One of the best things about living in the Hudson Valley is how easy it is to get away for a night or two. There are so many places to stay and so much to do that you don’t have to travel far before it feels like you’re on vacation.
I really took advantage of that in June. I escaped to a lakeside “camp” in the Berkshires, spent a night in the Catskills, explored a few art exhibitions, hiked, took a cooking class, and discovered a shop I’d happily drive back to.
Here are a few places and experiences I think are worth keeping on your radar this summer, all within about two hours of NYC.
Prospect Berkshires, Egremont MA
Prospect Berkshires is a hotel set up almost like a campground, with meandering paths circling a lake. But instead of campsites, there are thoughtfully-designed cabins and suites. The design is simple, minimal, and slightly Scandinavian. Nothing feels overdone, but little details, like the orange striped towels and the thick cotton robes, make it feel luxurious. We stayed in one of the lakefront suites with floor-to-ceiling windows, which meant we were always looking out at the water.
My favorite part of our weekend was booking one of the private saunas right on the lake. We were there in early June, so the lake was still chilly enough for a real cold plunge afterward. I loved it so much we did it both days.
One evening we signed up for Prospect’s new float therapy experience. At dusk, eight of us climbed into bright red neoprene suits and floated in the heated saltwater pool. It was essentially a guided floating meditation. It sounds a little woo woo, but it ended up being one of the highlights of our stay. They’ve since moved the experience to the lake, and I’d go back just for that. I also slept through the night without waking up - which almost never happens.
The Cliff House, Prospect’s on-site restaurant, was excellent. And if you feel like venturing off campus, Hilltop Pies is just down the road and serves some of the best pizza in the area.
Go Love NY readers can save on their stay at Prospect with this special booking link.
The Workshop Experience, Hillsdale
The Workshop Experience in Hillsdale has become one of my favorite outings of the year. It’s a weekend-long event where local chefs, artists, gardeners, and makers open their studios, kitchens, and gardens to share what they do.
This year I signed up for Dan Pelosi‘s meatball class at HGS Home Chef. If you follow Dan on Instagram, he’s exactly the same in person. We made four completely different kinds of meatballs before sitting down to lunch together. None were traditional beef and red sauce. The chicken pesto ones were my favorite, with the zucchini a close second.
The workshop weekend may be over, but HGS offers cooking classes year-round. If you’re planning a weekend in Hillsdale, it’s worth checking their calendar before you go.
Clinamen, NYC
One NYC exhibition I’d highly recommend this summer is CLINAMEN by French artist and composer Céleste Boursier-Mougenot at the Park Avenue Armory on the Upper East Side.
The massive Drill Hall has been transformed into three enormous pools of blue water filled with hundreds of white ceramic bowls. As they slowly drift and gently bump into one another, they create soft chiming sounds that constantly change throughout the day.
It’s the kind of installation you end up staring at much longer than you expect. I stood there transfixed for quite a while listening as the bowls moved across the water. Simple, beautiful, and unlike anything else I’ve seen this year. On view through August 2.
The Hessel Museum at Bard
For some reason, I always forget about the Hessel Museum at Bard, even though it’s one of my favorite museums in the Hudson Valley. Every time I go, I leave wondering why I don’t visit more often.
There are three excellent exhibitions on view this summer, and I loved all of them. Betty Parsons was probably the biggest surprise. I knew her as the legendary art dealer who championed artists like Rothko and Pollock, but I never realized she was a painter herself. Looking at her work, you can see hints of the artists she exhibited while also discovering her own voice. Uman’s large-scale paintings are full of color and energy and immediately likable. The third exhibition introduces the work of Marilou Schultz, a Navajo mathematician and lifelong weaver whose work reveals fascinating connections between traditional weaving and computer technology.
A visit to Hessel pairs perfectly with Montgomery Place. The historic estate has beautiful Hudson River views and is well worth exploring. I also always recommend Blythewood Gardens, one of my favorite hidden gems in the Hudson Valley. This small formal garden is just down the road and somehow not many people know about it.
Apotek, Red Hook
We stumbled into Apotek, a cute home goods store in Red Hook on our way home and I’m so glad we did. Scandinavian design, Marimekko, beautifully-curated home goods – it’s the kind of shop where you find something you didn’t know you needed. I walked out with a new apron and a mancala set. I definitely hadn’t planned on buying, which is usually the sign of a good shop. Don’t skip it.
Hiking in the Catskills - Artist’s Rock & Sunset Rock
One of my favorite hikes this month was Artist’s Rock and Sunset Rock in North-South Lake State Park. Years ago, we used to go car camping there with the girls and a bunch of other families, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I remembered it as a busy state park and was worried the hike would feel crowded.
Turned out, it was the complete opposite. We hiked on a Monday morning and encountered very few people. The hike was just enough to make the views feel earned without being overly strenuous, and the payoff was incredible. Artist’s Rock looks east across the Hudson Valley, while Sunset Rock looks west toward the Catskills. Both views are spectacular. The total hike took about 2.5 hours.
Casa Susanna
My husband Phil will drive just about anywhere for a good restaurant, and I’ve learned to trust his instincts. Casa Susanna had been on his list for a while, so after a day of hiking, we headed there for dinner. Located at Camptown in Leeds, the menu takes its inspiration from Mexico City rather than typical Tex-Mex. Everything felt fresh, seasonal, and a little unexpected. We completely over-ordered, which turned out to be the right decision because every dish that came out made us want to try another. I’m already thinking about recreating the snap pea, celery, and lovage salad at home, but I’ll definitely be back for the smoked pig’s head barbacoa. Next time we’ll make a weekend of it and stay at Camptown too.
Have you discovered somewhere this summer that I should know about? Leave me a comment—I’m always looking for ideas for my next Hudson Valley adventure.
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