Weekend trips have always been my favorite kind of trip – it’s just enough time to feel like you’ve escaped real life for a bit. A reset if you will. And our trip to Hudson was just that.
With travel in 2020 being so complicated I hadn’t planned anything until I realized the only thing maybe more complicated than a short trip would be figuring out a safe way to celebrate my birthday with a group… 2020 problems I guess. Knowing I didn’t want to have to worry about how to safely celebrate with my friends this year, the BF and I booked a somewhat last minute trip to Hudson. All I wanted was a weekend of good food and exploring somewhere new. Well, I got all that and more because I am now obsessed with the the quaint town of Hudson and understand why so many New Yorkers escape there.
I’ll jump into the details below, but what I really loved about staying in Hudson was the walkability factor in the mornings and evenings for coffee and then paired with being an easy drive to any typical fall upstate activities – wineries, farms, etc.
Where We Stayed: Rivertown Lodge
When initially looking for where to stay I turned to AirBnB, but honestly everything seemed crazy expensive and not aesthetically pleasing at all. So instead I started looking at some smaller hotels which is when Rivertown Lodge popped up, and I am so happy we discovered it! The hotel is beautifully done and feels just like a cozy lodge – exactly what you want when escaping the city. Plus, with most everything being outside these days they have an incredible porch set up for breakfast and dinner as well as another restaurant set up in their “backyard”. The rooms are simple, but in a cozy minimalist decor that definitely made us feel like we were getting the perfect escape from the city.
The hotel is on one end of the main street so it’s also super accessible to everything! It was about a 25 minute walk to the water and along the way you walk by all the stores and restaurants. We loved where it was situated and walked back and forth a bunch of times just to be outside!
Where We Ate
Breakfast: Rivertown Tavern
The hotel breakfast was honestly delicious and the cold brew they have is a must try! I’m currently trying to track it down in the city!
Breakfast: Grazin‘
Grazin is a farm to table restaurant in an old diner and it’s the perfect place for a casual breakfast with great food.
Dinner: Baba Louie’s Pizza
We did takeout from Baba Louie’s and loved it! It’s a truly surprising pizza menu which was really fun and I really don’t think you could go wrong. I got a twist on Hawaiian pizza that had shrimp and green chili sauce with it… Sounds weird, but it was SO good!
Dinner: Wm. Farmer & Sons
We went to Farmer & Sons on my birthday and they definitely had the best outdoor dining set up with a covered tent and heat lamps, though I would love to go back and sit inside since it looked so cute! The food was great, but I ordered the spaghetti and definitely did wrong by not ordering a steak or burger… so I’ll just have to go back!
What We Did
Millbrook Vineyards & Winery
While a bit of a drive from Hudson (and closer to the city if you want to do a day trip), Millbrook Winery is definitely the best winery in the area! It was my second time visiting and I loved it even more this time! They’re hosting outdoor wine tastings and have a food truck every weekend. There are picnic tables, but they do get a bit crowded so we brought a picnic blanket and sat by the pond after our tasting. It was truly idyllic and highly recommend going! One callout – online all of their tastings were booked, but we arrived right when they opened and were able to sign up for one!
Hi Way Drive In Movie Theater
I think our drive move experience may have been my favorite part of the weekend and it was a spontaneous decision, which made it even better. Hi Way Drive In has four different screens so no mater your movie tastes you’ll have an option to love! We picked Harry Potter, which was so much fun! We brought along pizza but also got snacks from the snack bar. I’m not sure how late in the season they stay open, but if you’re staying in Hudson this is must do in my opinion!
Local Shopping in Hudson
One of the best parts of staying in Hudson is being able to walk around and pop into lots of shops. There are great antique stores and thrift shops in addition to curated boutiques such as Minna (which I loved!).
Hudson Brewing Co
Hudson Brewing Co is a bit of a walk if you’re coming from Rivertown Lodge, but I’m so glad we went! We ordered two flights with mostly different beers and it was fun to try everything. They have a pineapple cider that is barely sweet which I also loved and brought home a six pack of. The brewery is pretty small, so I do recommend going on a Friday or Monday when it will be less busy!
Local Farm Stands
Before heading back on Sunday we stopped at Green Acres Farm & Bakery which was just what I wanted in a farm stand! I grabbed a few veggies to bring home in addition to their pumpkin muffins and cider donuts. I couldn’t resist. The pumpkin muffins were amazing and I’m sad I didn’t get more, so this will definitely be on our list next time we head upstate!
Covid Call Outs
Traveling right now is obviously a different experience, but in every part of our trip I felt incredibly safe! Almost everyone walking around Hudson was wearing a mask and every store or restaurant we went into the staff was wearing masks, so I was never worried.
Many coffee shops, markets, and restaurants were still only doing outdoor seating when we went (3rd week of September) so it’s important to dress for the weather! We were there during a cold spell, so it got down to the low 40s one evening as we were eating dinner. That restaurant had space heaters, but in case you’re at a place that doesn’t layering is important!
If you’re not comfortable eating at restaurants then bring a big picnic blanket and get takeout! Setting up a picnic overlooking the river at Promenade Hill Park would have been so lovely – especially if you go once the leaves have changed.
Since many spots have lower capacity due to Covid safety restrictions I highly recommend making reservations ahead of time or showing up early places.
If you’re headed up to Hudson anytime soon please feel free to reach out via email (carolinestfrancis@gmail.com) or via DM on Instagram! You can check out my last trip upstate here and some of my other travel guides here.
