10 Things To Do In The Hudson Valley: Complete Guide To New York's Most Beautiful Region

The Hudson Valley, spanning from Westchester County to Albany alongside the Hudson River, is a captivating New York State region. It boasts vineyards, orchards, and farms, highlighted by the sustainable-food advocate Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture. Art enthusiasts can indulge in the monumental Storm King Art Center and Dia: Beacon, a converted factory housing significant 20th- and 21st-century artworks.

Formerly a relic of the Northeast's industrial past, the Hudson Valley now charms with its quaint riverside towns and surrounding natural beauty. Exploring the area warrants a blend of nature immersion, boutique shopping, and art appreciation. Road trips through the Hudson Valley are common, with many travelers saying this is the best way to see the region.

Imagine stumbling upon this beauty, mirroring Englishman Henry Hudson's accidental encounter in 1609 while seeking a passage to China. Hudson's exploration led him to the river now bearing his name as he entered New York Bay, unaware of the picturesque expanse he was unveiling.

Things To Do

Anyone wanting to come to see the Hudson Valley region of New York State will have endless things to see, do, and experience. With plenty of charming small towns to visit, Hudson Valley is one of the premier regions of the state and country.

1 Check Out The Storm King Art Center

Cars driving through Hudson Valley, New York

Address: 1 Museum Rd, New Windsor, NY 12553
Hours: Wednesday - Monday from 10 AM to 5:30 PM (Open until 7:30 PM on Friday/Saturday)
Tickets: Starting at $23 per guest

One thing to do while in Upper New York is the Storm King Art Center, an open-air museum in New Windsor, New York. It contains one of the largest collections of contemporary outdoor sculptures in the United States.

2 Walkway Over The Hudson

Ashokan Reservoir with Fall Colors and Dramatic Sky in the Mid-Hudson Valley New York State

Address: 61 Parker Ave, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601

Another thing to do while visiting the Hudson Valley Region of NY is to visit the Walkway Over the Hudson attraction. Here, people can walk a steel cantilever bridge spanning the Hudson River between Poughkeepsie, New York, on the east bank and Highland, New York.

Hudson Valley is also home to many fall trip-worthy towns, so it's a perfect choice for chilly weather.

3 View The Olana State Historic Site

Dunderberg Spiral Railway Trail, Hudson Valley — Photo 103964793 © Heather Mcardle | Dreamstime.com

Dunderberg Spiral Railway Trail passes through two tunnels and stunning landscapes

Address: 5720 NY-9G, Hudson, NY 12534
Hours: Open daily from 8 AM to 5 PM

Another thing to do while in the Hudson Valley area is to check out the iconic Olana State Historic Site. People can explore a historic house museum and landscape in Greenport, New York, near Hudson. Fredrick Edwin Church lived here, and his design skills heavily influenced the property.

4 Marvel At The New York State Capitol

Interior view of the New York State Capitol Building in Albany, New York, USA

Address: State St. and Washington Ave, Albany, NY 12224
Hours: Open Monday - Friday from 7 AM to 7 PM

Moving to Albany, seeing the New York State Capitol is another must-visit in the Hudson Valley Region. Here is where legislators for the state of New York meet and make important decisions.

The Capitol building is part of the Empire State Plaza complex on State Street in Capitol Park.

5 Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site

View of The Vanderbilt Mansion in Centerport, Long Island, NY — littlenySTOCK / Shutterstock

View of The Vanderbilt Mansion in Centerport, Long Island, New York. This Gold Coast Mansion known as Eagles Nest is a museum and planetarium.

Address: 119 Vanderbilt Park Rd, Hyde Park, NY 12538
Hours: Open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM

One of the top sights in Hudson Valley is the Vanderbilt Mansion Historic Site in Hyde Park. Here is where tourists can see the stunning mansion and learn about Upstate New York's history.

Most guests spend about two hours here.

6 Home Of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site

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Vanderbilt Mansion, Hyde Park, New York

Address: 4097 Albany Post Rd, Hyde Park, NY 12538
Hours: Dependent on tour/season

Next, guests of the Hudson Valley Region should consider heading to the next Hyde Park stop: the Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site. Here is where the birthplace, lifelong home, and burial place of the 32nd President of the United States, Franklin D. Roosevelt, sits.

Another cool US President-related stop in the area is George Washington's home in Virginia, which could be a fun road trip detour.

7 Stroll Around The Iconic Dia Beacon Museum

Visitors exploring an exhibit in Dia Beacon Museum in New York State

Address: 3 Beekman St, Beacon, NY 12508
Hours: Friday - Monday from 10 AM to 5 PM
Tickets: From $20 per person

The famed Dia Beacon Museum is one of the more visited spots in the Hudson Valley Region. Here is where people can find the Dia Art Foundation's collection of art from the 1960s to the present, and it is one of the 12 locations and sites they manage. It's also situated on the banks of the Hudson Valley.

8 New York State Museum

New York State Museum

Address: 222 Madison Ave, Albany, NY 12230
Hours: Open Tuesday - Sunday from 9:30 AM to 5 PM

Heading back to Albany, we have the New York State Museum, a stunning gallery of fine art and sculptures, and a research-backed institution connected to the south side of the Empire State Plaza.

Most people spend about two hours here.

9 See The Stunning Lyndhurst Mansion

The stunning Lyndhurst Mansion in Tarrytown, New York

Address: 635 S Broadway, Tarrytown, NY 10591
Hours: Open every day but Wednesday from 9 AM to 5 PM
Tickets: $26.88 per guest

Another sight worth seeing in the Hudson Valley Region of New York is the Lyndhurst Mansion, a Gothic Revival country house that sits in its 67-acre park beside the Hudson River in Tarrytown, New York.

This mansion is also about a half mile south of the Tappan Zee Bridge on US 9 and has been a national landmark since 1966.

10 Take A Walk In Hudson Highlands State Park

Scenic Trail in Hudson Highlands State Park, Cold Spring, New York, USA

Address: 3260 NY-9D, Cold Spring, NY 10516
Hours: Open daily from 7:30 AM to 8 PM

Lastly, something to do in the Hudson Valley area is to stroll around Hudson Highlands State Park. Here, guests can enjoy a non-contiguous state park in the US state of New York, located on the east side of the Hudson River. It's also roughly 6,000 acres, so there is much to see.

11 Best Time To Visit Hudson Valley, New York

Cityscape of Albany at Night, NY — Photo by Wenhao Ryan on Unsplash

A picturesque view of Albany's skyline at night, New York, USA

Best Time To Come: Fall or Spring.

Regarding the best time to visit the Hudson Valley Region of New York State, this is between the fall and the spring. Typically, people come to the upper portion of NY to see the fall foliage and the holiday charm throughout the area.

Spring is another perfect time for vacationing here, especially in the Adirondacks and Catskills, as the foliage and wildlife will be in full swing. Winters can be unforgiving, as can summers in Hudson Valley, so we wouldn't recommend coming here in those two seasons.

There are also many campsites throughout New York that are great for spring, summer, and autumn.

12 Best Ways To Get Around Hudson Valley, New York

Kaaterskill waterfall in the Catskills, Upstate New York

Best Way To Get Around: Private vehicle or taxi.

When it comes to the best way to get around Hudson Valley, this is by personal vehicle. Although each city in this region has buses and other forms of public transport, Hudson Valley is expansive and requires a car to get from point A to B.

Lyft and Uber are available, and taxis, so that could be an option too.

13 Where To Eat In Hudson Valley

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Freight Train on High Trestle Bridge in Hudson Valley, Rhinebeck, New York

For food and drinks in Hudson Valley, the choices are endless. Here are some great locations for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and drinks in the Upstate New York area.

Breakfast: Hudson Hil's Café

Address: 129-131 Main St, Cold Spring, NY 10516
Hours: Wednesday - Sunday from 8 AM to 4 PM
Serving: American fare from locally raised ingredients.

Lunch: Shadows on the Hudson

Address: 176 Rinaldi Blvd, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
Hours: Open daily from 11:30 AM to 9 PM
Serving: New American eats in a sprawling space with standout views, striking decor & a serpentine bar.

Dinner: Ca'Mea Restaurant

Address: 214 Warren St, Hudson, NY 12534
Hours: Open Tuesday - Saturday from 12-3 PM and 5-8:30 PM
Serving: Northern Italian cooking & tiered garden seating are the draws at this intimate, upscale eatery.

Drinks: The City Beer Hall

Address: 42 Howard St, Albany, NY 12207
Hours: Daily from 11 AM to 12 AM (Open from 10 AM to 2 AM Friday/Saturday)
Serving: Festive beer garden & gastropub in a historic building, where drinks come with free pizza.

14 Where To Stay In Hudson Valley, New York

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Lasdon Park and Arboretum in Katonah, Hudson Valley, New York

When it comes to places to stay in Hudson Valley, NY, the options are endless. Here are choices for people wanting budget, mid-tier, or luxury stays while in this charming region:

Budget: Home2 Suites by Hilton Albany Airport/Wolf Rd

Address: 10 Metro Park Road, Albany, NY 12205
Amenities: Indoor pool, Fitness center, Free Wi-Fi, Coffee machine, Free parking, Business center, Wi-Fi available in all areas

Budget: Courtyard by Marriott Albany Thruway

Address: 1455 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12206
Amenities: Indoor pool, Fitness center, Restaurant, Bar/Lounge, Free Wi-Fi, Coffee machine, Coffee shop, Free parking

Mid-Tier: Tru by Hilton Albany Crossgates Mall

Address: 1651 Western Avenue, Albany, NY 12203
Amenities: Indoor pool, Fitness center, Free Wi-Fi, Tea/coffee maker, Free parking, Business center, Wi-Fi available in all areas

Mid-Tier: Four Points by Sheraton Albany

Address: 3 Mount Hope Way, Albany, NY 12202
Amenities: Indoor pool, Fitness center, Restaurant, Bar/Lounge, Free Wi-Fi, Tea/coffee maker, Coffee machine, Free parking

Luxury: SpringHill Suites by Marriott Albany Latham-Colonie

Address: 8 California Avenue, Albany, NY 12205
Amenities: Indoor pool, Fitness center, Free Wi-Fi, Coffee machine, Free Parking, Business center, Flat-screen TV

Luxury: Crowne Plaza Albany - The Desmond Hotel

Address: 660 Albany Shaker Road, Albany, NY 12211
Amenities: Indoor pool, Fitness center, Restaurant, Bar/Lounge, Room service, Free Wi-Fi, Tea/coffee maker

15 Tips For Visiting Hudson Valley, New York

Beautiful sunset over Hudson valley with a view of the newly constructed bridge

For those coming to Hudson Valley, NY, for the first time, there are some things to remember. First, this region is not walkable, especially between various towns and cities.

For walkability, tourists want to stay in bigger areas with higher populations like Albany, and then rely on public transport between the hotels and attractions. Getting around the entire region requires a vehicle or taxi, so that could be expensive.

The weather here is also very pleasant in spring and fall, dropping to cold temperatures in winter. Summer can be muggy here, so humidity will be off the charts.

16 How To Spend The Perfect Day In Hudson Valley, New York

Sunflowers in the Hudson Valley

Luckily, spending the perfect day in Hudson Valley won't be challenging. Start the day at a nice local cafe, grabbing coffee and pastries for later. Walk through town or head to a nearby state park, followed by one of the countless art museums in the region.

It could also be fun to hike Hudson Highland Park for sunrise or sunset: so keep that on your radar. To finish the day, head to a stunning restaurant on the water, enjoy delicious meals, and return to the hotel. Remember to take plenty of photos, and have fun!

These are also some great spots to watch meteor showers in Upstate New York.