Things To Do
Bear Mountain State Park
Coming from Manhattan, the “Hudson Highlands “ start here, at Bear Mountain State Park. The Appalachian Train runs through here. A big attraction is the Adirondack-style lodge, where, on the second floor, you’ll see a baronial dining room with a gigantic stone fireplace flanked by bear sculptures. Here at Bear Mountain, the Hudson narrows to form a dramatic valley with exciting views. The level, super-easy, 20 min walk around the Hessian Lake next to the lodge offers great views of the surrounding landscape. Hikes up the mountain are not hard and lovely. Turning south at the Lodge, route 202 takes you to the waterfront. It’s a big state park, with challenging terrain in which people occasionally get lost. But it is lovely, and yes, somewhere in there are bears!
Boscobel House and Gardens
If you have time for only one attraction, this awesome 18th century mansion in fantastic gardens overlooking the River might be it. One can visit this estate again and again, and always find something new to admire. Enjoy the grounds, which have classic and stunning Hudson River Views. There are several easy, pleasant paths leading through the woods and even one going down to the river and Constitution Marsh. They are tricky to locate, so ask the person at the front desk how to access them, on the plan of the property. One can visit the Mansion, a historic house/museum.
Cold Spring
One of our favorite places in the Hudson Highlands is the Victorian river town called Cold Spring. Here Storm King Mountain rises up dramatically on the other side of the Hudson, and is spectacular. The quaint and lively Main Street leads down to the river, lined with interesting bookstores, good restaurants like Le Bouchon, bakeries, cheese shops, cafés, etc. Here the riverfront features a fairly long promenade directly along the water, and includes a jetty with gazebo from which one can admire the astonishing views. To access this promenade, walk UNDER the railroad tracks by the River so you can arrive right by the water. In this part of Cold Spring, directly on the river, you will see the famous early 19th century Hudson House and its restaurant and inn and other picturesque old buildings.
Dia Beacon
Like its neighbor Cold Spring, Beacon is a very quaint, atmospheric Victorian river town. As you will see, it has a wonderful Main Street with cute shops, restaurants, galleries, and more. Many artists live here, and it’s a fun place to explore. The most famous cultural attraction is the DIA ART FOUNDATION which was the catalyst for the revival and restoration of the town of Beacon. This museum is quite specialized - it’s main focus is Minimalist and Conceptual Art from the 1960’s and 70’s. There is a nice little cafe, and it’s pleasant to take one’s coffee and cake outside and enjoy the river.
Storm King Art Center
Perhaps the most extraordinary place to visit in the area is the Storm King Art Center. It is a world-class sculpture park in a stupendous setting. It is truly a sight to see, and one can spend an entire afternoon wandering the grounds of this beautiful old estate, featuring a mansion/museum, a cafe, picnic grounds, admiring the extraordinary sculptures set in beautiful fields at the foot of Storm King Mountain. The grandeur of the setting and monumentality of the sculptures combine to create a truly memorable experience. To get there you can head north from Beacon over the Newburgh Bridge, then south on 9W and route 32.