If you’re planning a weekend trip from New York City, there are many places to visit in Hudson. This quaint town is a hub for the Hudson River School of art and features a thriving food scene. It’s also the site of a famous lighthouse. Read on to discover more!
It is a center for the Hudson River School of art
The Hudson River School of Art, founded in 1850, was an artistic movement that influenced landscape painting in New York City. This movement was initially derided as elitist and lacking a real connection to reality, but the works of this artistic group have endured and continue to be studied today. Their works reflect a sense of the sublime in nature, and they are considered an important part of the history of landscape painting.
Thomas Cole and the other painters of the first generation of Hudson River School painters painted quiet, lyrical scenes of the Hudson River area. However, a second generation emerged, and more abstract landscape paintings were created. Albert Bierstadt was a significant painter in this second group. Though he was raised in the United States, Bierstadt studied at the Dusseldorf School of Painting, which was part of the German Romanticism movement. Bierstadt’s landscape paintings are considered some of his best work.
The Loeb Art Center in Hudson Valley has been collecting Hudson River School landscapes since 1864. Its founder, Matthew Vassar, sought to establish a permanent art collection. Today, the Loeb Art Center houses a mix of historic paintings and recent gifts. The center is loved by local residents as well as regional tourists.
It has a vibrant food scene
If you’re looking for a unique dining experience in Hudson, New York, you’ve come to the right place. The town’s food scene is diverse, exciting, and fresh. For example, RiverMarket Bar & Kitchen overlooks the Hudson River and offers a farm-focused menu, an inventive cocktail bar, and seasonal ingredients from Hudson Valley purveyors. The market concept is also applied to the Hudson Food Studio, where chefs transform seasonal ingredients from local farmers into innovative dishes. Another popular restaurant is Sweet Grass Grill, which focuses on vegetarian and vegan cuisine, using ingredients from local farms.
Hudson Hils Cafe and Market was originally planned to be a market and prepared-foods cafe, but has been drawing crowds to Main Street since it opened in 2009. This casual farmhouse-style cafe serves up breakfast, lunch, and light fare. It also bakes gluten-free bread.
The region is home to many farmers’ markets, artisan producers, and a new culinary institute. Hudson offers a diverse variety of cuisine, including a booming artisan food scene.
It has a lighthouse
The Hudson River is one of the busiest waterways in the country, and the city of Hudson has a lighthouse to prove it. Founded in 1836, the Hudson City Light is a historic symbol and a symbol of New York. The lighthouse is situated on Middle Ground Flats, a former sand bar in the middle of the Hudson River. Today, silting and dredging have shaped the land into a small island. The lighthouse marks the site where Henry Hudson unknowingly discovered Lower New York Bay. In time, the area became known as Manhattan.
Hudson is home to the Maid of the Meadows Lighthouse, the city’s only wooden lighthouse. It replaced an earlier stone structure that was considered unsafe to occupy. The Maid of the Meadows Lighthouse is located in the middle of the Hudson River, alongside the Hudson-Athens lighthouse. In 1944, the Maid of the Meadows Lighthouse was tended by John Kerr. He was credited with saving 19 lives, including that of four fishermen.
Hudson-Athens Lighthouse is an important piece of New York history. The historic structure is a landmark for the city and is on the National Register of Historic Places. The lighthouse was first lit on November 14, 1874, by keeper Henry D. Best. It was automated in 1949, but still serves as an important navigational aid in the Hudson River. It also houses a museum for visitors to explore.
It has a museum
When visiting Hudson, there are many museums and attractions to choose from. One such museum is the Cultural Complex, which features art galleries, science & history exhibits, lectures, and a planetarium. It is located in a beautiful setting overlooking Hudson’s waterfront. The complex is an ideal location for a day trip or family outing.
There is also a zoo, if you love animals. The Hudson River Zoo is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. It is located in a historic mansion, the Glenview Mansion, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The museum was founded in 1919 and is dedicated to educating and expanding visitors’ cultural horizons. The Hudson River Museum features art from the nineteenth century to contemporary times and rotating exhibits throughout the year.
The museum features an impressive collection of paintings by Hudson River School artists. There are three galleries featuring the works of marquee artists and their disciples. You can also enjoy the luminous landscapes of renowned Hudson River School artist George Inness.
It has a farm
For those interested in hunting, fishing, or just spending time outdoors, the Hudson Farm Club offers the ultimate private year-round outdoor experience. The club offers a private shooting layout on 3,800 acres of landscaped farmland in Andover, New Jersey. The farm is known for its progressive conservation practices and operates the Hudson Farm Foundation to make annual disbursements to local charities.
The Hudson Guild runs a summer writing program for inner city youth, and in 1994, the farm hosted senior citizens from Chelsea, New York. The organization also holds conferences on progressive issues, such as democracy, ethical culture, capitalism, and the environment. In addition, the Hudson Guild is a major source of local dairy products.
The Hudson Valley’s rich agricultural heritage is under threat. Just two hundred years ago, nearly half of Americans lived on a farm. However, with the opening of the Chez Panisse in the 1970s, the Hudson Valley began a trend that centered around locally-grown foods. This movement led to the growth of the organic food movement, which led to the emergence of a growing “agritourism” industry.
The Hudson Family has been involved in agriculture for many years. Both parents are from farming families, and they grew up on the land. They currently farm 180 acres of fruit south of Sanger, Minnesota, and sell their products through Wawona Frozen Foods and the Wawona Packing Co. In addition to growing fresh produce for their local businesses, the Hudsons run a farm stand during the harvest season.
It has a winery
Hudson has a winery – and the town isn’t the only place in New York where wine is made. Some wineries in the Hudson River Region have been in operation for more than a century. While most are small operations, the wine trade here is less cutthroat and more cooperative. For example, at Benmarl Winery in Pine Bush, vineyard owner Matt Spacarelli has revamped the property into a destination winery. He ripped out old tanks and installed new equipment and introduced a barrel program to help create award-winning wines.
There are several award-winning wineries in the Hudson Valley. Fjord Vineyards has been producing world-class wine for more than a decade, and is located in the Hudson Highlands. It features a winery and a restaurant. It also hosts wine tastings. The winery is open on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
Kedem winery was established in Europe in 1848 and is still owned by the same family. It specializes in kosher wines and is distributed by the Royal Wine Corp. The tasting room at Kedem is remodeled and features special wine offerings. The winery’s grounds feature fountains and gardens, and patio seating. It also hosts special events, such as pasta nights, “Live in the Vines” concerts, and Sunday brunches.