The Hudson Valley is the perfect place for a healthy-oriented getaway.
It is an incredibly special place to me.
Not only did I grow up here, but I believe it set the foundation for my interest in health and fitness.
You can’t walk two steps without being in awe of a breathtaking vista or being serenading by the song of a woodland bird.
It’s just simply amazing and I wanted to share a little piece of it with you in this article.
While all of the Hudson Valley holds immense beauty, I will specifically be speaking about Ulster County and the Shawangunk mountains.
The Catskill Gunks
The Shawangunks have been my stomping grounds for years and the tranquility of where the Hudson River Valley meets the foothills of the Catskill mountain range can only be done justice by experiencing it with YOUR own senses.
It is conveniently reached by car from New York and Boston.
It’s about a 2-hour drive north of NYC and a 3-hour drive southwest of Boston.
The area has been a place of inspiration for various 19th-century Hudson River School painters and has a strong history of culinary influence.
You cannot go more than a mile without running into a farm with decadent produce and farm-to-table fare.
The Hudson Valley is home to countless orchards and farms, distilleries, state parks.
Not to mention all of the destination-worthy art galleries and antique markets.
There are several nearby attractions which include the Dia: Beacon, Storm King Art Center, Mohonk Preserve, and the Culinary Institute of America.
Why the Hudson Valley is the Ideal Health-Oriented Get-Away
Part of feeling energized and healthy is about getting outdoors and getting into the elements.
And the Hudson Valley is the perfect place to do just that.
There is something unexplainable about leaving the city to participate in the local landscape of the Hudson Valley.
As soon as you get out of your car, you are immediately hit with the fragrant scents of wildflowers and evergreen trees.
A sigh of relief after a stressful work month in the city.
Things to Do
Experience Nature
The first thing I recommend you do is to take a hike or a walk.
The city mindset is always go, go, go – and if you came up here to relax and improve your health and wellness, you need to slow down.
There is nothing wrong with action-packed activities and I will share several of those specific activities below.
But, if you want to feel younger and healthier, let your body experience a state of flow within the elements and head over to the Mohonk trails where you will find the best hikes in New York.
They offer several hikes of varying difficulty and you can tailor your experience accordingly.
Even if you arent up for a long hike, they have several short relaxing loops that offer breathtaking vistas.
Find Some Local Food
The Hudson Valley has some of the best farm to fork fare you could ever imagine.
I am a big fan of so many places to eat but a few that come to mind as an experienced local are the following:
Liquid Mercantile in Gardiner, New York
Described perfectly on their website:
“The Farm Bar is an eating and drinking establishment that showcases delicious locally produced wine, cider, spirits, cocktails and beer by the glass, along with an amazing food menu which changes daily. Our ingredients are as hyper local as possible, sourced from many of the amazing local farms in the Gardiner area. We are not a formal sit down dining kind of place, but have plenty of bar and counter seating that allows you eat, drink and interact with both our talented bartender and the other local patrons. Stop in and sit next to many area farmers, wine-makers, distillers, brewers, business owners, and neighbors.”
Ollies Pizza in High Falls, New York
This is by far my favorite pizza establishment because they offer the best wood-fired pizzas and most of their ingredients are locally sourced from the area.
That means you end up with a bite full of the Hudson Valley each time your tongue hits that warm cheesy goodness.
I highly recommend loading up on any of the healthy toppings they offer for your wood-fired piece of heaven.
SILVIA in Kingston, New York
From their website:
“SILVIA is a family-owned restaurant that connects food & people with back-to-basics cooking that is honest, sustainable, and refined. Our open kitchen, with a wood-fired grill and pantry of organic vegetables, reflects our dedication to locally-sourced ingredients.”
I absolutely love their healthy, varied menu which speaks volumes about the close-knit food culture here in the Hudson Valley.
Book a Concierge Personal Training Session
If you are spending the long weekend here and you have had your fair share of good eats and relaxation in the idyllic Hudson Valley landscape, get moving and rejuvenated with a 60-minute personal training session.
While most of my clients have second homes here where I train them regularly, I happily meet any newcomers to the area at their rental airbnb or hotel for a tailored personal training session.
I’ll guide you through a safe, pain-free exercise session outdoors if the weather permits.
If the weather doesn’t allow, we’ll take it indoors and break a sweat for 60 minutes and send you back to the city feeling relaxed and energized.
You can find more about my concierge personal training services here.
I love meeting newcomers to the area and would be happy to share all of my other recommendations for the area as well.
Come take a visit to the Hudson Valley to take in all that upstate New York has to offer!
You’ll immediately feel rejuvenated and leave with a piece of the Catskills in your heart that you can call upon whenever the stress of daily life gets to you!
Feel free to reach out if you would like any recommendations or if you would like to book a session.
Looking forward to meeting you!
jakob@rozefit.com