Fall weather be damned! It doesn’t matter if it’s funky or fab outside, Cold Spring, NY, is a hot spot for a super fun day trip. Going up or down the Hudson River to this idyllic village is a breeze with Metro North Hudson Line.
Head north from Grand Central Terminal (a 70-minute ride) or south from Poughkeepsie (less than 30 minutes) via Metro North Hudson Line for a panoramic view to this postcard perfect riverside village.
We at Hudson Valley Happenings relish the easy life so grab a coffee and a window seat and enjoy the best river view in the East.
If you're headed down river like us, you get a great view of Bannerman Castle ruins not far from Beacon, NY.
Coming up from New York City, West Point Military Academy nestles in the bluffs on the west bank just before you arrive.
No better views of the Hudson than here!
Cold Spring is a refreshing little village right on the water’s edge, where the Metro North stops, just below Main Street. Eclectic shops, fantastic food, even a first-rate museum!
Once off the train, inhale deeply and breathe in the quaintness. Hop on their shuttle for a 10-minute ride to Magazzino Italian Art, a museum and research center that highlights postwar and contemporary Italian art in the U.S. Both shuttle and museum are free!! Woohoo!
Magazzino (“warehouse” in Italian, of course), a sprawling modernistic building by Spanish architect Miguel Quismondo, opened in 2017. Until January 10, 2022, see Costantino Nivola’s concrete sculptures and visit the ongoing exhibit by 12 Arte Provera artists (the “poor art” movement that swept through Italian cities in the 60s and 70s).
Be sure to explore the peaceful and stunning landscape and visit with their pet Sardinian donkeys.
After a little Cult-turah and donkey play, bellies are growling, and tootsies are in tears. So grab the shuttle back to town for a snack and a break.
We like all things cheesy! First stop? Cold Spring Cheese Shop for everything cheese and charcuterie, with focus on deliciousness from the Hudson Valley. Grab a sandwich or a made-for-you cheese board the head over to the riverside park and enjoy the view.
Once rested and ready, head back to Main Street and shop, shop, shop!
Chapaeu, a jam-packed eclectic shop with all things you didn’t know you need, is a must-stop. It’s a party!, a boutique! hosted by the effervescent Archie. You don’t know what you may spot. Artworks, antiques, hats and buffalo horns!
We’ve been known to drop a few bucks at Cold Spring Apothecary, a Hudson Valley-based health and beauty emporium. From vibrant candles to earthy scents, facials to wellness products, shampoos to body oils, you are wowed by luxury and indulgence.
Cold Spring General has a little “sumptum” for all and a lot for browsing! Yay! The general store is coming back! A small town shop that stocks bits of everything, a concept we love. Home: bags, pots and fun trinkets. Pantry: tasty jams, rich oils, zesty sauces. Books: for cooks, gardeners, decorators.
After all that, we’re famished…again! So bound over to The Cold Spring Depot for a bite.
Housed in the old train station at the base of Main Street, this trendy joint has enormous outdoor gardens, a clam bar, and not one but two fireplaces for cozy, cozy.
Wings, burgers, Schnitzels, and beer. Oh yes! The biggest pretzels ever. And craft beers in cans that are artistically as colorful as the brews are flavorful! What better way to finish the day.
If you’re ready to head back home, you’re right there, next to the Metro North, so jump on board and look through your phone at all the new memories you captured on this amazing trip to Cold Spring.
