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LIVING IN WESTCHESTER AND THE HUDSON VALLEY | RELOCATION & MOVING GUIDE
HUDSON VALLEY
DUTCHESS COUNTY
You may have visited Dutchess County for its popular county fair, but this diverse area has much more to offer. From the hopping hub of Poughkeepsie to the peace and quiet of Pine Plains, there is never a shortage of things to do. Whether you’re exploring historic sites like Franklin D. Roosevelt’s home or getting in tune with nature at the Trevor Zoo or Bowdoin Park, there is something for everyone here. From sunup to sundown, the rich landscape, stylish shops, and cultural attractions will keep visitors busy.
K nown for its world-class museums,Dutchessishome to the Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site, Presidential Library and Museum, as well as the Vanderbilt Mansion, one of the region’s oldest Hudson River estates. Cultural institutions include art- filled Dia:Beacon and favorite live music venue Revel 32°. Historic sites include the ruined Bannerman Castle, accessible by kayak tour, while the younger set will enjoy the award-winning Mid- Hudson Children’s Museum, with STEM programming just steps from Walkway
Over The Hudson — the world’s longest elevated pedestrian bridge with stunning, panoramic views.
The Hyde Park-based Culinary Institute of America cultivates talented chefs who often go on to enhance the county’s rich dining culture. Dutchess also pours some of the Valley’s finest suds at craft breweries such as Plan Bee Farm Brewery, Sloop Brewing Co., and cultish Hudson Valley Brewery. For an overnight stay, secret hotel The Dutchess is a rustic retreat with a serious, farm- to-table dining program, while much- hyped Mirbeau Inn & Spa Rhinebeck
offers French-inspired character and a luxurious, 12,000 sq. ft. spa.
Through the year, festivals and seasonal events are a big part of the county’s charm. The 160-year-old Dutchess County Fairgrounds hosts the Hudson Valley Hot-Air Balloon Festival and one of the state’s largest county fairs each summer. Family-run farms offer pick-your-own produce from June through November, with harvest celebrations such as the Fall Festival at Barton Orchards in Poughquag.
Come October, things get spooky at Kevin McCurdy’s Haunted Mansion in Wappingers Falls, one of the most interactive scream parks around. In Rhinebeck, the annual Sinterklaas Festival Day ushers in the holiday season with family-friendly entertainment,music,anddecorations, while Candlelight Tours at Clermont StateHistoricSiteinGermantownwill have you cherishing the beauty of the holiday season.
BEST OF DUTCHESS COUNTY
Get ready to fall in love with the offerings at these hotspots, all deemed Best of 2021 by Hudson Valley Magazine:
Best Bar for a Beer and a Bite:
Mill House Brewing Company, Poughkeepsie
Best Movie Theater:
Upstate Films, Rhinebeck and Saugerties
Best Water Park:
SplashDown Beach, Fishkill
Best Ice Cream:
Zoe’s Ice Cream Barn, Lagrangeville
Dutchess County Fair
Bannerman Castle
Plan Bee Farm Brewery
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