Staycation Guide: Shopping, Wining, Dining or Just Staying Put

Shopping in Cold Spring

Manhattanites set aside entire weekends to visit this charming village — and for us, it’s right around the corner. Antiques, clothing stores, specialty shops and art galleries are all within walking distances of downtown. Ready for lunch or dinner? Try the authentic French brasserie Le Bouchon or "fill ‘er up” at the hugely popular and authentic Round Up Texas BBQ. Overnight accommodations include The Pig Hill Inn and The Kittleman House, two bed-and-breakfasts set in historic 19^th century buildings right on Main Street.

Wining on the Shawangunk Wine Trail

It’s been 300 years since French Huguenot settlers introduced wine making to the Hudson Valley. Today there are 11 family-owned wineries along the Shawangunk Trail, a scenic 80-mile route stretching from New Paltz to Warwick. Each winery is unique. You can sample reds, whites, bone-dry and sweet dessert wines, sparkling and vinifera, as well as French-American varietals and blends. Along the way, enjoy the apple blossoms, do some strawberry-picking and buy an armful of fresh flowers to take home.

Dining at the Culinary Institute of America (CIA)

World-renowned chef Paul Bocuse called it “the best culinary school in the world" and many of its graduates go on to become world-renowned themselves. Choose between five award-winning student-staffed restaurants, from the up-scale classical French Escoffier to the more casual farm-to-table St. Andrew’s Café. Visit the well-stocked store, attend a lecture, take a one-day class or immerse yourself in the super-charged CIA boot camp!

Stay Put at The Garrison

Relax for a day, or two or three, at this all-inclusive resort just 40 minutes from Brewster. The 300-acre facility offers spectacular views of the Hudson and its surrounding highlands, an 18-hole Dick Wilson golf course, a hair salon, a day spa, a fitness room with personal training and daily yoga classes. The elegant Valley Restaurant serves up fresh food grown right on the property’s own farm. The informal outdoor Terrace Grill, open all day, provides salads, burgers, sandwiches and snacks. But book early — the inn only has four rooms.

Hiking on the Appalachian

After that long, dreary winter aren’t you dying for a breathe of fresh spring air? There are plenty of great hiking trails right around us, including one of America’s most famous: The Appalachian Trail. Passing through on its way from Maine to Georgia, the Trail invites you to pause in Putnam for a breather at the Pawling train station. From there you can continue through Fahnestock State Park and on to Bear Mountain (the lowest elevation on the entire 2,175 mile trail). What better way to connect with nature, reflect on our nation’s history, and enjoy our local backdrop?