Plan a fun trip with friends, a romantic overnight or a quick country escape to the Mid-Hudson Valley, where you can experience everything from scenic hikes and historic estates to craft breweries and modern art.
Cold Spring/Garrison
Explore: Revolutionary War history awaits around every corner of these quiet but vibrant Mid-Hudson hamlets. Shop the numerous boutiques and antique shops along Cold Spring’s Main Street. Hike legendary Breakneck Ridge (on every experienced hiker’s bucket list), and be rewarded with unparalleled views of West Point and the Hudson River valley, or tour Magazzino Italian Art, West Point Foundry Preserve or Boscobel mansion. Take advantage of the crisp fall weather and play a round of golf at The Garrison, a 1960s Dick Wilson-designed course that features woodsy, rolling terrain.
Where to Stay/Eat: The Garrison, an intimate four-room inn in Garrison, boasts The Valley Restaurant, where an ingredient-driven seasonal menu features the best the valley’s farms have to offer, and The World’s End bar (named for the famous bend in the river the property overlooks), where perfectly crafted cocktails come with a touch of history. At the landmark Hudson House River Inn, overlooking the waterfront in Cold Spring, overnight guests and drop-in diners can revel in historic ambiance and choose from a Zagat-rated menu that includes dry-aged steaks and market-fresh fish, complemented with wine from the Wine Spectator Award-winning list.
Newburgh-Beacon
Explore: Enjoy a day of gallery hopping, quirky independent shops and artist studios in the historic Washington Headquarter’s area of Liberty Street in Newburgh and Main Street in Beacon. Art lovers can swoon at Dia:Beacon, a 300,000-square-foot former Nabisco factory that houses MOMA’s collection of monumental contemporary works like Richard Sera’s Torques, or, take an exhilarating stroll through 500 acres of outdoor sculpture at Storm King Art Center just south of Newburgh in Cornwall. If you get thirsty, head to Newburgh Brewing Company, a spacious rehab of a factory, overlooking the river, cross over the river to Hudson Valley Brewery and 2 Way Brewery in Beacon.
Where to Stay/Eat: Stay at the Roundhouse: a beautifully renovated curved brick factory at the east end of Main Street overlooking Fishkill Falls in Beacon, where you can enjoy beautiful guest rooms and an acclaimed restaurant and bar. West of Newburgh in the heart of Orange County, the Stagecoach Inn, in Goshen, dates back to 1747—you can stroll the property’s three-acres of land, or settle into one of the cozy nooks with a cup of tea or cocktail while you choose from an eclectic menu with Italian and new American influences. Built in 1789, the Borland House Inn, in Montgomery, aims to create an experience shaped by food. All overnight stays include a full farm-to-table breakfast, with options to add cooking classes and private tastings to your stay.
Sullivan County
Explore, Stay/Eat: Farther west Resorts World Catskills is a sleek new casino offering world-class hospitality, an impressive casino and tranquil spa–a one-stop-shop for a weekend getaway. Nearby, you can visit Bethel Woods Museum of Rock and Roll. You’ll want to return to Resorts World for dinner, as the casino hosts a Restaurant Week double header: Cellaio and Lotus. At Cellaio, menu curator Scott Conant (CIA grad, restaurateur, cookbook author, and judge on the Food Network show Chopped) offers a signature steak in one of Cellaio’s decadent sauces, as well as his famous fresh pasta dishes. Lotus specializes in Chinese fine dining, including the timeless specialty, Peking Duck, a full tea service and coconut curry crab as well as other new and traditional dishes.
Ulster County
Explore: Wineries, cideries, distilleries and good eating abound in every corner of Ulster County. Start at Tuthilltown Distillery home of Hudson Whiskey, and taste some of the Hudson Valley’s finest wines at Whitecliff Vineyard & Winery, both in Gardiner. In New Paltz, visit historic Huguenot Street and the antique market on Water Street. For a breath of fresh air take a trip to the nearest U-Pick farms (there are numerous) for apples, pumpkins, cider donuts and pies. For more adventurous souls, the Shawangunk Ridge is a haven for mountain climbing, hiking and biking.
Where to Stay/Eat: The Buttermilk Falls Inn, a popular wedding destination and country inn, offers stunning views of the Hudson River, guest rooms and carriage houses, as well as a variety of spa treatments. On-site, Henry’s at the Farm sources much of its ingredients from Hudson Valley farms—some even from its own Millstone Farm. At the historic 18th century Dutch Colonial Hasbrouck House in Stone Ridge enjoy a meal at Butterfield, where the “menu changes with the land around us.” Hasbrouck House has stunning accommodations and a wellness center. There’s more to explore and plenty more delicious memories to be had nearby at these HVRW participating restaurants: A Tavola Trattoria, Dino’s Vigneto Cafe, Dutch Ale House, Perch, Ship Lantern Inn, The Village Tearoom Restaurant & Bake Shop, and The Would.
