The Top 5 Reasons to Visit Poughkeepsie, New York Now
WRITTEN BY 5 REASONS TO VISIT® EDITORIAL STAFF
PUBLISHED JULY 2022 • 4 min read
Known as “The Queen City of the Hudson,” Poughkeepsie is situated in the beautiful Hudson Valley on the banks of the Hudson River. Once a bustling center for industry along the Hudson River, Poughkeepsie, New York is going through a twenty-first century revival repurposing factory buildings as housing, eateries and art galleries. Discover unmatched views of the Hudson River and beyond, while checking out the Walkway Over the Hudson, the longest elevated pedestrian bridge in the world.
Mid-Hudson Bridge in Poughkeepsie, New York
1. THE SHOPPING
Poughkeepsie has a variety of shopping experiences—whether quaint bookstores, hunting for antique treasures or supporting local makers, you’ll be bringing something home from a getaway making that vacation feeling last just a little bit longer. With various shopping options, it’ll be hard not to purchase something to remember Poughkeepsie by.
Shopping in Poughkeepsie, New York
From the spacious Poughkeepsie Galleria, the most prominent enclosed shopping mall in Dutchess County with an impressive selection of over 140 places to shop—to upscale boutiques such as Sierra Lily with the most unique and beautiful jewelry, gifts, accessories, home decor, beauty, and baby gifts, and Elizabeth Boutique where women come to find elevated styles and brands that fit their personal lifestyle.
2. THE ART
Formerly the Vassar College Art Gallery, Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center is the first art museum at a college or university that was part of the institution’s original plan. Today, The Loeb’s permanent collection includes over 22,000 works, comprised of paintings, sculptures, drawings, photographs, textiles, and glass and ceramic wares. The collections of The Loeb are intended to support all aspects of the curriculum and to enhance the cultural life in the Hudson Valley region of New York.
Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center in Poughkeepsie, New York
Vassar College has been collecting works of art for over one hundred and fifty years. The founding collection numbered over 3,000 paintings (mostly American) and works on paper (mostly European). It has since grown to over 19,000 works of art spanning all chronological periods and many cultures. While only a small percentage of the entire collection is visible in the galleries at one time, many fine works rotate through the galleries as part of temporary exhibitions as well as the permanent collection installation. Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center is free and open to all.
Poughkeepsie also offers hidden gems, many of which come from the arts community. The city’s impressive murals are inspired pieces by the many local artists. While you’re exploring the city, keep your eyes peeled for the Bardavon Opera House Truck.
3. THE COCKTAILS & CUISINE
Perched on a cliff 40-feet above the Hudson River, Shadows on the Hudson is an award-winning waterfront restaurant in Poughkeepsie. Offering both indoor and outdoor dining, the prime location presents truly grand views of the Mid-Hudson Bridge and miles of open river. For your artisanal cocktail fix, we recommend trying the Green Goddess concocted with house-infused cucumber vodka, fresh-pressed cucumber juice and squeezed lime, as well as the Margarita Picante with Curamia tequila blanco, fresno-infused Aperol, squeezed lime, and agave.
The progressive American menu at Shadows on the Hudson offers a broad selection to appeal to everyone's palate. Favorite dishes include 22oz Porterhouse wish mashed yukon potatoes, grilled asparagus, Mediterranean compound butter with broccolini and red wine demi-glace, Lobster & Summer Corn Agnolotti with handmade pasta, sweet corn sauce, fresh herbs, and chopped Lobster, Ahi Tuna Sashimi with avocado purée, pickled ginger, ponzu, apple and fennel salad, fennel fronds, Chile & orange vinaigrette, sliced fresno, micro cilantro, and crispy rice paper, as well as Kale & Quinoa Salad with fresh blueberries, green beans, peaches, roasted pecans, feta and Dijon vinaigrette.
For those craving something sweet, end your experience with a Tropical Coconut Cake complete with coconut rum soaked sponge cake, cream frosting and toasted coconut. Hungry yet?
4. THE GARDENS
Dappled Berms—The Garden of Scott VanderHamm is situated on a 1-acre property within a 1950s (IBM-era) suburban community. As a result of the mature trees that dominate the grounds, a shade perennial garden was created and cultivated over 24 seasons of weekend gardening. The assembled collection of plants, spread throughout numerous beds and man-made berms, relies heavily on the juxtapositions of color, texture, and form to bring interest and natural beauty to the garden.
One of the highlights of Dappled Berms—The Garden of Scott VanderHamm is the collection of more than 378 different hosta cultivars numbering more than 643 specimens, all labeled for ease of identification. The garden is one of 25 gardens featured in the recently published book by Linda O'Keefe, Inside Outside: A Sourcebook of Inspired Garden Rooms.
5. THE ARCHITECTURE
Situated on a dramatic bluff overlooking the Hudson River, Locust Grove Estate is a villa in the Italianate style designed in 1850 for artist and inventor Samuel F. B. Morse by architect Alexander Jackson Davis. Inspiration for the home was drawn from the elegant villas in the Italian countryside.
The 200-acres of landscaped grounds are set on a sharp bluff overlooking the Hudson River and retain the large flower and kitchen gardens planted. In addition to the manicured gardens around the mansion, Locust Grove Estate includes nearly 5 miles of carriage roads, laid out in the 19th century, that wind through the forest and meadows along the Hudson River. Enjoy great river views on the Sawmill Trail, the waterfall on the Cascade Trail, or the shady Lane Loop.
WHERE TO STAY IN POUGHKEEPSIE, NEW YORK
Find calm and quiet at the Hyatt Place Poughkeepsie, located in the verdant Hudson Valley. Take in scenic views of the Hudson River from the Walkway Over the Hudson, the world’s longest, elevated pedestrian bridge, or explore area historic homes, like Eleanor Roosevelt or the Vanderbilt family.
