Overnight trip from NYC up Hudson Valley
 

My sister is coming to visit me in NYC from Texas the first weekend of June and instead of bouncing around the city as we usually do, we wanted to do something fun and outdoorsy away from New York. I've never been up the Hudson River Valley but I hear it's gorgeous. We are both pretty active (love to hike, kayak, etc) but also like to poke around cute towns as well. Does anyone recommend a good route for us to take that would be nice and scenic, some good hiking or kayaking spots, and a good place for us to stay one night? we would leave NYC sat morning and come back sunday night. We would love to do this trip without a car...but from the research I've been doing, it seems it would be difficult unless we found one town that has outdoor activities/lodging/trains within walking distance (or by cab)
Any input would be greatly appreciated!

...oh and if the town has a decent yoga studio and/or spa for a nice massage...that would be a nice extra bonus!! :)

Jenny: I'd start by looking at Rhinebeck, New York, on the Hudson, (well, it's actually "Rhinecliff" that's on the Hudson, and that's where the train stops.)

Train trip from NYC is pretty along the river, about 1.5 hours on the fast Amtrak) There is the Beekman Arms in Rhinebeck, itself, and I would stay at one of the rooms in their annex, the Delamater House.

Also the newly refurbished The Rhinecliff is an old railway hotel, right on the river, just done up, with a very nice restaurant, and another (the very good China Rose)across the street.

If you decide to stay in Rhinebeck itself, it's a short cab ride (about 1 mile) to the center of this friendly town with lots of good shops and restaurants (e.g.Gigi's Trattoria) and even an art movie theater called the Upstate.You can walk everywhere.

Google some of those names and see if it appeals to you. I can give you lots more info. if you'd like it. I'm sure there's a spa place, just can't think of it at the moment.
and VERY sure there would be yoga!!

You'll love the Hudson Valley - there's lots to do, oh, and even hiking places.

The area around Beacon NY is another place that's easy on the train (metro north) and there's DIA Beacon (art gallery). I think what may be a challenge without a car is the outdoorsy stuff in addition.

Hudson, NY is also on the train and is a cute town filled with antique shops and restaurants.

I've never been to this place/area, but found it on the Metro North website
http://www.mta.info/mnr/html/getaway..._brookfarm.htm

Here are some 1 day getaways that might work for a weekend
http://www.mta.info/mnr/html/outbound.htm

If you like country estates and haven't been to Kykuit, the Rockefeller Estate near Tarrytown, I think that's really a wonderful place. There are plenty of hotels in the Tarrytown area.

good advice from others. I'll watch this thread and answer specific questions if I can.

Likewise.

We have very good friends who live on the Hudson near Poughkeepsie, and we've visited them often. They're active in the Hudson Valley philanthropies: she's on the board of Marist College and the Boscobel restoration, among others; he's a trustee of the Samuel F.B. Morse homestead, Locust Grove. Both are active members of Scenic Hudson, the organization that, years ago, prevented Consolidated Edison from destroying Storm King Mountain along the Hudson. This is seen as the birth of the Environmentalist movement.

They're very proud of that historic area and have shown us around extensively, so we're pretty familiar with it.

Not exactly the Hudson but consider taking the train to Mohonk Mountain House. You'll get your hiking, lake spa, and a great escape all in one. I haven't been in years but here's some current information.

http://www.mohonk.com/

Not quite off topic if we are considering the Hudson River. I've snagged a ticket to Pete Seeger's 90th Birthday party at Madison Sq Garden on May 3rd. The performance list is awesome. (If anyone else is going let me know - I couldn't get 2 tickets!! www.seeger90.com

While Mohonk is a wonderful place, I would not suggest the train. You still have a 45 minute taxi ride after you get off the two hour train ride.

More of a car trip, in my estimation.

It's less than 45 minutes and a beautiful ride and if you are staying there they will arrange transportation I think - or they used to. BUT - if you do rent a car you really can explore!

Someone above mentioned kykuit - the Rockefeller estate - That is lovely and you could book a meal at Stone Hill? or Barns? I've never eaten there or at the one in the City but everyone who does loves it (Just don't get too fond of the animals you pass on the way to the place.

Hi Sue! For the OP's information, it's Blue Hill at Stone Barns (out in Westchester) and Blue Hill (in NYC). Both are very well thought of restaurants, but we like Dan Barber's place in the City much better than the one in the country.

And, Mohonk Mountain House is a great suggestion. We've done some hiking there; very, very scenic. To get there, a rental car would be optimal, but if the OP is inclined, MMH still does make travel arrangements for its guests: http://tinyurl.com/ddhqcx

In case this helps, I live in the area, and I know Beacon, Poughkeepsie, Rhinebeck and Hudson.

I love the Dia:Beacon museum, but there's really not much else in Beacon (don't kill me for saying that, Beaconites, cuz there are a few shops.) and Hudson is full of antique shops, and has a couple of super restaurants, but it still seems somehow a little not-quite-ready-for-prime time.

Mohonk Mountain House is super great, but I would do that as a destination, (not leave the place at all) for the weekend. You'd have the spa and the hiking experience, but not the shopping.

Rhinebeck may seem too too for some people, but it is probably the most advanced of those towns. And it is totally walkable.
There are two or three great walks, including Poet's Walk on the river, and I'm sure none of them would be more than a short cab ride away. Rhinebeck is the kind of place where someone would probably offer to drive you to the beginning of a hike.

I promise I do not get paid by anyone in Rhinebeck to say any of this.

In fact, I never go there on a weekend day in the summer because it CAN get crowded, and it's hard to park.


(bspielman: I think I know those friends of yours. great couple. we have been lucky enough to be guests at their great river front place.)
Hope this helps you with your thinking and planning.

NOTE TO MCLAURIE AND JENNYDARINA: The places on the Metro North site are both for the Harlem Valley line, not the Hudson Line. They are both in land, one is in Lenox, MA - one hour and twenty minutes drive after you get off the train. Looks pretty nice tho!
The Harlem Valley Rail Trail is also great, but closer to Connecticut than to the Hudson.

I hike in the area often, there are many great trails but not much within walking distance of the train stations. So if you're taking Metro North and have your heart set on some hiking time, I'd suggest a car.

Several people have mentioned the Mohonk Mountain House, and it truly is a wonderful place. Terrific hiking, a spa, but not much of a shopping destination. The town of New Paltz has some nice little shops, it's a small college town.

For a nice Inn with a spa, there is Monteverde at Oldstone Manor. www.monteverderestaurant.com
You would still need a car but it's on the Hudson River. Maybe you could take Metro North and rent a car from Croton-on-Hudson or Peekskill. As far as shopping, not much in that area. Except for Outlet shopping at the Woodbury Commons in Central Valley, NY.

There are also hiking trails on the Bear Mountain.
Here is a website on Hudson Valley hiking trails. http://bearsystems.com/hiking/hiking.html

I hope this helps!

taconictraveler: Rabbit Island is a unique place, isn't it?

You don't say what your budget is. Mohonk Mtn house is expensive and there are may other options. If you have a car it greatly increases your flexibility.

1. Kayak. Cold Spring is the best place - there is at least one outfitter there http://hudsonvalleyoutfitters.com/ and you can tour some nice, calm areas along the Hudson.

2. Hiking - lots of options, ranging from simple strolls to more rigorous hikes - what are you looking for?

Bear Mtn park is one, but I find that overused & too often I've encounterer litter & beer bottles so I now avoid there.

The Shawangunk Rigde, better known just as the Gunks. It's the same area as Mohonk Mtn house, but doesn't require the expensive day use fee. There are numerous hikes in the area. I like the undercliff/overcliff trail as you see the rock climbing cliffs up close, get views of the Hudson Valley to the east (undercliff) and Castkills on the backside (overcliff) to the west. Lake Minnewaska is a nice park with several miles of trails around a pretty lake. Nothing too strenuous.

There are also some nice walking trails on the grounds of the historic mansions on the east side of the Hudson in Hyde Park (Vanderbilt, FDR), and 10min further north at Staatsburg (Mills Mansion). I think the hiking (walking) at the latter is the best as you can get right up to the river in parts. At FDR the RR tracks still run along the river & block access.

The best source of hiking info is the NY/NJ trail conference. www.nynjtc.org/ They have detailed trail routes and maps (for purchase online) that are reasonable and very good.

I really recommend a car. You can reach Cold Spring by train if kayaking is your main endeavor. There's at least one place to stay there. Hudson house, & several good restaurants a few antique shops worth about 15min in my book. But then you'd be stuck there.

Here's my route for you.
Day 1. Rent a car. Drive to Cold Spring & kayak. (70-90min from Manhattan). Drive to Beacon and visit the Dia museum (15m from CS). Drive 30min to Hyde Park and visit historic mansions - you can take a tour of the inside or simply visit the grounds, see the mansion, and hike/walk in the woods. Overnight in Rhinebeck at the Beekman Arms (I believe people recommend the Delamater section).

If you just want a basic hotel there are plenty of chains in the area near Poughkeepsie - which is about 10min from Hyde Park.

Day 2. If you didn't get time to visit the historic mansions do so on Sun am, then drive to the Gunks (45min or so from Rhinebeck), do some hiking. You can stop in New Paltz on the way - I never do as I'm not interested in shops.

After hiking head back to NYC. You can stop at West Point or Storm King mtn (more art).

You can certainly add or subtract from this itinerary - this route would take you in a circle without any backtracking.

thank you all for your great suggestions...much appreciated. now just waiting to hear back from sis on which of the many options to do! we have decided to definitely rent a car so we can see and do more. and we have just tacked on an extra day (leaving Fri morning now) so that we can see and do more. Does anyone recommend which city would be the best focal point to stay in? Would like to do the kayaking in Cold Springs, check out Beacon, see mansions in Hyde Park, hiking Bear Mountain maybe?

Your choices on where to stay vary depending on your need. None of the places we list are cities - more like small towns/village each with very limited lodging options.

IMO your choices boil down to this:

1. Chain type hotel convenient to roads in different directions, but not necessarily located in a village or walking distance to any sights. Your options there, at least on the East side of the Hudson are along the stretch of Rt 9 bounded by I84 (exit13) on the south (HOliday Inn, Hilton Garden Inn, Courtyard & a few others) to Poughkeepsie on the north (Hampton Inn, Residence Inn, & others scattered here and there)

2. B&B or historic hotel in a small town. The one the pops up frequently here on fodors is the Beekman Arms/Delmater in Rhinebeck. There's a place in Cold Spring (Hudson House). I've not stayed at either of those.

If you plan different days north/south/east and west then having a chain hotel with better highway access may be preferred. I use chain hotels a lot and they're the same everywhere. If you want something besides your chain motel then I'd say use Rhinebeck as a base. Visit Cold Spring/Beacon on the way there. Forget about Bear Mtn, find hiking closer to Rhinebeck.

Thanks for the great info everyone! we have decided to rent a car and stay 2 nights now. staying in Fishkill and going to kayak on Fri morning in Cold Springs, dinner that night at CIA. Sat we are getting some treatments at Mohunk Mountain House and going to spend the day there hiking and relaxing. Sunday we would like to do yoga in the morning (any suggestions?) then make our way back to NYC. Any suggestions for dinner spots for Friday near Mohunk (or on our way back to Fishkill?) and any suggestions on Yoga places in the area and what towns we should hit in between activities on Fri (going from Cold Springs to Poughkeepsie) and Sun (after Yoga on the drive back to NYC?)
Thanks!!

From Mohonk Mtn House back to Fishkill (Rt 9 @ I84) there are 2 driving routes to take. 1 is over the mid-hudson bridge through Poughkeepsie (can be painfully slow drive) and the other is I87/I84.

Your have good options for dinner in New Paltz (I need to look these up, will post tomorrow), Poughkeepsie (Artists Palate is v. good), and right in Fishkill area.

Right near your hotel are 2 good Italian restaurants. IL Barilotto on Main St Fishkill and Aroma Osteria, 5min north on Rt 9. Food is excellent at both. The latter has more room & is quieter. Reservations recommended. Aroma would be my choice.

There are also a few places right on the waterfront in Newburgh that are good - none that stand out. If you want something ok & casual there's a place called shadows on the hudson in Poughkeepsie, on the water just south of the Mid Hudson bridge. Not worth going out of the way for, if you're driving that way the drinks and view are really good.

I'll get back to you about New Paltz.