Hudson Valley

The middle stretch of the Hudson Valley north of New York City, with the Walkway Over the Hudson, the Roosevelt home and the Vanderbilt Mansion along the river, Dia Beacon, Storm King Art Center and West Point to the south, and hiking on the Mohonk ridge to the west.

The Mid-Hudson Valley centers on Poughkeepsie in Dutchess County, about 120 km (75 miles) north of New York City. The banks of the broad Hudson River are the pastoral landscapes painted by the 19th-century Hudson River School, and also home to the estates of Gilded Age tycoons and the Roosevelt family. The area breaks down roughly into four parts: along the river in Poughkeepsie and Hyde Park, there's the Walkway Over the Hudson, the Franklin D. Roosevelt Home and Presidential Library, the Vanderbilt Mansion and the Culinary Institute of America; to the north, Rhinebeck and Kingston are well-preserved colonial-era towns; west of the river, the Shawangunk Ridge has two major preserves, Mohonk and Minnewaska, both hiking and rock-climbing meccas; and to the south, the Hudson Highlands are the most dramatic stretch of the valley, home to Dia Beacon, Cold Spring, Breakneck Ridge, West Point, Bear Mountain and Storm King Art Center, with Woodbury Common outlets and Legoland nearby. Late September through October is peak season for fall foliage and apple picking, with crowded weekends, so book lodging early; spring and summer are good for cycling, hiking and estate gardens; in winter some sights have shorter hours. Getting there: Metro-North's Hudson Line runs from Grand Central Terminal to Beacon, Cold Spring and Poughkeepsie in about 1.5–2 hours, and Amtrak serves Rhinecliff; public transportation west of the river and between the estates is sparse, so driving is recommended. Allow 2–4 days.

Top sights

Where to eat

Itineraries