In July of one year, I had the pleasure of traveling to the Hudson River Valley, which is located just to the north of New York City. This area is a well-known tourist attraction, and I had the opportunity to explore it. It doesn’t matter what time of year it is since it is always a wonderful site to visit because of its scenic beauty. In the event that you have been searching for the perfect place to spend a weekend break, the Hudson River Valley is an excellent location to include on your list of possibilities.
I have made a list of some of my favorite activities that I was able to experience on one of my weekend trips since there are so many things to do and see!
Visit Bear Mountain State Park and go on a hike there.
If you are going to be traveling anywhere, but particularly if it is going to be during the summer, you should make it a top priority to check out the landscape and see if there are any great places to go hiking in the region. When we were looking for a place to stretch our legs, we came across Bear Mountain State Park, which is a 5,000-acre park that features several hiking routes, one of which being the Appalachian Trail, which is around six miles long.
There is a strenuous path that consists of one thousand ascents that leads to the peak of Bald Mountain. In the event that you are an outdoor enthusiast like us and are capable of navigating more difficult terrain, you will be rewarded with breathtaking vistas of the Hudson River.
Putnam County Trailway is a great place to go biking.
During our journey to the Hudson River Valley, one of the first things that we did was hit the road and ride our bikes. Due to the fact that we take pleasure in spending time outside, we decided to go bicycling on the paved walkway that is perfect for runners, walkers, and cyclists alike. The Putnam County Trailway is a route that is twelve miles long and is mostly level and picturesque for the majority of its length.
You will be able to take in breathtaking vistas of Lake Gleneida and the Middle Branch Reservoir while you ride your bicycle. In spite of the fact that this path was ideal for getting a workout in, there were a lot of families on the trailway who were spending their time enjoying the great outdoors.
Go to the Farms in the Area
Just as you were finishing up your bike ride, you were considering going to one of the nearby farms. In the Hudson River Valley, there is a significant amount of local farming, with a large number of fruit orchards and cow herds that are often managed by families. As a result of the fact that many larger-scale businesses are working to drive small farmers out of business, we make the most of every opportunity we have to provide our assistance.
Be sure to indulge in some excellent buttered corn and beefsteak tomatoes as a way to express gratitude to some of the valley’s other local farmers.
A Walkway That Crosses the Hudson
The Walkway Over the Hudson, which is renowned for being one of the longest pedestrian bridges, is considered to be one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Hudson River Valley. If you walk from a number of different cities, you may utilize this bridge, which was originally used as a railway bridge. At the time that we were crossing the bridge, we were situated two hundred feet above the river, which provided us with breathtaking views of Hyde Park.
If you use the Highland entry, you may access the bridge from either side of the river; there is a local ice cream store that you can visit once you have finished crossing the bridge to cool down.
Once you crossed the bridge, you had arrived at the conclusion. Due to the fact that it was the summertime, there were a number of food trucks there, which was convenient for us since it allowed us to satiate our hunger after a walking journey.
Enjoy a refreshing swim on Lake Taghkanic
Lake Taghkanic State Park is located in the valley itself, and there was not a cloud in the sky other than the hundreds of bike lanes and hiking trails that were there. It is impossible to locate a beachfront for at least fifty miles in the surrounding region, thus the lake is the ideal location to take a swim in the waters since they are peaceful and enjoyable.
On account of the fact that it was a hot and humid day, we saw that the region had two sandy beaches, both of which were somewhat jam-packed.
In addition to providing opportunities for sunbathing and swimming in lakes, the park also provides opportunities to hire kayaks, paddle boats, rowboats, and other various types of camping amenities. It was not difficult to locate Lake Taghkanic since it was located at the entrance to the Taconic Parkway.
Check out a Brewery
In the event that you are looking for a refreshing beverage to enjoy on a hot summer day, I cannot suggest Yard Owl Brewery highly enough! A pleasant place to enjoy a beer or two, the Yard Owl Brewery is situated in a location that is just a short distance away from the iconic Wallkill Valley Rail Trail. It offers the ideal ambiance for drinking in the countryside at the same time.
We saw that this brewery featured both inside and outdoor areas where you could sit and relax for the remainder of the day, despite the fact that the majority of the locals hung out here. This brewer offered a wide selection of beers, one of which was the well-known Imperial Farmhouse, as well as a food menu that had a few different foods that could be consumed as snacks.
Take a Drive Through the Beautiful Scenery
Those who have been to the upstate region of New York are well aware of the stunning nature of the backroads that can be found there. Although I know many people who like the color of those fall leaves, one of my favorite seasons to take a drive in the Valley is during the summer. My favorite season is summer.
We couldn’t help but notice the high gas costs, which are typical for this region, since there were trees as far as the eye could see, including tree species such as hemlocks, birches, oaks, and maples. During the journey, the Taconic Parkway was our preferred route since it was a nice and peaceful road, and we found ourselves driving on it shortly before dusk.
Bring yourself to the Drive-In Movie Theater.
If you want to spend a summer night viewing a movie on the big screen, you may head to one of the drive-in movie theaters in the valley later in the evening. When compared to the prominent movie theaters that you would visit in the large city, drive-in movie theaters are not only more economical, but they also feature screens that are more clear and have sound that is of a higher quality.
When you visit this classic drive-in movie theater, you will be transported back to the 1980s. You will observe adults of a more mature age sitting on lawn chairs, teens holding hands, and youngsters sitting on the roofs of vehicles while wearing their pajamas.
