For a weekend escape within two hours of NYC, the Hudson Valley offers hiking trails from beginner-friendly to near-vertical scrambles, Gilded Age mansions rich in history, contemporary art destinations and miles of pastoral farmland. It’s a storied region that stretches from Westchester County to Albany, the state capital.
The area also boasts a vibrant culinary scene, a craft beer boom and a burgeoning arts scene. The Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area comprises 10 counties and 250 communities stretching along the Hudson for 154 miles. It’s an area of rugged mountains and flat farmland, compact towns and hamlets, and historic sites that tell the story of America’s evolution and prosperity.
In recent years, the region has benefited from a flood of pandemic-weary New York City residents who have pushed housing prices up and spurred new cultural initiatives, dining spots and breweries. Some of the influx has centered on the county seat of Troy, home to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and many cutting-edge companies.
But the influx has been a boon to the wider region, too. The Hudson Valley has become a thriving food and drink destination with a host of Michelin-starred and Bib Gourmand restaurants, and it’s a magnet for hikers and outdoors enthusiasts.
New places like Camp Kingston, a summer-camp-themed cafe, and Culture Cream, an ice cream shop with tropical vibes, attract young, hipster crowds. The Hereafter, a new Hudson cocktail bar, has pressed-tin ceilings, warm lighting and flirty late-night crowds; it serves inventive drinks including the House Dirty martini made with oregano-infused gin. The Stockade District of Kingston’s 17th- and 18th-century Dutch Colonial buildings include the Four Corners, the only intersection in America where all the buildings date from before the Revolutionary War. Nearby, Grazin’, a 50’s-style diner, is decidedly modern in its outlook on animal welfare, serving up ethically sourced burgers and other farm-to-table fare.
The county’s other major town, Rhinebeck, is a renowned hub for antique wares, and the village of Red Hook has a cider taproom in a wood-paneled barn beside its apple orchards. The hamlet of Olana features the estate and landscapes of Hudson River School painter Frederic Church. In nearby Beacon, the Storm King Art Center sculpture park and Dia:Beacon, a museum in a former factory, have large-scale work from 20th- and 21st-century artists. The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park trains future chefs; its restaurants are known for their innovative cuisines.