Now that the United States is well on its way to getting its population vaccinated from Covid-19 we are starting to see the benefits of infection rates drastically falling which translates to the country slowly but surely opening up again. Masks and social distancing regulations from the CDC are not as rigid now allowing for more freedom to congregate, travel and start enjoying a semblance of normalcy.

While many of us may not be ready to jump on a plane yet, with summer here and warmer beautiful weather upon us there are many options to get out and start enjoying the world again in a safe manner. This is the time to go day tripping and explore local.

If you live in or around New York City, just within a one to two hour drive you can be at a beach or in the mountains and countryside. There are many charming picturesque towns around New York in the Hudson Valley that you can explore for a day trip from the city or a weekend getaway, Hudson Valley has it all. 

As you drive (you can also take the Metro North or Amtrak) upstate and your goal is simply a day trip, Cold Spring and Beacon, NY are perfect destinations. Both are a little over an hour drive from New York and easily accessible by Metro North. Cold Spring which sits across from West Point Military Academy is an ideal town for antiques, local fashion, health and wellness products and an array of cuisines offered by their local restaurants. Just walking up and down Main Street transports you to a lovely Americana scene of tranquility and charm.

The next town north from Cold Spring is Beacon, NY. On the way towards Beacon there are multiple hiking trails along the road that runs parallel to the Hudson River. You can just pull your car aside and go for a hike! The town of Beacon is mainly known as the home of Dia Beacon which houses over 34,000 square feet of contemporary art that consists of the collections of the de Menil family. Dia Beacon is a five minute walk from the train stop so you can conveniently visit without a car. As you enter the town you will see all the new developments and boutique hotels like The Roundhouse which was formerly a mill and now a contemporary hotel with excellent restaurants smartly located in the center of the town next to all the charming shops that have been popping up in the last few years with local wares.

As you go travel further north you pass multiple small towns, some with estates with magnificent mansions and gardens that are open to the public to explore such as Boscobel or Springwood. These quaint towns are dotted with little shops and festivals showcasing local crafts, food, antiques, fashion, etc. One such festival is “Artrider” a crafts festival in the bucolic town of Rhinebeck, NY. to be held on June 26th and the 27th. Patent of Heart will be featured at Artrider along with other makers of fashion, accessories, jewelry, home decor, furniture, fine art, beauty plus local gourmet specialities and tastings from local distilleries. Admission is $10, kids 6-16 $4 (kids under 6 are free). For more info go to artrider.com. 

Artrider promotes artisans that produce handmade products that are local and mainly sustainable. Patent of Heart, a woman-owned sustainable fashion handbag brand, will be featuring its newest collection of handmade leather evening bags for women entitled “Bona Fortuna” (good luck in Latin). These hand-embroidered handbags are beaded by female artisans from Lebanon using the tambour technique and Artrider provides the perfect opportunity to view the new collection of handbags with iconic good luck symbols hand-beaded, with the iconic “Evil Eye”, “Hand of Fatima” and “Heart” bags amongst others symbols. The beading and embroidery make for unique and elegant handmade gifts for women.

Near the town of Rhinecliff is the celebrated town of Woodstock, mostly known for the incredible music festival that happened in the summer of 1969. The town still has a hippie feel to it with shops full of local fashion, chocolates, candles, food and more. Every evening there is a drum circle in the middle of the village you can witness and even join. Woodstock is a very scenic town and is surrounded by beautiful mountains, trails and the Ashova Reservoir (which provides New York City’s drinking water). Three much recommended hiking trails are the Overlook Mountain trail if you want to see the incredible vistas of the Hudson Valley (on a clear day you can see Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Connecticut). For a less rigorous but equally picturesque trail you can visit Sloan Gorge which winds through a forest with incredible rock formations that give the area a very spiritual feel. You can also hike around the Ashova Reservoir which is quite scenic and peaceful and not a difficult hike. 

Heading north near Red Hook is Poets’ Walk which is more of a stroll than a hike that runs near the Hudson River and is dotted with beautiful gazebos, inspired by artists and writers. If you go more west and cross the Hudson River you will enter the Catskills, a mountainous area of upstate New York that has been a popular vacation spot for New Yorkers for decades (think “Dirty Dancing”). Back in the 50’s and 60’s the Catskills would have certain vacation areas for the Irish, German, Jewish, etc. along with dozen of camps where the children of New York City would escape to. Here in the Catskills you can stay at Kate’s Lazy Meadows, founded by Kate Pierson of the B-52’s. Located in the town of Mt. Tremper, you can stay in 50’s design inspired cottages that are quirky, colorful and fun whilst located in the scenic hills of the Catskills.

Back on the East side of the Hudson River further north is the booming town of Hudson, NY. Hudson has seen a renaissance in the last decade as the Main Street is now again filled with antique shops, restaurants established by New York City chefs done with city life, local fashion, jewelry, home decor and more. Even Etsy has moved their headquarters to Hudson bringing much needed employment to the area. The newest addition to Hudson is The Maker Hotel, a remarkable and sophisticated boutique hotel with outstanding decor, rooms and a top rated restaurant. It’s the perfect place to stay while you are exploring the town and countryside. Even with all the new additions to Hudson it has managed to keep its small town feel.

Our last stop upstate that is still reasonably drivable for day tripping from New York City is Saratoga Springs (approximately a three hour drive). Saratoga Springs became well known in the latter part of the 19th century for wealthy Americans who came for the natural springs in the summer. This caused a cultural oasis springing up in Saratoga attracting opera, ballet, theatre, polo and the races. Today Saratoga Springs still attracts the polo crowd in the summer and tourists who shop on their main street which is called Broadway. Many of these speciality shops focus on local and handmade products made in New York. While in Saratoga you can stay at The Adelphi Hotel, established in 1877 and one of the top rated boutique hotels in upstate New York. You can still enjoy the sulfuric springs for good health, then head to be a spectator at the polo games whilst sipping champagne.

Hopefully these suggestions will inspire you to explore local whether it is in New York or anywhere you may find yourself. Next blog we will “Explore Local” local beach getaways and many of the attractions and retreats within reach of New York City.

Happy Day Tripping!

By Natalie Rivera