I’ve lived in New York City for 6 years and have yet to make it up to Hudson Valley until now! I was invited to explore the beautiful Dutchess County and I couldn’t believe all that it had to offer, just a little over a 1 hour train or car ride outside of the city! While there is so much to do, we’re sharing just a handful of the experiences we had and we can’t wait to go back and explore more!
Beacon
I immediately loved the vibe in Beacon and it was not surprise that I later found out that this town draws creatives from all over and from NYC. It’s no wonder the incredible Dia Beacon is located here. There are lots of fun restaurants, coffee shops and shops as well.
DIA BEACON
We headed straight to Beacon, New York to visit the Dia Beacon, one of the largest exhibition spaces in the country for modern and contemporary art. The museum is expansive and can be explored for hours. They also offer temporary exhibitions.
Bannerman Island
Also located in the town of Beacon, Bannerman Island is truly the star of the show. This spectacular castle is set on its own little island and can only be accessed by ferry boat that departs from the town of Beacon. I truly felt like I was in Scotland or Germany and could not believe this exists in the USA, let along just 1 hour outside of New York City! The gardens are so beautiful and make for an inviting place for Monarch Butterflies which you can find everywhere! It’s truly a special place.
Poughkeepsie
Set along the Hudson River, Poughkeepsie is undergoing a revival with tons of new restaurants, shops and cafes popping up. I loved the waterfront with gorgeous views of the bridges, which also features a market on certain days. Head to Mill House Brewing Company for an awesome lunch and fun vibe, grab coffee at Cafe 40 and Co. and have dinner at Shadows on the Hudson set on the river with spectacular views. Also nearby, is the gorgeous Vassar College campus which is also worth a visit and has tons of photos ops!
Cafe 40 & Co.
Mill House Brewing Company
Shadows on the Hudson
Stay at Hotel Tivoli
For all of you design and art lovers out there, Hotel Tivoli is a special place to stay. Located in the small quiet town of Tivoli, this boutique stay has curated their art pieces so well and you can spend hours just admiring each one. The hotel is clean, the beds are super comfy, the breakfast is delicious and the photos ops are endless.
Vanderbilt Mansion
A visit to the Vanderbilt Mansion will have you feeling like royalty. While we couldn’t visit the inside due to COVID restrictions, we truly enjoyed exploring the grounds and taking photos. The architecture and nature surrounding it are beautiful. Tours of the interior are offered but were not available when we visited.
Vassar College
Rhinebeck
One of the most picturesque and charming towns we visited was Rhinebeck. Go for a stroll, have a coffee and visit Breads Alone bakery!
Visit DutchessTourism.com to plan your visit.
I was invited as a guest by Dutchess County Tourism, as always, opinions are my own.
