Hudson Valley
Hudson Valley
4.5
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Top ways to experience Hudson Valley and nearby attractions
The area
Reach out directly
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Restaurants
375 within 5 kms
Attractions
119 within 10 kms
See what travellers are saying
- therichastillStevenage, United Kingdom3,458 contributionsGreat Views by TrainI was travelling to New York City by train and I did not realise how much of the railway line runs alongside the Hudson River. Travelling by train means you get some superb views and someone else does the driving. The river is never very far from the railway line and as you get closer to New York City the river gets wider but the views are amazing. Having experienced the valley from train I would like to explore the area more.Visited October 2023Travelled soloWritten 16 October 2023
- RICART75Peru, Indiana2,423 contributionsSplendid natural beauty....We did a 10 day, bucket-list exploration of the Hudson River Valley; from Tarrytown to Albany. Based in Hyde Park; we headed out each day, up and/or down either side of this magnificent waterway. The Valley is a cornucopia of mansions, historic sites, museums, educational institutions, parks, overlooks, charming towns, tempting shops, even more tempting eateries, etc.; surrounded by and within, some of the most splendid natural beauty on the East Coast. Having only really just scratched the surface of what is offered here; we hope to make some return visits before the bucket is kicked.Visited May 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 24 June 2024
- Margaret L3 contributionsThe Hudson River Valley from north to south--worth it!We had the chance to meander along the Hudson River from Hudson down to NYC. As expected, the views were lovely and the pace relaxed. Olana house, Frederic Church's creation, is unique and worth a visit. Take a bit of time to walk the grounds. The town of Hudson is OK, but Beacon further south has much more to offer. The Saugerties lighthouse required a walk through a wooded area, but the charming lighthouse was worth the walk. There are picnic tables on the deck overlooking the quiet scene. We stopped at FDR's house and the Vanderbilt house, and they were interesting. FDR was born rich and died that way--it's all right there. The Vanderbilt house is a much smaller scale version of the North Carolina or Newport houses. On the way to West Point in Newburgh we happened to stop at Hudson Taco. Loved it! At West Point we didn't have time to tour the campus, but did take in the Museum there. Thumbs up to that too! In Poughkeepsie we walked the pedestrian bridge across the Hudson river. That was worth it. Again, the views. At night the Mid Hudson bridge is lit up. It's worth having dinner on the waterfront in the evening to enjoy that view. It was 5 relaxed days. A mix of walking and driving.Visited September 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 20 September 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
4.5
48 reviews
Excellent
27
Very good
14
Average
4
Poor
0
Terrible
3
RICART75
Peru, IN2,423 contributions
May 2024 • Couples
We did a 10 day, bucket-list exploration of the Hudson River Valley; from Tarrytown to Albany.
Based in Hyde Park; we headed out each day, up and/or down either side of this magnificent waterway.
The Valley is a cornucopia of mansions, historic sites, museums, educational institutions, parks, overlooks, charming towns, tempting shops, even more tempting eateries, etc.; surrounded by and within, some of the most splendid natural beauty on the East Coast.
Having only really just scratched the surface of what is offered here; we hope to make some return visits before the bucket is kicked.
Based in Hyde Park; we headed out each day, up and/or down either side of this magnificent waterway.
The Valley is a cornucopia of mansions, historic sites, museums, educational institutions, parks, overlooks, charming towns, tempting shops, even more tempting eateries, etc.; surrounded by and within, some of the most splendid natural beauty on the East Coast.
Having only really just scratched the surface of what is offered here; we hope to make some return visits before the bucket is kicked.
Written 24 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lea S
58 contributions
Oct 2021
We feel fortunate to live within driving distance of the Hudson River Valley. The towns and inns that have kept their historic appearance, the historic museum estates, the scenic countryside of rolling hills, meadows, farms, mountains, and of course, the mighty Hudson, attract us to visit again and again. The Old 1776 House restaurant, the Blaze pumpkin festival, the Beekman Arms Tavern: there is so much to see and do.
Written 20 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The Five Road Trippers 🚙🎡🎢🧳
Long Island, NY16,124 contributions
July 2019 • Business
I traveled to the Hudson Valley for a business trip in May. During the trip, I visited Beacon twice. A very trendy town with plenty going on (see my Beacon trips). We hung out the first night at Hudson Taco on the river in downtown Newburgh. Then spent two days on a retreat to Angry Orchard in Walden. Definitely a wonderful experience in the country. I also visited a winery. Plenty to take in within this region. It is an oasis to us downstate residents.
Written 3 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Oceanwalker
NJ253 contributions
The New York Hudson River Valley is a great area to explore for a etaway weekend.
You can choose between 30 wonderful wineries and sample a variety of wines, all made with locally grown grapes and other fruits. There are a ton of historical sites in the area to explore. You can also visit several historical mansions, the FDR Presidential Library, or shop at the many antique or unique shops in the area. Both sides of the Hudson River offer wonderful restaurants, as well. The drive is only about an hour north of NYC, and if you're looking to get away for the weekend, why not go exploring in the Hudson River Valley (Dutchess, Rockland, Orange, counties). I had never been here before, and enjoyed myself tremendously. In the summer, there are lots of parks for the kids to enjoy. Fall is a wonderful time to enjoy the foliage and local farm produced vegetables and fruits. The weekend before Thanksging proves to be slow, which is a great time to visit the wineries! There are numerous art, music and holiday festivals year round. I loved the area, as there are so many nice people and great places of interest. I highly recommend a weekend trip to this area!
You can choose between 30 wonderful wineries and sample a variety of wines, all made with locally grown grapes and other fruits. There are a ton of historical sites in the area to explore. You can also visit several historical mansions, the FDR Presidential Library, or shop at the many antique or unique shops in the area. Both sides of the Hudson River offer wonderful restaurants, as well. The drive is only about an hour north of NYC, and if you're looking to get away for the weekend, why not go exploring in the Hudson River Valley (Dutchess, Rockland, Orange, counties). I had never been here before, and enjoyed myself tremendously. In the summer, there are lots of parks for the kids to enjoy. Fall is a wonderful time to enjoy the foliage and local farm produced vegetables and fruits. The weekend before Thanksging proves to be slow, which is a great time to visit the wineries! There are numerous art, music and holiday festivals year round. I loved the area, as there are so many nice people and great places of interest. I highly recommend a weekend trip to this area!
Written 19 November 2007
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Myriam B
NYC2 contributions
We were pleasantly pleased with our two-day outing in the Hudson Valley. We used Hudson-Valley-Traveler.com to get a customized itinerary, and they were absolutely right on the money. My husband and I do not always share the same interests and finding things to do together can sometimes be a challenge, especially if the weather is not stellar, like we had during our weekend. The itinerary they prepared for us offered a lot of flexibility, so my husband could drop me off antiquing while he checked out the local brewery, to mention just this one example. As a result, we had great conversations during dinner about our day. They also found acitivites we could actually enjoy doing together, like our visit to the glass museum in Beacon. The time alloted for the activities were approximates, but they were pretty close our experience. The travel time between locations were right on. All these little attention to details made for a wonderful weekend, and we never had to worry if the restaurant we chose was good or not, as their recommendations were all excellent. Great travel service - but most importantly, great location to visit. We are looking forward to our next outing, as it is very accessible to our home, in New York City.
Written 9 May 2008
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
gcosta58
New York City, NY227 contributions
Oct 2013 • Solo
Took a day trip up to Hudson, NY - about 125 miles, north of NYC. Very relaxing train ride from NY Penn (about 2 hours) with great views of the Hudson River.
Hudson is the county seat of Columbia County and sits on the Hudson River, south of Albany.
The town has been described as a dictionary for architectural styles in New York State and rightly so - it's a gem.
A short walk from the Amtrak Station is Warren Street, the main commercial street in town. It's lined with grand buildings, all reflecting a variety of architectural styles: Greek Revival, American Federal, Carpenter Gothic, Second Empire, Colonial Revival and Classic Revival. The majority of the buildings date to the 19c and are constructed of brick or stone - some 300 historic buildings, in all.
What makes Hudson so unique is the density of antique stores: the New York Times has deemed it the best antique shopping in the Northeast. Wealthy clients from NYC and Albany frequent the shops alone or with their decorators - sometimes you can spot a celebrity.
Some stand outs are Hudson Super Market, Elijah Slocum, Fern (a favourite), Naga North (asian) and there are some great shops, as well.
Dining is not an issue, a variety of options. My favourite is Cafe Le Perche (see my review). A lovely boulangerie and cafe with amazing bread! Check out their oven brought from the Le Perche region in Normandy and rebuilt.
Since it was a day trip, I didn't overnight so cannot comment on accommodations, but The Barlow, on Warren and Union Street looked very nice.
Before you leave, take a walk down Warren to Promenade Hill for spectacular view of the Hudson and you can actually see Hudson-Athens Lighthouse, sitting on a granite caisson on the river.
Hudson is the county seat of Columbia County and sits on the Hudson River, south of Albany.
The town has been described as a dictionary for architectural styles in New York State and rightly so - it's a gem.
A short walk from the Amtrak Station is Warren Street, the main commercial street in town. It's lined with grand buildings, all reflecting a variety of architectural styles: Greek Revival, American Federal, Carpenter Gothic, Second Empire, Colonial Revival and Classic Revival. The majority of the buildings date to the 19c and are constructed of brick or stone - some 300 historic buildings, in all.
What makes Hudson so unique is the density of antique stores: the New York Times has deemed it the best antique shopping in the Northeast. Wealthy clients from NYC and Albany frequent the shops alone or with their decorators - sometimes you can spot a celebrity.
Some stand outs are Hudson Super Market, Elijah Slocum, Fern (a favourite), Naga North (asian) and there are some great shops, as well.
Dining is not an issue, a variety of options. My favourite is Cafe Le Perche (see my review). A lovely boulangerie and cafe with amazing bread! Check out their oven brought from the Le Perche region in Normandy and rebuilt.
Since it was a day trip, I didn't overnight so cannot comment on accommodations, but The Barlow, on Warren and Union Street looked very nice.
Before you leave, take a walk down Warren to Promenade Hill for spectacular view of the Hudson and you can actually see Hudson-Athens Lighthouse, sitting on a granite caisson on the river.
Written 26 October 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TheGlobetraveler
Ladson, SC92 contributions
Sept 2016 • Family
I booked this trip because my nearly 7 y.o. loves trains and we thought it would be a nice scenic trip and we wanted to explore Montreal, which we spent 5 days doing. It was very reasonable at $115 round-trip each and while the trip was scheduled to be 11 hours, we thought that wouldn't be too bad. Well we were wrong. We arrived at Penn station over an hour early with our tickets and checked in at the Amtrak to Canada immigration desk where they told us to just watch the big board to find out our track assignment, so we sat down for a good 45 min. or so before I realized that there was a sign to line up for boarding for the train to Canada already in place a short distance away to the left of the desk we had checked in at. How ridiculous is that? The line was now pretty long and still no info on the big board.
We boarded the train on schedule and were guided to the front train cars which as I found out later while walking through the train are designed for longer trips and have more comfortable seats with a footrest and better recline. The trip up and back is a rather slow slog along at minimal speeds much of the way, but what was a greater concert was that they kept the A/C blowing the whole time and therefore the train was freezing cold in all the train cars so folks had to bundle up. While the trip was scenic and tranquil everything pretty much looks the same and since the fall leaves weren't out yet there wasn't a whole lot of color. Certainly not enough different things to see to justify what turned out to be a 13 hour trip for us.
When we got to the border we had an 1 1/2 hour delay while they removed one passenger, who another passenger said she saw ditch something in a trash container when the border agents entered the train. He wasn't permitted entry and another girl was taken off to process her visa paperwork. On the way back we experienced a 2 hour delay at the border while they removed several young guys who had brought back some pot and some others for further questioning before allowing them to proceed.
We also found it disappointing that on the way back they guided us to short trip train cars rather than the more comfortable long trip ones that were now at the rear of the train. When I walked back an noticed this they told me we could not move back there as they had more short trip passengers than expected and wanted to keep the newly boarding passengers in the rear of the train. C'mon really? There is only the dining car separating the different car types so I don't see how it would have made much of a difference if we had moved and we paid more for our tickets and could have used the added comfort.
From talking with other travelers who take the train with some regularity, the cold temperatures and border delays we experienced are not unusual and the trip can take even longer... Subsequently we took a 1 1/2 hour local Virginia VRE Christmas train trip with our son, which he found more exciting.
We boarded the train on schedule and were guided to the front train cars which as I found out later while walking through the train are designed for longer trips and have more comfortable seats with a footrest and better recline. The trip up and back is a rather slow slog along at minimal speeds much of the way, but what was a greater concert was that they kept the A/C blowing the whole time and therefore the train was freezing cold in all the train cars so folks had to bundle up. While the trip was scenic and tranquil everything pretty much looks the same and since the fall leaves weren't out yet there wasn't a whole lot of color. Certainly not enough different things to see to justify what turned out to be a 13 hour trip for us.
When we got to the border we had an 1 1/2 hour delay while they removed one passenger, who another passenger said she saw ditch something in a trash container when the border agents entered the train. He wasn't permitted entry and another girl was taken off to process her visa paperwork. On the way back we experienced a 2 hour delay at the border while they removed several young guys who had brought back some pot and some others for further questioning before allowing them to proceed.
We also found it disappointing that on the way back they guided us to short trip train cars rather than the more comfortable long trip ones that were now at the rear of the train. When I walked back an noticed this they told me we could not move back there as they had more short trip passengers than expected and wanted to keep the newly boarding passengers in the rear of the train. C'mon really? There is only the dining car separating the different car types so I don't see how it would have made much of a difference if we had moved and we paid more for our tickets and could have used the added comfort.
From talking with other travelers who take the train with some regularity, the cold temperatures and border delays we experienced are not unusual and the trip can take even longer... Subsequently we took a 1 1/2 hour local Virginia VRE Christmas train trip with our son, which he found more exciting.
Written 24 January 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MrsRehoboth
Lewes, UK241 contributions
Oct 2014 • Friends
Between Albany and New York City is a gorgous stretch of wide blue river, lined with towns and mansions and escarpments worthy of any five star destination. We drove up from West Point along HIghway 218, around a massive rock hanging right over the river. After that stunning view, we drove to Storm King Arts Center, Poughkeepsie (where there is a walkway right over the river), Hyde Park (home and library of FDR), and ended up in Hudson, founded in 1790 and full of antique stores and chic b&bs. You can get there by train from New York City, by ferry and by car. Easy, varied, excellent restaurants and accommodation, and perfect for a weekend.
Written 19 October 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
OBE94347
Blackwood, NJ202 contributions
July 2011 • Couples
...and easily accessible from all points South.
I87 is a nice ride through NY State. One quick tip: Resist the temptation to take 9D or 9W. I'm always looking for scenic routes where I can get-off the Interstate and enjoy some of the local charm. Forget it! I rode both sides of the Hudson, up and down, and I come to the conclusion that I87 is more scenic! We spent 3 days exploring the area and wasted a whole lot of gas meandering around winding country roads waiting for "something-to-look-at" to pop-up.
We stayed in Poughkeepsie (that was clutch) and we rode up Route 9 and visited "The Waterfront" (Poughkeepsie) near the Poughkeepsie RR Station. There are a couple of real nice restaurants and a little public park where you can sit and enjoy the river. There are launches to put a kayak in the water. It's a nice section of the river, between the two bridges, with gentle currents.
They have this real high pedestrian bridge. You follow the signs from The Waterfront, inland a few blocks, to the entrance to the walking bridge. There's a parking lot for $5 but many folks were parking beside it for free.
Next we stopped at Marist College. ""What am I doing touring college campuses?...you might ask. This is the most beautiful campus I have ever seen! Rolling-green manicured lawns extending all the way down to the Hudson. I might have been a 2.0 in these surroundings!
Upstream we stopped at Springwood: FDR's boyhood estate. He and Eleanor are buried there, in the Rose Garden. Not to wax philosophical but you can almost FEEL the DEMocracy! From there it was on to the Vanderbilt Mansion. I'm not a Monarchist but it's awesome to see the haunts of the "Old Money." Old AMERICAN Money, I mean.
CIA...The Culinary Institute of America...is regarded, by some, as THE most prestigious "cooking" school in the world! This magnificent campus was formerly the Jesuit Monastery, St. Andrew's on the Hudson. Make reservations to lunch or dinner there.
We, then, hopped-over to the West Bank and visited New Paltz. It was very busy with tourists. I think they were antique-ers. I don't know, but they were there for something that's wasted on me! Actually, we drove thru new Paltz on our way to Mohonk Mountain House...another attraction I didn't-get! See my review.
All-in-all, I'd go back there again. East Bank Hudson River, that is.
I87 is a nice ride through NY State. One quick tip: Resist the temptation to take 9D or 9W. I'm always looking for scenic routes where I can get-off the Interstate and enjoy some of the local charm. Forget it! I rode both sides of the Hudson, up and down, and I come to the conclusion that I87 is more scenic! We spent 3 days exploring the area and wasted a whole lot of gas meandering around winding country roads waiting for "something-to-look-at" to pop-up.
We stayed in Poughkeepsie (that was clutch) and we rode up Route 9 and visited "The Waterfront" (Poughkeepsie) near the Poughkeepsie RR Station. There are a couple of real nice restaurants and a little public park where you can sit and enjoy the river. There are launches to put a kayak in the water. It's a nice section of the river, between the two bridges, with gentle currents.
They have this real high pedestrian bridge. You follow the signs from The Waterfront, inland a few blocks, to the entrance to the walking bridge. There's a parking lot for $5 but many folks were parking beside it for free.
Next we stopped at Marist College. ""What am I doing touring college campuses?...you might ask. This is the most beautiful campus I have ever seen! Rolling-green manicured lawns extending all the way down to the Hudson. I might have been a 2.0 in these surroundings!
Upstream we stopped at Springwood: FDR's boyhood estate. He and Eleanor are buried there, in the Rose Garden. Not to wax philosophical but you can almost FEEL the DEMocracy! From there it was on to the Vanderbilt Mansion. I'm not a Monarchist but it's awesome to see the haunts of the "Old Money." Old AMERICAN Money, I mean.
CIA...The Culinary Institute of America...is regarded, by some, as THE most prestigious "cooking" school in the world! This magnificent campus was formerly the Jesuit Monastery, St. Andrew's on the Hudson. Make reservations to lunch or dinner there.
We, then, hopped-over to the West Bank and visited New Paltz. It was very busy with tourists. I think they were antique-ers. I don't know, but they were there for something that's wasted on me! Actually, we drove thru new Paltz on our way to Mohonk Mountain House...another attraction I didn't-get! See my review.
All-in-all, I'd go back there again. East Bank Hudson River, that is.
Written 7 July 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michael W
Albuquerque, NM150 contributions
Nov 2014 • Couples
I took the Amtrak Adirondack train which runs from New York City to Montreal. I only went as far as Albany on my trip, but I was overwhelmed by the raw beauty of the Hudson River Valley along which the train runs. I only wih I had more time to linger in some of the small, old, New England style towns along the way. Sit on the river side of the train. The free wifi and available electric plugs for charging devices were great.
Written 29 November 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
when does the train start filling up? if you get on further north than Penn, (yonkers) will you be able to find seats together?
Written 30 November 2017
Going north from New York to Montreal which side of the train is the river on?
Written 20 August 2016
A Tripadvisor member
Kingston, Canada
The river is on the left, but Lake Champlain is on the right. I'd sit on the left because the train will pretty much empty at Albany.
Written 5 September 2016
Showing results 1-2 of 2
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing