The Most Unique Weekend Getaway in Upstate New York
Rhinebeck, New York
Intro
Need a weekend getaway from New York City? Tired of the hustle and bustle of the NYC metro area? Have you checked out the Hudson Valley, just 90 minutes north of Manhattan? Many people don’t realize you can have a weekend getaway in New York, keeping the travel time short but the beauty off the charts. There are so many places to visit in upstate NY, it’s a shame not to take advantage!
I was born and raised just an hour south of the Catskill Mountains in New York State (United States), not realizing 18 years later I would be attending college in the thick of the Hudson Valley. I went to Marist College in Poughkeepsie New York. This area was also home to Vassar College, West Point and the Culinary Institute of America. Whenever someone asked where I went to college I would say, you know the prestigious school, Vassar? All impressed, the person would say you went to Vassar?! To which I replied, No. Down the road from Vassar. Beautiful facility. Been to Vassar’s campus once though to see the Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center though. However, our campus sat on the Hudson River and theirs did not, so take that Meryl Streep!
Like many college kids, I was more focused on making friends, hanging out, and partying than I was observing the natural beauty and sweeping views of upstate New York in autumn. The region is inundated with nature trails and parks such as the Hudson State Historic Park, Franny Reese State Park, and the Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic site.
Our campus also had the benefit of easy access to New York City, with only a short drive or train ride. When I say short drive, I mean about 1-10 hours, depending on NYC traffic. There is also a train station in Poughkeepsie NY that takes you right into Grand Central Terminal in about two hours. My hometown in North Jersey was about an hour drive into Manhattan, so when interning in the city, sometimes I would stay at my childhood home for a quicker trip. To other students who grew up in other states or several hours from New York City, Poughkeepsie was right around the corner from their perspective and the direct train made it super easy.
Unfortunately, even though I spent four years living in the Hudson Valley, I missed a lot of the sights it had to offer, like hiking trails, museums, and parks. Luckily, I was close enough to head back for a day trip to check off fun things on my upstate New York bucket list.
Hudson River - Poughkeepsie, New York
Planning the Trip
First things first. The Empire State is a huge state that could take well over 9 hours to drive from one side to the other. So, you definitely want to do a little planning and fact finding before you start your trip. Make sure to identify what type of trip you want and what the best location would be. Because I promise you, aimlessly driving around New York State is not a wise move.
Many people know about New York City and all the magnificent things the it has to offer. What many people don't know is there is so much more to the state than just Manhattan and it has a wide variety of outdoor activities. Upstate New York is comprised of many medium sized cities and small towns. A plethora of wineries for wine tastings. Horseback riding in the great outdoors. As well as time away from the stereotypical New Yorkers.
My recommendation would be to ask yourself the below questions to determine your destination:
Where are you coming from?
How long will you be gone for?
How far of a drive are you willing to do?
If you are flying, will you need a rental car?
Are you driving or flying to your destination?
Is there parking at the hotel you are staying at?
Will you need a car at your destination or is it a place with things to do within walking distance?
Is there free breakfast where you are staying, or will all your meals be eaten while out and about?
Hudson Valley, New York
Sights Visited in Poughkeepsie
One of the things we did quite frequently when studying at Marist College, was taking a short walk across the Hudson River on the Walkway Over The Hudson and land at the Franny Reese State Park where we would bring a lunch and to enjoy at the picnic area overlooking the river. This isn’t the world’s longest pedestrian bridge. That would be the Sky Bridge 721 in Czech Republic, but the Hudson views are still hard to beat. With that said, this isn’t the only park around. In this area, there are plenty of places with parks and trails within a stone’s throw.
One of my favorite things to do was visit the Victor C. Waryas Park, just beyond the Mid-Hudson Bridge which was a popular spot to see a boat launch or crew team row by. For the history buffs out there, the Hudson Valley is filled with rich history such as the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library, the Bardavon 1869 Opera House, or the Samuel Morse Historic Mansion are just a few of the many popular attractions in the region.
What’s crazy is a lot of the bars I frequented in Poughkeepsie in the early 2000’s such as Mahoney’s Irish Pub, Backstreet Pub, Noah’s, and Darby’s are also still there. I hope they got a face life because they needed a refresh when it was my watering hole. It’s crazy to me how most of my nights ended at these places and they have website now, advertising their food, entertainment, and drink specials…did we every think to go to open mic or trivia night at Backstreet??? I don’t think I was thinking enough at these places to be quizzed with trivia but props to them for trying to class it up.
Speaking of classy. When family came to visit, we would book a reservation at the Culinary Institute of America for a meal. Even these culinary students run circles around me cooking now. Last week I burned a plastic cup in the microwave, so no one is paying for my meals. A regular meal out on the town was at Applebee’s across the street and you probably got a mudslide on the side, which was your calorie count for the whole month. Fun fact, my dad still loves Applebee’s. If I don’t see another one for the rest of my life, it will be too soon.
If we were trying to pretend we were fitness enthusiasts, we would go for a stroll at the Vanderbilt Mansion or the Roosevelt Presidential Library. I am not sure how much walking or hiking took place as much as chatting on one of the picnic tables.
Rhinebeck, New York
Hotels in Upstate New York
In my opinion, some of the best hotels are in New York City. That doesn't mean upstate New York and the Hudson Valley are at any shortage of amazing boutique hotels, some of the best resorts, and a luxury hotel or two that offer such amenities as a spa treatment, fitness center, tennis courts, swimming pool and hot tub or a fire pit when the weather gets cooler. Some of these resorts even offer some fine dining options in the hotel or around Dutchess County, making it a great area to relax and unwind while sitting on a porch with views of the lake.
It is a little bit of a hotel desert right around the Poughkeepsie area. The main brands would be the Holiday Inn Express by IHG, the Courtyard by Marriott, the Residence Inn by Marriott, or the Homewood Suites by Hilton. I think my parents stayed at the Holiday Inn Express a few times back in the day. These are the closest name brands near Marist campus.
If you are anything like my family, they love a good B&B (Bed & Breakfast for all of you AirBNB allegiants). When I was going to Marist and for my graduation, my parents would stay at one of the above hotels but when they go to visit the area they will stay at a B&B in Hyde Park or Rhinebeck, just a few minutes north of Poughkeepsie. They have stayed at the Mirbeau Inn & Spa Rhinebeck and Whistle Wood Farm for a long weekend.
Poughkeepsie, New York
List of the Best Things to See & Do in Hudson Valley
State Parks in Upstate New York
Lakes in Upstate New York
Some of the Best Towns in Upstate New York
Some of the Best Colleges in Upstate New York
Bard College
Ithaca College
Marist College
Vassar College
Purchase College
Cornell University
West Point Academy
Sarah Lawrence College
Mount Saint Mary College
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Poughkeepsie, New York
Some of the Best Restaurants in Upstate New York
As an adult I am a foodie, but I have done a decent amount of research over the years to find the perfect places. I tend to want to wander around and stop at what is nearby when I am hungry. Sometimes that works out and sometimes I am stuck with whatever mediocre restaurant is closest, so I’ve started doing a search prior to my arrival on vacation.
As a college kid, I didn’t have a ton of money or refined palate so a lot of the places we ate at were the local deli, pizza joint, the Palace Diner, Applebee’s or Culinary Institute of America when we were trying to be fancy with our parents.
A few years ago when I was visiting Poughkeepsie and did the walk across the Hudson River, we stopped at Akari Sushi which was fresh and enjoyable. A few times I went to a Japanese restaurant in Hyde Park that is no longer in business there. I only started diversifying my diet around this time. Before then, if it wasn’t chicken or potatoes, I probably wasn’t having it.
Gluten Free Restaurant Options
I have some family members with celiac disease, so I wanted to included some restaurants that state gluten free options on their website or that they can accomodate food allergies.
Aba’s Falafel - Rhinebeck
Buns Burgers - Rhinebeck
Lola’s Cafe - Poughkeepsie
Kobe Sushi - Poughkeepsie
Shelly’s Deli - Poughkeepsie
Cosimo’s Italian - Poughkeepsie
Savona’s Trattoria - Poughkeepsie
Nothing Bunt Cakes - Poughkeepsie
Cinnamon Indian Cuisine - Rhinebeck
What are the best restaurants in Poughkeepsie?
Here are some great restaurant recommendations in and around the Poughkeepsie, which are not catering to college kids’ diets. These are based on reviews, location and menu items.
Restaurants Anthony Bourdain Stopped at in Poughkeepsie?
Dick’s Hot Dog Stand
Rhinebeck, New York
Conclusion
When I lived in Poughkeepsie in college, I was too young to really appreciate how magnificent the area is, especially if you are an outdoorsy person. The area is filled with beautiful state parks, local flavors, and even some shopping at the Poughkeepsie Galleria. It truly is the perfect area if you want a trip filled with nature and relaxion.
Quote
“Land really is the best art.” Andy Warhol
Next Up On The Blog…
Since you’re in the area when visiting the Hudson Valley, you might as well take trip into Manhattan. Check out my blog on Packing for June Travel in New York City.
Poughkeepsie, New York