Thank you to Ulster County Tourism for sponsoring today’s post on the best things to do in Woodstock NY! As always, all thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.
Anyone that knows me in “real life” (i.e. not just on internet) likely knows that I’m a bit of a history buff.
There’s something about studying the past that just draws me in unlike anything else.
That’s one of the main reasons I was so excited to visit Woodstock NY.
Though I’ve obviously heard of the 1969 Woodstock Music & Arts Fair that took place in nearby Bethel, NY, I actually didn’t know much about the town the festival was named after when I first got to Woodstock.
It was after experiencing the vibrant culture and learning more about the historical meaning of the Woodstock Music & Arts Fair that I really grew to adore Woodstock NY in a way I could never have expected.
Here’s our ultimate guide to some of the best things to do in Woodstock NY that we’ve put together after spending a day exploring Tinker Street and the surrounding areas in Woodstock:
P.S. Make sure you check out these 7 Things to Do in the Catskills too, to get the absolute most out of your trip to the Hudson Valley/Ulster county!
Where is Woodstock NY?
Before we dive into some of the best things to do in Woodstock NY, we of course have to review where this iconic town is located.
Woodstock NY is part of Ulster County, lying within the borders of Catskill Park.
So if you’re taking a trip to the Catskill Mountains, Woodstock NY absolutely needs to be on your itinerary!
Woodstock is also only located a little over two hours outside of New York City, making it the perfect weekend destination for city dwellers.
Related: The 12 Most Unique Things to Do in Saratoga Springs
Things to Do in Woodstock NY
Go Shopping on Tinker Street
Of all the shopping we did while in Ulster County, I enjoyed spending time on Tinker Street the most.
Tinker Street is a great shopping area in Woodstock, and I took home so many great finds — vintage postcards, a gorgeous pink baja hoodie, a cool Woodstock Music & Arts Festival longsleeve, to name a few.
There’s so much art and music in this town that makes it a wonderful place to explore.
Visit One of the Amazing Woodstock Restaurants
As if the music, shopping, and overall atmosphere of Woodstock wasn’t enough, Woodstock NY is also known for its numerous delicious, fresh eateries.
One of our favorite Woodstock restaurants was Tinker Taco Lab, which was an awesome find on Tinker Street.
The food was incredibly fresh, and the topping variations made each taco entirely unique.
I would come back here again in a heartbeat!
I would also love to revisit this town to try out some of the other Woodstock restaurants in the area.
We saw a variety of juice bars, breakfast shops, vegan bakeries, etc. that all looked tasty.
I’m particularly interested in hitting up The Green Palate for some organic vegan cuisine, as well as Little Apple for some cold pressed juice.
I’m so sad I couldn’t make it to more restaurants while I was in town…but I guess that just means we need to start planning another trip back!
Related: Live Like Gatsby in This 1920s Era Glens Falls Hotel
Visit Karma Triyana Dharmachakra Tibetan Buddhist Monastery
Visiting the Buddhist monastery in Woodstock was something that I really wanted to do, but didn’t ultimately have time for during this trip.
I wanted to add it to this guide though, because it’ll for sure be on my list the next time I’m in town!
I love that you can do monastery tours on the weekend and pair it with a meditation lesson.
I’ve always had a hard time meditating, so I’d love to tour this peaceful place and learn more about the Buddhist practice.
Not to mention, the grounds look absolutely beautiful.
Just check out some of the beautiful images online of this place, and you’ll totally understand why it’s worth a visit.
Road Trip to the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts (1.5 Hour Drive)
Are you down for a road trip?
If so, make sure you hop in the car and head to the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts while you’re in Woodstock.
It’s a bit of a drive, but it’s totally worth it to be able to visit the Museum at Bethel Woods, which is situated on the actual site of the 1969 Woodstock Music & Art Fair (remember, Woodstock didn’t actually take place in Woodstock, NY, but about 1.5 hours away in Bethel, NY!).
I loved getting to experience the town of Woodstock (too many great shops and restaurants to pass up), but it was still important to me to make it to the site where Woodstock actually happened.
How cool to actually get to step foot on the grounds?!
Related: 5 Reasons Why Gore Mountain is Must See
I have to say, Woodstock, NY totally exceeded my expectations.
There is way more to this town than I could have expected, and I’m definitely looking forward to coming back here the next time I’m in Ulster County.
Have you ever been to Woodstock, NY or Tinker Street? Don’t forget to head over to the Ulster County Tourism site to explore even more options of things to do in Woodstock, NY and Ulster County!
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