Hudson Valley Visitor Guide: What to Do & Where to Stay

Escape to New York’s Hudson Valley for opulent mansions, picturesque state parks, sightseeing cruises, scenic lighthouses and historic museums.

By: Erin Gifford

Show: Small Town Potential

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Photo By: Storm King Art Center

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Your Travel Guide to New York’s Hudson Valley

There’s a lot to love about New York’s Hudson Valley, including arts, history, gardens, hiking trails and charming lighthouses, not to mention a few Gilded Age mansions. Breathtaking mountain resorts draw in visitors with pristine landscapes and plentiful wellness programs, like yoga, meditation and massages. It’s the place to go when you’re ready for an escape. Here are our top picks for what to do and where to stay when you’re craving a Hudson Valley getaway.

FDR Presidential Library and Museum

Located in Hyde Park, New York, the FDR Presidential Library and Museum is dedicated to showcasing and preserving the life and legacy of our 32nd president, Franklin Delano Roosevelt. It is the first of 15 presidential libraries that exist today in the United States. The library and museum complex sits on the manicured grounds of Springwood, Roosevelt’s family estate, which has been a national historic site since 1945. Museum exhibits and historic artifacts, including clothing, furniture and personal effects, educate visitors on Roosevelt’s life, from his early years through his 12-year presidency.

Storm King Art Center

Located in New Windsor, the Storm King Art Center is a world-known outdoor sculpture park that features more than 100 thoughtfully curated sculptures shaped by artists from across the globe. The collection includes modern and contemporary sculptures created by such prominent sculptors and artists as Isamu Noguchi, Maya Lin and Alexander Calder. Visitors can explore the 500-acre open-air museum by foot, by bike rental (personal bikes are not allowed) or by narrated tram tour. An on-site café sells snacks, sandwiches, drinks and salads.

Mohonk Mountain House

Mohonk Mountain House is a historic resort nestled amongst the natural beauty of New York’s Shawangunk Mountains. Perched on crystal-clear Lake Mohonk, this Victorian-style castle resort was built in 1869 and is surrounded by 40,000 acres of pristine forested landscape. This all-inclusive resort features luxurious guest rooms, plentiful outdoor recreation and breathtaking views. In July 2022, the on-site spa was refreshed and an open-air space was added to incorporate nature into its menu of wellness experiences. A resort activities schedule engages guests with guided hikes, yoga, movie nights and meditative exercises.

Dia Beacon

Dia Beacon is a contemporary art museum located in a one-time Nabisco box factory that sits along the banks of the Hudson River. The museum features profound and provocative large-scale works of art from the 1960s to present day. A part of the Dia Art Foundation, this contemplative art space has large, open display galleries that are bathed in natural light from expansive picture windows. Notable artists with works at Dia Beacon include Dan Flavin, Agnes Martin and Richard Serra. Visitors enjoy works that range from paintings and sculptures to drawings and installations.

Wildflower Farms

Wildflower Farms, a part of the Auberge Resorts Collection, is among the newest luxury resorts to open up in the Hudson Valley, featuring 65 rustic-chic cabins, suites and cottages across this 140-acre wellness retreat in Gardiner, New York. Located 90 minutes from New York City, Wildflower Farms lures in city dwellers with cooking classes, on-site hiking trails, spa treatments and wellness classes, like forest immersion and restorative yoga. Farm-based experiences, including foraging, feeding the animals and beekeeping, allow resort guests to incorporate nature-inspired encounters and experiences into their stay.

Empire State Trail

The 750-mile Empire State Trail officially opened in December 2020 and is considered to be the longest multi-use trail in the United States. The trail is made up of three sections, including the Hudson River Valley Greenway, which runs for 200 miles from New York City to Albany. All along the trail there are trail towns so visitors can make stops for restaurants, bike shops, inns and coffee shops. There are 20 separate trail segments that each average 10 to 15 miles, making it a cinch to park and tackle one or two segments of the trail at a time.

Lyndhurst Mansion

Lyndhurst Mansion is a historic Gothic Revival-style country house overlooking the Hudson River in Tarrytown, New York. Lyndhurst Mansion opened in 1965 as a museum and historic site, and more recently, served as a filming location for HBO’s The Gilded Age. The mansion was first built in 1838, and over the years was expanded and renovated into what visitors see today with its distinctive turrets, flying buttresses and ornate detail work. Lyndhurst Mansion has been associated with one-time New York City mayor William Paulding Jr. and railroad tycoon Jay Gould. Guided tours allow guests to explore the house and grounds.

LEGOLAND New York

LEGOLAND New York in Goshen wows children and adults alike with a wide range of family-friendly LEGO activities across seven themed lands, including LEGO Pirates, Bricktopia and LEGO Castle. Kids love live shows, 4D movies, meet-and-greets with LEGO characters and minifigure trading. In May 2023, LEGOLAND New York opened a brand-new water playground, which includes four water slides and a giant 318-gallon tipping water bucket. An on-site 250-room LEGOLAND Hotel keeps the fun going after the park closes thanks to nightly entertainment, a family restaurant and a pool with a poolside snack bar.

African American Heritage Trail

In the Lower Hudson Valley, the African American Heritage Trail features 16 historic and cultural landmarks that recognize and celebrate the contributions of African Americans. These sites date back as far as the 17th century and mark the legacies and contributions of those who helped build and shape our nation. Among the sites are the African American Cemetery in Rye, the statue of Ella Fitzgerald in Yonkers and St. Paul’s Church National Historic Site in Mount Vernon. Also on the trail is the Neuberger Museum of Art in Purchase, which is home to an impressive collection of African art.

Untermyer Park and Gardens

The Untermyer Park and Gardens is a sprawling 43-acre public garden situated on the former estate of Samuel Untermyer, a noted lawyer and civic leader from the early 20th century. The beautiful gardens feature pergolas, water fountains, terraced lawns and grandiose staircases. Among the highlights is a walled garden, which features Roman, Greek and Persian design elements, and the Ruin Garden, which rouses feelings of being within an abandoned structure. Throughout the gardens, visitors can explore diverse plantings, rock gardens, vista overlooks and river views.

Walkway Over the Hudson

The Walkway Over the Hudson is a pedestrian bridge that connects Poughkeepsie and Highland, New York. At 6,768 feet long, this accessible walkway is considered to be the world’s longest elevated pedestrian bridge in the world. The bridge was originally built in 1888 to serve as a railroad trestle bridge, but by the late 20th century the bridge had fallen into disuse and disrepair. Following a significant restoration, the one-time railroad bridge was transformed into Walkway Over the Hudson, opening to the public in 2009. Visitors flock to this paved path over the Hudson River for scenic views across the Hudson Valley.

Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve

Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve is a wildly scenic and largely undeveloped nature preserve that sits on more than 8,000 acres in New York’s Hudson Valley. More than 70 miles of hiking trails for all fitness levels criss-cross Hudson Highlands, including a section of the iconic Appalachian Trail. Many visitors hike to scenic overlooks atop Mount Beacon and Anthony’s Nose for inspiring eastward views across the Hudson River. The preserve is popular among those with an affinity for boating, fishing and birding. It is home to such wildlife as bald eagles, eastern fence lizards and barred owls.

West Point Museum

The West Point Museum is a free museum in West Point, New York, that serves to preserve and protect artifacts relevant to the U.S. Military Academy and the U.S. Army. It’s also among the oldest and largest military museums in the United States. The museum’s extensive collections span more than 200 years of military history, featuring such artifacts and memorabilia as flags, photographs, uniforms, weapons and military equipment. The museum also highlights the achievements of West Point graduates and the academy’s notable contributions to military education in the United States.

Boscobel House and Gardens

Boscobel House and Gardens is a historic mansion and museum that overlooks the Hudson River. This Neoclassical-style mansion is known for its stunning formal gardens and scenic grounds. The mansion was originally built in the early 19th century, the dream home of a wealthy statesman, but by the 1950s, the home had fallen into disrepair and was torn down. Preservationists saved as many architectural features as possible and helped restore the home to its original glory, reopening the mansion as a museum in 1961. Visitors can explore the property’s acreage, as well as the mansion’s ornate interiors, which date to the Federalist Era.

Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site

The Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site in Hyde Park, New York, once served as the country retreat for Frederick Vanderbilt. He was the grandson of Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt, one of the first multi-millionaires in America. The striking Beaux Arts-style mansion was one of a collection of homes owned by the Vanderbilts, which includes homes in New York City and Bar Harbor, Maine. Public tours of this opulent and richly appointed home are available five days a week to showcase the grand hallways, ornate woodwork, sumptuous textiles and original home furnishings.

New York State Capitol

Located in Albany, the New York State Capitol is architecturally stunning and is considered an iconic city landmark. Completed in 1899, the state’s capitol building was designed and constructed in several styles, including Romanesque and Italian Revival. The building is characterized by a granite exterior, marble interiors and intricate stone carvings. The Great Western Staircase, also known as the Million Dollar Staircase, is one of the building’s most impressive features, thanks to its 444 steps and the faces of 77 famous people carved into the staircase, including Ulysses S. Grant.

Bear Mountain State Park

Bear Mountain State Park is a beautiful recreation area that sits on 5,200 acres on the west bank of the Hudson River. The park is best known for its striking natural beauty that draws in visitors with its breathtaking overlooks, lush rolling hills, scenic picnic areas and access to Hessian Lake for boating and fishing. The state park has well-maintained hiking trails for all fitness levels, including a stretch of the white-blazed Appalachian Trail. The park is known for its hand-painted merry-go-round, which features 42 hand-carved seats of native wildlife, including black bears, foxes, wild turkeys and bobcats.

Hudson River Sightseeing Cruise

While in the Hudson Valley, take in the scenery from onboard a sightseeing cruise, such as the twice-daily narrated cruises offered by Hudson River Cruises. Visitors enjoy views across the historic shoreline, as well as sights like extravagant riverfront mansions, a castle-like seminary and picturesque lighthouses, including Esopus Meadows Lighthouse and Rondout Lighthouse. Small ship lines such as American Cruise Lines also offer multi-day sightseeing cruises along the Hudson River aboard coastal cruise ships.

Catamount Mountain Resort

Catamount Mountain Resort is a family-friendly ski area and four-season resort located in Hillsdale, New York. In winter, visitors can access 44 ski trails, including a mix of green, blue and black terrain. The ski resort also features an exhilarating snow tubing park, which opened in 2022. In summer, Catamount Mountain Resort offers scenic chairlift rides and an aerial adventure park with such obstacles as swinging bridges, ladders and cargo nets. The resort also features a mile-long zipline, which is among the longest in the United States.

Historic Lighthouses

There are seven historic lighthouses that remain on the Hudson River, including the Hudson-Athens Lighthouse in Hudson and the Rondout Lighthouse in Kingston. The Rondout Lighthouse is only accessible by boat and can be viewed from a scenic sightseeing cruise on the Hudson River. This brick lighthouse was completed and lit in 1915. Public tours are offered by the Hudson River Maritime Museum, which also takes visitors to Esopus Meadows Lighthouse, the only surviving wooden lighthouse set on the Hudson River.

Hudson Valley Visitor Guide: What to Do & Where to Stay

Shop This Look

Your Travel Guide to New York’s Hudson Valley

FDR Presidential Library and Museum

Storm King Art Center

Mohonk Mountain House

Dia Beacon

Wildflower Farms

Empire State Trail

Lyndhurst Mansion

LEGOLAND New York

African American Heritage Trail

Untermyer Park and Gardens

Walkway Over the Hudson

Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve

West Point Museum

Boscobel House and Gardens

Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site

New York State Capitol

Bear Mountain State Park

Hudson River Sightseeing Cruise

Catamount Mountain Resort

Historic Lighthouses

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