Hudson (New York)

Hudson is a city in Columbia County, New York.

Looking west on Warren Street

Understand

Hudson is an important city in the Hudson Valley that is known for its art galleries, antique shops, and boutiques, and also for blocks upon blocks of beautiful historic buildings. These center on Warren St. but are also present in large numbers on the parallel Columbia St. and some side streets. Hudson is worth at least a detour if not more.

Get in

Hudson Train Station

By plane

• Stewart International Airport, 1180 First St, New Windsor, [phone].
• Albany International Airport, 737 Albany-Shaker Rd, Albany.

By train

• Amtrak, 1-800-USA-RAIL. Rail service to Hudson station, 69 South Front St, from New York City's Penn Station to the south and Albany and Montreal, Canada to the north.

By car

US Route 9 is the main road for access to Hudson. State Routes 9G and 23B, which constitute Columbia St. and S. 3rd St. within city limits, are major streets in the center of town. Columbia St. actually forms one end of 7th St. Park, which is the city green. Watch out for traffic along these streets, as they are also truck routes.

A bit south of Hudson, the Rip Van Winkle Bridge traverses the Hudson River and enables access to and from the town of Catskill, on the west side of the river, and the Catskills, further afield.

Get around

The center of town is walkable. To get further, you will need a vehicle.

See

Olana, home of painter Frederic Church.

• Olana State Historic Site, 5720 State Route 9G, ☎ [phone]. The mountain-top villa of Frederic Church, one of the most prominent Hudson River painters and one of the United States' most significant artists. From the hilltop home there are sweeping views of the Catskills, the Hudson River, and the Taconic Hills. Grounds are open year round for walking, hiking, cross-country skiing, and other activities. (updated Jul 2016)
• 🌍 Hudson Opera House, 327 Warren Street. New York State's oldest surviving theater, dating from 1855, offers a year round schedule of arts and cultural programming.  
• 🌍 Hudson-Athens Lighthouse. Located offshore, limited tours through Hudson Cruises [phone].  
• FASNY Museum of Firefighting. 

Do

Hudson-Athens Lighthouse

Walk the length of Warren Street, from the river to the park, admiring the beautifully preserved turn-of-the-20th-century architecture.

Satisfy your aesthetic eye at the many galleries.

Watch the boats sail up and down the Hudson River from the riverside park.

Buy

Hudson has a huge number of art galleries and antique stores for a town of its size as well as fashion, fabric, and other craft studios.

• Musica, 17 North 4th Street, ☎ [phone]. One of the best community music stores in the country, worth a trip for any amateur ethnomusicologist. Instruments from around the world, sheet music, lessons, advice. 
• The Spotty Dog, 440 Warren Street. Bookstore/art supply store with a great selection, doubles as a bar/cafe. 
• John Doe Books and Records, 4 Park Place, ☎ [phone]. 12-5. You never know what you'll come out of this shop with...hundreds of used records and books 

Eat

Cornelius Evans House, on Warren St.

Budget

• Organic Market Breakfast and lunch.
• Kennedy Fried Chicken, 320 Warren St, ☎ [phone]. 
• Diamond Street Diner, 717 Warren St, ☎ [phone]. 

Mid-range

• Wasabi Sushi. 

Splurge

• DA|BA, 225 Warren Street. M-S. Classy Scandinavian design, the food ranges from pub fare to a full tasting menu of Swedish cuisine. Highly recommended. 
• Red Dot, 321 Warren St, ☎ [phone]. Upscale bar and restaurant. 
• Ca' Mea, 333 Warren St, ☎ [phone]. Italian fish, pasta, and meats. 
• Mexican Radio, 537 Warren St, ☎ [phone]. Award winning Mexican food and Margaritas. 
• Vico, 136 Warren St, ☎ [phone]. Tuscan cuisine, with local ingredients. 

Drink

Houses at 37–47 North Fifth Street

• The Spotty Dog, 440 Warren Street. Bookstore/Bar with a handful of excellent local artisan ales on tap for reasonable prices. Also hosts interesting musical performances, usually on weekends. 
• Taproom (located in the St. Charles Hotel). 10 beers on tap. Happy hour specials. 25 cent wings & 2 dollar pints on Wednesdays.
• Hudson Brewing Company, 60 S Front St. 

Sleep

• St. Charles Hotel, 16-18 Park Place, ☎ [phone]. $69-$109, including continental breakfast. 
• Mount Merino Manor Bed and Breakfast, 4317 State Route 23 (Next to Olana Historic Site, a mile east of the Hudson River), ☎ [phone]. 

Go next

• Rhinebeck
• Catskills

Routes through Hudson

Montreal ← Albany (Rensselaer) ←	N  S	→ Rhinebeck → New York City
Buffalo ← Albany (Rensselaer) ←	N  S	→ Rhinebeck → New York City
Albany ← Kinderhook ←	N  S	→ Red Hook → New York City
Jct W E ← Cairo ← Jct N S ←	W  E	→ becomes → Great Barrington