From dramatic mountain ranges to a string of small towns and majestic nature, the Hudson valley offers a perfect escape from New York City. It draws a laid back creative crowd of artists, antique hunters and hikers (and claims the highest percentage of self-employed entrepreneurs in New York state), as well as a slew of exceptional farm-to-table restaurants and independent boutique hotels.
The best way to explore the region is on foot, and if you want to see the most spectacular architecture, head for Kingston’s Stockade District where 17th- and 18th-century buildings line the mile-long thoroughfare. The downtown area also boasts a few of the best eats in town, from Rough Draft Bar and Books to Hotel Kinsley.
The region’s liberal culture means people here take buying local and organic seriously. That may explain why you’ll see very few national chains on main streets in the smaller cities, where it’s a little harder to find a table for eight than in New York. There’s also a good chance that your friends here will give you a look of death if you walk in with something containing GMOs on your plate.
Once tuberculosis and other dangerous diseases began to spread in New York, the region took on another personality as a health retreat, with city folk flocking to the area for its fresh air and evergreen forests. That legacy lives on today, with the valley a popular spot for recharging and detoxing.
Its beautiful landscapes, picturesque towns and filmic vistas have also made the region a magnet for weekenders. And while some towns (like Hudson) have seen an influx of status-obsessed tourists, others—like Woodstock—maintain their hippie roots and remain a thriving arts hub.
There are plenty of outdoor activities here, from cycling and boating to fishing, kayaking, rock climbing and hiking. In the winter, skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing are popular.
While New Yorkers tend to think of the Hudson Valley as a rural vacation destination, the reality is that it’s also home to a growing number of urban attractions, from breweries and distilleries to contemporary art galleries and swanky music venues. And, of course, the great outdoors: The Hudson River Skywalk is a must-see, with its stunning vistas and jaw-dropping views of the surrounding mountains and valleys.
It’s a two-hour drive from New York, but the Hudson Valley feels like a different world. The region has a rich history—of independence and independency, of cultural clashes and revolutions, of wars and peace —that shaped the nation. Explore it all with a visit to its storied sites, where you’ll discover amazing architecture, gorgeous landscapes and gardens, freedom and dignity causes, Revolutionary War forts and battlefields, and Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s birthplace and Presidential Museum.