The Hudson Valley is a four-season playground, with hiking, biking, kayaking, camping, swimming and golfing. Whether you’re taking a day-trip on the train or planning a weeklong visit, this region’s grand historic mansions, hauntingly beautiful landscapes and sweeping views will surprise and delight you. It’s also home to the world’s longest pedestrian bridge and state parks offering year-round adventures. Journey through military history at West Point, browse the galleries in quaint river towns and shop for bargains at Woodbury Common.
The area’s verdant richness lends itself to inspired cooking and dining. The Culinary Institute of America draws future chefs to its doorstep, and the area’s restaurants are stocked with Michelin-starred and Bib Gourmand options. You can sample the local brews at several microbreweries or find a vintage bottle of wine at a cellar-dwelling boutique.
During the last ice age, the glacier that dammed the valley and created the Hudson River left behind huge deposits of sand and gravel. This fertile ground nourished the first American farmers, and today the valley produces some of New York’s finest wineries. You can visit vineyards and cellars in the surrounding hills, and you’ll also find a plethora of farm-to-table restaurants.
If you’re accustomed to the hyperkinetic pace of Manhattan, it may come as a shock to journey upstate, where residents are more likely to greet you with a smile and a “Hi” than a cursory nod. It’s not that they don’t care about you; it’s just that, in this bucolic oasis, they want to take the time to get to know you.
Set aside some time to just wander the streets of Hudson, where you’ll see a hodgepodge of architectural styles that include Victorian towers, Queen Anne homes with wraparound porches and Georgian estates. And don’t miss the curvaceous Frank Gehry building at Bard College, which resembles a robot that took a shower.
The Hudson Valley National Heritage Area promotes the region’s historic, natural and cultural resources in 11 counties. From the grand Hudson River mansions to the awe-inspiring landscapes that have inspired painters, poets and presidents, this national heritage area is a place of boundless beauty and culture.