I love going Destination Scouting for my clients. When my client asked me to go on a foliage scouting excursion, I was so excited! This city girl was in need of some nature.
After some research, I discovered a little slice of heaven called Beacon, which is part of Poughkeepsie, New York. Beacon is conveniently located about 60 minutes north of New York City. It’s a short drive from Manhattan and accessible by train via Metro North.
The quaint city was named in honor of the historic Beacon fires that blazed from the summit of the Fishkill Mountains to alert the Continental Army about the movements of the British Army.
Beacon was originally an industrial city along the Hudson River, but the town experienced a revival in 2003 with the construction of Dia: Beacon, one of the largest modern art museums in the United States. The museum has Mount Beacon as its backdrop and the Hudson River as its view. How idyllic is that for a location?!
The city of Beacon has a hip and artsy vibe with a charming hometown atmosphere. Beacon’s excitement unfolds along, you guessed it, Main Street. The central road in town is lined with an eclectic mix of boutique shops, restaurants, and bars, including the Town Crier Café where you can hear live music on a nightly basis.
The town does like to sleep in. Most shops open at noon on Saturdays but the Bank Square Coffeehouse is open early to meet your morning caffeine needs!
I was eager to take advantage of my city getaway, so I planned a day hike followed by a stroll around town and some eating and drinking!
You can access the hiking trail at the base of Mount Beacon from the center of town. While it is about a 40-minute walk, I suggest driving 5 minutes to the trailhead at the base.
Before you start hiking, I recommend checking out the country store across the street from the base of the mountain. It was the most charming and festive country store I’ve ever seen. There was even a DJ pumping people up for their hike! The store is a great place to grab sandwiches, salads, cold beverages, or whatever you fancy to have an impromptu picnic at the top.
The hike was absolutely incredible and even better than I imagined. I’m not going to sugar coat it; the trail is steep, uphill, and winding, but the reward at the top is so worth it. The trail begins with a stairway that leads into the trail. Be thankful for this stairway! It’s one of the easiest parts of the hike.
Once you reach the top, you have an incredible view of the city of Beacon, the Hudson River, and the surrounding mountain ranges. The first leg of the trail, the Red trail, is about a mile one-way.
If you are craving better views, I suggest making the trek to the peak of Mount Beacon along the second leg of the trail, the Yellow trail. This two-mile section of the trail is much flatter than the first section and leads to a spectacular lookout point.
After the hike, I enjoyed a well-deserved lunch at Max’s on Main. With casual bar on one side and a nice restaurant on the other, you have options depending on your mood. The restaurant also has tables outside so you can dine and enjoy the sunshine on a warm day! The burgers are delicious; the beer is cold; and the football on the TVs is great. Both locals and visitors can’t resist Max’s lively atmosphere.
After my delicious lunch, I wandered down Main Street and stumbled across Denning’s Point Distillery. The brisk fall day called for the imbibing spirits!
The artisanal distillery uses grains from local farms to produce Beacon Bourbon, Viskill Vodka, Great 9 Gin and more. Denning’s Point is open for tastings Fridays through Sundays, and they offer tours on Saturdays and live music on Saturday evenings.
I couldn’t believe how many fun activities this small city had to offer. Here are a few of my favorite highlights:
· Every Sunday, the Beacon Farmers’ Market hosts vendors from the surrounding Hudson Valley. You’ll find produce stands overflowing with farm-fresh fruits and veggies, breads and baked goods, meats and seafood, coffee, spices, honey, and pickles. Select weekends feature additional vendors that offer housewares and body products. The outdoor market takes place at Veterans Place, next to the Beacon Post Office from May through November. In the off-season, the market moves indoors to the VFW building on Main Street.
· Explore Pollepel Island (aka Bannerman Island). Steeped in history and legend, the site brims with ancient Indian lore, Revolutionary War tales, and the Bannerman Castle. The fortress dates back to the turn of the 20th century. Its most famous feature is the towering ruins of a castle compound that once housed David Bannerman’s arsenal of surplus military supplies and ordnance. You can take public guided tours of the island from May through October. The island is only accessible by water so make reservations in advance if you’re planning to visit. You can travel by boat, the Estuary Steward, or a kayak via a tour sponsored by Beacon’s Mountain Tops Outfitters.
· Located in a renovated firehouse near the top of Main Street lies Hudson Beach Glass. Peruse the vast collection of functional and decorative glass objects. The adjacent studio offers glass blowing demonstrations, as well as a series of public workshops where participants can craft their own hand blown ornaments, beads, or paperweights. Be sure to stroll deep into the rear of the shop to see the magnificent glass pieces sparkle and shine under well-focused lighting.
· Situated on more than 30 landscaped acres near the banks of the Hudson River, Dia: Beacon features incredible art exhibits. Housed in a former Nabisco box printing factory, the industrial building has sprawling open spaces and abundant natural light. The unique 300,000-square-foot brick, steel, concrete, and glass structure is the perfect place to showcase the museum’s remarkable galleries. The museum is open Thursday through Monday from 11am to 6pm.
· The Cup and Saucer Tea Room at Pandorica Restaurant was opened by England-born Shirley Hot as a traditional tearoom. Hot gave the café a makeover inspired by her longtime love of the TV show Doctor Who. The café is even named after a major set piece from the famous BBC drama. Good news for those unfamiliar with Doctor Who: the tea selection is excellent.
· Poppy’s Burgers is the perfect stop for any and all burger cravings. The Chef, owner, and Beacon native, Paul Yeaple, had one goal in mind for his restaurant: crafting high-quality burgers with fresh, local ingredients. The simple menu consists of juicy grass-fed beef burgers, veggie burgers, and crisp fries. Of course, all of the dishes incorporate Hudson Valley produce.
· The Hop is a beer-lover’s paradise. With its extensive offering of hundreds of craft brews and draft beers, the Hop has something for everyone. The beer isn’t the only highlight though. The food menu offers delicious rustic fare, vegan, and vegetarian dishes.
· The Beacon Theatre originally opened in the 1930s and became a popular destination for movie screenings and Vaudeville performances. Now, the theater is home to the local theater troupe that puts on several performances each year.
· Just off of Main Street, you’ll find the cozy pub and restaurant, Dogwood. The spot caters to several different whims. Whether you want a casual meal, some live music, or some delicious craft beer, you will find all this and more at Dogwood.
While a day trip to Beacon is totally feasible and delightful, I suggest staying for the weekend. This town is the perfect weekend getaway with two wonderful luxury hotels.
The Inn and Spa at Beacon is a great choice. Located on Main Street, it is a charming, 12-room boutique hotel and luxury spa. The minimalistic traditional décor is rich and welcoming, and the lobby doubles as an art gallery. Enjoy the fireplace in the solarium or the two roof decks.
Originally a dye mill, The Roundhouse lies just off Main Street. The boutique luxury hotel transformed its industrial vibe into a chic secluded sanctuary. The welcoming lounge and bar share a beautiful fireplace — the perfect spot to warm up and mingle with other guests. The rooms have a rustic-meets-modernist look with wooden beds just inches above the floor and lamps that you could easily mistake as pieces of sculpture. You can also hear the waterfall rushing outside your window…A little different from New York City, right?