NEWSLETTER
The walkable Hudson Valley city of Beacon is a popular weekend getaway, where small-town charm meets an art lover’s paradise. Home to the renowned Dia Beacon along with other contemporary and modern art museums, restaurants, adorable boutique shops, and a hopping craft beverage scene, the opportunities for activities are endless, so why not plan your visit over a weekend? With Metro-North super express trains providing direct service from New York City, it’s an easy car-free getaway. Here's how to make the most out of your time in Beacon!
FRIDAY
5 pm: Cheers to a Craft Beverage Happy Hour
It’s 5 pm somewhere, so why not start your trip to Beacon with a visit to Denning’s Point Distillery whose artisanal spirits like bourbon and apple brandy are crafted from locally sourced grains and fruits? Located in one of downtown Beacon's 19th-century buildings, the distillery offers a hopping happy hour with $7 house cocktails 4-6pm every Friday and tasting flights are only $10! Be sure to check your visit off on the Dutchess Tourism Taste Finder Craft Beverage Trail Pass, a digital passport that unlocks perks at some of the finest craft beverage tasting rooms and tap houses in the Hudson Valley.
If beer is more your thing, head to Two Way Brewing Company, a local standout that offers a beer style for everyone, from hefeweizen to IPA to stout, and is just a 5 minute walk from the Beacon Metro-North station. Others worth a mention are Main Street’s Hudson Valley Brewery (pictured) and Draught Industries, which offers a rotating menu of local and regional craft beers of note.
6:30 pm: Dinner and a Show at Towne Crier Cafe
The legendary Towne Crier Café changed locations a few times since opening in Beekman in 1972, eventually settling in an 8,000-square-foot, 250-seat venue on Main Street in Beacon. It's a must-visit on Friday nights for complimentary live music and be sure to stick around for the ticketed headliner performances that start right after. Shows are cabaret style and dinner menus include crowd pleasers like Caesar salad, classic Reuben sandwiches and juicy burgers. Check the calendar for the regular procession of A-list names in folk, rock, jazz, blues, and pop.
SATURDAY
9 am: Breakfast on Main Street
Start the day right with a proper English breakfast of eggs, sourdough toast, grilled banger sausage, bacon, blood pudding, hash browns, portobello mushrooms, beans and tomato at Moreish (vegetarian and vegan versions also available), a cozy eatery right on Main Street. If you want something more casual, get in line at the always popular Bagel-ish up the street, where you can find unique bagel flavors that pay homage to Beacon’s cultural diversity. The za’atar, in particular, is a fan favorite.
10:30 am: Discover Dia
Just a mile off Main Street, the 300,000 square-foot Dia Beacon houses Dia Art Foundation's renowned collection of art from the 1960s to the present, as well as special exhibitions and new commissions in a restored Nabisco factory bordering the Hudson River. One of the main benefits of the location is that it has space both inside and out to show off large-scale sculptures and installations, such as Richard Serra’s monumental steel sculptures, which visitors can walk through and around. It also showcases works from other noted artists such as Dan Flavin, Joseph Beuys, Donald Judd, On Kawara, and Andy Warhol. Its 30-plus acres of artistically landscaped grounds offer a serene setting for a stroll. Leave yourself at least two hours for your visit.
1 pm: Lunch Time
Grab a laid-back lunch at popular Afghan-style burger and bowl joint Nansense just off of Main Street in town, where you can also sample traditional apps like mantu (beef dumplings served with mint-garlic yogurt and split chickpea korma) and fun fusion items like masala fries.
2:30 pm: Go for a Hike
Credit: @crystalannfloyd on Instagram
Soak in beautiful Hudson Valley vistas from one of Beacon’s many hiking trails. If you’re looking to get your heart racing, Mount Beacon is a challenging yet rewarding adventure you won’t want to pass up. With a 1,384-foot elevation gain, this 3.8-mile, out-and-back hike is sure to take your breath away (in more ways than one), where steep incline leads to gorgeous views of the Hudson River, Catskill Mountains, and Hudson Highlands from the overlook or 60-foot fire tower. If you want a leisurely walk through beautiful scenery, try Madam Brett Park, where a relaxing 30-minute hike along Fishkill Creek will land you at a stunning waterfall. Dennings Point Park is another great easy option, featuring a ¾-mile, mostly flat trail that opens up to a waterfront view of the Hudson River and surrounding landscape.
5 pm: Refuel at Matcha Thomas
Credit: @skinquench on Instagram
Catch your breath and some zen vibes at a peaceful sister-owned matcha cafe. The cafe serves meticulously hand-crafted beverages using the finest ceremonial grade matcha powder from Uji, Japan, widely considered the world’s foremost producer of green tea. Enjoy the creamy smoothness of the signature Matcha Thomas or try one of the seasonal flavors such as pumpkin spice or apple pie. Bubble tea lovers rejoice because the cafe also offers boba.
5:45 PM Dinner at the Hudson Valley Food Hall
Celebrate food from all around the world all under one roof at the Hudson Valley Food Hall! The food hall serves as an incubator for restaurant concepts, with several alumni such as Momo Valley successfully establishing their own presence in town. Take a stroll down the hall where you’re spoiled for choice with options that include Indian and Middle Eastern fusion, specialty tacos, burgers, pasta bowls, pan-Asian specialities, and hand-crafted cocktails, and much more. On a nice day, post up on the back patio where you will be treated to mountain views.
7:15 pm: Make it a Game Night
Stop by the Happy Valley Arcade Bar for a drink and put those loose quarters to use at one of nearly 30 vintage arcade game machines. Whether you chomp it up with Pac-Man, work up a sweat with a round of Dance Dance Revolution, or go for a round of Pulp Fiction pinball, it’s sure to be a nostalgia fest. Pink pleather booths will take you all the way back to the 80s and 90s, and an expansive patio offers a breath of fresh air while you sip on craft beers or a Simpsons-themed Marge-a-Rita.
SUNDAY
10 am: Brunch in Beacon
Treat yourself to an upscale yet affordable Sunday brunch at the Beacon Falls Cafe, where the chef, a graduate of The Culinary Institute of America, turns out seasonal frittatas, savory variations on eggs Benedict, cannoli cream stuffed French toast, and much more.
11:30 am: Shop 'til You Drop
After lunch, wander in and out of the numerous art galleries, boutiques, and antique shops along Beacon’s walkable Main Street. Options include: the Hudson Beach Glass gallery and glass-blowing demonstration studio located inside a restored firehouse, the Beacon Artists Union galleries, vintage boutique MOD, Finders Keepers antique store, retro soda and soap shop Beacon Bath and Bubble, and quirky gift shops, like Zakka Joy and Witch Please.
12:30 pm Visit the Beacon Farmers Market
Every Sunday from 10am-2pm, the Dutchess County Beacon Government Center parking lot transforms into a farmers’ market that rivals those in Europe. Rotating vendors include delicious locally-grown produce, small batch delicacies, crafts and gifts produced by local Hudson Valley farmers and artisans. Standouts include a spiced seasonal local sangria at Manor Sangria, delicious Upstate Granola, and a lion's mane mushroom chocolate elixir from Four Wall Farm Gourmet Mushrooms & Food.
1:30 pm Stop for A Sweet Treat
Credit: Emma Frisbie
If you love donuts, you are in for a treat. If you don’t love donuts, you’re about to fall head over heels. Sample freshly made-to-order cake donuts at Glazed Over Donuts, where you pick your own glaze, drizzle, and topping combos, or visit Peaceful Provisions for delicious scratch-made brioche-style vegan options.
2 pm: Get Your Fix of Art & Culture
A short walk away is the Howland Cultural Center, an arts institution that’s been around for more than 40 years, hosting everything from a chamber music series to film screenings to family entertainment. Housed in an architecturally significant building that dates to 1872, the Howland offers Sunday afternoon programming, so check the schedule and get a dose of culture before departing your new favorite city!
3 pm: Geek Out at The Pandorica
Fans of the British sci-fi series "Dr. Who"-themed eatery cafe can’t skip town without dining at The Pandorica. Run by a London expat, the respected restaurant turns out dishes like "fish fingers and custard" and other insider-friendly takes, and also offers a serious tea menu, plus decor with references to the show.
GETTING THERE
By plane:
- Stewart International Airport (SWF) Newburgh, NY (20 minutes)
- Westchester County Airport (HPN) White Plains, NY (1 hour)
- John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Queens, NY (1 hour, 45 minutes)
- LaGuardia Airport (LGA), Queens, NY (1 hour, 30 minutes)
- Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), Newark, NJ (1 hour, 40 minutes)
By train:
- From the south take Metro-North Railroad Hudson Line from Grand Central Terminal in New York City to Beacon Station
- From north of Poughkeepsie, take an Amtrak train to Poughkeepsie Station and transfer to a Metro-North train. Beacon Station is the second stop.
By car:
- From New York City: 1 hour, 30 minutes
- From Albany: 1 hour, 30 minutes
- From Buffalo: 5 hours 30 minutes
- From Boston: 3 hours, 50 minutes
- From Philadelphia: 2 hours, 45 minutes
- From Montreal: 5 hours 5 minutes
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