The picturesque, riverside communities that comprise the 150-mile stretch of the Hudson Valley are the perfect place for travelers to experience some of New York’s finest history, natural beauty, culture, and food — without ever stepping foot in the big city. From apple orchards and great hiking trails to historic mansions, there’s a little something for everyone.

Why go?

This region is brimming with bucolic beauty: from the country's oldest wineries to impressive Vanderbilt-era mansions. Plus, the Hyde Park-based Culinary Institute of America has inspired an impressive range of culinary talent throughout the region.
Every September, the annual Basilica Soundscape highlights innovative and genre-bending visual arts, musicians, and writers — and there's also plenty of harvest festivals such as the Hudson Valley Garlic Festival and Warwick Applefest.
A few local guides to reference while you’re there include Eater’s "Guide for Eating and Drinking," Hudson Valley Magazine, and this guide from Practical Wanderlust.

The views at Montgomery Place Orchards are just as beautiful as the produce. | Photo by AVLtoday

Act like a local:

Food: Check out Hudson’s Cafe Mutton — heralded as “America’s Most Delightfully Unpredictable New Restaurant” by Bon Appetit — for fresh crepes, orange muffins + homemade bologna.
Drink: Get to know the country’s oldest wine-making region and visit one of the many wineries.We recommend Demarest Hill Winery & Distillery for picturesque views and 80+ varieties.
Outdoors: Spend a day roaming Storm King Art Center, a 500-acre outdoor art museum brimming with large-scale sculptures and world-renowned landscape architecture.
Shop: Stock up on a dazzling array of fresh produce at Montgomery Place Orchards, a family-owned orchard and farm stand that also offers fresh jam, vinegar, and honey, among other goodies.
Explore: If you’re an architecture or history buff, the Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site — which houses a 54-room beaux arts palace — will be right up your alley.

The sunset cottage offers gorgeous views and a cozy firepit. | Photo via VRBO

Where to stay:

Vrbo: Sunset Cottage in Hudson (~$384/night)*
Airbnb: The Glass House (~$262/night)
Splurge hotel: Hutton Brickyards (~$395/night
Save hotel: Mohonk Mountain House (~$291/night)

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