I realized recently that I needed to get out of the city, at least for a day. On my always meaning to do list, I’ve had Dia:Beacon on there for at least 5 years. Dia is a foundation that houses a renowned contemporary art collection in a converted Nestle factory nestled on the Hudson River about an hour and a half upstate from the city.

Taking this weekend to finally get there, I discovered that the MTA has a huge selection and discounts on events and places to go on the Metro North line. A roundtrip train ticket and admission to Dia only set me back $27 total!

The train ride follows the beautiful Hudson River and I finally got to see the effects of Fall on the leaves-better late than never. I underestimated the size of the museum itself, and with open hours of 11-4pm, it’s best to get a fairly early start. I spent 2 hours in the museum, but could have used at least another one to feel as though I covered everything.

I also suggest taking the 10 minute walk to Main Street, where there is a small coffee shop called the Muddy Cup and taking in a wine tasting at the Artisan Wine Shop. Overall, this trip provides great art in a great setting plus you get to smell really fresh air, which is something I almost forget how it smelled.