The Hudson Valley starts about forty-five minutes south of Albany and runs down to the edge of New York City, which means “the Hudson Valley” covers a lot of ground that has little in common.
For a family based near Albany, the useful part is the northern half — Columbia, Greene, Dutchess and Ulster counties, all within about ninety minutes.
What’s actually worth the drive
Bannerman Castle — a ruined arsenal on an island in the Hudson, reached by boat. Genuinely strange and genuinely memorable. Bannerman Island
Hyde Park — the FDR home and library, the Vanderbilt Mansion, and the Culinary Institute. More interesting to children than “presidential historic site” suggests. Hyde Park
Walkway Over the Hudson — a mile-and-a-quarter former railway bridge, 212 feet above the river, now a walking park. Flat, stroller-friendly, and the single best effort-to-payoff ratio in the region.
Olana — Frederic Church’s house above the river, and the view he built it for. Grounds are free.
Kaaterskill and the Catskills are next door and considerably bigger. Things to Do in the Catskills With Kids
Free things to do
Unusual things to do
From Albany
| Destination | Drive |
|---|---|
| Hudson / Olana | 45 min |
| Catskill | 45 min |
| Kingston | 1 hr |
| Hyde Park | 1 hr 15 |
| Poughkeepsie / Walkway | 1 hr 20 |
| Beacon | 1 hr 30 |
Past about ninety minutes you’re in NYC’s day-trip range rather than Albany’s, and the crowds change accordingly.
Where to stay
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Ninety minutes south. Making a day of it?