There’s a lot to love about New York City, but sometimes the best thing about the Big Apple is getting a chance to escape it. Luckily for NYC residents and visitors alike, the Hudson Valley is the perfect getaway location for those that want to experience a different side of New York.
If you want to slow things down and leave the hustle and bustle of Manhattan behind, we’ll tell you what to do, where to stay and where to eat for the ultimate escape to the Hudson Valley’s Dutchess County.
Getting To The Hudson Valley
Poughkeepsie is the heart of the Hudson Valley and is accessible from all three major New York/New Jersey-area airports. If you want to avoid the 90-minute drive into town, New York Stewart International Airport is just 30 minutes outside of Poughkeepsie, while the smaller Hudson Valley Airport in Wappingers Falls is just a 15-minute drive into town. You can also get to Dutchess County from New York City via Amtrak or Metro-North in about an hour.
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Where To Stay
Dutchess County has a wide variety of accommodations, boasting everything from affordable motels to luxurious B&Bs. Have a truly unique experience by spending a night at Wing’s Castle, go camping at Wilcox Memorial Park, or stay in style at the sophisticated Roadhouse boutique hotel. There are also newer properties such as Springhill Suites by Marriot in Fishkill and the newly renovated, intimate Beacon Hotel, so you’re sure to find accommodations that fit your taste and budget.
Where To Eat
History buffs will want to head to the Colonial Tap Room at The Beekman Arms hotel for dinner, which holds the title as the oldest continuously operated hotel in America. Grab the “Pig Candy Burger” and choose from the largest selection of Irish whiskey in the country at Traghaven Whiskey Pub in Tivoli, or enjoy seafood at the Poughkeepsie Ice House on the Hudson.
What To See
Housed in a former Nabisco box printing factory, Dia:Beacon is home to a vast collection of art from the 1960s to the present. The museum also hosts a number of temporary exhibits and special programming. Pay a visit to the Franklin D. Roosevelt Home, Presidential Library & Museum to learn about the 32nd president, spend a day at the Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center, see a show at Poughkeepsie’s Cunneen-Hackett Arts Center, and explore the Hudson by boat on a Hudson River cruise.
What To Do
Pamper yourself at Haven Spa in Rhinebeck before you set off on a tour of area wineries, stopping at Millbrook Vineyards & Winery, Clinton Vineyards & Winery and Cascade Mountain Winery & Restaurant along the way. Get crafty and learn the art of glass blowing at Hudson Beach Glass and don’t forget to hike the Hyde Park trail near Vanderbilt Mansion.
Want to plan your perfect Hudson Valley getaway? Put your dream itinerary together at DutchessTourism.com.
Brought to you by Dutchess Tourism