 New York, NY - Festive lights reflected in shop windows, the aroma of balsam and gingerbread wafting through the air, there’s no better time to experience small village life in the Hudson Valley than during the holiday season.
Like a scene out of Currier & Ives, the charm of the Hudson Valley will transport you back in time to another era. Picture travelers bundled up for sleigh rides, hands warmed in muffs, and you’re half way there.
Today many of the river towns and hamlets still retain the warmth and glow of holidays past as merchants stock their stores and boutiques with distinctive wares. Gourmet restaurants and cozy cafes offer a welcome respite from the cold after strolling or shopping, and in the evening there’s the promise of a bountiful repast.
To enjoy the season with an old-fashioned twist, Hudson Valley Tourism suggests an itinerary that includes small towns and villages well within reach of New York City and surrounding areas:
Start with the river town of Piermont, lit up magnificently for the season. It’s here you’ll find unusual antiques, American crafts, old-fashion toys, unique giftware, and fine art.
Across the river is Tarrytown, an historic Hudson River town. Main Street offers an outstanding selection of antique shops and art galleries such as Bigi Antiques, The Curio Shop, and Gallery du Soleil, as well as gourmet food boutiques and a nearby teahouse.
Victorian shops and houses line the streets of Cold Spring decorated with cheery lights and woodsy greenery. The village offers one-of-a-kind antiques at a dozen shops where you’ll discover vintage toys, rare jewels, and rustic folk art.
Stroll the streets of Sugar Loaf Art and Craft Village, a 250-year-old hamlet inhabited by artisans with a diverse array of talents. Don’t miss The Candle Shop, Rosner Soap, and Exposures Gallery that carries beautiful photographs of the Hudson Valley.
The artist’s enclave of Woodstock is a short drive away, featuring more than 70 stores with fantastically decorated holiday windows. Books, art, crafts and jewelry are in good supply, and don’t miss the French general store, Chez Grandmere.
Rhinebeck is a “walking” village with more than 200 homes on the National Historic Register. Among the finds are handmade soaps, jewelry, casual to chic apparel, paper goods, crafts, and treasures found at the Beekman Arms Antiques barn.
Cross the Hudson to the town of Catskill for a vibrant downtown experience of shops and galleries, and even a paint-your-own pottery store for that truly inimitable gift. Deck the halls with handmade home furnishings, antiques and tableware, and satisfy the tummy with chocolates and locally roasted coffees—all found in the Main Street emporiums.
Be creative in Chatham where you can find everything from baking supplies at Main Street Grainery to vegan footwear at Cow Jones Industrials. The charming village has interesting antiques as well as The Chocolate Moose with candies and treasures for all tastes.
Browse "antique row" in downtown Troy, and the many boutiques found along River Street and its corridors. Hunting for handcrafted jewelry, pottery and trendy attire is a treat for all.
Nearby, Lark Street, known as the “Village in the City,” is Albany’s answer to an eclectic Greenwich Village neighborhood. Now more than 20 shops are filled with everything from handmade jewelry, local art, clothing and antiques to African beads and carvings, tapestries and novelty gifts.
Rekindle your holiday spirit by shopping in these charming Hudson Valley villages offering a warm welcome. You’ll find very special gifts in a relaxed and leisurely atmosphere far from the crowds of the city and the crush of the malls. Happy Holidays!
Piermont. 845-359-1258, www.piermont-ny.com
Tarrytown. 914-631-1705, www.sleepyhollowchamber.com
Cold Spring. 845-265-3200, www.coldspringchamber.com
Sugar Loaf. 845-469-9382, www.sugarloafnychamber.com
Woodstock. 845-679-6234, www.woodstockchamber.com
Rhinebeck. 845-876-5904, www.rhinebeckchamber.com
Catskill. 518-943-0989, www.welcometocatskill.com
Chatham. 518-392-5848, www.villageofchatham.com
Troy. 518-274-7020, www.troyvictorianstroll.com
Albany / Lark Street. 518-434-3861, www.larkstreet.org
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