Top Things to do in Hudson River Valley
Top Hotels in Hudson River Valley
- 1. Hampton Inn Albany-Western Ave/University Area
- 2. Homewood Suites by Hilton Albany
- 3. HYATT Place Poughkeepsie
- 4. Hampton Inn by Hilton New Paltz
- 5. Tarrytown House Estate
- 6. Homewood Suites by Hilton Poughkeepsie
- 7. Homewood Suites by Hilton Newburgh-Stewart Airport
- 8. Hilton Garden Inn Albany Airport
- 9. Hampton Inn & Suites Albany-Downtown
- 10. Hotel Nyack
10 Things to do Good for Kids in Hudson River Valley That You Shouldn't Miss
Discover the best top things to do in Hudson River Valley, United States including USS Slater DE-766, Troy Waterfront Farmers' Market, Mohonk Preserve, Storm King Art Center, Opus 40, Van Cortlandt Manor, New Croton Dam, Albany Institute of History & Art, Nyack Beach State Park, Innisfree Gardens.
Restaurants in Hudson River Valley
1. USS Slater DE-766
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 432 reviews
During World War II 563 Destroyer Escorts battled Nazi U-Boats on the North Atlantic protecting convoys of men and supplies. In the Pacific, they stood first in line to defend naval task forces from Kamikaze attacks. Today only one remains afloat in America. Step back in time. Return to 1945 aboard USS SLATER. See how Sailors worked, hear the sounds of a living ship, touch a piece of American history, and walk the decks where hundreds of Sailors have walked before.
Reviewed By Q5053BDscotta
Having visited most of the WWII museum ships on the east coast (and some on the west), I can say that the USS Slater beat them all in terms of a restoration that made you feel as though you were on the ship when it was in service. My nine-year-old son, who only had a passing interest in WWII, loved the tour, which included tour guide (Austin) demonstrations as to how to get into a top bunk, direct an anti-aircraft gun, and use a signal light. My son particularly liked seeing and holding munitions that were near some of the armament on board because it gave him a greater appreciation for the effort that gun crews needed to expend when defending the ship. The guide answered my son’s many questions that ranged from medical care, living conditions, and general quarters patiently and clearly. My son has already made me promise to take him to see the U.S.S. Massachusetts at Falls River the U.S.S. Intrepid in New York.
2. Troy Waterfront Farmers' Market
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 233 reviews
Reviewed By 800avivac - Rhinebeck, United States
I went to this market in August with my husband and special needs adult daughter. There was something for everyone including music, food, entertainment, and products for almost every interest. Being originally from NYC and Long Island I’ve had my share of street fairs. But this one was not overwhelmingly crowded and without access between aisles, like many of them are...also the shops remain open and accessible for browsing and that made it even more enjoyable. It was like a festival more than a fair..and my only regret is that I couldn’t get back one more time before the season ended...I’ll be back next spring!
3. Mohonk Preserve
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 422 reviews
Mohonk Preserve is the largest private nature preserve in New York. The Preserve protects 8,000 acres of the Shawangunk Ridge and inspires people to care for, enjoy, and explore the natural world. Preserve lands are open sunrise to sunset every day for hiking, climbing, biking, skiing, horseback riding, and nature study. A current membership or day pass is required to access the lands. Admission to the Visitor Center is always free.
Reviewed By UrbanMonkey48 - Langhorne, United States
Aside from the Mohonk Mountain House hotel itself, you can visit as a day guest, pay a fee and enjoy miles of hiking or cross country skiing on beautidul trails that go through the woods and/or cliffs. The scenic biews are spectacular.
4. Storm King Art Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 823 reviews
Widely celebrated as one of the world's leading sculpture parks, Storm King Art Center has welcomed visitors from across the globe for fifty years. It is located only one hour north of New York City, in the lower Hudson Valley, where its pristine 500-acre landscape of fields, hills, and woodlands provides the setting for a collection of more than 100 carefully sited sculptures created by some of the most acclaimed artists of our time.
Reviewed By IamZozo - Tel Aviv, Israel
A large and beautiful outdoor museum for Japanese’sculptures You can easily spend more than 2 hours at the place
5. Opus 40
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 238 reviews
This sculpture park was intended to house the works of the designer, but the setting itself became the artist's masterwork. It is possible to visit by appointment on non-open days.
Reviewed By DebbieC867 - Silver Spring, United States
It was part of my Month long fall color trip to New England area and I was looking for something to do while in Poughkeepsie NY. Opus 40 is amazing place lots of hard work put into build the stone walls and the monument by oneman! The place is not very big but this is the place where you can take a walk and has picnic table so you can pack your picnic and enjoy.
6. Van Cortlandt Manor
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 396 reviews
Explore the stone manor house and brick ferry house, wander through the heritage gardens, and stroll down a quiet country road along the Croton River. There, you'll experience the domestic life of a patriot family living in the years just after the American Revolution - the New Nation period. Site is open for tours on weekends during July and August. Property also hosts the popular events LIGHTSCAPES in the spring and the Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze in the fall.
Reviewed By 361MrT - Laconia, United States
Set within the Hudson Valley is a manor straight out of the 18th century and on its property is a breathtaking display of more than 7,000 illuminated jack o’ lanterns. As you meander through the paths that are pumpkin lit, victors will come upon multiple themes filled with illuminated carved pumpkins—complete with spooky music, lighting, and some low-lying fog. Themes vary from spiders, cats, astrological signs, dinosaurs, circus trains, etc. However, my favorite was the overhead tunnel called “the Planetarium” which was totally made up pumpkins carved and grouped together to form a night sky. Music and “shooting stars” just made this theme even more exciting. Best time to go is when the chill in the air is just enough for your breath to be seen. Of course, make sure its dark when you go—preferably after 6:30PM.
7. New Croton Dam
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 215 reviews
Reviewed By womenofgod111 - New York City, United States
This is a hidden gem the waterfall is beautiful once you go over the bridge there's a beautiful waterfall right there is a perfect area to have a picnic they have a barbecue grill right there they have a nice walking trail they have a river trail and the trail that would take you over a nice bridge in a walking trail is like you walking in the forest. It's something you must see before the end of the summer I will definitely go again
8. Albany Institute of History & Art
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 172 reviews
Step inside one of the oldest museums in North America for a glimpse of what life was like in old Albany and the Upper Hudson Valley through an amazing collection of furniture, clothing, paintings, silver and photographs, all celebrating the importance of this region in American history.
Reviewed By kzsull01 - Windsor, United States
My husband and I visited the Albany Institute of History and Art in Albany, New York on Wednesday March 31, 2021. This museum is about an hour and forty-five minutes from our house, but it has always been worth the long trip, being a nice walk back through time. The exhibits have been consistently interesting, informative and quite educational, being a good lesson in art, history, culture, politics and much more, depending on what is applicable. This time we really enjoyed the Special Exhibit: ‘A Sense of Time: The Historical Art of L. F. Tantillo’. It is a very impressive and excellent representation of historical fine art, truly a great treasure, including numerous marine scenes with a particular focus on New York State, the Albany area and the Hudson River Valley. More details about our experience viewing this exhibit are provided below in the Special Exhibit section. All the exhibits in this museum are nicely curated and have detailed write-ups describing them that are very well done. We have visited this museum multiple times and have always been impressed with its nice mixture of various types of art work, including many beautiful Hudson River School paintings included in the Permanent Collection, which are always nice to see and are another great treasure in the museum. Details about both the Special Exhibits and Permanent Collection are provided below.. Our visit to the museum took about an hour and a half this time. The museum staff member at the front admission desk was very friendly and helpful, providing details regarding where each particular exhibit was located. The write-ups/documentation that he provided to us were also quite helpful. However, the timed tickets that were recommended but not required caused us to delay our visit a couple of times. We prefer more flexibility and not having to be at the museum at a specific time. But we appreciate that the timed tickets applied to an hour span of time. It is great that the museum offers convenient free parking in the museum’s parking lot, which is located behind the museum just before the intersection of Dove Street and Elk Street. We have been lucky to get one of the last parking spaces the times we parked in this lot.. We have parked in both the museum’s parking lot and across the street from the front of the museum on Washington Avenue, which is metered parking that is free on Sundays. Specifically the days that we parked in the museum’s parking lot included a Sunday (around 12:20 PM) and a Wednesday (around 11:00 AM) and both times there was very limited parking available. In the past, our car navigator has led us to the parking lot behind the museum automatically. But this time it led us a different way and we had issues finding the museum. It led us to the front of the building on Washington Avenue. To get to the parking lot from Washington Avenue heading towards the state capital, take a left at the Intersection of Washington Avenue and Dove Street, just before the museum. The parking lot will be your first right. . . Special Exhibits: We highly recommend the Special Exhibit: ‘A Sense of Time The Historical Art of L. F. Tantillo’. This exhibit is really quite inspirational and has a variety of different historical fine art paintings nicely classified under nine different themes, ‘Native People’; ‘New Netherlands’; ‘New Amsterdam’; ‘the English Colony’; ‘A New Nation’; ‘Steam Powers a Nation’; ‘Building Interest’; ‘Technology and Defense’’ and ‘En Plein Air’.. The text/write-ups that accompanies each work were written by the artist, Len Tantillo, are very informative, interesting and educational. The background on the artist is quite impressive, including his reliance on a network of dedicated historians, leading to a consensus on texture and tone in his artwork. Also, his ideas about history, including that: ‘history is all what we share and joins us together’ represents a great perspective. I loved the many boat/marine scenes, including the steam ships; the Fort Orange scene showing how Albany looked in 1635; the ‘Siege of Fort William Henry, 1757’ scene, depicting the historic battle that took place on the banks of Lake George, New York in 1757; the section on ‘Plein Air’ painting; as well as the artist speaking about his work in the background. This exhibit is definitely well done and we are glad to have had the opportunity to view it during our visit at the museum this time. The Special Exhibit: ‘Fellow Citizens: Dewitt Clinton (1769 – 1828) Broadsides of the Early Republic’ has a lot of material to read but is of historical significance, providing good context to American life at the time the broadsides were created. Included in the exhibit is details about the background of Dewitt Clinton, the sixth governor of New York and about his Uncle George governor of New York for seven terms. Political Broadsides related to the elections of 1789, 1792, 1795, 1798 and 1801 are on display with information about each gubernatorial race, including: the candidates running for governor, lieutenant governor, party, number of votes and percentage of votes. Information about Albany and a very historic map of the city; the New York State Constitution of 1777 and Voting Rights is also on display. Interesting information on the parties of the elite Federalists and Democratic-Republicans of more moderate means, who promoted equal opportunity for all men, equal rights and free markets, is also provided. This exhibit is quite interesting and definitely a good lesson in history. The Special Exhibit: ‘A Fresh Look at Eighteenth Century Portraits’ is quite interesting, especially from the perspective of the methods and procedures for conserving works of art that are three hundred years old and which have undergone earlier restoration and conservation treatment. The exhibit helped me really appreciate this type of art and the efforts required for its conservation and preservation. The preserved versions of the artwork on display looked great!! Permanent and On-Going Exhibits: The gallery of Hudson River School paintings on display in salon fashion is beautiful. It was very nice to have been provided with documentation at the front admission desk that included the title of each numbered painting on display along with other information describing the painting. There were 83 paintings included on the list of paintings on display. The document also included a quick guide to scan to get more information about the paintings on view. The overview about the paintings in the middle of the gallery gives good background information, including historic context for these paintings. The overview provides a good comparison of Hudson River School landscapes and Impressionist landscape styles. The paintings in this gallery are nostalgic and show the country during decades of transformation from small farms to a nation of industry and cities with rapid westward expansion and social and political turmoil that reshaped the nation’s identity and cultural outlooks. The on-going exhibit on Ancient Egypt, has a great collection of nice artifacts and curios, including mummies, jewelry, as well as a good display on ‘Animals in Ancient Egypt’. This exhibit has nicely done write-ups providing good background information covering such topics as ‘Gods and Goddesses’; ‘The Afterlife’ ‘Crafts and Professions’; ‘Samuel W. Brown: The Man Who Bought the Albany Mummies’; ‘Ankhefenmut and His World’; and ‘Ankhefenmut as a Sculptor and Priest’.. The on-going exhibit on ‘Traders and Culture: Albany and Shaping of American Identity’ is a good lesson in history. It provides interesting details on how the values, culture and character of current Albany and the Upper Hudson Valley have been shaped by the diverse people of colonial Albany and the objects that reflect the early inhabitants’ interests, values, and interactions. The diverse people who shaped colonial Albany and the objects that reflected their interests and values are nicely illustrated. Also, the ways that Albany’s cultural identity evolved from the commercial and social interactions of its people, in the process constructing a unique culture and values that define us today as Americans is well depicted. Subject areas included in this exhibit were Life and Work; Trade, Commerce and Conflict; Traders and Culture; Social Identity; and Albany’s social economic, political and cultural connections to the Netherlands We recommend visiting this museum. We enjoyed it and hope that you have the opportunity to visit it and enjoy it as well. An added bonus to the museum are all the interesting dioramas scattered throughout the museum!!
9. Nyack Beach State Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 137 reviews
Due to emergency repairs, the access road to the Park's main parking lot is temporarily closed to vehicular traffic. The upper parking lot is open with pedestrian-only access along the road to the waterfront, trailhead and bathrooms.
Reviewed By TennisStar602 - New Jersey, United States
I came with a friend to this park on a December weekday late afternoon. When I was here, admission was free. It can be hard to get parking on a weekend, but it was relatively empty on a weekday. There are many options on elevation; I crossed steep hills and flat lands. The views of the mountains, the Hudson River, the foliage, the birds, and the skyline of Westchester County were outrageous! Strangely, though, I did see quite a few fish dead fish along the trail.
10. Innisfree Gardens
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 219 reviews
Private garden of 1930s heiress now open to public.
Reviewed By RenDog - Atlanta, United States
Landscape Architecture at its finest. The Innisfree Garden is a beautiful and relaxing journey through a series of outdoor spaces. A walk through the property presents scenic views across a small lake, small constructed waterfalls, art tucked in the landscape, old stone bridges, and a variety of wildlife. There is a lovely picnic area near the entry to have a snack or lunch. The property includes one long trail around the pond and a few side trails to explore. Every turn presents a new space to explore. While the entire site has a natural feel, there is an influence of Japanese garden design throughout. The property lends itself to a relaxing stroll or a quick hike.
