A Short Travel Guide to Kingston, NY

There is always a point in time when I start feeling stuck in my routine. Nothing inspires me anymore as each day merges into one, forming an unmemorable blob that drains me of my spark and energy. The solution to this typically involves exploring a new town for the weekend. A change of scenery, a splash of novelty, and a new experience revitalize me unlike any other.

Kingston, New York, is roughly a 2-hour drive from Jersey City. It is recommended that you leave while the sun is still up because the roads are pitch black, which makes navigating the freeways incredibly challenging. We had the unfortunate experience of driving after 5 p.m. in December, so the high beams were necessary at certain points of our drive up.

The consolation was grabbing dinner at the Moonburger drive-thru. This is the first Moonburger location that has since expanded to Manhattan and Brooklyn. Due to an order mix-up, I had the pleasure of trying their Impossible Burger and Classic Cheeseburger, along with a side of hot fries (the only correct order). Surprisingly, I preferred the Impossible Burger. It was full of flavor and had a nice texture to the patty. The hot fries, on the other hand, were merely fries with cayenne pepper. Nothing to shout about.

For breakfast the next day, we had to check out Moonrise Bagels to keep the running theme of moon-related eateries. Coincidentally, the day that we tried Moonrise was the same day its NYC location opened on W. 8th St. We were able to avoid ridiculously long lines for a chance of trying their signature stuffed bagels.

I ordered the bacon, egg, and cheese bagel and the aioli-based Mooney sauce recommended by the cashier.

The bagel was generously packed, at times feeling quite overwhelming due to the density of everything. Having the dipping sauce was a plus because it would be too dry otherwise. Although I enjoyed it, a stuffed bagel isn't something I would crave on a weekly or monthly basis. It was worth a try, but I prefer my bagel in a sandwich format where I get a bite of everything instead of a random bite of cheese here, and a big chunk of bacon in the next bite.

Once we were full and satisfied, we made our way to the Stockade District, a short 3-minute drive from our Airbnb. Parking was easy on a Saturday morning and free!

We spent a couple of hours walking around, exploring each store, and soaking up the small town charm. People loved asking where we were visiting from and giving us recommendations. It's one of the best things about traveling – getting recommendations from the locals.

I lost count of the stores we went into, but I'll round up my favorite spots:

Capital Vintage had an amazing selection of coordinated sets, scarves, and sweaters. However, the price tag was on the higher end, so none of us picked anything up. I would recommend Lovefield Vintage instead for a mix of vintage and new finds. The price was slightly more affordable with a well-curated selection of clothes, accessories, and jewelry.

Everywhere Shop is hands down one of my favorite spots in Kingston. They are a queer and trans-owned gift & stationery shop with the best selection of bumper stickers, gift cards, notebooks, and clothes.

I was so overwhelmed by the selection because I wanted everything. They had an amazing selection of t-shirts that said "protect trans kids", "dump them", "every body is a good body". There was also a wonderful selection of upcycled button-down shirts designed by the owner, Ashley Molesso, that featured bows and words across the chest like dyke, femme, and masc.

There's something for everyone in this store.

I had the best coffee at Rough Draft Bar & Books. As a huge fan of seasonal offers and specials, I had to try the Polar Expresso, which is coffee with nutmeg and eggnog. It wasn't too sweet, but so full of flavor and the perfect amount of creaminess.

If I lived in Kingston, I fear most of my income would be spent here and Everywhere Shop.

The selection of books was incredible, so I'm proud of myself for having the self-control to avoid purchasing any more books. My lack of bookshelves is making it difficult to maintain my growing book collection in an orderly fashion.

It's an incredibly popular spot with over 1k reviews on Google. Despite the ample amount of seating, it was nearly impossible to secure a seat on a Saturday afternoon.

The bar at Hotel Kinsley will forever live fondly in my mind because it's where I had the best espresso martini of my life. The bartender's secret? Cocoa liquor.

It was strong, delicious, and reasonably priced. I understand why people are obsessed with espresso martinis now. I would be too, if they tasted like this everywhere.

For dinner, we were lucky to secure seats at the bar of Eliza, as we weren't able to secure reservations the night before.

We ordered a few entrees to share family-style. My personal ranking of the food we had:

1. Pan-fried rice cakes with honeynut squash
2. Charred cabbage with cashew sauce
3. Pork chops
4. Green curry bucatini with mussels

Although the star of the show was the Thai Tea Blondie Sundae. It was rich and delicious, with the perfect amount of textures for the best mouthfeel.

The rice cakes were surprisingly good with a slight crisp that paired perfectly with the sweetness of the honeynut squash and heat from the gochujang sauce. The chef is Thai, which explains the fusion of Italian and Southeast Asian flavors. With a seasonal menu, I would definitely stop by again for dinner to try out what's in store.

We ended the night at Unicorn Bar, a queer bar, for an anti-capitalist burlesque and drag show. It was a fun night, although we did have some criticisms of the acts.

Some didn't quite fit the messaging of anti-capitalism, and there was a case of cultural appropriation that bordered on sexual fetishization. Hopefully, they do better in the future.

Before hitting the road, we attempted to redeem our taste buds after an unsatisfactory breakfast at Camp Kingston. The cashier was kind enough to offer personalized recommendations, which was a stark contrast to the service at Camp Kingston. He also mentioned that the pastry chef used to work at Eleven Madison Park.

I would highly recommend stopping by for some sweet treats or a savory bite because everything looked amazing. After careful consideration, I decided on the chocolate chip cookie with sea salt and the jalapeno and cheese monkey bread. Both were excellent and made for a wonderful treat as we made our way home.

Our final stop of the trip was the home of Franklin D. Roosevelt, after missing an earlier tour at the Vanderbilt Mansion. The appeal of the Vanderbilt Mansion is that it serves as a preserved example of a Gilded Age country palace. However, the park ranger informed us of the 1:30 p.m. tour at FDR's home, which was only a 10-minute drive from the Vanderbilt Mansion.

As someone unfamiliar with US history, I enjoyed learning about FDR's presidency from the tour guide and our own Google of Eleanor Roosevelt's love affair with Lorena "Hick" Hickok on the way there.

The home was decorated for the holiday season, which is historically accurate, according to the tour guide. FDR is one of the longest-serving presidents in the US, who struggled with a disability after contracting polio.

It was a fascinating look into a piece of history, although now I'm tempted to visit Eleanor Roosevelt's country cottage, Val-Kill.

Kingston was a much-needed getaway from the hustle and bustle. It's an artsy, progressive small town due to people moving there from New York City. There is a community-oriented charm to Kingston that I liked. Although I think the people, like any place, are a mixed bag. We definitely encountered a spectrum of people who were extremely friendly, as well as those who were cold and standoffish.

A weekend was sufficient to explore the town with an additional stop. I would love to see how it is in the summer.