Buffalo or Rochester are the two closest airports. You can fly into either airport and rent a car for the weekend. We also encourage people to fly into NYC and car pool with friends!
Unfortunately no. What makes Alfred so beautiful is how remote it is....but it comes with some inconveniences. We suggest you rent a car or share a ride with friends. Please think ahead to the night of the party - either coordinate a designated driver or bring your sleeping bag to sleep it off before driving!
Check out our recommended accommodations page where you will find a range of places to stay from a hotel in the town of Wellsville, to a renovated farmhouse rental that is great to share with friends, to a rustic solar cabin in the woods. ALFRED is a tiny college town that is home to a renown ceramics program and has a ceramic art museum. There is a diner, a cafe, a small health food store, and occasionally a farmers market. It is a sweet tiny town where you will know everyone after going to the Jet once! ANDOVER is even tinier and doesn't have any of those amenities....but is a very short drive to Alfred or Wellsville and even closer to the wedding party location. WELLSVILLE is a bigger town with a bit more going on, with two old school diners, an upscale restaurant and bakery, a brewery, a creative arts center, and an italian restaurant. Wellsville is just a bit further from the wedding party but still very convenient. Don't hesitate to reach out to us with any questions!!
Alfred is really rural and unfortunately there is not a lot of public transportation options. Shortline runs 3 buses from NYC to main street Alfred a day, with one transfer in binghamton, but once you are there you will need to coordinate with friends to carpool as there is no Lyft or Uber. https://www.coachusa.com/shortline
Yes! Get lunch at Uncle Brother in Hancock NY...( artist Rickrit Tiravanija's / Gavin Brown's gallery /restaurant). Thrifting along the way (salvation army in Binghamton always has some gems). You will pass through the towns of Livingston Manor and Roscoe off of Rt 17 - these are cute towns that are hubs for trout fishing... Livingston Manor has a nice farm to table cafe (Main Street Farm) and brick oven pizza restaurant across the street. Owego is a sweet town on the Susquehanna River that has a really great book store, and amazing antique shops, etc.
Be mindful of ticks while enjoying being in the country - ticks have become an issue in the last few years...so please check yourself thoroughly and regularly throughout your stay, use tick repellent, and read up on tick prevention.
The deer in the area mate in august...they are very frisky and will run out into the road, so please go slow and be careful when driving on the country roads, for your safety and theirs, especially in the evening!