A Winter Weekend in Hudson
Alice and I needed an escape from the city for a few days, so we spent a long January weekend in Hudson, New York! Hudson is one of the more popular, well-known towns in the Hudson Valley, directly along the Hudson River. The drive from the city is just over two hours, so it’s a convenient location for a weekend getaway! You can also take a train - the Amtrak station is an easy ten-minute walk from many restaurants and shops in the center of Hudson.
Our weekend getaway was in the cold of winter and in the middle of the pandemic, so we stuck to bundled-up outdoor activities. Much to her chagrin, Alice had to wear a coat or sweater every day we were in Hudson. As always, pay close attention to potential signs that your pupper is getting too cold!
Alice and Auggie (@auggo_thedoggo) on Warren Street!
Dog-Friendly Experiences
Olana State Historic Site
Artist Frederic Church designed this house and the surrounding landscape in the 1800s. The home itself is gorgeous, with so much detail on the outside. From the house, which sits atop a hill, you can see the Hudson River to the west and a pond to the south (at least in the winter when the trees are leaf-less). There are many trails throughout the park, through the trees and with views of the river. While dogs are not allowed to go into the home, they can join you around the rest of the property! There are tour guides around the property if you have questions, as well as several informative plaques along the trails. Olana is about a ten-minute drive south of the main streets of Hudson, with plenty of parking - no fee.
Greenport Conservation Area
You and your doggo must go walking/hiking here! There are a few different inter-woven trails, so you can make your walk anywhere between one and five miles. There are several lookout points with beautiful views of the Hudson River. We were lucky enough to catch a breathtaking sunset at the end of our hike! The trails were quite snowy in some spots while we were there, so I imagine the area may be covered in snow and ice at the end of winter. Greenport Conservation Area is about a five-minute drive, or forty-minute walk, from the main drag in Hudson. There is a small parking lot at the trailhead.
Promenade Hill Park & Henry Hudson Riverfront Park
These parks are right along the river, easily walkable from the restaurants and shops in Hudson. Promenade Hill Park is at the end of Warren Street, elevated above the water with gorgeous views of the river and the hills on the opposite side of the Hudson. Henry Hudson Riverfront Park is a bit further south, level with the water. Both would be ideal spots for watching the sunset, or having a coffee or lunch on the benches or picnic tables.
Shopping & Strolling on Warren Street
Hudson is simply adorable. Warren Street, the main street through Hudson, is beyond charming. You’ll find street art and lovely window displays all along Warren. There are so many cute shops - but they aren’t all dog-friendly! A local informed me that about half of the shops allow dogs inside and the others do not, so open the door and ask an employee before just trotting into a store with your pup. But you need to pick up a treat or two for your pooch at Love Thy Beast - they have beautiful sweaters and so many toys and cookies. There is another Love Thy Beast location in the city, in the East Village!
Dog-Friendly Coffee Shops & Bars
REV Coffee - The inside of this coffee shop is beautiful, and they have puppy treats! There wasn’t any indoor seating at the time because of COVID, so I’m not sure if you can sit and hang out with a dog, or if they’re only allowed in to grab a drink to-go. I thoroughly enjoyed the mocha and chocolate chip cookie I got here.
Supernatural Coffee + Bakery - This little coffee shop is filled with natural light and has delicious chai lattes. Again, not sure if doggos can sit inside, but they did have a small table outside on the sidewalk.
Moto Coffee/Machine - A motorcycle shop/coffee shop hybrid right on Warren Street, Moto has plenty of space and no one seemed concerned at all about Alice’s presence.
Hudson Brewing Company - Our friends Meaghan and Auggie joined us for one day in Hudson, and we had such a lovely time here! Dogs are allowed in the taproom, where they may get a treat if they’re well-behaved :) They had a good selection of beers, the bartenders were lovely, and we got yummy snacks from the food truck outside.
Cooper’s Daughter Spirits - This distillery, with plenty of outdoor seating, is about a ten-minute drive from Hudson. It is set in what looks like an old farmhouse or barn, with a large yard and neighboring field out back. Everyone we interacted with was so excited to see Alice there - and complimented her new sweater from Love Thy Beast! The spiked hot-chocolate cocktails were delicious, and I got a bottle of their maple whiskey as well. There was a large firepit in the middle of the yard and multiple heaters around, but it was still quite cold!! Definitely go on a warmer, sunnier day if visiting in winter.
Where We Ate
Because of the cold, restaurants didn’t have outdoor seating availability when we were in Hudson. Walking down Warren St, I noticed several restaurants that do have outdoor space, which I assume they use in warmer months - but I’m not sure if dogs are allowed in these areas. During our weekend in Hudson, we picked up food from local restaurants and ate at the AirBnB or in a park. There are plenty of small parks in Hudson with benches or picnic tables, so you can always eat there with your pup! Here are the restaurants we ordered from, which were all delicious.
Kitty’s Market - The bacon, egg, & cheese here is delectable.
The Maker Café - Their (fancy) grilled cheese was divine. The decor inside is also beautiful - I will definitely look into staying at The Maker Hotel next time!
Cascades - I got two yummy sandwiches from this Hudson staple.
La Mision - Meaghan and I got burritos, which were pretty good, and margaritas that were great.
Wunderbar - The cheesesteak burger was so good!
Breadfolks - There was a line outside this place each time I walked by, so I finally went in and got a really good pastry.
Where We Stayed
Cuddle puddle in the living room of our AirBnB.
We stayed at a lovely AirBnB just a five-to-ten-minute walk north of Warren Street. This two-bedroom apartment is very spacious and inviting. There is a small balcony off the back, with a nice view to the north-west. The location is unbeatable - it was extremely easy to walk to coffee shops, restaurants, and parks nearby. The host provided a guide to Hudson before I arrived and was very quick to answer all of my questions. The price was fair and there was plenty of street parking nearby. I would definitely stay here again!
