Need a charming escape from NYC with art, farms, and scenic views? Head to the Hudson Valley! This lush river region offers historic estates, wineries, mountain trails, and artist enclaves—perfect for a relaxing weekend or a cultural day trip. Whether you’re into foliage drives, small-town vibes, or riverfront dining, the Hudson Valley delivers a rich blend of nature and creativity.

Hudson Valley, NY Highlights:

  • For Adventurous Travelers: Hike in Minnewaska State Park Preserve – Trek past waterfalls, cliffs, and mountain lakes in this breathtaking nature preserve.
  • For History Buffs: Tour Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Home in Hyde Park – Walk through the president’s estate and explore the onsite museum and library.
  • For Shoppers: Browse boutiques in Rhinebeck – Discover antiques, artisan goods, and local eats in this stylish and walkable village.
  • For Couples: Sip your way through Hudson Valley wine country – Enjoy tastings with a view at vineyards like Millbrook or Whitecliff.
  • For Families: Explore the Hudson River Maritime Museum in Kingston – Learn about river history and even take a solar-powered boat ride!

Best Time to Visit Hudson Valley, NY

The best time to visit the Hudson Valley is from May through October. Spring and summer bring farmers markets and festivals, while fall offers legendary foliage and harvest events. Winter is quieter but ideal for cozy getaways and holiday charm.

How to Get to Hudson Valley, NY

  • If you are traveling by car: Easily accessible via I-87, Route 9, and the Taconic State Parkway, just 1.5 to 2.5 hours north of NYC depending on destination.
  • By Train: Metro-North’s Hudson Line serves towns like Tarrytown, Beacon, and Poughkeepsie. Amtrak also connects NYC to Hudson, Rhinecliff, and Albany.
  • By Bus: Trailways and ShortLine offer service from NYC to various Hudson Valley towns.

Where to Stay in Hudson Valley, NY

  • Recommended for Families: Rocking Horse Ranch in Highland – All-inclusive resort with horseback riding, pools, and tons of kid-friendly activities.
  • For Couples: Hasbrouck House in Stone Ridge – Chic country inn with farm-to-table dining and fireplaces, perfect for a romantic weekend.
  • For a Boutique Hotel Stay: The Maker Hotel in Hudson – Lavish and artsy hotel offering vintage design, a library bar, and artisan café.

Best Things to Do in Hudson Valley, NY

The Thomas Cole National Historic Site

Explore the artist’s home and admire inspiring Hudson River School works.

The Thomas Cole National Historic Site

© The Thomas Cole National Historic Site

Thomas Cole put American art on the world map. He created a new style of painting that was uniquely American, and with his beautiful painting of Catskill landscapes, he laid the foundation of the Hudson River School of Art. Cedar Grove, the house in which he lived and painted, is located in Catskill, New York, and was opened in 2001 as a museum that celebrates the great artist’s life.

Thomas Cole’s paintings are on display in many of the world’s museum, but about 150 of his paintings can be found in his home. The house is registered as a National Historic Site, and hosts numerous exhibitions, lectures about the Hudson River School, and other programs. Just a short trip from NYC, The Thomas Cole National Historic Site in Catskill is perfect for a weekend trip with many things to do.

218 Spring St, Catskill, NY 12414, 518-943-7465

Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site

Walk through grand halls and explore breathtaking Gilded Age architecture.

Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site

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For those interested in architecture, you cannot pass up a visit to the Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site in Hyde Park, NY. Nestled amongst gardens and woodlands with views of the Catskill Mountains and rivers, the 54-room mansion is a prime example of Beaux-Art architecture.

Modeled after a typical English country house, it is a reflection of an era rather than an attempt to pay homage to an individual person. Sun yourself in the stunning terraced Italian Gardens, which were the pride and joy of Frederick Vanderbilt. The only way to visit the Vanderbilt Mansion is via a guided tour, and there are some restrictions on entry.

119 Vanderbilt Park Rd, Hyde Park, NY 12538, 845-229-7770

Teatown Lake Reservation

Hike scenic trails and enjoy peaceful nature views year-round.

Teatown Lake Reservation

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There is no better way to understand why we should protect the environment than to enjoy it daily and see it in its full glory season after season. Teatown Lake Reservation offers residents of Westchester County in New York 1000 acres consisting of a magnificent nature reserve with lakes, animals, rare native plants, and 15 miles of trails to enjoy and explore.

The reservation was established on the 194-acre gift from the family of Gerard Swope.

It grew to 1000 acres and today includes 41-acre Teatown Lake, 9-acre Vernay Lake, and 7-acre Shadow Lake along with waterfalls, streams, hardwood swamps, meadows, mixed forests, hemlock forests, and many laurel groves.

The reservation includes an Education Center that runs numerous programs and outreach activities with the local communities and schools.

The Nature Center has live animal exhibits, a Nature Store, and an art exhibit space.

The two-acre Wildflower Island holds an outdoor exhibit with 230 species of wildflowers, an outdoor classroom, a maple sugar house, the Wildflower Woods, a butterfly and bee garden, a sensory garden for the kids, and a raptor loop with owls, hawks, kestrels, and an eagle.

Address: Teatown Lake Reservation, 1600 Spring Valley Rd #1, Ossining, NY 10562, 914-762-2912

If you are a photographer, don't miss:

Cohoes Falls, Fall Views Park

Admire stunning waterfalls and enjoy vibrant fall foliage.

Cohoes Falls, Fall Views Park

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Fall Views Park in Cohoes is home to the spectacular Cohoes Falls. With four acres of falls, rivers, and walking trails, it is a naturally stunning vista where you can spend an hour or two.

The Upper Level offers easy access for everyone. Here you can enjoy a picnic or fishing trip with your family. The area features enlightening panels that inform visitors of the historical, educational, and geological significance of the falls and park. For those with a high level of fitness there is access to the bottom of the falls via a staircase. A trip to Cohoes Falls is a great family activity.

Address: Cohoes Falls, Fall Views Park, North Mohawk Street, Cohoes, NY 12047

Activities and Attractions for Couples and Singles:

Hudson Valley Center for Contemporary Art

Discover thought-provoking contemporary art and explore diverse exhibits.

Hudson Valley Center for Contemporary Art

© Hudson Valley Center for Contemporary Art

The family of Marc and Livia Straus founded the Hudson Valley Center for Contemporary Art in order to develop exhibitions and programs that promote understanding of contemporary art and its link to modern social issues.

The 12,000 square foot exhibition space in Peekskill, NY allows the center to organize high quality temporary and long-term exhibits and installations, supporting both emerging and established artists.

The center also provides artists with a space to build their long-term installations and organizes lectures and discussions.

It is also the main sponsor of the Peekskill Project, an annual exhibition of artwork that is site-specific.

Address: Hudson Valley Center for Contemporary Art, 1701 Main St, Peekskill, NY 10566, 914-788-0100

Edward Hopper House Art Center

Visit the artist’s birthplace and explore inspiring art collections.

Edward Hopper House Art Center

© Edward Hopper House Art Center

Visiting homes of great artists gives us a feeling that we can better understand what inspired their achievements. The renowned American painter Edward Hopper was born in a charming house in Nyack, New York and he lived in it until 1910. After he died, the community restored the house and in 1971 turned it into an art center. The Edward Hopper Landmark Preservation Foundation manages the house, and they work on preserving Hopper’s birthplace and his memorabilia and documents. They also organize numerous exhibitions of art in all media, screen art-related movies, and put on popular concerts in the garden.

Tours of the Edward Hopper House Art Center are accompanied by knowledgeable docents who are there to share stories about the life and work of Edward Hopper and the artists whose work is on exhibit at the time.

Address: Edward Hopper House Art Center, 82 N Broadway, Nyack, New York 10960, 845-358-0774

What to do if you are traveling with kids:

Saugerties Lighthouse

Walk along scenic trails and admire picturesque river views.

Saugerties Lighthouse

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In the middle of the Hudson River near Saugerties, NY sits a beautiful romantic bed and breakfast. The Saugerties Lighthouse was built in 1835 to facilitate navigation on the river and is still carrying out that role.

Meticulously maintained and restored, it is also a living museum and a proud witness to more romantic times.

You can visit the lighthouse tower to see the still functioning but modernized mechanism as well as magnificent vistas of the river and its surroundings.

The lighthouse has been converted into a renowned bed and breakfast, and it is hard to imagine a more romantic space for Valentine’s Day weekend or a honeymoon.

168 Lighthouse Dr, Saugerties, NY 12477, 845-247-0656

Hudson Beach Glass

Explore unique glass art and watch live glassblowing demonstrations.

Hudson Beach Glass

© Hudson Beach Glass

Visiting Hudson Beach Glass gallery is a delight for all ages: it is full of beautiful glass objects in all colors of the rainbow, some you would love to see on your table and others pure artistic whimsy. Visiting Hudson Beach Glass studio is even more fascinating.

You can see four artists who founded the studio in 1987 at work or even try your hand at making your own Christmas ornaments at one of their many courses and demonstrations.

The studio is located in a former icehouse, and the gallery in an old firehouse on Main Street in Beacon, NY.

162 Main St, Beacon, NY 12508, 845-440-0068

Troy Waterfront Farmers' Market

Enjoy fresh produce, explore artisan goods, and savor local treats.

Troy Waterfront Farmers' Market

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If you happen to be in Hudson Valley on a Saturday morning, make sure you take a walk through the Troy Waterfront Farmers' Market in Troy.

The smell of fresh bread and food will waft towards you before you even set foot in the market.

Sample fresh food and listen to fantastic live music as you wander amongst the stalls.

There are over 70 growers, bakers, chefs, and artisans who display their wares, catering to all tastes and requirements.

Enjoy fresh local produce direct from the grower or pick up a meaningful gift for that hard to buy for person.

A trip to the market provides a perfect morning out for the whole family.

Address: Troy Waterfront Farmers' Market, Monument Square, Troy, NY 12180

Where to Eat in Hudson Valley, NY

  • Recommended for Families: Beacon Bread Company – Friendly spot for fresh pastries, sandwiches, and hearty brunches.
  • For Farm-to-Table Dining: Blue Hill at Stone Barns – World-renowned sustainable dining experience in Pocantico Hills (reservations essential).
  • For a Casual Meal: Grazin’ in Hudson – Farm-sourced diner classics made from grass-fed, organic ingredients.

If you are interested in local events:

  • For Music Lovers: Clearwater’s Great Hudson River Revival (June) – Folk music, eco-activism, and riverfront fun in Croton-on-Hudson.
  • For Foodies: Hudson Valley Wine & Food Fest (September) – Taste regional wines, spirits, and gourmet bites in Rhinebeck.
  • For Fall Enthusiasts: Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze (October–November) – Thousands of hand-carved pumpkins light up Van Cortlandt Manor in a magical Halloween display.

Day Trip Itineraries Within 30 Minutes of Key Hudson Valley Towns:

  • From Beacon: Mount Beacon Trail (10–15 min) – Hike to a panoramic summit overlooking the Hudson Highlands.
  • From Hudson: Olana State Historic Site (10–15 min) – Visit the Persian-style estate of landscape painter Frederic Edwin Church.
  • From New Paltz: Mohonk Preserve (15–20 min) – Climb the Sky Top Tower, hike Shawangunk Ridge, or rock climb with a guide.
  • From Rhinebeck: Wilderstein Historic Site (10–15 min) – Tour a Victorian mansion and stroll wooded riverfront paths.
  • From Kingston: Catskill Animal Sanctuary (25–30 min) – Meet rescued farm animals and learn about compassionate living.
  • From Poughkeepsie: Walkway Over the Hudson (5–10 min) – Stroll across the world’s longest elevated pedestrian bridge.

Frequently Asked Questions:

  • What is the Hudson Valley?
    • New York's Hudson Valley spans 150 miles of lush nature, marked by hundreds of years of history, human endeavors, and breathtaking natural beauty.
  • What towns are located in the Hudson Valley?
  • What historical events took place in the Hudson Valley?
    • The valley has witnessed battles that shaped the nation, including the significant events at Saratoga.
  • How has the Hudson Valley influenced American art?
    • The Hudson River School of Painters originated here, defining how the world perceives American art through their breathtaking landscapes.
  • How is the Hudson Valley connected to culinary excellence?
    • The valley is home to the prestigious Culinary Institute of America, where top chefs graduate to offer fresh perspectives on food and redefine culinary traditions.

At a Glance:


Best Time to Visit Places to Stay Tips for Visiting
Spring (March-May) – Mild temperatures and blooming gardens. Mohonk Mountain House – A luxurious and historic resort with stunning lake views. Visit Storm King Art Center – Explore large-scale outdoor sculptures set in a beautiful landscape.
Summer (June-August) – Warm and perfect for outdoor adventures. Troutbeck – A historic inn offering relaxation in a scenic setting. Hike Breakneck Ridge – Enjoy breathtaking views of the Hudson River.
Fall (September-November) – Crisp air and stunning fall foliage. The Maker Hotel – A stylish boutique stay in the heart of Hudson. Drive the Shawangunk Scenic Byway – Experience some of the best fall colors in New York.
Winter (December-February) – Snowy and cozy, great for a winter retreat. Buttermilk Falls Inn & Spa – A peaceful and charming riverside stay. Explore the Walkway Over the Hudson – Enjoy crisp winter air and panoramic river views.

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