Home to a diverse group of artists, chefs, and outdoor lovers, the Hudson Valley – located about two hours north of New York City – provides the ideal backdrop for a quick weekend away. And unlike farther-flung destinations, a recharging trip here (even with a few indulgences) can come with a low carbon footprint. The Hudson Valley train line from Manhattan’s Grand Central is a great, sustainable option for non-drivers, though I had access to Volvo’s new XC40 electric car, making the trip upstate even easier. I simply jumped in, told Google “to take me to the Hudson Valley.” and voila, I was on my way. In addition to feeling like you’re doing something good for the planet (you are), charging stations are becoming more readily available – keep scrolling for more on where I charged in my destination, the town of Hudson – making driving electric a convenient way to plan a road trip sans gas. However you choose to travel to this pastoral paradise, here’s what to do once you arrive.
Restaurants and Eateries
Why a Visit to Hudson, New York Is Better Than Ever
As New Yorkers and Bostonians try to remain close to home, New York’s Hudson Valley is as popular as ever. Thankfully, the town of Hudson hasn’t rested on its laurels one bit. The past few months have brought a gorgeously designed boutique hotel, a stellar bakery that excels in sourdough, and a slew of new shops to browse. Hudson is often referred to as the Brooklyn of the Hudson Valley, but it has so much more to offer (although if you’re looking for that Brooklyn vibe, you can definitely find it here). Fall is the ideal time to plan a weekend (or longer) getaway to Hudson—here are some exciting new spots to add to your list.
Columbia County Retail List
Our office has joined forces with the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce to assist in the Columbia County Comeback/Buy Local crusade.
In support of the Columbia County food and beverage related businesses, we have been actively updating a Columbia County Dining, Food & Beverage List for the convenience of the many dedicated patrons. This list is shared regularly through social media and our websites. https://columbiacountytourism.org/dine/takeout-delivery-columbia-county-ny/
NEW to this combined effort is a Columbia County Retail List. Please shop local and lets all advocate for a successful Columbia County Comeback!
Special thanks to the support from Chamber members who are listed in BOLD. If you are actively conducting business and do not see your business listed, please email us at: [email protected]
How Upstate New York Became The Coolest Fall Destination
Just a couple of hours upstate in the Hudson Valley, stylish expats in search of a romantic alternative to urban life are invigorating rural towns from Ghent to Germantown – and, along the way, providing compelling new reasons to visit.
Read article here.
Best 15 Engaging Things to Do in the Mid-Hudson River Valley
HUDSON NY
Go uphill for the riveting views, and stay for the house tour at Frederick Church’s home, Olana. Church, a significant artist in the Hudson River School of Art movement, built his Persian-influenced style home overlooking his beloved river. Posthumously, Church became an important player in the Hudson River conservation movement, when one of his paintings was employed in the effort to ban a nuclear power plant within view of here. Protesters in the 1970’s used one of Church’s winter landscapes to show exactly how an industrial facility would mar the perfect scene. The ploy worked and the plant was put elsewhere. You’ll see this landscape and a number of Old Masters on a fascinating tour of Church’s home and studio.
Read article here.
Eye On Hudson: Five New Hotspots You Should Know About
You hear it all the time: those who occasionally visit Hudson will remark on the many changes they’ve encountered since their last swing through town. New businesses are always opening and the end of summer 2015 was an especially active time for the little city’s business district, with establishments of all kinds opening their doors. But it’s not just quantity. The quality of Hudson’s new businesses continue to elevate the Hudson experience for both residents and visitors alike. Here are five new hotspots to check out next time you’re there.
Read article here.
City Guide: A Weekend in Upstate New York
Earlier this month I traveled upstate to celebrate one of my friend’s (and one of our very own interviewees) Alisa Richter’s wedding in Hudson, New York. Having lived in the big apple for more than half my life I was hit with a realization that until this year, I had actually never been beyond the confines of the city – my first taste of life upstate was visiting Dia:Beacon this summer. Since, I’ve been itching to experience the beauty the rest of the state has to offer. With an opportunity to celebrate one of life’s most cherished events and the chance to explore more about local life in towns including Hudson, Phoenicia and Germantown I was able to truly discover some amazing destinations that are well worth checking out for a weekend getaway no matter the occasion.
Read article here.
Why New York Is Celebrating a Vegetable This Weekend (Ramp Festival)
Take a trip to New York’s Hudson Valley to taste one of the season’s most elusive flavors.
Now that the seemingly endless winter is truly over, there are harbingers of spring everywhere: cherry trees blooming, arms and toes exposed. For foodies, the change in seasons is exciting for another reason: For a very brief moment, farmers’ markets will be overrun with ramps, a spring vegetable that’s also known as a wild leek. Its flavor is pungent, sort of like a cross between a spring onion and garlic, and its presentation varied: pickled, grilled, used in pesto, as a pizza topping…the list goes on. Because of their scarcity—ramps show up early in the season in the northeast, mid-Atlantic, and Midwest, then hit their peak for just a few weeks—they’re enormously popular among the food obsessed; in the past week alone, Eater.com, Bon Appetit,and Serious Eats have all published articles extolling the elusive allium’s virtues.
Read article here.
Why Hudson, NY, Is Our New Favorite Weekend Getaway
It was only a matter of time before Hudson, a well-established antiques mecca set within New York’s agricultural heartland, became a food destination as well.
Read article here.
Big Time: Hudson’s Moment in the Spotlight
When asked how the city of Hudson has changed since she first arrived in 1991, Linda Mussmann says, “People talk about real estate now and not as much about art. The gentry, to some degree, has landed.” Mussmann has run Time and Space Limited, a multidisciplinary art warehouse, with partner Claudia Bruce since 1993, planting the first artistic seeds of the latest wave or creative regeneration. Mussmann and Bruce created an environment for edgy art (political theater, independent films, and in-your-face exhibitions) and community resources for underprivileged kids that continues to this day. “The goal is to have the opportunity to work until we die,” Mussmann says. “We’re never finished.” What defines Time and Space Limited, like much of the rest of this city percolating with hope and hype in equal measure, is the spirit of creative entrepreneurship: Hudson has the highest self-employment rate in New York state—almost 10 percent—and is ranked 83rd in the country. It’s a place where you’ll find antique stores and auction houses alongside vintage clothing and record stores, and an empty lot where a handful of food trucks have created an impromptu food court. Hudson even has its own version of a neo-vaudevillian circus troupe: Bindlestiff Family Cirkus.
Read article here.
On the Trail of the Old Fashioned, Through Wisconsin and Upstate New York
The old fashioned may be the world’s first cocktail. The earliest print reference occurs in 1806 in a magazine published in Hudson, New York, called by its original name of Bittered Sling. This “cock tail” was probably made from rye whiskey (virtually the only kind available at the time); it also contained bitters, sugar, and water. Later, a twist of citrus peel became common. By 1833 the concoction was pandemic in New York City bars. But by then the liquor of choice could also be brandy, rum, or even gin — sometimes grated nutmeg was added as a flavoring. New York City’s premiere bartender, Jerry Thomas, published his recipe — calling it Whiskey Cocktail — in 1862, using Boker’s bitters and a sugar solution thickened with gum arabic, very science-cheffy. He added a twist of lemon peel after straining the drink into a wine glass. No ice!
Read article here.
