We visited the lovely or should I say deserted town of Pine Hill, NY. While visiting the area for…read morevalentines weekend with the love of my life we saw a huge sign along the main road welcoming us to the vast array of shops and restaurants Pine Hill offered. Well as we drove down the road from the main road all we saw were run down buildings and a deserted town like something out of an old western, only there were no horse drawn carriages. The saving grace of this small town is this small museum run by an absolutely amazing curator. When we arrived I wasn't even sure if the place was open but there was a huge sign out front that said it was in fact open so we ventured inside and was cheerfully greeted by the curator, an absolutely lovely lady that took her time in explaining the exhibits on display. She expertly knew her history of the items on display exceptionally well. While this museum is small it had two floors of artifacts, articles and historical displays on the bottom floor. The town should be absolutely grateful for Kathleen because had she not been there I would have completely dismissed this place but she truly made the experience and visit so wonderful. Admission is free however I did see a donation box that unfortunately I couldn't contribute to because this day and age I pretty much pay for stuff with my Apple watch (yea I'm real high tech like that) and never really walk around with actual cash. Bring a few bucks & drop that in the donation bin. I'll be sending in a small donation for my visit in the mail.

WOW! I've never enjoyed nor appreciated a museum as much as I did the Shandaken HIstorical Museum…read more A rainy Sunday drove us indoors and we thought we'd take a peek at this museum before we headed home We planned on staying 20 minutes or so and ended up staying 1 1/2 hours. Every minute was jam packed with information provided by Kathleen Myers, the museum director. She is an amazing advocate for this region and this museum. Her passion and knowledge is infectious! The coolest thing is that as we drove south on our way home, we were able to identify so many of the hamlets that Kathleen had told us about. I definitely hope this historical landmark gets the recognition and funding it deserves.

First time trying rail explorers and had a great time: friendly and energetic staff, good weather,…read moreclean equipment and chairs, nice views. We booked a few months in advance and glad we did because it was sold out the week of. You can either be in a two seater or a four seater. Check in and parking were easy once we arrived but beware that there's no cell service in the area. Staff were fantastic and really do impact the customer experience. Sam and others were spirited and seemed to genuinely enjoy their jobs. This trail was 8 miles, 4 miles out and 4 miles back. Most of the time you're detached from other bikes but when crossing a major road, everyone had to be attached. If everyone is pedaling, it should be physically doable to go at a good pace, but it was not a stroll in the park either, which I liked. The person on the right controls the brakes. On the ride, you'll see a body of water, trees, hyped Phoenicia diner and just enjoy being in nature. There is shade throughout so even if it's a warm day, you'll probably still be okay. And didn't have any issues with mosquitoes either. They do provide large umbrellas for the weather and a basket to hold your belongings on the bike. When you reach 4 miles, there's a little break and patio chairs to sit, while they turn the bikes around. If you're in the front at the start, you'll be in the back to end. From start to finish, it was about 2 hours with waiting and stopping. They have bathrooms in a small camper facility that's pretty cramped and also a bathroom in the nearby railroad museum. Stop by the Ashokan Reservoir or explore neighboring towns if you have time.

This is a unique experience. Be warned, there is 0 cell service. They have WiFi at the station but…read moreafter that it's nothing. The route is scenic, especially if the weather is nice. The staff are awesome. Getting coordinated and all is very easy. All you do is follow a few simple rules and pedal. The little museum on site has actual private bathrooms in case you don't want to use the fancy porta potty there. Not a bad idea to bring water and a snack for the little break. Your tail end will likely hurt a bit from this. Bring a cushion or something if you have one. It's great for all ages. The power assisted pedaling is very easy

Found this gem on the Dutchess County Tourism web page calendar. We are only 45 minutes away, so…read moredecided to do it just to break up a fall Sunday afternoon. Had a great time! The farm market didn't hold back on the samples, great cheese, meats, spirits, and lots of local info. Local businesses seemed genuinely happy to have us. Tips: Pay attention to forecast! This is rain or shine and 90% outdoors. We had sun, snow, clouds and wind. Dress appropriately. Don't assume the schedule will hold true. The pace is set by the group members. If some lag, the time will run on. (Not that that's a bad thing....we enjoyed our pace.) Overall a great time. If your are nearby or planning to visit, I would put it on the to do list. Hope it expands to other towns!

What a great way to get to know towns in the Hudson Valley. Our tour was in Rhinebeck and we…read more started at the Farm Market where we sampled an assortment of local cheeses, sausage, pickles, spirits and more. Our walk through Rhinebeck included sampling the best pizza I ever had, gourmet olive oils, balsamic vinegars and sea salts, breads, beers, and chocolates. We also had a chance to go into some of the unique shops Rhinebeck has to offer. Rhinebeck is a charming town and our tour guide enhanced the experience by filling us in on some of the local history. The shop owners were glad to see us and bent over backwards to welcome us. Make sure to bring a bag or backpack of some sort in case you want to purchase some of the great food you sample. We walked, ate and drank our way through Rhinebeck. It is a wonderful way to spend a day and I look forward to our next tour in another town but I also look forward to going back to Rhinebeck since it has so much to offer.

Hubby recently booked a Polar Express experience with Catskills Mountain Railroad for our family,…read moreand I have to say, I was beyond ecstatic! This was a first for all of us and it was especially meaningful for me. My husband has been helping me relive my childhood one memory at a time, so being able to experience this together as a family was truly special. I'd never seen or read The Polar Express in its entirety though I'd heard so many wonderful things about it, which made me even more excited for the train ride. From start to finish the experience was magical. The highlight for me was the hot chocolate. It was absolutely amazing! The cookies were nice too, though they were more on the okay side, but the fact that they came from a local bakery made it feel that much sweeter. The trip was full of joy and excitement. It was a beautiful way to create family memories and celebrate the holiday season. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to add a bit of magic to their Christmas traditions.

If you like looking at tree trunks, this is the ride for you! If you can't sit on boards for more…read morethan a few minutes, bring a pillow. Only one of the open air "carriages" has backs on the benches... the others are just... benches. There are two enclosed carriages but the windows don't open. We came through Kingston on a river cruise, and this was one of the excursions. I imagine the special rides are really good... Polar Express, maybe the Easter ride. Good for children, too, but for mature adults, I wish I'd caught an Uber to the Farmers Market instead.

A very well done old school o scale 2 rail layout!!…read more We have been in this same location our entire life span of 88 years!

They are open to the public on weekends in November. There is a small donation of $6 per adult to…read moreget in, which helps with the upkeep of this sweet museum. If you like trains, or just like miniatures, you need to come here. We try to get here every year when they are open to the public. It's jus a really cool place to go and spend 1/2 hour or so.

As long as I can remember, Woodstock's Village Green is where would-be drummers want to show off…read moretheir skills and drum with the 1969 hippie pros on Sundays. Even hubs was lamenting he didn't bring his Bongos he had gotten for Father's a day from my daughter. Or- if you don't have percussion skills, you could just sit back on one of their benches and enjoy the music. Simple as that. Clearly, this patch of green in the center of it all- is historic. No intimidation here. Enjoy the groove.

what a beautiful lovely place in the center of town with views of the whole center of town with…read morelovely benches to sit and people watch and just relax and very vibrant atmosphere and people and children and i would recommend this to everyone who likes to sit and take in the scenery and maybe chat with a friend and take a break

Had a lovely stay for two nights celebrating our anniversary here. Anne Marie was very helpful…read more(with suggestions), communicative and attentive. Check in was super easy and parking is easy right on the property. I easily sent her an email to book. The views are really gorgeous, overlooking the reservoir and Catskill mountains. Can't beat it if you go in October and catch foliage ! It's actually closer to NYC than some other places in the Valley. We stayed in the Meadow Suite which has a spacious bathroom and super comfortable bed. Anne Marie provides wine glasses and an opener. Also appreciated the space heater because some nights were chilly. I believe there is a hot tub if you rent the other suite. Anne Marie gave us some firewood to lit a fire one night, the property has a fire bowl, and pavilion where you can eat a great breakfast. We got breakfast one day - Anne Marie delivered that and coffee right outside our door. My husband had a delicious farm egg omelette with sautéed veggies and melted cheese, along with chicken sausage and toast. She prepared a crafty apple French toast for me with raisin cinnamon bread and chicken sausage. Yum yum yum. She's very accommodating, but definitely get the French toast! In Mid Oct, it was about $200 a night per stay. Definitely recommend this if in the area! We hung around Big Indian, Phonecia and did activities up in Hunter Mountain. Woodstock is also very nearby.

My new wife and I stayed at Ashokan Dreams in the reservoir suite while attending law school a year…read moreor two ago, and after our wedding on September 6, 2014, we decided to have a mini honeymoon in the same amazing suite in which we spent that weekend in law school before embarking on our full scale honeymoon a few weeks from now. It was, as expected, the most relaxing and fun few days.... And was definitely needed after our big day. Anne Marie is a wonderful host, and her stuffed blueberry French toast is the stuff of legend. There are plenty of places for hiking, antiquing, tubing, eating, or anything else your heart could desire relatively nearby, and Anne Marie will provide you with recommendations that do not disappoint no matter what you want to do. We have only stayed in the reservoir suite, but I'm sure the other suites are equally amazing. I can't recommend Ashokan Dreams enough if you're looking for a relaxing stay at a charming place with unbelievable views of the mountains and reservoir right through your window. We'll be back soon.

Being a Southern California native my only knowledge about the Hudson valley was a whisky brand of…read morethe same name. It's a big place and being so spread out I didn't know what to do first or better yet if I drove to far in one direction would I miss something even cooler on the other side of the Vally. Que in the Hud-Val Concierge. After only a few days, I experienced so much; dining and drinking where soon to be colonial leaders and legends once did, siping hard ciders by a camp fire in the orchard where the cider was pressed, even a very formal Michelin star meal in a town renowned for its dirty Hippies (Woodstock) where we also learned the concert DIDN'T take place. The time I spent in the Hudson Vally and curated by Dana left me wanting to buy cabin and set up shop. I feel like there's more to explore but my very short trip was filled with places and things that would have never occurred to me alone. I really can't wait to get back and now wish all the places I travel had someone like Dana to show all the treasures they have.

Amazingly detail-oriented and customized trip! My husband and I had a volunteer trip to Puerto Rico…read morethat got cancelled (due to COVID), thus, extending our "layover" in New York. Not wanting to gather in the city or be around a lot of people, we shuffled off to the Hudson Valley and it was SUCH a welcome treat :) Hud-Val Concierge turned all of our desires into reality by planning an itinerary that was perfectly tailored to our vacation likes/dislikes. We safely (concierge was AMAZING with COVID protocol and protection) explored New Paltz, Kingston, Woodstock, and Rhinebeck during the winter and CAN NOT WAIT to come back during warmer months. Our main interests of NYC caliber food, hiking, antique shopping, and distillery/brewery tours were met with such precision and thoughtfulness. We loved ALL the restaurant recs (from low key breakfast burrito spots to Manhattan-chef'd fine dining), the outdoor bar atmospheres, the historic town and classic home strolls, and the wilderness exploration. Will one hundred percent use this service again!