Top Five Reasons to Love New York's Hudson Valley

The scenic and sprawling Hudson Valley might commonly be thought of as New York City’s backyard and adventure playground, but there are so many reasons why this region is a destination on its own. It also happens to be home base for DEN—a place where inspiration is easily found outside in nature or in one of the many town centers. We might be biased, but we think there’s a lot of reasons to love the Hudson Valley (cabins very much included). 

Here are our top five reasons why you’ll love New York’s Hudson Valley.

Easy Access To and From New York City

A quick and scenic drive from the heart of New York City can easily get you to the Hudson Valley region in less than three hours. While a car is certainly one option for transportation, it’s not the only one. From Grand Central Station, hop on the Metro-North Railroad’s Hudson Line and in an hour and half you’ll find yourself in downtown Beacon, a popular destination in the Hudson Valley. Taking the train is a convenient option for car-less city dwellers who don’t have the option to drive, but still want to spend a day enjoying the outdoors—or scoping out property for future cabins!

Small Towns with a Vibrant Local Culture 

Culture and creativity isn’t only found in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the outer boroughs. The Hudson Valley is filled with small towns and villages with bustling downtowns, top-shelf food and drink, unique shops, and so much more. Here are a few standout points of interest that make this region so special. 

Cold Springs - The tiny but mighty town of Cold Springs, New York is only a half mile long, situated on the banks of the Hudson just an hour train ride from downtown Manhattan. Shops and eateries like the General Store, Cold Springs Apothecary, and Sweet Harvest line the scenic Maine Street that shows off one of the area’s most popular (and grueling) hikes — Breakneck Ridge — which provides hikers with panoramic views of the river and mountains of the Hudson Valley. 

Phoenicia - With a moniker of “the gateway to the Catskills”, it’s no surprise that the bucolic hamlet of Phoenicia is an outdoor lover’s paradise. From the multi-level cascades of Kaaterskill Falls to a network of hiking trails, and paddling the Hudson River, the best way to wrap up a day spent outside is with a stick-to-your-bones kind of meal at the famed Phoenicia Diner and a drink at Woodstock Brewery. 

Kingston - Located on the Hudson River’s western shore at the foothills of the Catskill Mountains, Kingston is known and loved for the abundance of well-preserved historical architecture, antique shops, and strong creative culture. It’s also home to a bevy of notable restaurants, bakeries, and colorful murals that liven up the small town’s streets.  

It’s a Haven for Outdoor Adventures and Reconnecting to Nature 

It might be hard to imagine that just 50 miles outside of New York’s concrete jungle there are thousands of miles of hiking and biking trails, world-class rock climbing, white water rafting, ski resorts, and hundreds of acres of preserves. The region has a diverse landscape that offers countless opportunities for outdoor recreation from the Catskill Mountains to the Shawangunks, the historic Bear Mountain State Park and scenic Mohonk Preserve. Plus, the Omega Institute for Holistic Studies is a renowned retreat center in the idyllic town of Rhinebeck, perfect for deep rest and healing within a peaceful landscape. 

Museums, Art Galleries, and Nature Retreats 

With nature as the muse, many of the Hudson Valley’s museums and art galleries are centered around the beauty of the outdoors. Storm King Art Center is an open-air museum that guides visitors through a unique outdoor sculpture exhibit with Storm King Mountain in the backdrop. In Saugerties, Opus 40 is an impressive stone outdoor art installation built by hand on six acres by artist Harvey Fite that took him an astounding 37 years to complete. Similar to Storm King, the Hudson Valley Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) showcases a sculpture trail featuring 25 different pieces of public art along the river and city, spanning 12,000 square feet. Set in an restored Nabisco factory, the DIA Museum in Beacon is home to a large collection of contemporary art, with free admission for Hudson Valley residents on the last Sunday of the month.

It’s the Perfect Place to Build a Cabin

Did you see this one coming? Here at DEN, we think the Hudson Valley’s natural beauty, vibrant culture, and close proximity to New York makes it an obvious choice to build a cabin. And thanks to its wide expanse of land, there is ample room to uncover a piece of property that you’ve always dreamed of owning someday. If you ask us, we definitely saved the best for last. Want some inspiration? Check out Casa Nevana, a DEN modern farmhouse in the Catskills. 

And if you like the idea of building your own cabin, but feel overwhelmed by the construction process, check out BuiltBy DEN, our new streamlined home building service with premium, modern cabins and transparent pricing.