As much as I love living in NYC, it’s so nice to get out of the city every once and a while. One of my new favorite places to explore is the Hudson River Valley. It’s easy to get to without a car and full of so many cute towns. For our most recent trip, we took a day trip to Beacon! Here’s everything to eat, drink, see and do:
How to Get There:
Could you drive? Sure. Parking won’t be a problem. BUT! I would suggest going by train. Not only can you just sit back and relax on the hour and half ride up, but you get to look out at the Hudson River Valley as you travel which is breathtaking (you can see a little of it in the video below).
Ticket Cost: $35 round-trip (if you travel off peak)*
How: From Grand Central Station take the MetroNorth line to Beacon.
*If you are heading to the Dia:Beacon, there is a special deal that combines admission + train travel.
When You Arrive:
When you exit the train station, make a left and then another left to get to the free shuttle stop. This will take you into town and stops at about 5 different places. You can also walk into town, but we took this when we arrived and walked back to the station at the end.
Where to Shop:
Okay, bring your wallet because Beacon is full of charming and stylish boutiques. To make the most of your time, head to Main St, which is a mile-length part of town that is lined with the shops, restaurants, etc. Walk down one side then back up the other! Here were a few of my favorite places:
Artifact— a mix of jewelry, art, and decor.
Kaight— candles, beauty and accessories. Also in Brooklyn!
Raven Rose— flowers + plants, candles, gift shop.
Hudson Valley Vinyl— I found a Fleetwood Mac’s Rumors here for $10! Small but great collection.
Reservoir— cute boutique clothes at an affordable price.
Drink More Good— We picked up a peach and basil syrup that is amazing in bourbon.
Binnacle Books— for used and select new books.
Where to Eat + Drink
Glazed Over— fresh donuts with customizable glazes and drizzles. The blue wall outside is the perfect place to take a photo too!
Enoteca Ama— wood fired pizzas
Denning’s Point Distillery— do a tasting for $5 and grab a bottle to go or sit and stay for a cocktail. Or really do both, I recommend the bourbon!
Big Mouth Coffee Roasters— plenty of space inside and an amazing chocolate chip cookie. Perfect place to recharge from walking up and down Main St.
Husdon Valley Marshmallow Co— if you’re too full to get a s’more in person, pick up marshmallows and homemade graham crackers to go!
Yankee Clipper Diner— a classic diner with all the staples.
Hudson Valley Brewery— one of the stops on the free shuttle. Grab a drink and sit outside. Right next to the falls.
Roundhouse— for more upscale dining (a bit nicer + pricier). Next to the Brewery/falls!
**Note there are many more places in town, but we were only there for a day!
What Else to Do:
Dia: Beacon— an amazing art museum with pieces from the 1960’s to present. Absolutely worth a visit!
Hike— if you’d rather be outside than hop from boutique to boutique, the area is surrounded by amazing hiking trails.
There’s also a Farmer’s Market and Flea Market on Sundays!
If you were to turn right out of the train station, it would take you to the water. Walk out on the dock and see a few boats! It’s so cute, and the perfect way to end the day before getting back on the train!
And so you can get a better sense for what the town is like, I took some video footage:
If there are any places I missed, please let me know in the comments below so I can check them out during our next trip!
xo
Rachel