OVERVIEW:
If the Hudson Valley conjures a bygone era in American History of important Revolutionary War battles, an important transit hub of steamboats and rail between New England, New York City, Montreal, and the Great Lakes in the 19th century, and a beleaguered recent past beset by demographic and economic challenges in the late 20th century you wouldn’t be mistaken. But as the saying “Everything Old is New Again” goes, the Hudson Valley is having a rebirth bolstered by a variety of cultural moments and economic realities. With creative artists and NYC families increasingly priced out of the Big Apple, adventurous chefs seeking to be closer to the source of the farm-to-table revolution, and a growing emphasis among urban millennials and families seeking to unplug and find occasional refuge in pastoral pursuits, the broader Hudson Valley (which encompasses the region north of New York City to the state Capital of Albany) has experienced a renaissance as of late.
As a personal update, we had our daughter (first child) in December of 2019. We were fortunate that both Baby and Mom were both doing well. By early February 2020, our travel itch resurfaced and needed to be scratched. Thanks to the support of loving grandparents who were excited to take care of Baby for one night without us, we were ready for a quick parents getaway. With the invaluable advice of countless friends, we decided to do a quick trip away from Baby for a night; however, one that was within reasonable driving distance of home (that way we could quickly come back, if needed). We chose Beacon, NY given its location along the southern Hudson Valley (shorter driving distance from the greater NYC metropolitan area) as well as its plethora of activities for a 24 hour jaunt even in the heart of winter. We really enjoyed our introduction to the Hudson Valley at Beacon and would definitely come back in the warmer months to pursue more outdoor activities and explore further north.
On hindsight, we were very fortunate to have even taken this trek as within a few weeks of this trip, COVID-19 began its relentless advance into the NY/NJ/CT area and America as a whole. While the world is continuing to be and has indelibly been changed by COVID-19, one day we hope we will all feel secure enough to travel again. When that time comes, we will all tread lightly. And if your road leads you to Beacon, NY, we hope these recommendations make that excursion a little better. Our thoughts and prayers are with all the families who have lost loved ones as well as all the health care workers, first responders, and supply chain workers who work tirelessly to keep us healthy, safe, and nourished.
Addendum -
In November 2021, we decided to do another 1 day trip to Beacon and neighboring Cold Spring to scratch a recurring case of travel pruritis. These two towns are approximately 10-15 minutes from each other so they definitely can be seen together over a weekend. We were also able to catch the fading glory of fall foliage at this time. We added some additional eat/drink recommendations below. And for what it’s worth, we had to go to Glazed Over again :)
WHERE TO STAY:
ROUNDHOUSE HOTEL (Beacon)- an upscale boutique hotel beautifully renovated, repurposed, and designed from an old mill, this hotel stood out among the scarce hotel options in the Beacon area. AirBnB tends to be a big player in this area among tourists, but for our one-night parental getaway we wanted to pamper ourselves with this hotel lodging. The hotel’s lounge and restaurant have floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a beautiful river and waterfall and serve some great food and cocktails. Moreover, in the winter (off-peak) months, you can get a pretty decent price at this hotel too. As a bonus, our breakfast was inclusive. https://roundhousebeacon.com/
WHAT TO DO:
BENMARL WINERY (Marlboro)- with the surprising distinction as America’s oldest vineyard, this winery has a great view overlooking the Hudson Valley. It also has some good wines including a special varietal - Baco Noir - that is exclusively grown along the Hudson River Valley. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g48121-d283413-Reviews-Benmarl_Vineyards_and_Winery-Marlboro_Catskill_Region_New_York.html and https://www.benmarl.com/about-us/
DIA BEACON (Beacon)- a contemporary art gallery housed within a former Nabisco box-printing factory, the gallery has some very creative and thought-provoking pieces, including some interesting installations/sculptures. The one drawback is that for a gallery of its size, I would expect more art. It is definitely worth a visit if you are in the area. Approximate time needed < 2 hours. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g47291-d273538-Reviews-Dia_Beacon-Beacon_New_York.html and https://www.diaart.org/visit/visit-our-locations-sites/dia-beacon-beacon-united-states
DIA BEACON
