New York City has long been one of the world’s top tourist destinations, and it is often a bucket list city for visitors from around the world. Smart travelers also know there’s plenty to do and see beyond the city, and one of the most up and coming New York State destinations is the Hudson Valley.
For years, affluent city weekenders have flocked to the Hamptons along Long Island’s south shore to get some sun and sand, but recently many city dwellers have set their sights on the Hudson Valley. Here you will find quaint towns with unique shops, incredible casual and high class dining options, and plenty of beautiful natural scenery.
Geographically, the Hudson Valley traces the Hudson River up from Manhattan. For this reason it comprises various state counties including Putnam, Orange, Ulster, Columbia, Greene and more.
Practically every major publication has a guide to the Hudson Valley’s best, but here’s a ranking from a lifetime Hudson Valley resident.
Famed for mountain views, lakeside resorts, and a thriving state university, New Paltz in Ulster County really has something for everyone. Nature lovers will flourish here, spending afternoons walking, biking, or running along one of the town’s many public trails. Along with spectacular views from town, New Paltz has a buzzing culinary scene, plenty of adorable shops and antique stores, and a sparkling river connecting Main Street to the fields and mountains beyond.
Just 20-minutes north of New Paltz in Ulster County is Kingston, a very popular spot for city transplants to find new roots. Here, an urban city culture intermingles with suburban life to create a quiet oasis with all the cultural benefits of living in a city. Great restaurants, wine bars, theaters, galleries and shops across Kingston’s uptown, midtown and downtown.
Just a bit further up the Thruway from Kingston, Catskill is another lovely oasis. Here the Catskill mountains are just a short drive away for some of the best of the Hudson Valley’s hikes, ski lodges, and outdoor adventures. Also here find incredible live music venues and bars, coffee shops and co-working spaces, local theater and more.
On the other side of the Hudson, Beacon offers one of the most expansive main streets in the Hudson Valley. Here you can peruse shops, grab some delectable donuts, shop vintage, and enjoy close proximity to hiking trails, incredible Hudson River views, and an accessible train station that will take you right down to NYC.
For antique scavengers, high end fashion lovers, and coffee lovers, Hudson is the perfect HV landing spot. Window shop for hours, or give your wallet a whallop in an afternoon cruising down Warren Street. Hudson is home to a range of cuisines including Bon Appetit vetted Cafe Mutton. Though Hudson begins to stretch up closer to Albany and upstate territory, it is quite close to incredibly quiet bucolic settings where visitors can spend sunny days picking berries or apples, and enjoying the Hudson Valley’s famed colorful sunsets.
Rhinebeck competes with towns like Hudson and Beacon as the most posh. Here celebrities and rich city dwellers have weekend homes and can be found around town dining and running errands. During the warm months and throughout the fall, tourists swarm the town’s cozy restaurants that serve everything from traditional French fare to Thai and Indian, American classics and more.
