PET FRIENDLY Hudson River Valley

The Hudson River Valley is made up of three regions, Lower Hudson, Mid-Hudson and the Upper Hudson/Capital District. From Albany in the north to Yonkers in the south runs approximately 140 miles of river. That makes for a lot of running & splashing room for you and your dog as you explore the many quaint river towns that line the Hudson, many of which were down on their luck for a good part of the late 20th century but are now in the middle of robust revitalizations which, to us, means a huge pet-friendly playground north of New York City.

One of the huge comeback success stories is Beacon, NY, located in the mid-Hudson region and an easy 1:20 minute train ride from NYC on MetroNorth. Burgeoning now with restaurants and bars and boutique shops, Beacon (the longtime home of the late Pete Seeger) should be one of your first pet-friendly jaunts when heading to this beautiful region. Stop by Dogwood to taste one their 16 beers on tap. Or hit the Cafe Amarcord for some great dining, or the Beacon Pantry for some great soup and simple but delicious French fare.

Another great town is Hudson, NY, about 65 miles up the river. An early whaling port, since known for its amazing antique shops (where antique dealers go to get their antiques), it has now become an even more thriving and diverse community—primarily centered on Warren Street—which offers pet-friendly restaurants, shops, galleries and bookstores galore. Be sure to stop by at the Red Dot Restaurant & Bar for some great food at the back garden seating area. Other worthwhile Hudson Valley towns to visit are Cold Spring and Rhinebeck (upscale), Kingston (atmospheric) (particularly the Rondout Historic Waterfront District) and Catskill (gritty but up-and-coming).

The real reason to visit the Hudson Valley with your pet, though, is the great outdoors. Blessed with some of the most beautiful panoramas in the eastern United States, this area is chock full of amazing parks, hiking trails and historic sites that will keep your eyes, heart and imagination engaged and your feet (and paws) plenty busy, hurrying along to get to the next inspiring vista. Some must-see jaunts include Storm King State Park, the Hudson Valley Rail Trail, the Dutchess Rail Trail (including the spectacular Walkway Over the Hudson), Bear Mountain State Park, and the Mohonk Preserve Trail.

Oh, and we forgot to mention, you can also bring your pooches to meet our pooches here at petswelcome.com, right in the heart of the beautiful Hudson Valley!