Discover Rhinebeck, NY: The Ultimate 48-Hour Hudson Valley Getaway
Credit: @rickiraven on Instagram
Rhinebeck is a Hudson Valley village that shines throughout the year, but especially from spring through fall. Its small, scenic parks and gardens make it a perfect setting for a relaxing family weekend in warmer months. By late September, the quaint town’s hotels and inns fill with leaf peepers looking to find the perfect perch to take in the foliage. With tasty farm-to-table restaurants, significant historical sites, and family-friendly hikes, Rhinebeck is an amazing place for a quick weekend getaway!
FRIDAY
5 pm: Check in to your hotel
Rhinebeck is quickly becoming a serious wellness destination. The new Mirbeau Inn & Spa (above) has earned rave reviews since opening in 2019, with a new restaurant from acclaimed New York City chef Charlie Palmer called Willow. Meanwhile, the Omega Institute is a world-class institution known for weekend yoga and wellness retreats. Check in at one of these relaxation-focused spots, or opt for a more classic hotel experience. The Beekman Arms is said to be America’s oldest continually operating hotel, originally opened as a tavern in the 1700s.
Credit: bia_rbk on Instagram
7 pm: Dinner at Bia
Located in the heart of the village, Bia offers a cozy ambiance in addition to elevated Irish-influenced cooking. In fact, Bia is Gaelic for food and sustenance. Start dinner with a beef and cashel pie, made with caramelized onion and farmhouse blue cheese, then try duck breast or lamb as a main course—a true Dublin-inspired menu here in the heart of the Hudson Valley! Make a reservation in advance, especially in peak seasons.
9 pm: Beer at The Kroeg
Up for a nightcap? Kroeg means pub or gathering place in Dutch, and in Rhinebeck, The Kroeg is the best place for craft beers. There are eight rotating taps often featuring noteworthy brewed-in-New York beers, as well as local wines and small bites.
SATURDAY
Credit: @breadalonebakery on Instagram
8 am: Coffee at All That Java or breakfast at Bread Alone
What started as a small coffee stand across the river in Kingston is now a full shop with tables and a selection of pastries in addition to delicious craft coffee. Looking for a fuller breakfast? The Rhinebeck location of the popular New York mini-chain Bread Alone features a restaurant that serves breakfast all day, including breakfast burritos, avocado toast, and all sorts of egg sandwiches.
Credit: @amanda_whyte_ on Instagram
9 am: Hike to the fire tower at Ferncliff Forest
It’s a quick five-minute drive to Ferncliff Forest, a beautiful 200-acre preserve with well-maintained trails and an easy, family-friendly .7-mile hike to a fire tower; climb up for incredible views of the Hudson Valley landscape and the Hudson River. The park allows dogs (on-leash) as well.
11 am: See vintage airplanes and cars at the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome Museum
It's a quick 10-minute drive to one of New York State's premier family-friendly attractions, the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome Museum in Red Hook. Here, you can see vintage aircraft including World War 1 airplanes, as well as antique cars (open May through mid-October from 10 am-5 pm). Between mid-June and mid-October, the Aerodrome thrills audiences young and old with its 2 pm air shows. Want to see the Hudson Valley from the cockpit of a vintage plane? You'll strap on a helmet and goggles as you fly up into the sky in a 1929 biplane ($100 per person, up to four passengers per flight) for a 15-minute tour.
1 pm: Lunch at Gigi Hudson Valley
Long before the farm-to-table movement took off nationally, Gigi’s served “Hudson Valley Mediterranean,” with inventive Italian cuisine made with ingredients from local farms. The signature “Skizza” is a flatbread pie topped with a variety of cheeses and sauces, as well as locally sourced meats and whatever vegetables happen to be in season. The Skizzas are available with gluten-free crust and vegan cheese, for a small additional fee. The trattoria is bright and airy at lunch, or ideal for a romantic dinner in the evenings.
Credit: @amanda_tiberio on Instagram
2:30 pm: Take a guided tour of the Wilderstein Mansion
From the village, it’s a lovely 20-minute (or less) drive to the Wilderstein Historic Site, an 1888 mansion with 40 acres of manicured grounds, originally designed by Calvert Vaux, longtime collaborator of Frederick Law Olmsted. The mansion was once home to Margaret Suckley, a cousin and confidante to Franklin D. Roosevelt. $11 adults/$10 seniors under 12 free
4 pm: Stroll the Rhinebeck Village Historic District
Rhinebeck's downtown is on the National Register of Historic Places as of 1979 for its collection of preserved buildings and architectural gems. There are many shops to browse, and coffee shops and eateries for a quick break. Take a look inside A.L. Stickle Variety Store, a throwback to the five-and-dime shops of mid-20th century small-town America.
Credit: @rickiraven on Instagram
6 pm: Dinner at The Amsterdam
This upscale yet laid-back restaurant is a recent and very welcome addition to Rhinebeck’s dining scene. It’s popular for weekend brunch, and also serves daily breakfast and lunch, but the dinner is a can't-miss for foodies. Seasonally driven, you'll find tantalizing salads with locally sourced ingredients, delicious soups, and entrees that make it tough to choose—there's a hearty burger, steaks, seafood, and pasta to tempt you.
8 pm: Dessert or cocktail at Liberty Public House
In keeping with the quaint village vibe, Rhinebeck is less of a nightlife destination and more of a place to gather with friends in convivial settings. Liberty calls itself a “public house,” and the setting in a circa-1862 building helps create the feel of the coziest of neighborhood taverns. Stop in for a craft cocktail or indulge in the extensive dessert menu, which spans cheesecake to churros to gluten-free brownies.
SUNDAY
9 am: Breakfast at the Golden Russet Cafe
Credit: @goldenrussetcafe on Instagram
Take a pleasant 20-minute drive to one of Rhinebeck’s newest food destinations, a combination cafe and grocery located in a former general store. A Brooklyn couple decamped to the area and lovingly made over the building, then assembled a menu with tantalizing dishes made from ingredients from local farms. At breakfast, try a bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich, or the griddled banana bread for those with a sweet tooth.
Credit: @bryanislost on Instagram
11 am: Staatsburgh State Historic Site
Another pleasant 20-minute drive gets you to one of the region’s most stunning historical sites. Staatsburgh is a Gilded Age mansion built in the late 19th century for capitalist Ogden Mills and his wife Ruth Livingston Mills. The 65-room Beaux Arts masterpiece is furnished in the opulent style of the era, and you can experience it with a tour, or take a stroll on the grounds, which overlook the Hudson River. (Tours run April-October, Tuesday-Sunday, 11am-5pm; closed November and December; January-March by appointment; $8 adults, $6 students/seniors, free for children 12 and under). Take a stroll of the grounds as well, which overlook the Hudson River.
1 pm: Lunch at Willow by Charlie Palmer
Head back to the village for lunch. The restaurant at the Mirbeau Inn & Spa comes from a man who is considered one of America’s foremost fine dining chefs, Charlie Palmer. At his new restaurant, Willow, you’ll find expertly prepared French-inspired dishes such as steak frites, French onion soup, and steak tartare, as well as an array of salads, grain bowls, and toasted sandwiches. The restaurant is also open for breakfast and dinner.
3 pm: Beekman Arms Antique Market
It wouldn’t be a trip to the Hudson Valley without a little antique shopping. Stop in at the Beekman Arms Antique Market, set in a historic two-story barn, and pick up a unique souvenir to remember your trip to this memorable village.
GETTING THERE
By plane:
- Stewart International Airport (SWF) Newburgh, NY: 53 minutes
- Westchester County Airport (HPN) White Plains, NY: 1 hour, 30 minutes
- John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Queens, NY: 2 hours, 5 minutes
- LaGuardia Airport (LGA), Queens, NY: 1 hour, 52 minutes
- Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), Newark, NJ: 1 hour, 55 minutes
By train:
- Metro-North Railroad Hudson Line from Grand Central Terminal in New York City to Poughkeepsie
- Amtrak train from Penn Station in New York City to Rhinecliff station.
By car:
- From New York City: 2 hours, 10 minutes
- From Albany: 1 hour, 10 minutes
- From Boston: 3 hours, 7 minutes
- From Philadelphia: 3 hours, 6 minutes
- From Montreal: 4 hours, 34 minutes
- From Toronto: 6 hours, 51 minutes
