

I'm not sure whether I should target:

a) the Hudson River Valley: Rhinebeck, Nyack, New Paltz, Hudson and similar towns in that region.
or
b) bigger destinations like Lake George or Saratoga.

Can anyone tell me when the main benefits/drawbacks are to each area?

I'd like to get a good deal on a hotel in a beautiful area where there is enough stuff to keep us busy. Bed and breakfasts are fine as long as they are somewhat modern.

Any guidance would be appreciated as I am completely unfamiliar with both of these regions.

I'll let others chime in about a) Hudson valley

About Saratoga and Lake George.

LG: Late March much of the lake will still be frozen over - the ice has been thick enough to drive on and it's still well below freezing now with 2 weeks left in March. You could visit the area for part of a day, drive up Prospect Mtn for view of the lower half of the lake, but most of the area will be very sleepy. If you wanted to take a longer hike with a view there are several good / accessible mountains with great views.

Saratoga: There's always things to do in 'toga and it has a bunch of hotels, B&Bs (not all open yet), and a gazillion restaurants all within walking distance. The best located hotel is the Hampton Inn.

Here's my typical weekend in Saratoga.
Saturday - farmers market, walk in Spa Park. This weekend I may snowshoe, but hopefully in a few weeks that season will be done... Many miles of easy trails through the park, some trails past mineral springs where you can sample the waters. If you like yoga there are several nice studios in town. Numerous shops - clothing stores, gourmet food stores. Not an antiques destination. I could give you some restaurant reco's depending on your budget and taste. After dinner there's live music at 5-10 locations ranging from duets to rock bands to Irish dancing. A bunch of bars ranging from plastic cups with Coors light, to 16 tab beer pubs, to more elegant wine /cocktail bars.

Sunday - there's another farmers market. There are several museums in town: Horse racing, dance, and autos plus a military museum are the main ones. There's a new 1st run movie theater right in town, and nearby 15-20min away are historic revolutionary war battlefield sites if you're into history.

So a good weekend could be stay in Saratoga, visit LG for a side trip (~30min away).

visit http://www.saratoga.com/events/ for a list of events.

You might want to take a look at my trip report entitled 10 days on the East Coast that deals mainly with our short stay in the Hudson Valley; click on my name to find it.

You're going awfully early. Trees may be in bud at most - but perhaps not even that - no leaves or flowers and grass still not green. I think you need to be about a month later to get nice scenery.

How 'bout Cooperstown?

I went to Cooperstown just last year, with maybe 50 years between visits. The visit is more interesting in theory than in reality. They have many political correct exhibitions and the hall of inductees with the plaques left me cold. Charming town, however.

Cooperstown is a lot more than the Hall of Fame. Opera, Farmer's Museum and Art Museum.