8 Things To Love About Hudson, New York

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If you were to dream up a perfect community for quiet weekend trips from NYC, Hudson would check off all the boxes. Over the past few years, the upstate New York town has become a haven for creative-ish folks fleeing Manhattan and Brooklyn for a quieter way of life. The result is a blend between the relaxed, welcoming pace of lifelong locals and the buzzing entrepreneurial energy of city transplants who are still learning how to slow down their pace in their new home.

The best weekend trips from NYC begin in Hudson…

The streets are lined with trusty local hardware stores and diners that have been around forever alongside Brooklyn-born stationery shops that sell small-batch candles. In short, Hudson contains a lot of contrasts, but it also offers up tiny slices of charm around every corner. (Seriously: when locals would ask me how I was liking Hudson, I kept calling it “delightful,” like freaking Mary Poppins or something. But that was the only word that summed it up just right!)

If you’re an overworked city dweller, Hudson is the perfect place to escape to by train when you need to get away from life for a few days. Here’s what will sweep you off your feet when you get there…

1. Hudson antique stores

Hudson must be breaking some kind of record somewhere for the most antique shops on any given block. Hudson antique stores offer an array of storied furniture, vintage records, quirky glassware, and historic finds is unreal. And of course, each shop’s whacky displays are a sight in and of themselves. Every shop owner had a different story to tell about how they’d landed in town and where they sourced their treasures, and of these Hudson antique stores were as unique as the antiques themselves.

2. The creative culture

Did you know Hudson has its own elusive local painter who sells his work on the streets, rarely makes appearances, and is something of a celebrity? Yeah, me neither. The town is home to artists and creatives of every stripe, and that’s reflected in everything from the healing crystals sold in the local thrift shops to the flair that goes into the local decor.

3. The people

I had more great conversations with strangers in Hudson than I can count. Some were transplants who decided to stay here after one too many weekend trips from NYC. Some were lifelong residents. All of them were incredibly kind and took the time to talk.

4. Hudson’s historic homes

Each one seems more beautiful than the last.

5. The bright colors

It’s like a cartoon come to life, am I right?

6. The opera house

The Hudson Opera House is more than 150 years old, and is New York State’s oldest surviving opera house. Hudson citizens came together in 1992 to give the building new life, and just finished a major performance hall restoration project. The best part? It’s open to the public during the day, so you can wander in and check out some of the building’s ancient treasures.

7. The nighttime stillness

On weekend evenings, the town tucks in for the evening—a novel concept for those of us who are hooked on the 24/7 nature of today’s world (raises hand). When I was in town, even the local CVS closed early! The cozy quiet makes nighttime walks through the streets a thing of magic. The sidewalks empty out, but closed shops’ creative displays mostly stay lit up. It’s like a walk through an art gallery on your own little planet.

8. The surprises at every turn

One of the reasons I consider Hudson one of my best weekend trips from NYC (and trust, I’ve been on more weekend jaunts than I can count) that the city is full of little Easter eggs. Once, we looked down at the sidewalk to discover that an array of lovely seashells were encased into the cement beneath our feet. Another time, we walked into what appeared to be an overflowing thrift shop, only to find that a kickass bar was in the back room.

When we veered off the town’s main street, we accidentally came across a distinguished, well-loved theater that’s been in town for decades—and we wouldn’t even have spotted it if we hadn’t kept our eyes open! The whole town is this way. It looks like one thing at first, but is always hiding another layer of magic just beneath the surface if you’re willing to look a little closer.