Hudson River Valley

Hudson River Valley offers a variety of activities and incredible sites. Set among the Catskills, the tree-filled mountains are a gorgeous setting for small villages and towns. It offers something for hikers, bikers, and folks who just like to take scenic drives. If you can catch it during fall, it is an explosion of color. Here are a few of our favorite spots from our visit.

A Booktown

Hobart, New York is know for having more books than people in its small village. In 2005, a local entrepreneur decided to turn the quiet spot into a book village to attract visitors. They now boast 7 independent bookshops as well as a few galleries and antique stores. Found in the Catskills, the drive to this town was very pretty as we passed farms and other small villages. You can learn more in this video by CBS.

Each of the bookstores are pretty unique with their inventory. A couple specialize in first editions and older volumes while one focuses on more popular used books and another on cookbooks or craft books. For the most part, the books are used but in great condition. A few share space with the children’s library and also sell unique handmade crafts or gift items.

I managed to get away with only a few purchases including an old Golden Book for my new grand-niece’s library that I have been building. This is a great town for shopping books and gifts, but the restaurants were limited for the middle of the day. We drove about 20 minutes to Delhi and had a splendid lunch at the Blue Bee Cafe. They also have great baked goods and teas from a small teashop down the road. I really enjoyed their Earl Grey. The town also had a few cute shops so we had a nice little after lunch walk.

Historical Sites

Hyde Park was not far from our campground. A lot of history is located in this small village. Springwood, the home where President Franklin Roosevelt was born and lived his entire life, is located right on the Hudson River. The President created the first Presidential Library while still in office. In fact, he is the only sitting President to use his library as an office where he greeted guests and did his work. That office is now part of the museum which was built to showcase his life and the nearly four terms of his Presidency. Plan to spend a very full day there if you visit as there is so much to see and read. His Presidency covers a very historic time in our country.

Just a couple of miles away, you can also visit Val-Kill which became the refuge of Eleanor Roosevelt during the Presidency and her home after his death. This house evokes a grandmotherly feel, but dignitaries, royalty and family enjoyed it as a less formal gathering place. Family picnics, a swimming pool and a small cottage which FDR planned to use in retirement are housed here. It is a lovely place to visit and even hike as well as learning more about this remarkable First Lady, who did much during his terms and even more after.

We have seen several Vanderbilt mansions as we have traveled through North Carolina and Rhode Island. The Hyde Park mansion is one of the few handled by the National Park Service as a representative of the American architectural design.

Fun

Duchess County located along Hudson River offers a great variety of towns and options for enjoyment. The scenic drives go through cute small towns like Rhinebeck with a great variety of shops and outdoor trails. My favorite was Beacon which is an artsy town and great stop for coffee or lunch. Poughkeepsie (which is also fun to say) has an incredible bridge, Walkway over the Hudson, where you can walk or bike across the Hudson.

You can enjoy a thriving craft beverage trail which includes wineries, breweries and distilleries. There is even one dedicated to sake. Lasting Joy might be the prettiest brewery we have ever visited with grounds for picnics and parties as well as a gorgeous interior. Several of the breweries focus on sours, but have a great variety outside of it as well.

While we didn’t have time to do trails, there are a variety of gorgeous opportunities around the towns and the Catskill Mountains.

Campground

We stayed at KOA Newburgh, a nice campground a few miles outside of Newburgh. It is certainly geared to families with activities on the weekend, a pool and a great playground. This might be the only campground where there is a tasting room for local wine right onsite. The location has a lot of trees so if you use Starlink, we recommend staying in spots 52-77. We were in spot 58 and had sporadic reception. However, the campground wi-fi was excellent.

Read Along

I have been reading Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn. While the main character is a Russian sniper during WWII, it is based on a real woman who killed more than 300 Germans and befriended Eleanor Roosevelt during a propaganda tour of the US. After seeing so much of the Roosevelt’s lifestyle, it has been interesting to have her pop up in my book.

Enjoy Hudson River Valley and let us know what you think. We hope to return one day and would love to hear what you think we missed.

Some links in this article are affiliate links and can result in small commissions to TVC at no additional cost to you.