Local guides
A slow 48 hours in Hudson and around
Our front desk team's favourite weekend itinerary: antiques on Warren Street, a hike with a river view and the dinners worth driving for.
Eleanor Marsh6 min read
Guests often arrive with a list of twenty places they saw online and leave having managed three. That is how it should be. The Hudson Valley rewards people who slow down. Here is the weekend we suggest when someone asks us what they should not miss.
Saturday
Start with a long breakfast at the house, then drive fifteen minutes to Hudson. Park near the top of Warren Street and walk down towards the river. The street is lined with antique dealers, galleries and small shops, and the best finds are often in the dusty back rooms. Stop for coffee halfway; you will need it.
In the afternoon, head across to Olana, the hilltop home of the painter Frederic Church. The house tours are wonderful, but the real reward is the carriage road loop and the view of the river bending toward the Catskills. Go around four, when the light turns gold.
Come back for a sauna before dinner. Then eat at the Larder, or book one of the excellent restaurants in Hudson if you want a livelier evening. Ask us which tables to request; we know the good ones.
Sunday
Take a morning walk at Poets' Walk Park, a short drive south. The trail winds through meadows to a rustic summerhouse overlooking the river. It is easy, beautiful and rarely busy before ten.
- Warren Street in Hudson for antiques, galleries and lunch
- Olana State Historic Site for views and history
- Poets' Walk Park for an easy river walk
- Linden Valley farm store for cheese and bread to take home
- Our own orchard, especially in September and October
On your way home, stop at the Linden Valley farm store in Ghent. Its creamery makes excellent cheese and yogurt, and the bakery bread lasts the week. It is the best possible way to bring a little of the valley back to the city.
The best itinerary in the Hudson Valley leaves room for an unplanned stop at a farm stand.
A few practical tips
Many shops in Hudson close on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, so plan accordingly midweek. Restaurant reservations matter on Saturday nights from May to October. And bring layers: even in summer, evenings in the valley turn cool, which is exactly why we light the fires.
