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Make sure to visit Tarrytown for The Great Jack-o'-Lantern Blaze, the event of the Halloween season. Photo by Katherine Dhurandhur

Best Hudson Valley Towns for a Family Day Trip

1. Tarrytown

Our tour starts just 25 miles north of Manhattan in Tarrytown, NY. This rivertown is small but mighty, with lots of green spaces and places to explore. For the complete guide, click here.

Top kid-friendly activities: There will be many scenic river views on this list, so might as well get the ball rolling with Tarrytown's Scenic Hudson River Walk: a great all-seasons stroll with native plants and views of the Cuomo bridge (which I am still calling the Tappan Zee, thank you) and the Manhattan skyline. If you would like to get out of the sun, rain, wind, or snow, check out nearby Lyndhurst Mansion, which hosts tours and events all year. The Tarrytown Music Hall has lots of kids programming, and in June, you owe it to yourself to see the annual Rubber Ducky Derby. No comments.

Best time to visit: There are events aplenty in the summer months in most HV towns, but Halloween can be a special treat this close to the Headless Horseman's infamous ride. Look no further than The Great Jack O-Lantern Blaze, which is further north of Tarrytown but gets the mood right.

Kid-friendly eats: The Taco Project has several locations in the area and is a great option for unfussy counter service, offering Mexican corn, pork belly, classic beef, and more.

2. Nyack

It's an unfortunate fact that most HV residents live east of the Hudson and don't make the trip across the river nearly often enough. Nyack is a great example of why this is a mistake. Read on for a small sample, or check out our list of 25 Best Things to Do in Nyack With Kids.

Top kid-friendly activities: Another great town for parks and walks, Nyack Beach is a good place as any to start. See if you can spot hawk and raptor nests on the cliffside, and walk up to Rockland Lake State Park for more views as well as a state-of-the-art water complex open in the summer. The Rockland Center for the Arts offers gallery space and classes for kids, and at the Edward Hopper House, you can learn more about the famous painter.

Best time to visit: Summer might be the best time to visit, if only to take advantage of the pools and water slides at Rockland Lake.

Kid-friendly eats: Named one of America's Best New Restaurants by Esquire, Karenderya serves up Filipino comfort food for adventurous eaters. Cash-only Strawberry Place covers the rest.

3. Cold Spring

Finally, north of Westchester, we have now arrived in upstate, according to some. Located in Putnam County, Cold Spring is a small rivertown with lots of heart. Find a more detailed breakdown with our 25 Family-Frendly Things to Do in Cold Spring.

Top kid-friendly activities: This time, we will start inside, because this town is full of charming antique shops like Cold Spring Antiques Center and Once Upon a Time. These stores are welcoming to kids, but they are narrow, so they may not be well suited to the littlest ones. For all ages, try the local toy store, The Gift Hut. Worry not, Cold Spring has your river views too. Walk down to the Cold Spring Pier to see for yourself.

Best time to visit: Fall is a great time for antiquing and for leaf peeping in Cold Spring.

Kid-friendly eats: Try the muffins at Angie's Bakeshop, but go early, because they sell out fast. Cinnamon Rolls are sold on Sundays only, but are so worth it.

4. Beacon

One of the busiest towns for tourists in the Hudson Valley, artsy haven Beacon never disappoints. Eat, shop, view, and explore: there's something for everyone here. We've compiled a list of 35 Things to Do in Beacon, but find a small taste down below.

Top kid-friendly activities: In this parent's opinion, Dia: Beacon is the best modern art museum for kids to visit, with its fascinating sculpture and open spaces. For more art, Howland Cultural Center has a gallery space and year-long events like live music and book readings for kids. During baseball season, head over to Heritage Financial Park (technically in Wappingers Falls, but very close) to see the local minor league team Hudson Valley Renegades. Beacon also hosts a flea market that's not to be missed. Finally, if you still need river views, Scenic Hudson's Long Dock Park has 'em.

Best time to visit: Beacon is crowded in summer and fall, but for good reason.

Kid-friendly eats: Meyer's Olde Dutch never disappoints for burgers, fries, hot dogs, and more. Good cocktails for grown-ups, too.

Celebrate spring at Mohonk Mountain House's Tulip Festival. Photo courtesy of Mohonk Mountain House

5. New Paltz

Maybe you're sick of river views by this point. As an HV resident: ouch, why, and also New Paltz is gorgeous even without the river. A hippie haven for decades, this town makes up for it with access to the beautiful Mohonk Preserve. There's lots to do, and as usual, we have you covered with the full list here.

Top kid-friendly activities: Mohonk Preserve is as good a place as any to start your exploration of New Paltz, up to and including a stay at the renowned Mohonk Mountain House. In town, you might check out the 300-year-old Historic Huguenot Street for an enriching historical kids activity, or Water Street Market for a plethora of local businesses to shop at. Included here is Denizen's Theater, where you can escape bad weather and watch a movie with the fam.

Best time to visit: Fall is an excellent time to visit anywhere close to a mountain, so you can watch it turn orange.

Kid-friendly eats: Main Streeet Bistro for unfussy breakfast and lunch options plus biscuits and gravy, benedicts, and more.

6. Kingston

As you may know, Kingston was the original capital of New York and is full of historical interest. One of the larger HV towns, Kingston, has plenty of options for visiting families. And guess what? Mommy Poppins has a full list here!

Top kid-friendly activities:

Best time to visit: I'm a sucker for a good museum that you can take kids to, and the Hudson River Maritime Museum has lots of options for kids of different ages. For more interactive history, the Trolley Museum of New York keeps a collection of train cars that your little ones will love to explore. There's the Forsyth Nature Center for outdoors time, and Kingston Point Beach is a terrific city park for everything that you might want from a river park, including swimming, picnics, and walks. There's also more shopping in Kingston than one could mention in a paragraph for a nice city stroll.

Kid-friendly eats: Pizza and Italian classics at Lola, or Kingston Candy Bar for many sweets.

Kaaterskill Falls is a great destination any time of year and has multiple swimming holes for summer fun. Photo by Katherine Dhurandhar 

7. Woodstock

Possibly the most famed of all HV towns for its place in music legend, Woodstock is still here and still has music and more. Here is our full list of 25 Best Things to Do in Woodstock, NY, with Kids.

Top kid-friendly activities: Right on site at the historic site of the 1969 concert, Bethel Woods Center for the Arts has music all year round. You can find shopping for the whole family at Tinker Street, plus Waterfall Park for a peaceful stroll that you can access right in town, or head a little ways out to find more falling water at Kaaterskill Falls. Opus 40 is another great option for a renowned sculpture garden with a fascinating story.

Best time to visit: Like so many HV towns, summer and fall are best for events and scenery.

Kid-friendly eats: A favorite among locals and also Food Network critics, Peace Love & Cupcakes has plenty of all three...but especially the cupcakes.

8. Saugerties

Still further north is the HV town with a lighthouse you can rent for the night. Saugerties is a relaxing town full of activities. My own Mommy Poppins article on Best Things to Do in Saugerties will tell you more!

Top kid-friendly activities: Saugerties is proud of its bookstores. Both Our Bookshop and Inquiring Minds are just a short walk from one another and bound to have something of interest for everyone in your family. With its renowned Garlic Festival and HITS Hudson Valley Horse Shows, there are events around the calendar worth exploring. For nature walks, try the Esopus Bend Nature Conservancy and dip your feet in the gentle Esopus Creek.

Best time to visit: Summer and fall are still best, but I don't want to undersell winter in the Hudson Valley for crisp and pristine snow-capped sights.

Kid-friendly eats: Miss Lucy's Kitchen for comfort food in a friendly atmosphere.

9. Catskill

A little town nestled in its namesake range, Catskill is a great destination for families that want to head way up into the mountains.

Top kid-friendly activities: There is shopping to do on Catskill's historic Main Street, where you are sure to find local delicacies like cheese and cider. Discover where the Hudson River school of painting began at the Thomas Cole House, or visit the RamsHorn-Livingston Sanctuary to get a sense of where those artists got it from. From here it's only a short journey to the Hudson Valley Skywalk via the Rip Van Winkle Bridge to see Olana, where Cole's student Fredrick Church became the most famous artist in the school.

Best time to visit: Absolutely fall, when leaf-peeping becomes a New York State pastime.

Kid-friendly eats: Ambrosia Diner for lots of comfort foods, breakfast favorites, and more.

10. Hudson

Last on our list and just a stone's throw from Albany is Hudson, NY. By this point, you're surely upstate by (almost) anyone's standards. Here are a few ideas for exploring the town named for the River.

Top kid-friendly activities: Unexpectedly, Hudson is home to the FASNY Museum of Firefighting, which is sure to be a hit with younger kids. For an older crowd, try the nearby sculpture garden Art Omni, for a sublime walk through nature and art. Henry Hudson Riverfront Park is our final offer for river views, and stroll down Warren Street for shops aplenty. If there is anything that you can take to the bank re Hudson Valley towns, it's that there are always views and always shopping.

Best time to visit: Though I'm tempted to suggest spring because I haven't yet... But yeah, summer and fall are still the best.

Kid-friendly eats: Farmer and Sons is a great New American spot open for dinner and offering an outdoor pavilion in the summer.