1. Getting Your Licks In
Whether you want a catch-it-before-it-drips soft serve or a golf-ball-size scoop of artisanal gelato, the Hudson Valley is happy to provide. A couple of highlights: Del’s Dairy Creme in Rhinebeck, for a classic twist of soft-serve on a hot day; Fortunes Ice Cream in Tivoli, with their certifiably addictive halva honeycomb; Nancy’s of Woodstock for vegan mint chip; and The Blue Pig in Croton-on-Hudson because you deserve a scoop (or two) of their Fluffernutter.
2. Walking on Water
Pick a nice day, put on your SPF, and cross the Hudson on foot (or bike). The Walkway Over the Hudson is a fab way to get your steps in between Poughkeepsie and Highland.
3. Climbing a Mountain
Brave, fit souls love tackling the ‘Gunks; some of us prefer a gentler trek up Yorktown’s Turkey Mountain, with its views of the NYC skyline, or the 1,403-foot Stissing Mountain in Pine Plains. Bring water and a snack to enjoy at the summit.
4. Smelling the Flowers
Starting in May, the Hudson Valley becomes nature’s own perfumery, as lilacs and peonies, then roses, start to bloom. Take a drive with the windows down or spend a few hours at a garden like Kykuit in Sleepy Hollow or Wethersfield Estate and Garden in Amenia.
5. 200-Plus Types of Birds
Bring your binoculars when you venture outside, because a couple of hundred species—from eagles to warblers—make their home around our region. If you need help identifying birdsong, download the free Merlin app from CornellLab.
6. Outdoor Yoga
A typical summer day in the Hudson Valley surrounds you with glorious greenery and blue sky. Consider kicking your yoga practice up a notch by heading outside amid that beauty—your own backyard or perhaps a class at Opus 40, the sculpture park in Saugerties.
7. Movies Under the Stars
There are a few drive-ins sprinkled across the area, showing summer blockbusters, kiddie films, and the occasional oldie. To visit: Amenia’s Four Brothers Drive-In, Poughkeepsie’s Overlook Drive-in, and Coxsackie’s Hi-Way Drive-in Theatre.
8. The Hudson Valley Wine Trail
Cheers! Choose one or both sides of the river for a tour and tasting. To the west, there’s the Shawangunk Wine Trail, including Brotherhood (America’s oldest winery) in Washingtonville; to the east, follow the Dutchess Wine Trail, where Milea Estate Vineyard in Staatsburg (as seen on Amy Schumer’s Life & Beth) serves a lightly bubbly, peachy Proceedo rosé.
9. House Tours
Odds are, one of the reasons you love this area is the motherlode of architecturally significant houses. You can tour grandes dames along the river, like Lyndhurst, to see how the movers and shakers used to live, or check your local historical society. Summer is home and garden tour season so check out neighboring properties.
10. Boogie Nights
Big Gay Hudson Valley is hosting their monthly Orchard Disco nights at Highland’s Bad Seed Hard Cider headquarters. A DJ, lights, and a summer night = good times.
11. Kiddie Heaven
Go for a spin (or ride the bumper cars) at Rye Playland, with its fab, old-timey boardwalk, right on the beach.
12. Farmers’ Markets
There’s a stunning array of farmers’ markets and CSAs (community supported agriculture shares), offering everything from grass-fed beef to heirloom tomatoes and mass quantities of zucchini as summer unfurls.
13. Outdoor Art
Stroll across brilliant green lawns and take in Andy Goldsworthy’s sinuous stone wall at Storm King Art Center in New Windsor or Alex Schweder’s and Ward Shelley’s gravity-defying tilting house at Art Omi in Ghent.
14. Sailing
The mighty Hudson has a long tradition of sailboats weaving up and down; these vessels were, after all, the primary transportation mode from the 1600s to the 1820s. Learn how to steer your own by taking a class at the Hudson River Maritime Museum—or hop on a sunset cruise and enjoy the spectacular river scenery.
15. Seeing Stars
Yes, you might spot Paul Rudd or Daniel Day-Lewis out for a stroll, but those aren’t the stars we mean. Rather, one good reason to love the Valley is the low level of light pollution, which means you can see a star-spangled night sky. Top viewing this summer might be the Perseid meteor shower, peaking around August 12–13.
16. County Fairs
The Hudson Valley shows up big-time for this kind of fun, including Dutchess County’s historical and floral displays, Ferris wheel, and local beers and ciders (August 19-24 in Rhinebeck); Columbia County’s (August 27-September 1 in Chatham) livestock shows and demolition derbies, and the Ulster County extravaganza (July 29-August 3 in New Paltz), featuring racing pigs, live music, and the best fried-dough desserts.
17. Getting Wet
The Valley is full of ponds, lakes, creeks, and streams to dive into or just dip your toes. Heck, you can submerge yourself in the Hudson itself at the four public beaches at Croton Point, Beacon, Kingston Point, and Ulster Landing. Do a little research, buddy up to neighbors who are waterfront, and stay cool.
18. All Aboard!
In summer, it’s hard to beat a vintage train ride in one of the Catskill Mountain Railroad’s open-air flat cars in Kingston. Enjoy the breeze as you scoot through the countryside.
19. Rainy-Day Attractions
Even on days when the weather doesn’t cooperate, there’s no shortage of indoor attractions, from Dia Beacon to the John R. Kirk Planetarium at SUNY New Paltz and beyond.
20. History Lessons
While the weather is welcoming, you can roam around West Point, Washington’s headquarters in Newburgh and various Revolutionary War sites, FDR and Eleanor’s homes, historic Huguenot Street in New Paltz, and Philipsburg Manor in Sleepy Hollow (to name a few), and soak up our nation’s story.
21. Antiquing
Let your inner picker out this summer. You’ll find a trove of vintage items from homes in the Valley. Our picks: Stormville’s Flea Market on select weekends until November; Woodstock’s summer Mower’s Weekends; and the Sunday High Falls Flea market. Whether you’re on the prowl for extra dining chairs, one-of-a-kind décor, or vintage costume jewelry, happy hunting.
22. Take a Seat
Whether you pull up a stool for a street taco or sink into a plush chair for a white-tablecloth meal, there is no more beautifu place than the Hudson Valley to people-watch and eat well. Enjoy your summer!
23. Vintage Cars
When the weather warms up, the antique cars come out to play. You’ll likely spot everything from Model Ts to spiffy Corvettes on the road. (Head to Albany’s Washington Park on Father’s Day weekend for the annual classic car show at DadFest.)
24. Polo Practice
Mashomack Polo in Pine Plains hosts matches, but watching weekend practice sessions is a Hudson Valley hidden gem. You can tailgate while viewing the action and hearing the thundering hooves.
25. The Barbecue
While the South usually bogarts all the BBQ attention, the Hudson Valley is no slouch. You can find great smoky fare on either side of the river, such as John Fazio Farms in Modena and Smoky Rock BBQ in Rhinebeck.
26. Good Iced Coffee
Once upon a time, the Hudson Valley was a caffeine wasteland, but these days, there’s a deliciously cold, bitter drink waiting pretty much everywhere. Kudos to All That Java, with four mini locations in Dutchess County; Ready Coffee with spots around Newburgh and Wappingers Falls; Bread Alone, with cafés in the region’s favorite towns; and the burgeoning caffeine scene in the Capital Region.
27. Perfect Weather
We’re not saying that it never rains or gets disgustingly hot and humid, but with an average temp of 72 degrees in July and August, you’re in for a treat.
28. The Sound of Music
Our hills are alive with outdoor music. How about Radio Woodstock’s Mountain Jam (June 20-22) at Belleayre Mountain, the annual Rosendale Street Festival (July 19-20), the Ashokan Center’s Summer Hoot (August 22-24) in Olivebridge, or some jazz or chamber music at Katonah’s Caramoor?
29. Flying High
Get a sky-high view from an open-cockpit biplane (book ahead) at the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome. Or, schedule a ride at the Labor Day Hudson Valley Hot-Air Balloon Festival in Lagrangeville.
30. Picking Your Own
Summer’s bounty is everywhere. You can stroll through your local nature preserve plucking blackberries, or head to a pick-your-own place, like Red Hook’s Rose Hill Farm or Lawrence Farms Orchards in Newburgh, and grab enough fruit to be making cobblers straight through October.
31. Some Shakespeare
Hudson Valley Shakespeare in Garrison and Catskill Mountain Shakespeare in Hunter reinvigorate the bard’s works and take them outside.
32. Cycling Unlimited
Hop on your cruiser and hit a local rail trail or tackle a section of the Empire State Trail’s Hudson River Valley Greenway, 200 miles of bike-able paths from NYC up to Albany.
33. Go Fish
Drop a line into a local waterway or a stocked pond, like the one at Thomas Bull Memorial Park in Montgomery, and cook up your catch. Nothing’s biting? Head to Zinnia’s in Craryville for their delish fish ‘n’ chips.
34. Rocking Out
If you haven’t enjoyed a summer’s day at Dover Stone Church Preserve (in Dover), that’s on you. And it’s time to remedy it. A short trail weaves through the 174-acre preserve to the remarkable “church” itself—a jaw-dropping bit of natural beauty. Its fissured rocks, ledges, and waterfalls have drawn city folk for centuries and inspired Hudson River School artists.
35. Fore!
Few can get into the famed Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, but there are public options for spending a day on the green, including a day pass at the Copake Country Club or Lagrangeville’s Links at Union Vale.
Related: Bike, Run, or Walk Your Way Along the Hudson Valley’s Rail Trails
