Exploring the Beauty of the Hudson Valley — Real Estate, Attractions and Interiors

Nestled roughly 90 minutes north of New York City, the Hudson Valley — which encompasses 150 miles of land adjacent to the Hudson River — touts gorgeous scenic drives, sprawling river views and several quaint towns brimming with microbreweries, farm-to-table restaurants, inspiring art centers and more. In HGTV's Hudson-Valley based show, Small Town Potential, partners Davina Thomasula and Kristin Leitheuser showcase their love and passion for the area. Together, they use their knowledge and skills — Davina, as a real estate agent and designer, and Kristin, as a builder and contractor — to transform affordable houses in the valley into their clients' dream homes. Ahead, we'll explore the area in all its beauty: homes, landmarks, activities and all.

Poughkeepsie is one of the southernmost towns in the Hudson Valley — and, of course, it's filled with charm. Pictured here is the Walkway Over the Hudson, the world's longest elevated pedestrian bridge. The pedestrian walkway stretched across the Hudson River between Poughkeepsie and Highland. More than 7 million people have walked, run, biked or skated across it.

With a budget of $400,000, Ohio transplants Craig and Annalise hoped to find a home with an open-concept modern kitchen, a large yard for their dog and proximity to parks and their offices. With the help of Davina, they landed on this four bedroom, $285,000 fixer-upper in Poughkeepsie. Davina and Kristin switched up the home's bland, cream-colored exterior with rich blue-gray paint. Inside, they knocked down walls to create an open flow and infuse the space with natural light. Lastly, keeping Craig and Annalise's love of entertaining in mind, Kristin and Davina created a gorgeous outdoor living space on the back deck.

Another highlight of the Hudson Valley? Mohonk Mountain House, a historic all-inclusive castle resort situated a little more than 30 minutes outside of Poughkeepsie in New Paltz. Surrounded by 40,000 acres of untouched forest, the resort is a National Historic Landmark that brings in guests from all over the country.

Davina and Kristin explore Pawling, New York, in the second episode of Small Town Potential. The charming town is home to the Appalachian Trail, which boasts a unique 1,600-foot boardwalk that allows hikers and visitors to navigate through The Great Swamp without getting wet. Another must-see attraction in the area? Daryl's House Club, a restaurant and music venue owned and operated by the iconic Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, Daryl Hall of Hall & Oates.

Michelle wanted her first home to have space to host guests, but not an unmanageable amount of square footage. With Davina's help, she landed on a 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom, 1,780-square-foot house in Pawling for $425,000. The best part: It's nestled just eight minutes from her family's home. Following renovations, Michelle was most excited about the custom basin vanity in the bathroom and laundry room. Kristin and her dad created it using an antiquing find. "I think the bathroom may have blown my mind more than other things," Michelle admitted after walking through the house. "Davina made laundry sexy."

In Michelle's kitchen, Davina and Kristin added quartz countertops, a farmhouse sink, contrasting light fixtures and bright brass hardware to create an airy ambiance. "We didn't do a whole lot to the layout of the kitchen, but the modifications we did make made the space feel really big," Davina said.

Michelle was beside herself when she set foot into the living room of her home. "It feels so peaceful in here," she said. When designing the space, Davina stuck to a coastal-cozy aesthetic that still felt appropriate for the river valley. "The wood we sourced is as unique as the chevron pine slat design we added above it," she said of the fireplace. "White pastel wall colors and wood furnishings create a really relaxing space to unwind."

Davina met with New York City transplants, Anna and Adriana, to discuss finding a large, charming house with three bedrooms, two bathrooms, an art studio and a yard. Their budget: $450,000. "We wanted to move to the Hudson Valley because we love the rural, community feel," Anna said. "We've been confined to small apartments so we're ready to really stretch our legs." They landed on a 1912 house in Hudson, New York, where the tree-lined streets are filled with antique shops, coffee shops and art galleries. The 1,472-square-foot home has three bedrooms and two bathrooms and cost $425,000. After renovations, Anna and Adriana were particularly impressed by the unique mint kitchen. "This color is perfect. I didn't think it was going to be this nice," Anna admitted. "This is amazing."

As an oil painter, Adriana had always dreamt of having a studio within her home. Davina and Kristin delivered with a room boasting walls of windows looking out at the trees. "Oh wow, look at this place," Adriana said. "The windows and the light — it's so inspiring."

Kingston is a small town nestled on the Hudson River, known for its shops, restaurants, bike and hiking trails and maritime history. The Hudson River Maritime Museum in Kingston offers boat and lighthouse tours, personal charters and even boasts a sailing and rowing school.

Davina and Kristin also helped Davina's mom, Debbie, find a home in the Hudson Valley. Debbie's top asks were a front porch, an outdoor entertaining space, a sunny office and proximity to recreation and family. Her budget was $350,000. She eventually landed on a house in Hudson located roughly 600 feet from Kristin and Davina's. The 1,200-square-foot home features two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a front porch — all for $305,000. After the renovations, Debbie was floored.

The one request Debbie had for the interior of her new home was that the kitchen match her eyes. "This is so amazing what you've done in here. I cannot even believe the transformation," she said. "I would not do one thing different in here. Not one thing. It's absolutely me."

Rhinebeck, which used to be considered the violet capital of the world, hosts the much-anticipated annual Dutchess County Fair, which draws in roughly a half-million visitors each summer. The fair grounds stay open year-long and offer a variety of events including antique and antique car shows, craft festivals, food and wine festivals and more.

Another thing the Hudson Valley is known for? Orchards. Prospect Hill Orchards' Hilltop Farm in Milton is beloved for its apples, cherries and peaches. There, you can pick your own fruit from late June through October.

Brooklyn transplants Alyssa and Patrick (along with their dog, Dolly) were ready to move upstate to gain more space and extra privacy. Their budget: $430,000. Alyssa and Patrick chose a storybook Tudor house in Hopewell Junction, New York. The 1925 home features two bedrooms and one bathroom and sits on 2.4 acres of land. Intending to find an old home with character, this house was the perfect match — especially with a price tag of $340,000. Inside, Davina went with a bright design scheme. In the kitchen, black-and-white painted flooring complements olive green cabinetry. "We painted the wood floors in this diamond pattern. It's period-appropriate and adds a bit of fun to the kitchen," Davina said. "This was such a fun house because of the details."