By Holly Habeck
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 my ultimate guide to some of the best attractions in Woodstock, NY that I’ve put together after spending a day exploring Tinker Street and the surrounding areas in Woodstock:
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.
Grab Tacos at Tinker Taco Lab
Who doesn’t love a good taco? Tinker Taco Lab was an awesome find on Tinker Street in Woodstock. 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 Woodstock to try out some of the other 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!
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?!
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.
