Hudson Valley

A converted post office in Warwick, this small, off-the-beaten-path restaurant is great for a leisurely lunch. I’ll call ahead and, if I’m lucky (and the weather cooperates), snag one of the porch tables. I always savor and remember what I have here—because the menu is always changing and rarely repeats, chances are it won’t be offered again. The Grange has its own farm nearby for all of the produce it serves, which makes everything feel a little more special. I dream about the house-made bread and the dipping oil infused with garlic, herbs, and chilies. Come on Monday nights for some live piano playing.

A roaring fire is one of my favorite things—maybe one of everybody’s favorite things—and I’m always guaranteed one at this Livingston Manor restaurant. The place is buzzing with locals no matter the season, and it is just as much fun on hot, humid summer evenings as it is on cozy winter ones. I love the wood-fired pizzas, craft cocktails, and local beer.

New York is famous for its apples, and lately I’ve been really into hard ciders. A great cider is hard to come by, as they’re usually too sweet. But if you’re looking for a great cider and a great drive, check out Wayside in Andes. It makes its own, and a visit makes you feel like you’ve tapped into a local secret (call ahead to make sure it isn’t closed for a private event). Tiny Andes, meanwhile, is charming, and if you decide to hang around, take a spin through the fun vintage clothing store, Clementine.

Take a tour or grab a cocktail at this old-fashioned distillery in the middle of rural Gardiner. It’s hard to leave without buying a bottle or two of the whiskey or bourbon, and the restaurant, Char, is great for flatbreads and fried chicken sandwiches.

Stone Barns, in Pocantico Hills, is not only a beautiful farm; it’s also an enlightening educational experience. You can learn about farming practices, beekeeping, and gardening; explore the greenhouses; and visit the goats, pigs, and guinea fowl that call this place home. Stop by the shop and pick up some candles or gardening equipment, and for one last treat, pick up a tartine from the on-site café. If you can manage it, a weekday visit is far less crowded.

More than just a fishing club, this five-acre wooded retreat hosts weekend getaways on a property that includes a clubhouse, cottages, 600 feet of private riverfront, and four tepee-like tents. When you want an entire weekend of cooking fresh-caught trout and relaxing with friends in nature, I can’t think of anywhere better. There’s also a wood sauna, fire pits, and lawn games—plus all the fly-fishing you’d want in Willowemoc Creek.

Tim Trojian and Eliza Clark turned an old schoolhouse into an inn in 2013—and it’s been one of my favorite hangouts ever since. It is incredibly decorated with vintage artwork, antique furniture, and old Moroccan tiles, and there’s also a restaurant and bar for visitors who aren’t staying overnight. It’s worth coming for Sunday brunch, dinner, or even cocktail hour. I like to bring cards or a book to the glassed-in sitting room and lounge there for a bit with an old-fashioned. The opening hours change with the seasons, so check the website or call before heading out.

A treasure in the Hudson Valley town of Chester, Glenmere is a Gilded Age mansion built in 1911 that’s now a luxurious eighteen-room hotel. Frogs End Tavern is the on-site restaurant, which has a cozy tavern room with cowhide chairs and terra-cotta floors, as well as an outdoor courtyard for warm-weather meals. (And since the house was built in the style of an Italian villa, you could almost imagine you’re in Tuscany on sunny summer afternoons.) The menu changes with the seasons, but there’s always some

After cutting their teeth for eleven years in Red Hook, Monica Byrne and Leisah Swenson of Home/Made decided to take their beloved café up north to the Hudson Valley. Smack dab in the center of the action on Warren Street, they're doubling down on the weekend brunch scene. Open on Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., the surprisingly exhaustive seasonal offerings hit all the high notes: brioche cinnamon toast, granola parfaits, egg scrambles served with potatoes provencal and grilled walnut toast. There's also a small selection of freshly baked pastries and espresso to go.

This souped-up 1950's trailer churns out made-to-order juices like the Mildred (beet, apple, lemon, ginger) and filling smoothies (we're partial to the Zenith, which includes peanut butter, almond milk, and bananas). There's grab-and-go cayenne pepper flavored popcorn, and for traditionalists who need straight-up caffeine in the morning, they've got cold brew, too. A note—in the winter months, their storefront is at 449 Warren Street, and when it gets warmer, they set up on the corner of Warren and Front, just next to the Chamber of Commerce. Follow their whereabouts on Instagram.