9 Fun Things to Do in Hudson River Valley

Just north of New York City is the region of Hudson River Valley, a popular destination for tourists and where I had the pleasure of visiting one summer in July. With its gorgeous scenery, it’s the perfect place to visit no matter the time of year. If you’ve been looking for the ideal weekend getaway, the Hudson River Valley is a top destination to add to your bucket list!

With so many things to do and see, I’ve compiled a list of some of my favorite things I was able to experience during one of my weekend getaways!

Go Biking on the Putnam County Trailway

During our trip to the Hudson River Valley, one of the first things we did was go biking. As we love to enjoy our time outdoors, we went biking on the paved pathway that is ideal for bikers, walkers, and runners. The Putnam County Trailway is 12 miles long, with most of the trail primarily scenic and flat.

As we biked, we enjoyed views of the Middle Branch Reservoir and Lake Gleneida. Even though this trail was perfect for getting a workout in, there were many families on the trailway who were spending their time enjoying the great outdoors.

Visit Local Farms

As we wrapped up biking, we made our way to one of the local farms we spotted during our Travels. Local farming is widespread in the Hudson River Valley, with many fruit orchards and cattle herds that are often family-run. With many larger-scale companies trying to put small farmers out of Business, every chance we get to give our support, we take it.

To thank some of the valley’s local farmers, we visited and chowed down on some delicious, buttered corn and beefsteak tomatoes.

Take a Swim in Lake Taghkanic

As there wasn’t a cloud besides the dozens of bike paths and hiking trails, the valley is home to Lake Taghkanic State Park. Since you won’t find an oceanfront for at least 50 miles of the area, the lake is the perfect place to dip in the refreshing, calm waters.

We noticed the area had two sandy beaches, which were pretty crowded, considering it was a hot and humid day.

Pro Tip: If swimming in lakes or sunbathing isn’t your thing, the park also offers kayak rentals, paddle boats, rowboats, and other camping facilities. With the entrance to the Taconic Parkway, Lake Taghkanic was very easy to find.

Take a Scenic Drive

If you’ve ever been to upstate New York, you know just how breathtaking driving the backroads can be. In the Valley, summer is one of my favorite seasons to take a drive, although I know many who prefer the color of those autumn leaves.

With hemlocks, birches, oaks, and maples as far as the eye could see, we couldn’t help but notice the high gas prices, which are usually for this area. Our favorite route during the drive was the Taconic Parkway, as we drove on a smooth, quiet road just before sunset.

Visit the Drive-In Movie Theater

Later that night, we decided to go to one of the valley’s drive-in movie theaters to enjoy a summer night watching the big screen. Drive-in movie theaters are more affordable than the popular cinemas you’d go to in the big city, and they also have clearer screens with high-quality sounds.

We went to the Overlook Drive-In, where we ate more than candy and popcorn, but Black Angus burgers and frozen treats.

Pro Tip: This old-school drive-in movie theater will remind you of the 80s, where you’ll see older people sitting on lawn chairs, teenagers holding hands, and children sitting on the rooftops of cars in their pajamas.

Go Hiking at Bear Mountain State Park

Wherever we’re Traveling, especially if it’s during the summer, we always make it a priority to see if there are any excellent hiking spots in the area. As we wanted to stretch our legs, we found Bear Mountain State Park, a 5,000-acre park with many hiking trails, including the Appalachian Trail, which spans approximately six miles.

We also found an intense trail of 1,000 climbs to the Bald Mountain summit. If you’re outdoorsy people like us and can handle advanced trails, you’ll be rewarded with amazing views of the Hudson River.

Walkway Over the Hudson

Known as one of the longest pedestrian bridges, the Walkway Over the Hudson is among the best places to visit in the Hudson River Valley. It was once used as a railway bridge; you can use it to walk from multiple cities. As we walked over the bridge, we were two hundred feet above the river, which gave us excellent views of Hyde Park.

You can enter the bridge from both sides of the river if you take the Highland entrance; you pass a local ice cream parlor to cool you off afterward.

Pro Tip: As we walked the bridge when we made it towards the end, we noticed several food trucks since it was during the summer, which was perfect for satisfying our apPetite after a long walk!

Attend a Festival

One of the most popular festivals in the Hudson River Valley during July is the Rosendale Street Festival. For this festival, they shut down Main Street for a couple of days and have seven stages with many music performances, along with food and crafts.

Although we were only here for a short time, we noticed the many food vendors that were run by locals, along with the craft vendors who sold musical instruments and incense.

Visit a Brewery

If you want to sip a cold one on a hot summer’s day, I couldn’t recommend Yard Owl Brewery enough! Located only a short distance from the infamous Wallkill Valley Rail Trail, the Yard Owl Brewery has the perfect countryside drinking atmosphere and is a relaxing spot to have a beer or two!

While most locals hang out here, we noticed this brewery had indoor and outdoor spaces to sit and relax for the rest of your afternoon. This brewer had an extensive list of beers, including the famous Imperial Farmhouse, and a food menu that had a handful of items to munch on. Sitting and sipping our beers, we munched on pretzels and charcuterie boards.