Guides

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Discover Hyde Park & Poughkeepsie, NY Weekend Staycation & Itinerary

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When it came to picking a local staycation in the Hudson Valley, we opted for Hyde Park, New York in Dutchess County. This town offers a seamless blend of presidential history, elegant estates, culinary craft, and breathtaking views. Whether you're a history buff, nature lover, or curious foodie, Hyde Park offers a refreshingly rich escape just a few hours from New York City. For us in Orange County, NY it was only a 1 hour drive.

Noting here that many food spots here were in Poughkeepsie, NY which was about 10-15 minutes away from Hyde Park.

Let’s first dive into our 2 and a half day itinerary:

Day 1:

  • Check-In at Inn at Bellefield, Hyde Park

  • Grabbed coffee and pastries at Anna et Pierre, a cafe down by the Poughkeepsie Waterfront overlooking the Walkway Over the Hudson.

  • Visited the FDR Museum and Library - (Hyde Park, NY)

  • Grabbed lunch at Rossi & Sons - (Poughkeepsie, NY)

  • Grabbed a drink the the hotel’s restaurant and bar: The Storyteller

Day 2:

  • Breakfast the the hotel

  • Grabbed more coffee at Ready Coffee - (Hyde Park, NY)

  • Walkway Over the Hudson - (Poughkeepsie, NY)

  • Lunch at Lola’s Cafe - (Poughkeepsie, NY)

  • Tour of Dassai Sake & Sake Tasting - (Hyde Park, NY)

  • Visit Fika & Hygee - (Poughkeepsie, NY)

  • Pizza at Herbs & Dough - (Poughkeepsie, NY)

Day 3:

  • Breakfast the the hotel & Check-Out of Hotel

  • Grabbed more coffee at Kelly’s Bakery - (Poughkeepsie, NY)

  • Tour of Vanderbilt Mansion - (Hyde Park, NY)

  • Lunch To-Go at Eveready Diner - (Hyde Park, NY)

  • On the Road to next stop on our roadtrip

Diving deeper into some of the top attractions that make Hyde Park a must-visit in the Hudson Valley:

Hotel: Stay at the Inn at Bellefield

📍25 Old Vineyard Place, Hyde Park, NY

For an hotel experience that matches the region's warmth and elegance, the Inn at Bellefield Hyde Park offers contemporary comfort in a beautiful setting. Located near all major attractions - and directly across the street from the Culinary Institute of America, the Inn features spacious suites.

Including key amenities:

  • Full size kitchens (pantry, stovetop, dishwasher, fridge)

  • Complimentary breakfast daily: Pastries, fruits, eggs, bacon/sausage, hot coffee/tea

  • The Storyteller lounge & bar on-site: Local wines, craft beers, spirits, cozy indoor ambiance and an outdoor fire pit. All with thoughtful design touches inspired by the area’s heritage.

  • 24-hour fitness center with Peloton bikes, TechnoGym equipment, free weights, ellipticals, treadmills.

  • Other on-property perks: free Wi‑Fi, complimentary parking, EV charging, laundry/dry cleaning, convenience store, digital check‑in & mobile key.

The Inn at Bellefield is also close by to not only the Culinary Institute of America, but also Marist College, Vassar College, and Bard Colleges.

One thing I would have liked here is a pool, but they have some really exciting expansion plans in the work that would include a property with a pool and spa. Really looking forward to seeing it soon!

Attractions & Museums:

🏛 Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library & Museum

Step into the legacy of one of America's most influential leaders. The FDR Library and Museum is not only the first presidential library in the U.S., but also a captivating look into the life, leadership, and lasting impact of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt. Walk through interactive exhibits, tour the Roosevelt family home, and explore beautiful grounds that once hosted world leaders.

🌉 Walkway Over the Hudson

Spanning over 1.2 miles, this scenic pedestrian bridge is the longest elevated walkway in the world. Once a former railway bridge, it's now a spectacular spot to walk, jog, or bike while soaking in panoramic views of the Hudson River and surrounding valley. The Walkway connects Highland and Poughkeepsie and is especially stunning at sunset or peak fall foliage.

Did you know they also have a free tram and for the kiddos offered my son a free sticker!

🍶 Dassai Blue Sake Brewery

A fresh addition to Hyde Park's culinary scene, Dassai Blue is the brand's first U.S. sake brewery and tasting room. Visitors can enjoy premium sake flights in a modern, serene setting, and even tour the facility to see how Japan's iconic beverage is crafted right here in the Hudson Valley. Pair it with seasonal sushi bites or attend one of their sake-and-food pairing events.

🏰 Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site

Transport yourself to America's Gilded Age at this stunning Beaux-Arts estate overlooking the Hudson. The Vanderbilt Mansion offers a glimpse into the lavish lifestyle of one of America’s wealthiest families. With expansive gardens, centuries-old trees, and striking river views, the estate is as much a natural retreat as it is a historical site.

🍕 Local Flavor: Eateries Worth Visiting

Rossi & Sons Deli

📍45 S Clover St, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601


An authentic Italian rosticceria since 1979. Think hearty paninis, hot Italian classics like chicken parmigiana, and imported pantry staples. Lauded for its “highest Italian culinary standards in Hudson Valley”. If you’ve never been, get their signature “Number 4” sandwich. Pictured here is the Muffaletta.

Herbs & Dough

📍11 Marist Drive, Poughkeepsie, NY


They offer inspired pizza and pasta dishes, that turn ordinary Italian fare into everyday extraordinary. The pizza and dough was light and airy with an incredible crust, definitely recommend.

Lola’s Café

📍131 Washington St, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601


A beloved community spot offering hearty breakfasts, lunch fare, and catering services. Serving fresh wraps (we got the Thai Chicken Wrap - so good!), salads, and panini for dine-in, takeout, or delivery. Known for home‑cooked flavor and warm hospitality.

Fika & Hygge

📍21 Raymond Ave Suite B, Poughkeepsie, NY 12603


A charming Scandinavian café in nearby Poughkeepsie, blending coffee, Swedish candy, and the cozy Swedish concept of “fika.” Enjoy a cardamom bun (from Kelly’s Bakery) and latte in a bright, hygge‑inspired setting.

Anna et Pierre

📍10 Dutchess Landing Rd #2A, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601


A refined French bakery and café offering artisan breads, pastries, and light fare—perfect for breakfast or afternoon indulgences. Perfect view of the Walkway Over the Hudson bridge.

Kelly’s Bakery

📍110 Delafield St, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601


A local bakery known for fresh breads, pies, and seasonal treats—great for grabbing a sweet pick‑me‑up or stocking up on baked goods.

Eveready Diner

📍4184 Albany Post Rd, Hyde Park, NY 12538


A classic retro diner on Route 9 in Hyde Park. The go‑to for bottomless coffee, fluffy pancakes, and traditional diner comfort food in a nostalgic atmosphere. We got the Club Sandwich which was very good!

Overall, I had such an amazing stay in Hyde Park and Poughkeepsie. This region is the perfect blend of rich history, scenic beauty, and local charm. From walking in the footsteps of FDR to tasting world-class sake and enjoying riverside views from the Walkway Over the Hudson, there’s no shortage of meaningful experiences here. The food scene is a delicious mix of cozy cafés, local bakeries, and standout spots like Rossi’s and Lola’s that truly showcase the flavors of the Hudson Valley.

What stood out most was how welcoming and family-friendly everything felt. Whether you’re traveling with kids, as a couple, or solo, Hyde Park and its neighboring towns offer something for everyone—educational attractions, relaxing green spaces, and spots that feel just like home. I left feeling refreshed, inspired, and already thinking about when I can return.

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Best Things to Do in Wappingers Falls, NY

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How to Spend a Day in Wappingers Falls, NY

One of my favorite ways to highlight new and small businesses is by spending a full day exploring a different Hudson Valley town. Wappingers Falls made it easy to fall in love!

The village has blossomed into a vibrant downtown, offering everything from shopping and vintage finds to incredible restaurants, quick bites, a candy store, wellness spots, yoga studios, bookstores, cafés, and so much more.

Here, I’m sharing my favorite Wappingers Falls, NY spots—from shops and dining to events and small businesses, both in and around the village!

To “see for yourself”, here’s our video of how to spend the perfect day here.

The Village of Wappingers

Food & Dining:

Norma’s Wappingers

📍2648 E Main St, Wappingers Falls, NY 12590

With a location in both Ridgewood, NY and Wappingers Falls, Norma’s is a bakery, café, and event space. Offering homemade sandwiches, pastries, and desserts. Their buttermilk biscuits are a must try and made in house. I got the “Southern” biscuit, it was so delicious.

They have baked goods made from scratch including the London Fog Bundt Cake and Cherry Lemon Loaf, to gluten free options.

It’s women-owned, sells items from local artists, VERY kid friendly. I love the community coffee shop vibe of this spot. A great place for breakfast and lunch.

Braised Pies

📍2665 E Main St, Wappingers Falls, NY

This British shop serves savory and sweet pies, including classic chicken pot and steak and Guinness, Shepherd’s and cottage pie, classic British treats. Stopped in to get quick bite (sausage roll) for lunch.

In addition to their Wappingers location, you can find them at various farmers markets around the Hudson Valley like Beacon and Cold Spring.

Quincy Candy Store

📍2651 E Main St, Wappingers Falls, NY

This charming candy store features a massive candy wall where you can mix and match your favorites! They also offer chocolates, truffles—including the Dubai Candy Bar—retro sweets, caramels, soda pop, and treats from around the world.

Plus, the owners are just as sweet as the candy!

Shopping

But First We Play!

📍2695 W Main St, Wappingers Falls, NY

This charming toy shop has a great toy selections from babies, toddlers, big kids, and teens. They create tons of fun in-store events like story time and craft time, to your favorite character (Spiderman, Easter bunny) visits, and sewing classes.

It has great finds and that small toy shop experience. I found son new toys for my son and loved the mix of puzzles, imaginary/pretend play, costumes, books, sensory play doh, and so much more.

Page & Petals

📍2692 W Main St, Wappingers Falls, NY

This is the Hudson Valley's first indie bookstore dedicated exclusively to fiction!

With sections for romance, thrillers, and fantasy, plus unique in-store events, it’s a cozy haven for book lovers—a perfect spot to discover your next favorite read.

Ruinous Revived

📍16 Mill St, Wappingers Falls, NY

A curated collection of vintage, secondhand, and handmade pieces that embrace the bold in life. They have Nostalgic Vintage & Handmade Lifestyle plus houseplants.

There’s so many treasure’s like a clothes, records, jewelry, to hidden pull out drawers full of bottles and magazines. I loved all the little details, including their gemstone gumball machine, and disco ball section with gumball machine.

Level Up Wellness

📍2701 W Main St, Wappingers Falls, NY

Level Up Fitness offers cutting-edge wellness technologies designed to enhance physical health and mental clarity. Their services include an infrared sauna, cold plunge, full-body red light therapy, and compression therapy. I felt incredible—both in body and energy—after my visit!

Day & Night Lounge

📍2655 E Main St, Wappingers Falls, NY

Day & Night is a sophisticated cocktail bar located in the heart of the picturesque Hudson Valley village of Wappingers Falls. It’s proudly woman-owned & locally operated. The have cocktails and small plates. They host many events with live music and DJ’s too. Come here for a fun night out.

Outside the Village

Flores Restaurant & Bar

📍1659 US-9, Wappingers Falls, NY


This gorgeous tapas restaurant features Spanish dishes including empanadas and seafood paella, churros, plus happy hour. They host lots of special events too like the Miracle Christmas Cocktail pop-up to Movie Thymes, emmersive dining and movie experiences.

Ready Coffee

📍1810 South Rd Route 9, Wappingers Falls, NY 12590

Only the best coffee concept ever. I love that it’s just a drive thru/walk up service. Ready Coffe serves hand-crafted coffee, energy drinks, tea, shakes, and smoothies. They do local small batch roasting. They also have a loyalty punch card program and the friendliest staff.






Palace Dumpling

📍1671 US-9, Wappingers Falls, NY 12590

File under cheap delicious eats. This is a casual eatery specializing in North Chinese fare such as dumplings and noodles, plus wine and beer. A local told me about this place and now I must go every time I visit.

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The Best Things to Do in Warwick, NY

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How to Spend a Day in Warwick, NY

In case you missed it on the ‘gram, on a whim early in 2024, I started posting these “How to Spend a Day In…” Instagram videos focusing on towns in the mid to lower Hudson Valley regions. I had a ton of content from Warwick, NY on my phone since it’s the closest major town next to me and visit often.

These video really resonated with you all, generating over 130K plays, with over 3K share, and 1K saves… so I figured there was a more permanent place I could store my favorite Warwick, NY shops, dining, events, and small businesses.

For reference here are the videos I’m referring to:

Off Main Street:

Food, Dining, Restaurants:

Charlotte’s Tea Room

📍15 Oakland Ave, Warwick, NY 10990

Charlotte’s Tea Room is located in a renovated Victorian home in Warwick, NY . They focus on a traditional Victorian tea room menu that combines traditional English cuisine with homespun American favorites.

You can order tea for two, served on a traditional three tier tower, with scones, tea sandwiches, and assorted dessert and pastries. They serve pot pies and panini sandwiches as well. There’s also the option to sit on the front porch in the warmer months. For the holidays, they switch up the theme and decor of the rooms based on season; spring, fall/Halloween, and Christmas themed rooms.

I actually had my baby shower here during October so all the Halloween decor was present. I love a high tea, this spot was really fun with delicious food.

Dream Donuts

📍72 South St, Warwick, NY 10990

This family owned and operated Mom & Pop shop creates custom donuts made from scratch, in store, all day everyday. Freshly made throughout the day. As their donuts sell out, they are constantly in the back replenishing all flavors. Providing the freshest donuts around.

You can do made-to-order minis, pre-made minis, pre-order speciality boxes, and gluten free donuts are available for pre-order.

This donut shop is located right across from the Stanley-Deming Park in Warwick. A perfect after park treat for kids, teens, and families.

Old Stone House Inn & Restaurant

📍21 Hathorn Rd, Warwick, NY 10990

The History Behind the House (from their website):

The original stone house was built in 1773 by John Hathorn and his wife Elizabeth Welling Hathorn. John was Colonel of the 4th Orange County Militia during the Revolutionary War, and a Founding Father of New York State and the Nation. He served on the first NY Legislature and the 1st and 4th Congresses of the United States.

In 1834 the farm was purchased by Ezra Sanford, Jr., a veteran of the War of 1812. His son Pierson Ezra Sanford created an innovative and successful dairy business here. The Sanfords enlarged the house.

In 1926 Wilfred L. Raynor, Sr. purchased and continued farming. The Raynors placed the property on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001. They owned for 85 years.

Domar Homestead LLC bought the property in 2009, reselling to the Raynors in 2013.

By 2016, the house was deteriorating and endangered. In that year Arek Kwapinski and Sylwia Kubasiak rescued this historic landmark. Over the next five years at great cost and hard work fixed and updated it to become the Old Stone House Restaurant in 2021.

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The restaurant has a beautiful bar and serves up brunch, lunch, and dinner.

What We Ate:

  • Starter: Burrata

  • Slow Braised Short Ribs - with pappardelle pasta

  • Pork Schnitzel - Panko Crust, Spinach Mashed Potatoes, Mushroom Sauce, Braised Cabbage

Noble Pies Bakery & Cafe

📍121 NY-94, Warwick, NY 10990

(With locations in Tarrytown, Rye, and Beacon, NY)

Offers slices (savory & sweet), cakes, specialty ice creams, limited release baked goods, coffees, and teas. With humble (pie - pun intended) beginnings, Noble Pies and owner Leslie Noble started out on the side of the road with 15 apple pies, a picnic table, and some painted signs saying “Turn Back For Pie.” They kept selling out, then moved their picnic table into an empty store and purchased an oven with their 250 pie Thanksgiving profits.

Now they have 4x brick and mortar stores, are at many farmers markets in the area, sell nation wide via QVC, and are doing baking classes.

Some popular flavors include:

  • Will You Marry Me Cherry

  • Hudson Valley Apple

  • Very Blueberry

  • Chocolate Cream

  • Leslie Lime

  • and tons of fun seasonal pies on weekly rotations.

Shopping:

Ash Hopper Botanical Skincare

📍127 NY-94, Warwick, NY 10990

Natural and sustainable skincare solutions. Led by husband and wife team - Matt and Thena Donnelly, who left their careers to pursue their dream: harness nature's healing power to offer sustainable skincare.

Their passion and dedication to quality is evident in their ingredient sourcing. From the pine tar directly from Sweden, to turmeric, ginger, and lavender are organically grown and sustainably harvested from local farms.

They ship across the USA and can be found locally in their Warwick shop or at farmers markets such as Beacon, Goshen, Hastings-on-Hudson, TaSH (Tarrytown), and many seasonal markers markets.

They have so many great products. Some of my personal favorites include:

  • Sea Buckthorn & Rosehip Seed Oil

  • Swedish Pine Tar Soap

  • Kelp & Clay Soap

Warwick - Main Street:

Food, Dining, Restaurants:

Fannies

📍28 Railroad Ave, Warwick, NY 10990

My best brunch recommendation for you in Warwick = Fannies.

Run by Chef/Owner Brittney Hiller and life partner Stephanie J. Roth (FANNIE), they are committed to bringing people together with local food prepared by hand, with love.

​Located in the historic Demarest Building in Warwick, NY, at FANNIE'S they not only have a great brunch menu featuring egg/omelet dishes, salads, soups, sandwiches, pancakes, and speciality coffee drinks; but they also have a 3 course dinner the first Friday of the month (reservations recommended).

They are open from Wednesday - Sunday from 9am - 3pm.

I will say my biggest tip is to look on their Instagram page, call, and just make sure they are open before going. I showed up twice to Fannies, only to see a sign in their window that they were closed for vacation. I find it pays to check before hand on social media to make sure they are open before you go.

The Rusty Goat Grill

📍46 Main Street Lower Level, on The Carriage Path, Warwick, NY 10990

The Rusty Goat Grill, located on the scenic Carriage Path in The Village of Warwick, serves Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner 7 days a week. The Rusty Goat is founded on the idea of providing fresh, healthy and natural ingredients combined and grilled warm and crispy inside a 12" soft tortilla wrap served along with 2 sides.

Some of my personal favorite sandwiches have been the: Cubano and Mango Chicken. They serve soups, pastries, salads, coffees, and have a fantastic selection of cheeses and pantry items too. It’s a very cozy place to grab lunch.

Fun Fact - Owners, Jeff and Lori Struck; their daughter Amy owns Village Bungalow Home and Gift Boutique on Main Street. (More on that shop below!)

Cafe Dolci

📍31 Main St, Warwick, NY 10990

Cafe e Dolci offers a unique blend of Coffee House and Italian Cafe vibe that includes Sweet & Savory Dishes as well as Coffee, Tea and Espresso, Desserts. They have everything from crepes, cakes, gelato, to pitaya and acai bowls, and of course tea and coffee.

I go here pretty often for a cup of coffee and dessert. Mostly recently went here after dinner and got a slice of their German Chocolate Cake - 10/10 it was so delicious.

Warwick Chocolate Factory

📍16 Railroad Ave, Warwick, NY 10990

Warwick Chocolate is a local, family owned, chocolate shop featuring fine chocolates and confections. Their products are handcrafted in Warwick, New York using old world techniques and some of the best ingredients from around the globe and local growers & artisans.

They have really unique flavor combinations in their chocolate bars and truffles. I always love how they go all out for Easter and are so generous and friendly to their customers and community.

Shopping:

Etched in Time

📍58 Main St. Warwick, NY

Personalized gifts for all of life's occasions. Engagement, Wedding, Anniversary, Christening, First Responders/Police, Doctors/Nurses, Graduations, Housewarming, Newborn Baby, Pets, Holidays, and many more! They seriously have everything here for any special celebration!

Most engraving and customization can take about an hour.

Frazzleberries

📍24 Main St, Warwick, NY 10990

A country stores for all things country, coastal, classic and contemporary. Selling gifts for the heart and the home. Personally, I love coming here in the fall. It has so much great fall inspired goodies to make you fell all the cozy sweater weather vibes.

Kaliada

📍25 Main St, Warwick, NY 10990

Kaliada is a socially conscious jewelry brand and lifestyle boutique that offers a timeless capsule of delicate jewelry, gifts and accessories.

Owner, Kaliada (Kally), started her company when she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

After successfully battling breast cancer, she was faced with the question of whether to return to her former career in business management—or follow her heart by launching a business that would empower other women. She took the leap and is continually reminded by women and fellow cancer warriors, that when we feel beautiful, beauty is reflected into the world.

Her shop not only has her hand crafted jewelry but also a gift box section where you can customize a personalized gift box for someone special.

Newhard’s

📍39 Main St, Warwick, NY 10990

Quality gifts & goods for over 30 years. This home store has everything from kids toys to tons of entertaining gifts, kitchen appliances, cookbooks, linens, candles, tableware and glassware, to unique seasonal gifts. A foodies dream shop.

Rio + Co

📍5 Oakland Ave, Warwick, NY 10990

A affordable boutique for women at any life stage, a place woman can shop to boost their confidence with fashion.

+ Hat Bar - In addition to clothes, Rio + Co also offers a Hat Bar where yo can customize your own hat. They have a wide range of accessories from ribbon, cords, pins, chains, feathers, to letter branding. Great option for a birthday party or bachelorette party outing.

Village Bungalow

📍21 Main St, Warwick, NY 10990

This shop is a fun home & lifestyle boutique… Especially if you’re a plant lady. They have a whole section of plants from local greenhouses, plus tons of fun & funky finds…Including a baby section, candles, jewelry, and home gifts.

Wanderlust Boutique

📍28 Railroad Ave, Warwick, NY 10990

On-trend chic boutique offering causal attire and accessories to make you look and feel your best. They specialize in comfortable everyday wear with elevated affordable basics, capsule pieces, and are a perfect spot for moms and daughters to shop together. Plus they have a charm-bar!

Owner, Deb, is so friendly. I love that she wants to make moms/daughters and teens feel welcome here and the ultimate place to shop and hang out.

17 & Orchard - Candle Co.

📍16 Railroad Ave, Suite #2

17&O is a candle company that is committed to creating the highest quality, most sustainable candles on the market. Their candles are hand-poured using all-natural ingredients and sustainable materials.

They opened their brick & mortar on Warwick Main Street, after spending years on the farmers market circuit; proving hard work does pay off. In their shop they pay homage to all their market friends they’ve made a long the way and sell many artian brands and artists work including prints, gifts, kitchen and grocery items, books, greeting cards, art and decor, and you can create your own floral arrangements.

Their Warwick studio will also host candle classes and workshops, both private and public classes.

Apple Picking & Orchards:

Maskers Orchard

📍45 Ball Rd, Warwick, NY 10990

This orchard is an all time favorite for apple picking. It’s so casual, laid back, and family friendly.

When you enter they give you two bags for apple picking, each bag has a map of the orchard on it and several spots where you can stop, park, and pick apples.

Radio Station - Maskers has its own broadcast station! Tune your car radio to FM 87.9 for the most updated apple picking information. You can also call the farm office at (845) 986-1058.

Hours are 9 am to 5 pm / 7 days per week

Currently there’s a one bag minimum per car for U-Pick which is $39.95, one bag is the equalivient to a 1/2 bushel which is about 50-60 apples.

Around mid-September which is when I went what was ready for picking were: Macintosh, Cortland, Granny Smith, Empire, Red Delicious, & Jonagold.

When you’re done picking, head over to their country store which offers cider, jams, canned goods, pies, mums, vegetables, and so much more. They have a snack stand, fresh apple cider donuts, pony rides, and an area for photo ops.

INSIDER TIP: They always have deals and discounts on there website include $2 off a bag of apples for midweek apple picking. They also offer a free jug of apple cider with 2 or more apple bag purchases. These deals can be found on their website here.


Vineyards, Wineries, Breweries, Distilleries:


Warwick Valley Winery and Distillery

📍114 Little York Rd, Warwick, NY 10990

Vineyard offering regular tasting - wine, ciders, and spirits, seasonal apple picking, live music and festivals, food and cafe serving hot pizza, sandwiches, salads, and more.

It’s one of my favorite spots to hang out at in the spring/summertime when it’s nice outside.

Pennings Farm Market

📍161 NY-94, Warwick, NY 10990

Pennings Farm Market operates on 100 acres of pristine farmland. They have events, a beer garden, food (lunch and dinner with brunch in the winter months only), ice cream and farm stand, live music, apple picking in the fall.
It’s really a one stop spot for a weekend out!

Events:

Applefest


Ask the residents of Warwick, NY, about the annual Applefest and you will see how exciting and wonderful this tradition is every fall season. Scheduled on the first Sunday of October each year with pre-festival activities on Friday and Saturday, Applefest includes a carnival, local vendors, and free entertainment. 

Applefest began in 1989 as a simple harvest celebration. Named one of the "Top 100 Events" in the country, over 30,000 visitors now attend the one-day event, traveling from neighboring states to experience the extraordinary variety of Warwick's apples, culture, and entertainment. The festival is produced by the Warwick Valley Chamber of Commerce.  Festival proceeds benefit the Warwick Valley Chamber of Commerce, and some 50 local non-profit organizations, for whom the event is their biggest annual fundraiser.

Applefest Features Include:

• Over 200 craft vendors
• Dozens of food vendors
• 50 local non-profit exhibitors
• Music & entertainment on several stages all day!
• Children's Carnival
• Farmers' Market
• Walk to Village shops, restaurants & businesses
• Apple Pie Baking Contest (slices for sale!)

Warwick Farmers Market


Sundays from May - November (Rain or Shine - 9am - 2pm) in the South Street Parking Lot. This market features farmers & vendors offering a variety of farm-fresh produce, meats, prepared foods, jams/jellies.

Some important tips:

Dogs - (From the Farmer’s Market Website) Due to Federal Regulations under the  Good Agricultural Practices and Food Modernization Acts, dogs or pets of any kind are not allowed in the market.  The single exception is service animals wearing a service license or permit.

Parking - There’s a parking lot across the street from the market, come early because spaces fill up and many of those spots are residential and permit spots. I’d also suggest the Main Street parking just to be safe.

There you have it, an ultimate guide of spots to explore in Warwick, NY. It’s truly such a great town in Orange County, New York.

These are spots I’ve visited and recommend and will continue to add to as I explore myself. Let me know what some of your favorite spot are in Warwick, in the comments!

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Hudson Valley Travel Guide: How to Spend a Day in Beacon, New York

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Beacon is a city located on the Hudson River in Dutchess County, New York in the Hudson Valley. It’s one of my favorite towns to visit. They have pretty good parking availability, and there is truly so many unique businesses and things to do in the area, especially on Main Street.

Consider this your travel guide when visiting. There are so many more shops, restaurants, and things to do in Beacon. This list is a handful of some of my personal favorite things to do, shops, restaurants, coffee, and unique offerings. I will continue to add to this when I visit (and approve) more places.

Things to Do

Museum:

Dia Beacon - This is the museum for the Dia Art Foundation's collection of art from the 1960s to the present.

They have special exhibitions, new commissions, public and education programs. It’s certainly for the minimalist art lover and doesn’t take very long to explore.

Food:

Main Street:

Kitchen & Coffee:

382 Main St, Beacon, NY 12508

100% gluten free vegetarian cafe and bakery, great coffee, and baked goods.

I always get the quiche, their crust is unreal. Everything I’ve ever had has been delicious.

Since I have a toddler, I also really appreciate that they have early store hours (7am - 7pm everyday)

Meyer’s Olde Dutch

184 Main St, Beacon, NY 12508

Burgers, chicken sandwiches, fries and craft cocktails. They have patio seating in the back. Some of the best burgers I’ve ever had, and love that the fries are hand cut and double fried.

Matcha Thomas

179 Main St, Beacon, NY 12508

A family owned fast-casual, wellness teahouse serving matcha lattes, boba bubble teas, tea and sweets.

HÅKAN Chocolatier

462 Main St, Beacon, NY, 12508

Finest artisanal chocolate made by Swedish Chef Håkan Mårtensson

Glazed Over Donuts

315 Main St, Beacon, NY, 12508

Fresh donuts with custom glazes and toppings. First you grab a clipboard, select your topics and glaze, then place your order, and watch your fresh custom donuts being made.

Here’s a whole video about Glazed Over Donuts shop & how to order.

Peaceful Provisions

383 Main St, Beacon, NY 12508

Artisan doughnut shop in Beacon, NY specializing in small-batch, scratch-made vegan yeast raised donuts.

Biggest pro-tip come early because once they sell out, they sell out. And they are so fresh, they will get hard the next day, so get as many as you’re going to eat in one day.

Big Mouth Coffee Roasters

387 Main St, Beacon, NY 12508

BMC is a specialty coffee roaster based in the Hudson Valley. They have a roster of coffees focusing on both top-quality producer-centric single origin and microlot coffees.

Great cafe and spot to grab a coffee.

Off Main Street:

The Beacon Daily -

Great for breakfast, their hand crafted english muffin sandwiches are my favorite. You can also get coffee, salads, snack, and beer. Let’s not forget their sandwiches. My personal favorites are the Banh Mi, Nashville Hot, and Fuster Cluck.

Shopping

Stella’s Fine Market

155 Main St, Beacon, NY, 12508

Stella’s is a limited ingredient grocer store. They are a NA (non-alcoholic) bottle shop, kitchenware, cookbooks & fine grocer gift boxes.

Truly my favorite spot to find new CPG food brands and specialty food products. They have a huge selection non-alcoholic beverages, fridge and freezer section, and a kids corner so your kids can play a bit while you shop.

Hunca Munca

145 Main St, Beacon, NY 12508

Toy store with hand made and sustainably made toys, art supplies, books and children’s clothing. For a children’s store this shop gives off cottagecore countryside aesthetics.

Utensils Kitchenware

143 Main St, Beacon, NY, 12508

A culinary store with unique high quality kitchen gear and gadgets. They carry a great mix of staples and harder to find items.

They have two locations - Beacon, NY & Poughkeepsie, NY

Witch Hazel

176 Main St, Beacon, NY 12508

An eco-conscious, clean beauty, cruelty-free apothecary and florist. From nail polish, lipstick, beauty tools, and skin care it’s a perfect spot for your self care or gift needs.

Owner Jill is so sweet, best customer service here. She teaches floral design, floral classes, and workshops like wreath making and pressed flower workshop. We hosted a pressed flower art workshop here, you can read that event recap here.

Unique Finds & Experiences

King + Curated

Custom and fine jewelry store. They can create one of a kind pieces of fine jewelry or reset and recreate pieced from heirloom jewelry.

I’ve been dying to try their permanent jewelry and will report back when I finally do!

Hudson Glass Company

162 Main St, Beacon, NY 12508

A glass studio casting functional and sculptural objects. They have handcrafted beautiful functional glass & jewelry. Showroom, glassblowing demo studio, and art gallery.

Glass classes include introduction to glass and how to make glass ornaments.

Beacon Farmers Market

Sundays 10am - 2pm

Year round - Rain or Shine

This farmers market offers everything from fruit, vegetable, and flower, baked goods, specialty foods, coffee, crafts, body/wellness, and meat, fish, and cheese.

Happy Exploring!

Leave your favorite Beacon spots in the comments so I can check them out!