If the Hudson Valley conjures a bygone era in American History of important Revolutionary War battles, an important transit hub of steamboats and rail between New England, New York City, Montreal, and the Great Lakes in the 19th century, and a beleaguered recent past beset by demographic and economic challenges in the late 20th century you wouldn’t be mistaken. But as the saying “Everything Old is New Again” goes, the Hudson Valley is having a rebirth bolstered by a variety of cultural moments and economic realities. With creative artists and NYC families increasingly priced out of the Big Apple, adventurous chefs seeking to be closer to the source of the farm-to-table revolution, and a growing emphasis among urban millennials and families seeking to unplug and find occasional refuge in pastoral pursuits, the broader Hudson Valley (which encompasses the region north of New York City to the state Capital of Albany) has experienced a renaissance as of late.
As a personal update, we had our daughter (first child) in December of 2019. We were fortunate that both Baby and Mom were both doing well. By early February 2020, our travel itch resurfaced and needed to be scratched. Thanks to the support of loving grandparents who were excited to take care of Baby for one night without us, we were ready for a quick parents getaway. With the invaluable advice of countless friends, we decided to do a quick trip away from Baby for a night; however, one that was within reasonable driving distance of home (that way we could quickly come back, if needed). We chose Beacon, NY given its location along the southern Hudson Valley (shorter driving distance from the greater NYC metropolitan area) as well as its plethora of activities for a 24 hour jaunt even in the heart of winter. We really enjoyed our introduction to the Hudson Valley at Beacon and would definitely come back in the warmer months to pursue more outdoor activities and explore further north.
On hindsight, we were very fortunate to have even taken this trek as within a few weeks of this trip, COVID-19 began its relentless advance into the NY/NJ/CT area and America as a whole. While the world is continuing to be and has indelibly been changed by COVID-19, one day we hope we will all feel secure enough to travel again. When that time comes, we will all tread lightly. And if your road leads you to Beacon, NY, we hope these recommendations make that excursion a little better. Our thoughts and prayers are with all the families who have lost loved ones as well as all the health care workers, first responders, and supply chain workers who work tirelessly to keep us healthy, safe, and nourished.
If someone told you there was a place in upstate New York that had Rieslings that could rival those in Germany, possesses breath-taking lakeside views, and has an amazing state park, one would think you are talking about an imaginary place such as Doggerland or Zealandia. Well the truth is the latter two places did exist, albeit now submerged after the last Ice Age. But lucky for you, New York’s wine Shangri-La still exists: The Finger Lakes Region. Despite upstate NY’s reputation for harsh winters secondary to its continental climate, the local microclimates created by the glacially created Finger Lakes themselves as well as nearby Lake Ontario allow for the Finger Lakes region to uniquely and surprisingly support viticulture. Furthermore, the region is often overlooked given the challenge in getting there; the Finger Lakes are far from major metropolitan centers and large well-connected airports. But this arduous path will reward those who complete the trek with wonderful surprises and smaller crowds. In a COVID world where air travel should be eschewed, we chose to take advantage of our vacation days to make the approximately 5 hour drive from NYC to explore the Finger Lakes in early October (when COVID positivity rates in NY were low).
For newbies, please note that the Finger Lakes are 11 vertically-oriented glacial lakes running north-south in northwestern NY. Many amazing vineyards circumferentially dot the 2 largest lakes in the region: Seneca and Cayuga Lakes. Given the large geographic area encompassed by these lakes, it is most effective to concentrate on one lake at a time to minimize driving time and maximize your ability to do as much as possible. Given the many colleges in the region (Cornell University, Ithaca College, etc.), if you are visiting the area to see friends and family, take advantage of the trip and definitely explore the region. We chose to explore Seneca Lake and below are our experiences and recommendations.
