Across the Hudson River from Manhattan, this landscape has inspired painters and writers for centuries. A National Heritage Area, it’s also home to farms that supply the region’s farm-to-table restaurants with sun-ripened fruits and vegetables, fragrant cheeses and heady wines. And a growing number of brewers, distillers and makers of hard cider are adding to the region’s robust beverage economy.
The area’s proximity to New York City has made it a popular destination for vacationers seeking the peace and quiet of the country, as well as urbanites looking to escape the congestion and sky-high prices of Manhattan. The hamlets and villages along the river, including the renowned artists’ colony of Hudson, attract visitors with their quaint restaurants and evocative homes, many built in the 18th and 19th centuries.
It’s easy to get around the Hudson Valley, thanks to its proximity to New York City and a range of airports. Albany International Airport and New York Stewart International Airport in White Plains serve the region, while Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Metro-North Railroad runs three rail lines east of the Hudson (New Haven Line, Harlem Line and Hudson Line) to Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan.
One of the best ways to see the region is by car. The pristine, winding roads of the Shawangunk and Catskill mountains offer breathtaking views. But there are many other ways to see the valley by bus or train. The Sullivan County Historical Society operates a fleet of restored coaches, the Hudson Valley Railway, that runs from Kingston to Poughkeepsie and through the Catskill Park. And the Mid-Hudson Scenic Byway, a 62-mile-long driving tour through nine counties, offers views of rolling hills and magnificent estates.
While there are numerous hotels in the Hudson Valley, the region’s burgeoning food and beverage scene has drawn a new generation of visitors. There are wineries and orchards, as well as sustainable-food champion Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture in Yonkers and the Storm King Art Center sculpture park in Cornwall.
Among the many must-sees are the Sojourner Truth State Park, a 500-acre Kingston park with a museum that honors the former New York state legislator who became an advocate for women’s rights; and the sprawling Dia Beacon contemporary arts complex in Beacon, which occupies a converted Nabisco box-printing factory and displays works from the foundation’s vast collection. For a drink, hit Upstate Distilling for its infused vodkas and whiskeys and the artisanal breweries of Hudson Valley Brewery, which serves tart farmhouse lagers and sour I.P.A.s in its sleek tasting room. Or grab a table at Mel the Bakery, a local favorite that moved from Lower Manhattan to Hudson in 2023, for a laminated croissant, an iced cinnamon roll or a flaky kouign-amann pastry. Churchtown Dairy, a biodynamic farm where cows munch hay in a domed barn, has an on-site shop that sells cheeses, including the buttery, semi-firm tomme. And on Warren Street, the curated home-design shops and antique furniture stores are astonishingly expensive but a lot of fun to browse.