If you love to travel, there’s no denying the Hudson Valley is the perfect destination. It’s the ideal place for meandering around old towns (a trip to Sleepy Hollow, Beacon, and Cold Spring is a must), logging your latest hike on your AllTrails app, losing track of time in famed museums, or reclaiming your zen at a local swimming hole. From a string of vineyards to the iconic Hudson River School, the area’s 10 counties have a wealth of things to do and see.
The region was first explored by accident when Englishman Henry Hudson stumbled upon the river on his way to China in 1609. Over the centuries, the region has been a magnet for explorers, artists, and visitors seeking the natural beauty and sweeping views of its mountainous landscape.
In the mid-19th century, Thomas Cole’s depictions of the unspoiled landscape inspired a generation of painters. These artists were known as the Hudson River School, and their works are still renowned today. The beauty of the area also appealed to affluent industrialists who built weekend retreats in a number of historic villages along the Hudson River. Today, many of these estates are a part of the Historic Hudson Valley National Heritage Area and open to the public for tours.
From the cliff-top castle in Bear Mountain State Park to the sprawling grounds of Kykuit, each of the area’s estates is unique and reflects the era from which it hails. A few organizations oversee these estates, allowing them to flourish in modern times with the same careful attention to detail that was applied when they were originally designed. Historic Hudson Valley, a nonprofit organization founded by John D. Rockefeller Jr., maintains Sunnyside, Philipsburg Manor, Van Cortlandt Manor, and Kykuit. The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation oversees the Franklin Delano Roosevelt homes in Hyde Park (Clermont and Olana), Springwood and Valkill in Cold Spring, and Top Cottage and Lindenwald in Newburgh.
Farm-to-table dining is a staple in the Hudson Valley, where award-winning farms produce everything from apples to milk. But the food scene here is far from one-note—the area also has spectacular pasta spots, bakeries that turn out airy croissants as good as those in Paris, and restaurants that serve up dishes like grilled octopus and Jamaican jerk chicken.
While some of the region’s natural resources have been threatened by industrial pollution, efforts are being made to keep the Hudson clean and pristine for generations to come. Environmental groups are constantly working to keep pollutants out of the water, and the river itself is patrolled by a Riverkeeper who keeps an eye on its condition. This work is paying off, as the fish populations are rebounding and the waters are healthier than ever before.