Everyone Else Is Visiting Hudson, So Shouldn’t You?

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Everyone Else Is Visiting Hudson, So Shouldn’t You?

The secret is long out on Hudson. Though this little city in Colombia County is further from the BIG CITY than most of its other Hudson Valley companions, Hudson, NY really mirrors a lot of the best things about NYC. It’s got great culture, great shopping, great progressive community feelings and a whole lot of hipness. Things move slower in Hudson, though, so if you come for a weekend getaway from downstate, prepare to relax. Read on for my favorite spots in and around town.

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Slow Things Down in the Western Catskills

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Slow Things Down in the Western Catskills

A lot of new, hip businesses and motels are popping up in the Western Catskills. Livingston Manor has even been described as the Catskills’ newest hot spot. But don’t go there or really anywhere in the Western Catskills expecting a ton of action and excitement.

The Western Catskills are where you go if you’re looking to unwind. The living is slow, quiet and outdoorsy in Sullivan County. The downtown areas over here range from small and sleepy to non-existent, especially if you compare them to actual Upstate NY hot spots like Hudson or Beacon.

Come to the Western Catskills to hike, to fly fish or to simply relax in a hammock next to a scenic lake or stream, breathing in the cool Catskill Mountains air.

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Some Beacon Ideas

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Some Beacon Ideas

Beacon is a very popular day trip for city folk and with good reason. It’s cool and close - it even has its own Metro North spot, making it a commuter town. For those of us in Westchester and Lower Fairfield, it’s even closer. Beacon has been “up and coming” for awhile now. Read on for some of my favorite ways to do Beacon.

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A Few September 2022 Happenings

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A Few September 2022 Happenings

Is it still summer or is it fall? Will it be hot outside or will there be a chill in the air? Do I want a lobster roll or a pumpkin spice latte? These are questions we ask this time of year - and I don’t have the answers. I can, however, help with the question of what to do as a family this September.

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LEGOLAND New York is OPEN!

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LEGOLAND New York is OPEN!

Back in November 2019, this fam took a chance on a Black Friday deal for an annual pass to LEGOLAND New York, poised to arrive in Goshen, NY for Summer 2020. Alas, LEGOLAND did not open in Summer 2020. But now it’s Summer 2021 and LEGOLAND is finally open!

So far we have visited LEGOLAND once during its preview days and once (for just a few hours) during regular admission. Here are my initial thoughts! PS Both days were so cloudy! It’s been a cloudy summer.

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What's Still On The Calendar For Holiday Season 2020!

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What's Still On The Calendar For Holiday Season 2020!

Well yes, almost a full year into a global pandemic, this holiday season is going to be very different. This year, there will be less socializing, less pictures with Santa, less in person activities, and probably, more presents for your loved ones to make up for all the rest.

COVID is on the rise and this is not the time to gather in big groups indulging in holiday merriment. But the holiday spirit CAN still exist in a global pandemic. I’ve rounded up a bunch of ways that, with masks on and at least six feet of distance kept, you and your cohort can nevertheless celebrate the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

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Wow, Warwick is Wonderful!

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Wow, Warwick is Wonderful!

Warwick, NY is yet another small, (barely) upstate New York town that I’m now smitten with.

Known for its farming community, a fall festival called “Applefest” and a drive in theater that has been around way before the entire country turned to “drive ins” in an effort to continue business in the time of COVID, Warwick is only about an hour fifteen from Manhattan.

I’d been a few times previously to visit a friend in town, but this was our first time truly soaking up Warwick. We had a LOT of fun.

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A Long Weekend in Ulster County (Visit Woodstock and Kingston)

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A Long Weekend in Ulster County (Visit Woodstock and Kingston)

The day after Christmas this year, we left for a two night trip to the Catskills, NY. Woodstock was our home base, but during our stay, we bopped around a few of the neighboring towns, including a great second visit to Kingston - which is fast becoming one of my favorite Hudson Valley towns. Read on for some trip highlights. The whole thing is less than 2 hours from home - an easy weekend trip. 

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Do Dia:Beacon

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Do Dia:Beacon

Beacon, NY makes for a very solid day trip from pretty much anywhere in the tri-state area. From our house, it was about an hour drive. There’s also a Metro North stop right in town. The main reason to go to Beacon (besides strolling its quaint downtown area) is Dia: Beacon, a beautiful contemporary art museum overlooking the Hudson River. The museum is made up of fairly large spaces and it contains a bunch of fairly large scale pieces - factors that make Dia: Beacon a fairly appealing place for child sized guests, at least as far as art museums go.

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