The pristine New York region that stretches along the Hudson River has plenty to offer. It’s a place where you can explore amazing architecture, stunning landscapes and champion causes like freedom and dignity. It’s also home to many historic homes, battlefields and forts as well as the birthplace of America’s first President.
With so much to see and do, a weekend escape here can be hard to narrow down. But here are some suggestions to help you plan your next visit.
Located less than two hours north of New York City, the hudson valley offers leafy drives and gorgeous mansions that are sure to impress. The area’s architectural heritage dates back to the country’s first settlers and later, the 19th-century architects who developed early residential styles, built mountain resorts and designed elegant riverside estates.
A century ago, travel guides praised the splendor of these architectural wonders and invited people to visit. This invitation still holds today and, for those willing to make the journey, this part of the world is rich in history.
In the towns and villages that line this pristine stretch of New York, you’ll find incredible restaurants run by the students at The Culinary Institute of America as well as a host of farm-to-table options where you can dine on French, Italian and American dishes made with produce grown right here. Then, save room for dessert and savor the sugary crunch of a streusel-topped Dutch apple pie.
You can hike beginner-friendly to near-vertical trails at Sojourner Truth State Park, where bricks and kilns still stand from the area’s brickmaking heyday. In Kingston, you can tour the Stockade District, where 17th- and 18th-century Dutch Colonial buildings abound. Or, take a break from shopping at the new Rough Draft Bar & Books or sample a martini at the Hotel Kinsley.
In addition to the countless wineries, vineyards and orchards that populate this beautiful part of New York, the area’s farms are also thriving thanks to progressive practices in agriculture and food sourcing. At Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture, you can learn about the artisanal and sustainable farming movement in person. And at the Storm King Art Center sculpture park, you can lose yourself in a 240,000-square-foot gallery of contemporary works including Dan Flavin’s fluorescent light work, Michael Heizer’s “negative” sculptures and Richard Serra’s monumental steel monuments.
And as if all of that wasn’t enough, you can savor the taste of this region at local bars and restaurants. At Assembly, a new live music spot in a former schoolhouse, you can get your groove on to the sounds of local bands. And, you can indulge your sweet tooth at Mel the Bakery’s laminated croissants, iced cinnamon rolls and a flaky kouign-amann pastry.