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The Best Things to do in the Hudson Valley, New York – Tips From a Local
With its idyllic countryside and quaint towns, the Hudson Valley is the perfect escape from the city. Just a two-hour drive north of New York City, there are endless things to do in the Hudson Valley.
This is a place to take things slowly. Enjoy miles of gorgeous hiking trails and grand historic mansions. Savour the farm-to-table food options and craft beer and ciders.
As a local who was born and raised in the region, I wanted to share my tips on the best time to visit, and what to do in the Hudson Valley, NY. These suggestions will help you plan a day trip, a weekend getaway or a longer vacation in the Hudson Valley.
By contributor Leah Wersebe who hails from the Hudson Valley, NY. See her bio below.
Table of Contents – Things to do in the Hudson Valley
Best time to visit the Hudson Valley
Getting to and around the Hudson Valley
The Storm King Art Center
Bannerman Castle
Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site
Motorcyclopedia Museum
Hudson Valley Farms – Wineries, Breweries & Cider Houses
Day Trips in the Hudson Valley
A Hudson Valley Road Trip
Best Places to Stay in the Hudson Valley
Planning a romantic getaway? See this list of the best getaway spots in upstate New York for couples.
Best Time to Visit the Hudson Valley
View of Hudson Valley from top of Bear Mountain in fall.
To many New Yorkers, the Hudson Valley is synonymous with fall. The best time to visit is when the fall foliage is at its peak. Depending on the year, that could be anytime between September and November.
Take advantage of the state tourism board’s fall foliage report so you can keep an eye on when it’s best to visit. Seeing the fall foliage in the Hudson Valley is taken so seriously that there are Leaf Peeper websites and in 2020, I Love NY launched a massive initiative to hire Volunteer Leaf Peepers to give more accurate foliage reports for the entire state.
You can even fulfill your bucket list by taking a fall foliage helicopter tour over the Hudson Valley.
Summer is also a popular time to visit. Be sure to check the dates for annual fairs and festivals in your destination.
Local Tip: Keep in mind that a lot of places listed here are only open from the spring to the fall. The Hudson Valley is beautiful in the winter but be sure to check on what’s open when planning your trip.
Getting to and around the Hudson Valley
It’s best to visit the Hudson Valley by car to have more freedom to hop between the towns and activities. As well, some locations aren’t easy to reach via public transportation.
If you’re traveling from New York City to the Hudson Valley, you have to pick up a rental car near the airports.
If you want to save some money, you could take the train to a city like Tarrytown or Croton-on-Hudson and rent a car from there.
Parts of the Hudson Valley are easily accessible by public transportation from NYC. You can take a train from Grand Central Terminal or a bus from Port Authority Bus Terminal.
To determine what train station or bus station is closest to the town you’re visiting, I recommend checking Google maps’ public transportation route options. Grand Central is fairly easy to navigate, but Port Authority is a labyrinth so give yourself some extra travel time if you’re taking the bus.
Local Tip: If you take the train from Grand Central, make sure you’re sitting in the seats on the west side/river-side of the train for some amazing views of the Hudson Valley, including Bear Mountain Bridge, West Point Military Academy, and more.
Things to do in the Hudson Valley
The Storm King Art Center
Image by Victoria Lipov / Shutterstock.com
Storm King Art Center is an open-air museum with over 90 contemporary sculptures. You could spend the entire day wandering around the 500 acres and not get bored. Just make sure you have good walking shoes.
Storm King is also the name of the nearby mountain so don’t get the two confused when you’re doing your research.
Tickets to the center may seem fairly expensive at $20 a person, but it is worth every penny. The museum has been featured on shows like Netflix’s Master of None and it’s easy to see why – it’s gorgeous. It’s a good idea to buy tickets in advance.
Local Tip: It’s straightforward, but time-consuming and expensive to get to Storm King Art Center via public transportation. You can take a train from NYC Grand Central Station to Beacon and get a taxi or Lyft. However, if possible, I recommend driving there.
Bannerman Castle, a Hudson Valley historic site
Bannerman Castle ruins. Image by littlenySTOCK / Shutterstock.com
Bannerman Castle was built in the 1900s on Pollepel Island in the Hudson River and used as a holiday home and storage for excess munitions.
In the 1960s, the island and castle were gifted to the Taconic Park Commission and became NY state property. Subsequently, a massive fire destroyed large portions of the castle leaving us with what we see now. It wasn’t accessible for decades until local residents in the area banded together to raise funds to clear paths on the island and ensure safe accessibility to the ruins.
Now, you can take a boat from Newburgh or Beacon and tour the island and castle. You can also visit the island by driving your own boat or, my personal favorite, go by kayak.
Carefully review the Bannerman Castle website. It’s very specific about arrival times and group sizes if you are not arriving on one of their boats. It is $30 per person to visit on your own. If you take one of the castle’s boats and do a tour, it’s $37.50.
Local Tip: Bannerman Castle doesn’t just do tours. It also has movie nights, festivals, and concerts. It is a very popular place so definitely make sure to book ahead.
Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site
Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site is the 32nd President of the U.S. Franklin D. Roosevelt’s (FDR) birthplace, home, and burial place in Hyde Park.
You can travel to the estate by train from NYC to Poughkeepsie train station and then take a cab, or by car.
The house can only be accessed by a guided tour for $20, but you can walk the several miles of trails on the grounds for free. It’s a lovely way to spend an afternoon and there are many places to eat and drink in Poughkeepsie.
Motorcyclopedia Museum
Motorcyclopedia Museum is a motorcycle-lover’s dream. It’s a museum with hundreds of motorcycles, many of which are custom made.
It’s $15 to visit. You can either drive, take a train to Beacon train station, or a bus to Newburgh, and then get a cab.
Hudson Valley Farms
One of the most popular Hudson Valley activities is to visit some of the hundreds of small farms and cideries scattered throughout the region.
Recently, the area has seen a tourism boom in the fall that sustains many of these places for the rest of the year. It’s no surprise. Many New Yorkers like to get out of the city and take Instagram perfect pictures of themselves wearing flannel and apple-picking.
Not every farm is the same though. Some farms don’t have the infrastructure for a lot of tourists and simply offer local fruits and vegetables for pick-up. Others have large farm stands, apple picking, hayrides, and farm animals to pet and feed.
Honestly, I’ve visited dozens of Hudson Valley farms over 30 years and I can’t think of any I wouldn’t recommend.
Some favorites that I grew up visiting are Wright’s Farm in Gardiner and Hurd’s Farm in Modena. To this day, I will buy a 6-pack of cider donuts at Wright’s and not share with anybody else.
Local Tip: Keep in mind that many farms can be visited from spring to fall. A few have farm stands open all year round (Wright’s), but the produce is seasonal. Some activities like apple-picking or hayrides only happen in the fall.
Hudson Valley Wineries, Breweries, and Cider Houses
With an influx of tourism and a burgeoning craft beer and cider house scene, the Hudson Valley is the perfect place to spend the day taste testing. You can even combine walking and drinking if that’s your fancy. I’ve done it, and it’s quite nice!
Hudson Valley Wineries
If you are a wine-lover, there are many Hudson Valley wineries to visit. My personal favorite is Brotherhood. The best Hudson Valley winery is in Washingtonville and is also, self-reportedly, the oldest winery in America. They do tours and tastings. I recommend trying one of their Pinot Noirs.
Hudson Valley Breweries
Image by Leah Wersebe
The rising tide of micro-breweries that can be seen across the U.S. is definitely present in the Hudson Valley. There are dozens of them in the region and I expect we will continue to see more in the coming years.
Amazing initiatives, such as the Hudson Valley Beer Trail, will even pick you up, drive you around to several breweries and distilleries so you don’t have to worry about transportation.
The New York State Brewers Association New York Craft Beer App recently created an Empire State Trail Brewery Passport, which highlights breweries along the newly created Empire State Trail, a 750-mile trail that connects NYC to Canada and goes right through the Hudson Valley.
A few of my favorite breweries are Mill House Brewing Company, Hudson Ale Works, and Yard Owl.
Hudson Valley Cider Houses
Image by Liz Van Steenburgh / Shutterstock.com
Cider houses are exploding in New York. They’re everywhere you look these days and I, for one, am excited!
It makes sense for the Hudson Valley – it’s filled with apple orchards. Sitting outside with a crisp cider and a group of friends is the best way to spend a fall day in the Hudson Valley.
One of the most well-known, and largest, developments in the cider scene is the Angry Orchard Innovation Cider House in Walden. You can tour the orchard and facilities and visit the tasting room.
Some smaller cider houses that I love are Bad Seed Cider in Highland, Twin Star Orchards in New Paltz, and Abandoned Hard Cider in Woodstock.
Day Trips to the Hudson Valley, NY
If you only have a short amount of time to visit the Hudson Valley, take a Metro North train from Grand Central Station in NYC to Beacon, Tarrytown or New Paltz. There are dozens of towns and small cities throughout the area to visit, but these three are some of the best Hudson Valley towns.
Beacon
Image by H.J. Herrera / Shutterstock.com
Beacon is filled with cute shops, cafes, and cultural institutions.
You can hike Mount Beacon, which is easily accessible from the center of town and is a beautiful 3–4-hour hike.
I use this website created and run by a Hudson Valley local for detailed information about the best hikes in the Hudson Valley, like Mount Beacon. If you want a bit more of a challenge, you can hike Breakneck Ridge, just south of Beacon. It does include a fair bit of rock scrambling so be prepared.
Dia: Beacon, a contemporary arts museum housed in a former Nabisco box printing factory, has helped spur the revitalization of Beacon in recent years and is definitely worth a visit at $15 a person.
You can even attend a glass blowing class at Hudson Beach Glass on Main Street.
For some of the best places to eat in the Hudson Valley, I recommend grabbing something at Kitchen Sink Food and Drink, or their sister restaurant, Meyer’s Olde Dutch Food & Such, both along Main Street as well.
Local Tip: I enjoy ending my day at Draught Industries for a local craft beer and some pub snacks. Afterwards, it’s easy to walk to the Beacon train station.
Tarrytown
Lyndhurst Mansion, Image by James Kirkikis / Shutterstock.com
In Tarrytown, you can start the day with a trip to Lyndhurst Mansion, a Gothic Revival mansion and a National Historic Site built in the 19th century, and walk its expansive beautiful grounds. You can buy a ticket for $20 to tour the mansion or a ticket for $10-$30, depending on the season, to visit the grounds.
After you visit Lyndhurst Mansion, and if you enjoy “Rip Van Winkle” and “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” you can visit author Washington Irving’s house for $10 per person.
There are several places to eat in Tarrytown, but my two favorites are RiverMarket Bar and Kitchen on the Hudson River or The Twisted Oak on Main Street. If you don’t want a big meal, get a coffee and some small bites at Muddy Water Coffee House.
After a meal, you can see Washington Irving’s grave and take a walking tour at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery. If you just want to walk around the cemetery it’s free. If you want to do the walking tour, it’s $25.
Local Tip: It’s possible to do all of this via taxis and walking after you take a train from Grand Central to Irvington or Tarrytown stations. If possible, I recommend a car for this day. Lyndhurst Mansion and Washington Irving’s house are two miles south of Tarrytown. Sleepy Hollow Cemetery is two miles north of Tarrytown.
New Paltz
Aerial view of Mohonk Mountain House and Mohonk Nature Preserve in New Paltz.
New Paltz is a bit of a regional celebrity as far as towns go with a reputation for being a quirky and progressive place to live.
It has a bustling university in the center of town, easy access to a stunning nature preserve, and dozens of restaurants, cafes, bars, and stores to delight tourists and locals alike.
You can walk the newly created River-to-Ridge trail, which brings you from the center of New Paltz up to the Shawangunk Ridge and Minnewaska State Park Preserve.
I recommend walking around Historic Huguenot Street, a National Historic Landmark District that shows the history of a French Huguenot settlement and the area’s Native and enslaved African peoples.
There are so many great Hudson valley restaurants in New Paltz, but my personal favorites are Huckleberry and Mexicali Blue. Finally, make sure to get a chai from Mudd Puddle.
Local Tip:
If you want to splurge a lot, you can stay at the famous Mohonk Mountain House, a Victorian castle resort in New Paltz. If you want to spurge a little, you can eat brunch or get a spa treatment at Mohonk Mountain House. It’s worth it. Make sure to book ahead via their website.For more info on why New Paltz is a great place to visit, see this NY Times article.
If you want to splurge a lot, you can stay at the famous Mohonk Mountain House, a Victorian castle resort in New Paltz. If you want to spurge a little, you can eat brunch or get a spa treatment at Mohonk Mountain House. It’s worth it. Make sure to book ahead via their website.For more info on why New Paltz is a great place to visit, see this NY Times article.
A Hudson Valley Road Trip
Bear Mountain Bridge at sunrise.
One of my favorite Hudson Valley road trips is to drive north from New York City on Route 9. Drive on Route 9 to Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow for a day of sight-seeing, then continue north along the same route until you get to Bear Mountain Bridge.
If you have the time, I recommend hiking Anthony’s Nose on the east side of the Hudson River where you’ll get some beautiful views. If you don’t have the time, continue along Route 9, which has now become Route 9D, until you arrive in Beacon for the evening.
Explore Beacon the next day. Then take Route 84 to the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge and cross the Hudson River to the west side. I recommend grabbing a drink at Newburgh Brewing Company and some tacos at Hudson Taco before you make your way north on Route 9W to Highland and New Paltz.
Spend the next day in New Paltz, then go for a walk on the Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park before you drive back to NYC.
If you want to get back to NYC quickly, stay on the west side of the river and drive on the NY State Thruway. Alternatively, you can cross the Hudson River on the Mid-Hudson Bridge and take Route 9 back to NYC.
I suggest using Google Maps for directions as traffic in and around NYC is often intense, and signage can be confusing.
Best Places to Stay in Hudson Valley
Stay in this Airbnb loft in a restored barn in the Hudson Valley. Image via Airbnb.
There is a lot of accommodation choice in the Hudson Valley. There are many chain hotels at low rates, B&Bs and inns at moderate rates, and a handful of luxury and expensive boutique hotels.
Some of the best luxury places to stay in the Hudson Valley are The Roundhouse in Beacon, Castle Hotel & Spa in Tarrytown, and the previously mentioned Mohonk Mountain House in New Paltz.
The Airbnb scene in the Hudson Valley is booming. Some great options are:
- Beacon: This luxe studio is on Beacon’s main street. This creekside apartment in Beacon is also close to everything.
- New Paltz: Stay in an apartment loft in a restored 19th century barn.
Map of Hudson Valley Attractions
Click on the markers to scout locations for your trip.
More Information:
Tourism information: Hudson Valley Tourism Board, New York State Tourism Board, Metro-North Train Information
Suggested Reading: Easy Weekend Getaways in the Hudson Valley & Catskills; 50 Hikes in the Lower Hudson Valley; Hudson Valley Waterfall Challenge.
Native American History in the Hudson Valley: Most of the Hudson Valley is Lenape land. Roads and landmarks are often named after the Lenape or the Dutch settlers from the 1700s. It’s important to know whose land we are traveling through so I recommend reading about the history of the Lenape in the area, following Otaes, a Ramapough Lenape educator, to get a better understanding of the land, and listening and learning from native people across New York, before you venture into the Hudson Valley.
Car Rental: Compare prices at Auto Europe (not just for Europe!)
Leah Wersebe Bio: Leah Wersebe is a TV aficionado and a recovering 9-5 office worker. She lives in New York and has traveled to over 25 countries in search of the perfect latte. Leah has degrees in international politics, film, and wildlife conservation. She is an aspiring writer and storyteller.
Twitter: @LDWersebe
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