Good news, everyone: It’s the perfect time of year for a long-weekend getaway. And since that whole nebulous “upstate” place can be a little overwhelming, we’re helping narrow it down by spotlighting one of our favorite towns in the Hudson Valley, just 90 minutes from NYC. Oh, and did we mention you don’t even need a car to get there?
Your Next Weekend Escape: Rhinebeck, NY
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Published Sep 11, 2017
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Getting There
The bad news: The most direct route requires a trip to Penn Station. The good news: The Amtrak Empire line takes you straight to Rhinecliff station, which is just a five-minute cab ride to the center of town.
Beekman Arms/Facebook
Where To Stay
History buffs should check into the Beekman Arms, the country’s oldest continuously operating inn (it counts both George Washington and Oprah among its past guests). Or embrace country life at Whistlewood, a bed and breakfast on a working farm. (We also spotted a few gorgeous Airbnbs.)
Jennifer May
Where To Eat
For a city with a population of less than 8,000, Rhinebeck has some serious restaurant game. Grab a burger at Matchbox Café, feast on pasta at Market Street, sample the unreal desserts at Calico and, while it’s still warm, nab a spot on the patio of the restored Dutch farmhouse that now houses farm-to-table spot The Amsterdam.
What To Do
Just north of town lies a 200-acre old-growth preserve, Ferncliff Forest. Along with four miles of idyllic trails, the major draw is an 80-foot observation tower atop the park’s highest point, offering what might be the most spectacular views in the entire Hudson Valley.
What To See
Explore Wilderstein, a 19th-century Queen Anne-style mansion (and accompanying grounds, landscaped by Central Park’s Calvert Vaux), whose last resident, Daisy Suckley, was a distant cousin and close friend of FDR. Head to the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome to see a collection of vintage planes dating back to the ’30s. And be sure to stop by the Dutchess County Fairgrounds, which host a massive county fair each summer and other festivals throughout the year.