The Inside Scoop
In the late 1990s, when I lived in Manhattan, several friends from England came to visit. Before their arrival, I had mapped out day after day of nonstop adventures to wow them. From a very authentic (but little-known) eatery in Chinatown to a Lower East Side store that sold designer clothes at bargain prices, I was going to show them the real New York City. After all, I was an insider.
But my pals had other plans. Yes, they appreciated and enjoyed my offbeat outings, but they also insisted on visiting the Empire State Building. How touristy, I thought! I hadn’t been there since I was five years old (and all I remembered of that visit was my sister’s endless wailing about how she was going to throw up as the express elevator rocketed to the 86th floor). But after much grousing, I decided to accompany my friends to this touristy tower… and lo and behold, I had a great time. Lesson learned: both hidden treasures and tried-and-true favorites are worth exploring.
That’s why our 18th annual Insider’s Guide is such an indispensable resource for exploring the Hudson Valley. Sometimes we all forget about the many cultural, historic, culinary, and recreational treasures that we have right here in our own backyard. Our guide outlines all the world-class destinations in the region — from
Then we turn you on to hundreds of other places and things you may not know about. Were you aware that there is a little jewel of a sculpture park in Columbia County that is growing by leaps and bounds? Or that you can go for a free evening ride on a Hudson River schooner courtesy of the Beacon Sloop Club? Did you know that you can take trapeze lessons in
Maybe our guide will inspire you to try something new (paintball, anyone?) or just remind you how much fun it is to go horseback riding, eat at a new restaurant, check out a different art gallery, or treat your sweetie to a night in one of the Valley’s cozy B&Bs.
Whatever your passions — here’s to the inside scoop!
Enjoy,
Olivia J. Abel
Editor in Chief
oabel@hvmag.com
