Looking for a weekend full of outdoor adventure and an artistic and cultural escapade? Then Hudson Valley is the best spot to visit. With historic mansions, fine dining, charming outdoor scenery and splendid wineries, the place is a famous tourist spot and has a lot of exciting activities to offer visitors in all the seasons. In this blog post, I will explore the amazing things to do in Hudson Valley during your weekend getaway.
Historic Sites and Landmarks in Hudson Valley
Hudson Valley is home to a number of historic sites and landmarks that tell the heritage and lives of people who lived in the region. In this section, I will discuss a few of the historic sites and landmarks you can visit in the Hudson Valley NY.
1. Kykuit
Kykuit is one of the popular Hudson Valley historic sites. It was a place that had housed four generations of the Rockefellers, right from Standard Oil company founder, John D. Rockefeller. The place has been maintained by the Rockefeller Brothers Fund for more than 100 years.
During my visit, I enjoyed walking through the elegantly kept rooms and the splendid gardens. The house also has a display of classic automotives and carriages. Visiting the Kykuit house is one of the best things to do in Hudson NY.
| Location | 381 North Broadway, Sleepy Hollow, NY 10591 |
| Timings | Friday-Sunday – 10 am to 4 pmMonday-Thursday – Closed |
| Pricing | $25-$65 |
2. Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Home, Library and Museum
Located in Hyde Park, Hudson Valley, Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Home, Library and Museum is both the home and presidential library dedicated to the 32nd president of USA, Franklin D. Roosevelt. The library was constructed to preserve the books, papers, letters and memorabilia that Roosevelt collected during his tenure.
In fact, he received close to 4,000 letters per day from people commenting about his presidential work. You will get to see that there are also artifacts from the Roosevelt era displayed inside the library. If you are a history buff, then making a visit to this library is one of the top things to do in Hudson Valley, NY.
| Location | 4079 Albany Post Road, Hyde Park, NY 12538 |
| Timings | Monday-Sunday – 9 am to 6 pm |
| Pricing | $15 |
3. Washington Irving’s Sunnyside
One of the popular Hudson Valley attractions, Washington Irving’s Sunnyside is the historical house of the American author, Washington Irving. In 1962, the house was given the designation as a National Historic Landmark.
The guides here offer an excellent tour of the site. I had observed that my guide was dressed in colonial style clothing, taking me back in time during the tour. I would recommend you to visit Sunnyside during Halloween.
| Location | 3 West Sunnyside Lane, Irvington, NY 10533 |
| Timings | Friday-Sunday – 10.30 am to 3.30 pmMonday-Thursday – Closed |
| Pricing | $10-$12 |
Hudson Valley Wine Tasting
Hudson Valley has a diverse variety of wineries that are spread across its counties. With a history in winemaking for hundreds of years, the place has become a popular spot for wine lovers. Here, I will briefly discuss some of the top wineries you can visit for wine tasting.
1. Hudson Chatham Winery
Hudson Chatham Winery is one of the best wineries in Hudson Valley. In 2006, it became the first winery in Columbia County after renovating from an old farmhouse. The Hudson Chatham Winery was repurposed by Steve Rosario and Justin Nickel in 2020 to offer farmed and naturally processed wines.
There is a wide selection of high quality wines offered. All the wines I tasted in this winery were absolutely delicious. The atmosphere of the place is really serene and engaging.
| Location | 1900 NY-66, Ghent, NY 12075 |
| Timings | Thursday-Saturday – 12 pm to 7 pmSunday – 12 pm to 5 pm
Monday-Wednesday – Closed |
| Pricing | $25 |
2. Benmarl Winery
The Benmarl Winery has the oldest vineyard in the US and is the possessor of New York State Farm Winery license No.1. The vineyard has been transferred from a host of families — from the Caywood family to the Miller family to the Spaccarelli family. The Miller family had named the vineyard as Benmarl in 1957.
The focus of Benmarl Winery is to produce small batches of wines that hold the special taste of each vineyard it is sourced from. On weekends, the winery offers brick oven pizzas along with its wine tasting sessions. This winery is at the top of my Hudson Valley things to do list wherever I get an opportunity to visit.
| Location | 156 Highland Avenue, Marlboro, NY 12542 |
| Timings | Monday-Sunday – 11 am to 6 pm |
| Pricing | $20-$45 |
Art and Culture of Hudson Valley
The Hudson Valley has many art and cultural attractions that will give you an insight into the art and culture of the place. Below I have listed and explored a select few artistic and cultural attractions in Hudson Valley.
1. Dia Beacon Museum
Visiting museums can be an educative and immersive experience and the Dia Beacon Museum is at the top. Founded in 2003, the museum is part of Dia Art Foundation and showcases art collections from the 1960s.
Walking and observing the art exhibits of this museum was one of the best Hudson River Valley things to do during my visit there. If you enjoy modern and contemporary art, then you will love the exhibits in this museum.
| Location | 3 Beekman Street, Beacon, NY 12508 |
| Timings | Monday, Friday, Sunday – 10 am to 5 pmTuesday-Thursday, Saturday – Closed |
| Pricing | Below 4 years – FreeAbove 4 years – $5-$20 |
2. Bardavon Opera House
Constructed in 1869, the theater has been operating since then in New York State, showcasing music, theater, live music, classic films and arts education. The place is currently operated by the Bardavon 1869 Opera House Incorporated.
The theater gives opportunities for both renowned and emerging performers to display their talents on stage. Going to the Bardavon Opera House is one of the best things to do in Hudson River Valley if you are a performing arts lover.
| Location | 35 Market Street, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 |
| Timings | Tuesday-Friday – 11 am to 5 pmSaturday-Monday – Closed |
| Pricing | $50-$200 |
3. Storm King Art Center
If you are looking for fun things to do in Hudson Valley NY, then you must surely check out the Storm King Art Center. An open sculpture museum, Storm King Art Center possesses a huge collection of contemporary sculptures in the US that is spread over 500 acres.
During my visit, I got a chance to visit the indoor gallery that is located in the center of the sculpture museum. With an organic mix of art, the sky and the surroundings, this is one of the best places to visit in Hudson Valley.
| Location | 1 Museum Road, New Windsor, NY 12553 |
| Timings | Wednesday-Monday – 10 am to 5.30 pmTuesday – Closed |
| Pricing | Below 4 years – FreeAbove 4 years – $15-$25 |
If you have the luxury of time, you can explore some more cultural and historic sites in New York City, which is a 2-hour drive from Hudson Valley.
Hudson Valley Scenic Drives and Photography
You need not stop at visiting historic landmarks and wine tasting spots in your Hudson Valley getaway. You can also appreciate the charming outdoors by going on scenic drives along the Hudson River on Route 9W.
As you go on a scenic drive, you can stop by at the Olana State Historic Site. The place gives stunning views of the Catskill Mountains, Hudson River Valley and the Taconic Range. This will give you a chance to capture good shots of the excellent views from the Olana site. You can also take photos of iconic lighthouses that are planted along the Hudson River.
You can also travel for around one hour and explore some of the Catskill attractions, which is like an undiscovered gem in New York State that is waiting to be found.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are a variety of exciting stuff to do in Hudson Valley for travel enthusiasts like you. The historic landmarks, wineries, museums, art centers, scenic outdoors, everything will make your visit to the place a memorable one.
I encourage you to explore this region and discover its splendid beauty and charm. If you are a traveler on a budget, then the winter months are the best time to travel, especially in the month of November.
After enjoying a trip to Hudson Valley, you can visit nearby New York City for further exploration. You can stay in one of the best vacation rentals in New York City offered by HolidayKeepers. They provide ample amenities like WiFi, indoor swimming pool, hot tubs, jacuzzis and more, so that you can have a wonderful experience.
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