As the country’s first industrialized region, the Hudson Valley was a hub of innovation and wealth. Its deep navigable river provided access to Canada and the western United States; its lands were rich in coal, iron and clay for building. During the Revolutionary War, it was the location of many of the country’s most important military sites. Today, it continues to be a place where New Yorkers escape from the hectic city to enjoy nature, historic landmarks and family-friendly activities.
The river’s beauty has always drawn people to its banks and shorelines. But it wasn’t until tuberculosis epidemics in the 1800s that the area began to resemble a health retreat, where city folk could come to experience its fresh air, evergreen forests and pristine mountains. The area became the favored vacation spot of the wealthy and famous—including the Rockefellers, who still have a home in the region—as they sought to rejuvenate their bodies and minds.
By the turn of the century, as railroads were built and the logging industry expanded, a battle over the environment began to preserve the river’s natural beauty. Landmarks of the nation’s history, including some of the Revolutionary War forts along the river, were deteriorating and being destroyed as loggers cleared their land. The Hudson River Greenway was established to protect the area’s heritage and promote recreational use.
As the valley’s manufacturing jobs disappeared in late-20th-century America, the economy suffered and towns like Newburgh, Peekskill and Poughkeepsie fell into decay. However, in the past decade, a wave of creative young professionals has arrived to renovate and revive the area. A number of restaurants, shops and bars now draw crowds of young New Yorkers seeking a laid-back lifestyle.
Hudson Valley has a number of high-design hotels and retreats. The latest to garner a cult following is Wildflower Farms, a resort in Gardiner, about two hours from NYC. This luxe 225-acre property includes 28 cabins, a Dutch Colonial farmhouse, a restaurant and three miles of hiking trails that wind through the scenic Shawangunk Ridge. The hotel’s organic vegetable garden, three-acre pasture and three-bedroom farm cottage are popular attractions for guests. One Vogue editor recalls fondly walking over to the property’s chicken coop to hand-pick half a dozen fresh eggs to be served for breakfast the next day.
Then there’s Kykuit, the historic home of four generations of the Rockefellers. The property offers a unique perspective on the Hudson Valley’s heritage and culture with 20th-century sculpture, gardens and art works. Visitors can also tour seven original stone houses and a reconstructed 1717 French church, as well as a historic Huguenot burial ground.