As the Hudson River winds north through the heart of New York State, 10 counties are packed with timeless scenery and American history. This region, stretching from Westchester County to Albany, is a four-season playground for outdoor adventurers and culture buffs.
As more downstate residents and visitors have discovered the region, a new generation of things to do has taken shape: well-marked hiking trails and river cruises, wineries, breweries and restaurants that champion sustainable agriculture, and museums and galleries devoted to the works of the Hudson River School artists.
The landscape of the valley is dotted with picturesque towns and villages, each brimming with local flavor. You can visit the home of the legendary composer Frédéric Chopin in Poughkeepsie or stroll the streets of Kingston, which are lined with incredible 17th- and 18th-century Dutch Colonial architecture. The town of Kingston is also home to the historic Stockade District and the only Four Corners intersection in America where all buildings were built before the Revolutionary War.
Many of the valley’s first settlements were established in the early 1700s by Dutch refugees from religious persecution. Known as Palatines, these families came from economically and politically unstable states in the Upper Rhineland (now Germany). The dukes appointed governors who awarded patents to those who would inhabit their lands or produce agricultural goods that could be sold to the English navy for naval stores (as was the case at the Great Nine Partners Patent in Ulster and Columbia counties or the Rensselaerwyck Plantation in Dutchess and Albany counties).
In the 19th century, tuberculosis and other deadly diseases were rampant throughout the city, and the Hudson Valley became a popular health retreat. The clean air, fresh water and evergreen forests were thought to be therapeutic. Eventually, the area became a summer camp destination, establishing the concept of the family vacation.
Today, a growing population of young professionals has brought new energy to the valley. You’ll find young entrepreneurs opening craft beer breweries, distilleries and coffee shops; foodies flock to the region to experience its cuisine; and people who aren’t dependent on showing up at a job to make a living (one of the highest percentages in the country) are settling in the area’s small towns and villages.
The area’s resurgence isn’t without its challenges, especially in recent years as the environmental concerns centered on the high level of polychlorinated biphenyl, or PCB, found in the river. After years of battles, GE was forced to stop dumping the chemicals at its plants in Fort Edward and Hudson Falls. Now, the river is undergoing an extensive cleanup effort and PCB levels are declining. But the beauty of the valley, its enduring sense of place and its rich heritage continue to draw visitors from all over the world. A trip to the Hudson Valley is like stepping into a Norman Rockwell painting. So pack your bags, hit the road and come discover the magic for yourself.