Escape & Indulge | Hudson River Valley, New York
Your Home & Lifestyle Magazine
New York’s Hudson River Valley is the Empire State’s gem escape. With the Hudson River etching through the ten-county region from Westchester County to Albany, the Valley inspires with its natural beauty and its bounties. From the Catskill Mountains and Shawangunk Mountain Ridge to vineyards and sustainable farms, this is the place to savor your time in the outdoors as well as a farm-to-table meal paired with local wine, craft brews, or cider. Discover why others have chosen to vacation in the Hudson River Valley and why you should consider it too.
Explore the Natural Beauties.
Whether you enjoy hiking, bicycling, or watersports, the Hudson River Valley area has experiences for all ages and abilities. Head to Minnewaska State Park Preserve for scenic hikes or bike rides on the Shawangunk Mountain Ridge. Nicknamed “The Gunks” by locals, this is where visitors can witness waterfalls, lakes, hardwood forests, and sheer cliffs with spectacular views along nearly fifty miles of footpaths and thirty-five miles of carriage roads. Another beautiful walk or bike ride is the Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park. Stroll or ride across this rail-to-trail bridge from Poughkeepsie to Highland. Take in the sights from the walkway, including the FDR Mid-Hudson Bridge. No trip to the Hudson River Valley would be complete without an experience on the river for which it’s named. Try a kayak day trip or a relaxing cruise out of Kingston.
For history buffs, a drive to Hyde Park to tour the Franklin D. Roosevelt Historic Site and the Vanderbilt Mansion is just the ticket. Many of the historically wealthy have vacationed in Hudson River Valley to recharge their batteries; because of this, there is a strong health and wellness focus, including the world-renowned Omega Institute for Holistic Studies located outside Rhinebeck.
Indulge in the Bounties.
To complement outdoor adventures, replenish with locally made products via farms, wineries, and restaurants. A tasty stop is the Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture and Blue Hill at Stone Barns located on eighty acres of a former Rockefeller Estate in Pocantico Hills. Not only is Stone Barns a sustainable farm and not-for-profit educational center, but also a place where all can sample the fruits of the farm’s labor in the Blue Hill cafeteria. Want to experiment with delicacies from the crème de la crème of cooking schools? Navigate to the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) campus with a reservation in one of its four restaurants.
The Hudson River Valley is a wine lover’s destination; so take the opportunity to swirl, sniff, and sip. A favorite multistop wine experience is the Dutchess Wine Trail, which includes two award-winning wineries: Clinton Vineyards and Millbrook Vineyards & Winery.
If craft brews or ciders are more your fancy, there is an array to pick from. Plan Bee Farm Brewery in Poughkeepsie is a true field-to-glass brewery. The brewers source 100 percent of all ingredients from New York, many of which come from the farm itself.
With the natural beauty and tasty bounties of the Hudson River Valley, a trip to Upstate New York is calling you. Whether you fancy history, outdoor adventures, culinary stops, wine tastings, craft brews, or a combination of it all, Hudson River Valley has you covered. Take the time to escape, recharge, and indulge in the Hudson River Valley.
-
take note.
How to Get There:
Plane: Fly into Hudson Valley Regional Airport (KPOU) or Albany International Airport (ALB)
Train: Two- to three-hour train ride from New York City
Automobile: Two-hour drive from New York City, four-and-a-half-hour drive from Montreal
When to Go: Summer months are popular with mild temperatures in the 70s and 80s F. Shoulder season (September and October) brings fewer crowds and a chance at seeing the fall color change.
Must-Sees: Vanderbilt Mansion Franklin D. Roosevelt Historic Site Mohonk Mountain House Culinary Institute of America (CIA) Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park Stone Barns Center
Local Libations:
Millbrook Vineyards: Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir
Plan Bee Farm Brewery: Seasonal field-to-glass brews
-
YHL/ Written by Heidi Siefkas
Photography by nancykennedy/iStock/Getty Images Plus, lightphoto/iStock/Getty Images Plus, Ultima_Gaina/iStock/Getty Images Plus, Keren Vered - Finally Home/iStock/Getty Images Plus, DenisTangneyJr/iStock/Getty Images Plus.