New York’s Hudson Valley: A Cultural Paradise

New York’s Hudson Valley extends 150 miles above the tip of Manhattan. It is a haven for lovers of pure beauty who want to escape the rush of city life to rest and retreat in a bucolic setting.

The area is divided into three regions: Lower, Mid and Upper. The Lower Hudson area consists of Westchester, Rockland and Putnam counties, Mid-Hudson is Dutchess, Orange, Ulster and Sullivan counties, and Upper Hudson is Columbia, Greene, Rensselaer and Albany counties.

According to Hudson Valley Tourism Inc., National Geographic Traveler proclaimed the region as one of the top 20 destinations in the world. Designated as a National Heritage Area, the Hudson Valley is steeped in history, with some of America's most beloved and visited sites including the U.S. Military Academy at West Point; the Franklin D. Roosevelt library and home; Boscobel, a restored Federal-period house with magnificent period interiors and gardens; Kykuit, the Rockefeller Estate; and the Olana State Historic Site, the home and studio of eminent Hudson River School painter Frederic Edwin Church.

The area’s natural charm is evident in its thousands of miles of hiking trails, championship golf courses, ski slopes, fishing streams, lakes and rivers. Its ease of access from New York City has made it a popular food and farmer’s market with world-class dining, vineyards and a growing microbrewery production. It is home to renowned chefs and the Culinary Institute of America and is the oldest wine-producing area in the country.

The Hudson Valley’s striking landscape inspired artists whose works became the Hudson River School of Painters. Today the area is home to world-class art institutions, from the Neuberger Museum of Art to the Albany Institute of History & Art, Dia art museum in Beacon, the Storm King Art Center and ArtsWestchester.

The sense of community is strong, with well-attended events that tap into the area’s culture. For example, the Tulip Festival, New York Renaissance Faire, Mashomack International Polo Challenge, Caramoor International Music Festival, Peekskill Celebration and the Bard College SummerScape music festival. Visitors and residents also enjoy the many shopping opportunities from small craft villages to hundreds of antique shops and the Woodbury Common Premium Outlets.

Heather Croner Real Estate Sotheby’s International Realty proudly serves Dutchess, Columbia and Ulster counties, representing the finest properties in the towns of Millbrook, Rhinebeck, Millerton, Hudson and Woodstock as well as other villages and towns throughout the countryside.