Ready for an autumn adventure? Pick the type of day trip you’d like to take from one of our four options below, or keep scrolling to discover them all.
Leaf Peeping • For the Foodies • Arts, Culture & History • Kid-Friendly
Leaf Peeping
New Paltz
New Paltz is a mecca for trails of all kinds. Take in the colorful sights of the Shawangunk Ridge (and the Catskills in the north) by hiking, biking, bouldering, or birding—or simply strolling downtown. Our recommendations: Minnewaska State Park (check out Lake Minnewaska, Blueberry Run, and Gertrude’s Nose–Millbrook Mountain loops); the River-to-Ridge trail for bikers or those looking for something more low-key; and Mohonk Preserve (a $15 day pass per hiker is required, but if you’re a member of a library within 30 miles, you can reserve one for free).
Lunch Break: If you don’t want to miss even a second of foliage, sit outside at Huckleberry (the sandwiches are great) or Garvan’s Gastropub for a gorgonzola burger with truffle fries and much more.
Don’t Miss: Excursion opportunities. New Paltz Kayaking offers one- or two-hour rentals along the Wallkill River. Thrill seekers should book Mohonk Mountain House’s Pinnacle Ledge Tour ($75/person) for stunning vistas seen from the top of the Ridge.
Detour: Before heading home, visit one of the many farms in the area (Dressel Farms, Twin Star Orchards, Minard’s Family Farm) for warm, fresh apple cider donuts.
Cold Spring
Nestled right in the middle of the Hudson Highlands, Cold Spring has plenty of trails and points to view the turning leaves (plus it’s less crowded than New Paltz). About 10 minutes east on Cold Spring Turnpike, Fahnestock State Park offers a bit more seclusion with gorgeous pay-offs: autumnal hues reflected on its many lakes. Stonecrop Gardens, a 15-acre property with woodland, water, and cliff rock gardens, is considered a local secret. For families: Little Stony Point has Hudson River views and is relatively easy to trek. For expert hikers: Breakneck Ridge is just a bit north of downtown Cold Spring.
Lunch Break: Opt for international eats at Le Bouchon (French), Juanita’s Kitchen (Mexican), or Cathryn’s (Italian). Main Street is about a half mile long, so there’s time to hop into shops like Poor George, Cold Spring General, and Split Rock Books.
Don’t Miss: Most visitors don’t know about the tunnel that goes under the train tracks by Cold Spring Depot. After walking through, stop at Moo Moo’s Creamery for farm-to-cone scoops and river vistas from the pier or Dockside Park.
Detour: Heading south? Drive over the Bear Mountain Bridge for unbeatable foliage views. If you’re going north, the ride along Route 9D from Cold Spring to Beacon is pretty, too.
For the Foodies
Beacon
Beacon has one of the region’s most diverse culinary scenes and it continues to grow: Over half a dozen eateries opened in the past year alone, including Afghan burger joint Nansense and Turkish brunch spot Nilufer’s. Some of Beacon’s best breakfast spots are Bagelish (for creative bagels like pickled jalapeño cheddar and za’atar-EVOO) and gluten-free café Kitchen + Coffee. For lunch, try Momo Valley for steamed Nepalese dumplings or The Beacon Daily for fried chicken sandwiches. And if you’re sticking around for dinner and drinks—Melzingah Tap House, Meyer’s Olde Dutch, and Brother’s Trattoria (order the calamari croccanti) are local favorites. If you can’t decide what you want, head to the Hudson Valley Food Hall for a variety of food vendors from British classics and Nicaraguan street food (Moreish and El Nica) to inventive ice cream (Five Pennies Creamery).
Gear Shift: Once the gastro tank is full, do some shopping—Zakka Joy, Raven Rose, Solstad House, Kaight, Utensil, and Stanza Books are among the many options.
Don’t Miss: Grab a drink and kick back at Hudson Valley Brewery (best known for their fruit sours), The Vinyl Room (a retro gastropub with good tunes and cocktails), or Happy Valley (bar/arcade).
Detour: Fifteen minutes east via I-84 is the famed Fishkill Farms. They have just about everything that makes a Hudson Valley fall so great—from apple picking and hayrides to an on-site cidery (Treasury Cider) and Harvest Festival weekends.
Catskill & Leeds
This pocket of eastern Greene County is burgeoning—and has a recent James Beard nod to prove it. Efrén Hernández at Casa Susanna, an upscale Mexican eatery in the Camptown boutique hotel in Leeds, was named a JBA finalist for best chef in New York. Hudson Valley also named Casa Susanna one of the best new restaurants last year. We recommend picking one town for breakfast/lunch and the other for dinner and drinks. In Catskill, there’s quaint bagel shop Goodies; Catskill Chocolate Company; juicery Cafe Joust; Willa’s; and Barnwood for barbecue. And you can’t go to Leeds without visiting farm-to-table diner Gracie’s Luncheonette (donuts, country-fried steak and eggs, sandwiches, and burgers), Casa Susanna, and Catskill Mountain Bakery.
Gear Shift: In Leeds, wander around Hartland, a stationery shop with cute greeting cards and paper goods, plus a coffee shop. If you’re around on a Sunday, stop by the Catskill Farmers’ Market for fall produce, jarred pickles, and local honey.
Don’t Miss: Catskill’s drink scene. Left Bank Cider and Subversive Malting + Brewing are mainstays, but consider three new spots: Hudson-based Return Brewing taproom (beer), Hemlock (cocktail bar), and Chemistry Wine Bar.
Detour: Take a trip over the Rip Van Winkle Bridge to Hudson’s Olana National Historic Site. The home of Hudson River School painter Frederic Church is stunning in autumn and has fantastic sunset views of the surrounding mountains.
Arts, Culture & History
Northern Columbia County
The triangle of land between Kinderhook, Ghent, and Chatham is brimming with heritage and creativity. History buffs will enjoy the James Vanderpoel House, Lindenwald (aka the Martin Van Buren National Historic Site, where the country’s eighth president was born and buried), and the circa-1850 Ichabod Crane Schoolhouse. Its schoolmaster Jesse Merwin was a good friend of Washington Irving (The Legend of Sleepy Hollow) and is rumored to be the inspiration for the book’s main character. Art lovers should visit the acclaimed The School: Jack Shainman Gallery, a 30,000-square-foot contemporary art center in a former high school in Kinderhook, and Ghent’s Art Omi, with its modern sculptures and installations across 120 acres and the on-site Newmark Gallery.
Lunch Break: Broad Street Bagel Co. and the Brooklyn Pizzeria are trusty, no-frills options in Kinderhook. For something more upscale, check out the newly opened Isola Wine & Tapas or Morningbird Café at the Kinderhook Knitting Mill. In Ghent, Bartlett House is one of the best bakeries around.
Don’t Miss: A theatrical or musical event at PS21: Center for Contemporary Performance in Chatham. Also, FilmColumbia is showing flicks, advanced screenings, and filmmaker-led panels at the historic Crandell Theater from October 18–27.
Detour: One of the Valley’s premier cultural epicenters is Hudson (about 20 minutes south) with an array of galleries, antiquing centers, and venues, including Hudson Hall which is hosting the Hudson Jazz Festival, October 4–6.
Stone Ridge & Rosendale
Known for its historic stone homes—some of which date to pre-Revolutionary War times, the hamlet of Stone Ridge (named in 1832 for the limestone ridge beneath it) offers plenty of spots to soak up some history. Swing by the public library, Wynkoop House, and Hasbrouck House, a premier destination hotel. Stone Ridge’s entire Main Street was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in the ‘80s. Nearby Rosendale—worth a trip for the fall foliage on the trestle alone—is where you’ll find the circa-1905 Rosendale Theatre (live shows, music, and independent or classic films), and the Snyder Estate, which is the site of the town’s natural cement historic district; Rosendale supplied the material for structures like the Brooklyn Bridge, Croton Aqueduct, and the Statue of Liberty. Tour the museum on the grounds or check out Widow Jane, a former cement mine that’s been transformed into an event venue.
Lunch Break: In Stone Ridge, locals love Black Dot for coffee; ice cream stand Cherries for grass-fed burgers (and ice cream, of course); and BECs at Bodacious Bagels. The Big Cheese (Mediterranean café) or Truss and Trestle Diner are faves in Rosendale.
Don’t Miss: While driving between Stone Ridge and Rosendale, you’ll pass the Delaware & Hudson (D&H) Canal Museum on Route 213 in High Falls. The center highlights the resilience of those who built and worked at the 1800s-era D&H, where barges carried coal from Pennsylvania to the Hudson River. Artifacts, art, and stories are on display, plus you can trek the 5 Lock Walk, a towpath children took to lead mules that pulled boats along the canal.
Detour: Head to nearby Accord for dinner at James Beard Award-finalist Harana Market, a beloved Filipino eatery with delicious fried chicken and garlic fried rice among other menu musts. For farm-to-table comfort food, try Mill & Main in Kerhonkson.
Kid-Friendly
Poughkeepsie
There’s a slew of indoor and outdoor activities in the city—so the kids can have a blast and you can relax. Start at the Mid-Hudson Children’s Museum, which has STEM-focused learning areas for children under four, programs about the workings of physics and technology, and a building-block playground. One of the coolest exhibits is RiverTown, a space inspired by everyday life in the HV, where kids can pretend they’re responding to calls in a firetruck, cooking meals in a café, or painting in an art studio. For a bit more action, head to the Gravity Vault (rock climbing), Bounce (trampoline park), or RPM Raceway (go-karts and an arcade).
Lunch Break: Share an International Pizza Expo award-winning pie at Detroit-style pizza spot Hudson & Packard.
Don’t Miss: The Walkway Over the Hudson is a must; it’s the world’s longest pedestrian bridge (clocking in at 1.28 miles). Walk or bike along the path and take in the sights of nearby towns, boats and tankers, and mountain ranges.
Detour: End the day at Overlook Drive-In, a 10-minute ride from downtown Poughkeepsie. There are discounted double-feature nights (Mondays), showings of new and favorite films, and snacks for purchase.
Phoenicia & Mt. Tremper
For an outdoorsy adventure, head to the center of the colorful Catskills—between Slide and Hunter mountains—for fall fun in the form of Rail Explorers in Phoenicia. You’ll hop aboard electric rail bikes that cruise along the historic Ulster & Delaware Railroad. There are a variety of tours (ranging from 90 minutes to 2.5 hours) to choose from, including: the River Run (pedaling next to the Esopus Creek); Golden Hour (sunset ride); Mt. Tremper Express (visit the refurbished train station); and the evening Mt. Tremper Lantern Ride, a four-mile round trip with lanterns attached to each vehicle to light the way. In addition, consider a visit to Emerson Resort & Spa on Route 28 where the Kaatskill Kaleidoscope, the world’s largest optical instrument of its kind, is is housed in a converted grain silo.
Lunch Break: Each Rail Explorer tour has a drink and snack break halfway through the ride.
Don’t Miss: You can’t go to Phoenicia and not eat at Phoenicia Diner. (Some consider it a rite of passage, plus the food is always good). Our top picks are the Arnold Bennet skillet, buttermilk pancakes, Catskills po’boy, and the pulled pork mac ‘n’ cheese.
Detour: About 30 minutes east via Route 212 is Opus 40, a 6.5-acre sculpture park in a bluestone quarry in Saugerties. There are stone ramps, platforms, and stairs to explore, as well as a schedule of events, from nature walks and concerts to workshops.
