Kingston, NY (Hudson Valley)

1. Learn about the history of the shipping industry at the Hudson River Maritime Museum

The Hudson River Maritime Museum is dedicated to exploring and showcasing the history of the Hudson River and is one of the top Kingston attractions. Located on the banks of the Rondout Creek in the Rondout district of Kingston, the museum boasts collections that celebrate the history of the shipping industry on the Hudson River and its tributaries, as well as explores the heritage of Rondout, which was one of the busiest and important ports between New York and Albany in the 19th century.

Founded in 1980, the museum features exhibits that include artifacts of river steamships and various small craft, ice-harvesting tools, a research library, and an array of marine-related paintings and maps from the past. The 1898 steam tugboat Mathilda is displayed in a yard adjacent to the museum, and visitors can enjoy boat trips to the Rondout Lighthouse from the museum in the summer months. The Hudson River Maritime Museum is also home to various rowing teams and sailing clubs and hosts a variety of festivals and events throughout the year.

Address: 50 Rondout Landing, Kingston, New York, Phone: 845-338-0071

2. Go on a guided walking tour og the Kingston Uptown Historic District

The Kingston Uptown Historic District, also known as the Kingston Stockade District, is a unique region of the city that celebrates, preserves, and promotes the history and heritage of Kingston. Spanning eight blocks in the western section of the city and commonly referred to as Uptown Kingston, the Kingston Uptown Historic District is the original site of the mid-17th-century Dutch settlement of Wiltwyck, which was later renamed Kingston when it passed into British control.

The district features many buildings that have been designated as National Historic Landmarks and Historic Places, including the Old Dutch Church, founded in 1659 as the First Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Kingston, the Kirkland Hotel, a rare example of a wood-frame central hotel, and the century-old stone Senate House. You can enjoy guided walking tours of the district and explore the treasury of centuries-old architecture in the heart of the original stockaded village of Kingston.

3. Forsyth Nature Center

The Forsyth Nature Center is an 18-plus acre Ulster County nature preserve located on Lucas Avenue that aims to encourage the exploration and preservation of the natural world through contact with flora and fauna and through a variety of educational programming at an interpretive facility.

Home to more than a dozen gardens that feature an array of native flora found in the Hudson Valley, as well as 24 animal exhibits, the Forsyth Nature Center provides a range of outdoor activities for the whole family to enjoy.

Address: 157 Lucas Avenue, Kingston, New York, Phone: 845-339-3053

4. Take the boat to the Rondout Lighthouse

The Rondout Lighthouse is a historic lighthouse on the Hudson River and one of three fully operational lighthouses that act as navigational lights to mark the entrance to the Rondout Creek. One of only seven remaining lighthouses on the Hudson River, the original wooden tower was built in 1867, though it was later replaced by a brick structure in 1915.

The lighthouse is accessible only by boat, which can be taken from the Hudson River Maritime Museum, and visitors can explore the lighthouse on occasional public and private guided tours led by experienced and knowledgeable tour guides who discuss the history of the lighthouse and the shipping industry in Kingston.

Address: 50 Rondout Landing, Kingston, New York, Phone: 845-338-0071

5. Visit The Matthewis Persen House

The Matthewis Persen House is one the oldest and most significant buildings in Ulster County and has witnessed many important moments in Ulster County's history. With a rich and diverse history that has seen wars, revolution, and fire, the Persen House, which has housed grocers, tailors, druggists, and doctors, takes visitors on a journey back in time.

Named after its longest resident Matthewis Persen, the house has undergone extensive restoration to maintain its historical significance and now functions as Ulster County's Heritage Gateway. Various cultural heritage groups from around the country hold special events each weekend, allowing visitors to explore the house and its culture and heritage on docent-led guided tours and enjoy a variety of exhibits, lectures, programs, and dramatic re-enactments.

Address: 74 John St, Kingston, NY 12401, Phone: 845-340-3288

6. Learn about history at the Senate House State Historic Site

The Senate House State Historic Site marks the place where New York State was established in 1777 during the Revolutionary War. Located in the Stockade Historic District at the corner of North Front Street and Clinton Avenue on Fair Street, the Senate House State Historic Site was built in 1676 when the British took control of New York from the Dutch. It is an excellent example of early Dutch and English construction styles and features stone and brick laid in Flemish Bond.

The house was abandoned when the Senate fled the British troops during the war and later burned in retribution. However, it was restored to its former glory and has since served as a museum for the public to enjoy. The museum’s collection consists of a broad range of documents, historical objects, and artworks relating to the history of the house and the role the Senate House played in the American Revolution. The Senate building and surrounding grounds are open to the public, and professional Senate House staff provide guided tours of the museum.

Address: 296 Fair Street, Kingston, NY 12401, 845-338-2786

7. See a collection of dolls at The Den of Marbletown (Museum & B&B)

The Den of Marbletown (Museum & B&B) is a museum by day and a cozy bed and breakfast by night. The family-run “den” features a family-friendly Teddy Bear Museum, which is home to a range of historic Steiff teddy bears and other stuffed animals, a Steiff gift shop, and a warm and welcoming bed and breakfast. Housed in a stunning 1860 farmhouse, the Teddy Bear Museum is a celebration of Steiff teddy bears and delves into the history of the German company that invented the Teddy Bear more than 100 years ago.

Along with the teddy bear collection, the museum also features rotating exhibitions of Madame Alexander dolls, Barbie dolls, Schuco toys and bears, and hand-carved wooden toys. The museum doubles as an inviting bed and breakfast in the evenings, and guests can enjoy a quiet stay in a comfortable home-away-from-home environment and savor a delicious homemade breakfast each morning.

Address: 1 Basten Lane, Kingston, NY 12401, 845-687-6441

8. Dine at Sushi Makio

Sushi Makio is a contemporary eatery that fuses the ancient Japanese culture with the spirit of Kingston. Sushi Master Makio Idesako owns and operates this restaurant, where he creates imaginative dishes of sushi and sashimi using fresh ingredients from all over the world.

Sustainably sourced and seasonal fish is the primary focus of the open kitchen, which produces traditional nigiri and maki as well as new-style sashimi. The menu also features an array of appetizers such as Asari clams, sunomono and edamame beans, noodle dishes, classic, signature and specialty rolls, and the chef’s choice of the day. A classic drinks menu features house and cold sake, plum and white wine, and beer.

Address: 1088 Morton Blvd, Kingston, New York, Phone: 845-853-8078

9. Spend the night in a cabin at Hutton Brickyards

Hutton Brickyards is located along the banks of the Hudson River in Kingston, less than 2 hours drive from NY City, where it offers a unique and imaginative getaway destination perfectly in tune with nature. A selection of beautifully designed and outfitted cabins with large picture windows and modern luxury touches invite visitors to kick back and relax at Hutton Brickyards. The cabins are just steps away from the restaurant and have access to communal fire pit and outdoor lounge areas. The Salt Spa offers all the relaxation and pampering you require, including waterfront saunas. The River Pavilion serves fresh delicious fare, most of which is prepared on the centerpiece wood-fired pizza ovens and grills.

Address: Hutton Brickyards, 200 North Street, Kingston, NY 12401, 845-213-4742