Things To Do
Walkway Over the Hudson
It's THE WALKWAY! It's Melissa's all time favorite place. It's a must do. In fact, don't even bother attending the wedding if you're not going to make a stop at the Walkway (just kidding, kinda). It's the longest pedestrian walkway in the world! The Walkway is an old railroad track that was built in 1889 that turned into a walkway for people in 2009. At 212 feet above the Hudson River, this 1.28 mile linear park is the best part of the Hudson Valley in Melissa's humble opinion. Fun fact: Melissa&Brian were featured in The Poughkeepsie Journal's article celebrating the Ten Year Anniversary of the Walkway in 2019!
Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum
Calling all history buffs! Hyde Park, NY is the hometown of FDR and Eleanor Roosevelt. Check out his home and presidential library while you're in town!
The Culinary Institute of America
A beautiful college campus that's worth driving through! There's also a hidden gem on this campus called The Egg, which is the Culinary's dining hall. Culinary students and chefs design the menu and it's open to the public. Great food and fun vibes with views right on the Hudson River.
Marist University
Right near all the wedding festivities, Marist is just a beautiful place to go for a walk and enjoy a wonderful campus. Locals often grab sandwiches (often from Rossi's Deli) and sit on the Marist Docks right on the water and watch the sunset - highly recommend!
Vassar College
Vasar College is a very well known college with a beautiful campus if you'd like to walk around.
Eveready Diner
An absolute Hyde Park CLASSIC. Melissa's grandpa is here every day with all the other old men in town where they sit at the counter every morning and drink their coffee and talk all things politics, local news, sharing old stories, and of course, telling jokes and practically heckling the wait staff. It's an old style diner that puts all other diners to shame. And they even have egg creams.
Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site
Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site is a historic house museum in Hyde Park, New York, United States. Designated a National Historic Landmark in 1940, it is owned and operated by the National Park Service. It's a beautiful, quiet place to walk around with nature trails and gardens. The property was one of several homes owned by Frederick William Vanderbilt and his wife Louise Holmes Anthony. The 54-room Vanderbilt mansion was built in 1899 and the site includes 211 acres situated on a bluff overlooking the Hudson River. Attracted to the Hudson Valley and the land on the east bank of the Hudson River, the location offered quick and easy access to New York City on the Vanderbilt's own New York Central Railroad. The New York Times described the Vanderbilt's estate as "the finest place on the Hudson between New York and Albany."
Mills Mansion State Historic Site
Originally built in 1832 and greatly expanded in the 1890’s, the 25-room Greek Revival style mansion at Staatsburgh State Historic Site is emblematic of the great country estates built in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries to house America’s wealthiest families. Referred to locally as Mills Mansion, it is an elegant example of the beautiful homes built by America’s financial and industrial leaders during the Gilded Age. Another beautiful quiet place to walk around and explore the nature trails and get some fresh air.
Breweries/Restaurants
A couple local breweries and just fun places to eat and drink: Mill House Brewery King's Court Blue Collar Brewery Tavern 23
Rosticceria Rossi & Sons
Rossi's is Poughkeepsie's hidden gem, where you can find the BEST SANDWICHES EVER!!!!