The Hudson Valley is a popular destination for both locals and tourists. It offers breathtaking scenery, historic mansions, quirky villages along the Hudson River, and some of New York City’s most renowned attractions.
It’s a top-of-the-line business climate, home to hundreds of Fortune 500 companies and one of America’s most acclaimed education systems, attracting more than 1.2 million highly educated workers.
Besides its vibrant economy, the Hudson Valley is also known for its thriving arts scene. The region is home to a number of prestigious museums, including the Neuberger Museum of Art in Purchase and The New-York Historical Society.
Artists have been a big part of the Hudson Valley’s culture since America’s first art movement, the Hudson River School of Painters, started here in the 1850s. At sites like Olana and Thomas Cole National Historic Site, you can get a glimpse of the lives and work of some of the most influential American artists.
You can also visit museums in the area that are dedicated to specific themes and movements, such as a history of the African-American community in Westchester County or an exploration of the natural world at Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
The region is also a prime destination for culinary adventures. Farm-to-table restaurants and country inns abound, as do award-winning wineries, breweries, and food festivals.
Some of the best museums in the nation are right here. For example, you’ll find the Neuberger Museum of Art in Purchase, which is one of the largest art collections in New York. Its collection has grown from a hundred pieces to more than 6,000 works.
Another great place to see contemporary art is Dia:Beacon, which features modern masters in a sprawling former printing plant. The area is also home to Storm King Art Center, an outdoor sculpture park that features colossal three-legged buddhas and metal blocks that look as though they’re defying gravity.
Visiting the Hudson Valley is a chance to see a part of the country that’s largely unexplored outside of the metropolitan area. The small towns here offer a more personal feel, and residents don’t resent the proximity of metropolitan life.
A major concern in the Hudson Valley is its increased residential and commercial development, and the impact it’s having on the region’s environment. Many long-time residents have formed groups to fight for the preservation of the region’s natural resources.
The Hudson Valley Natural Resource Mapper is an online interactive tool designed to help identify and understand important habitat and water resources in the Hudson Valley. It helps communities visualize their region’s natural assets, the connections between them, and the larger regional context. It is a great resource for land-use planning, environmental assessment, and conservation efforts.
There are a wide range of natural areas, including mountain ranges, lakes, and wetlands throughout the Hudson Valley. The maps are designed to help people understand the unique character and ecological importance of each of these habitat types in the region.
The maps are intended for use by the public, including landowners, municipal officials, project sponsors, and watershed groups. They can also serve as a basis for developing land-use plans, watershed plans, and natural resources inventories.