Day Trips From NYC – Let’s Go to Beacon

Travel in 2020 looks very different for us. We are spending most of our time visiting places we can drive to rather than get on an airplane. For example, places like Rockaway, New Paltz and Beacon which can be reached fairly easily from NYC and still feel like a vacation. I am a big fan of Beacon and visited countless times because my grandparents lived there for 30 years. Now that I live in Brooklyn, it’s practically a rite of passage as a Brooklynite to become a Beacon regular. Let’s take a look at what this great little artist city in the Hudson Valley has to offer!

Getting There:

By Car: The drive from NYC to Beacon is only 90 minutes. I have done the trip in one day countless times and its pretty easy. From NYC I like to take the Palisades and cross the river at Bear Mountain Bridge. From Brooklyn, I like to take 278, to 87 to the Sprain Brook to the Taconic State Parkway.

By train: The 75 minute Metro North train ride from Grand Central is part of the fun. Ride on the left side on the way up to get the best views of the sparkling Hudson.

When you arrive at the train station look for the Beacon Free Loop bus . It runs continuously throughout the day and is free. It conveniently stops at all of the places that will be on your list for your day in Beacon so you won’t need a car. Stops include the Día Art Museum, Main Street and Mt. Beacon.

COVID-19 Updates: Much like our review of New Paltz, we can report that many of the small boutiques in Beacon are closed during the weekdays but open up Thursday through Sunday. You also may find additional restrictions in place. For example, limiting the number of guests in a shop at one time or offering curbside pickup only. Restaurants in upstate NY are currently allowed to be open for both indoor and outdoor dining though not all are. Masks are 100% required. We will note specific COVID regulations throughout this post.

Do:

Beacon is considered the Williamsburg of the Hudson Valley region and for good reason! Much of Brooklyn regularly hops on a train for Beacon for some combination of creative art, vigorous exercise, good food and boutique shopping at any time of year.

Explore downtown:

Begin your downtown exploration with a history lesson at the Beacon Historical Society on 17 South Ave. Hours are limited – Thursdays 10-noon and Saturdays 1-3pm. Armed with a little knowledge about the history of this town, set off to explore the one mile walk on Main Street where you will find many boutiques and restaurants or coffee shops. I recommend you hold off on dining until you reach my favorite spot.

At the eastern end of Main Street is the beautiful Fishkill Overlook Falls and rail line. This is a great place to picnic with food you gather along the way (or dine at Roundhouse – see more info below). Don’t miss the photo op at the unused rail line that cuts through the heart of the city and runs right past the falls.

Art :

Hiking:

There are several great hiking and park going opportunities not too far from the the Metro North train station. The closest one is right behind the train station at the Pete and Toshi Seeger Riverfront Park . This park links by trail to three other parks including one with a farmers market on weekends. All run along the expansive Hudson River and are great for exploring the waterfront.

In addition, Mt. Beacon is one of the most popular hiking spots in the Hudson Valley. The Beacon Free Loop stops right at the parking lot for Mt. Beacon. If you are up for the 6 mile hike to the top, you will be rewarded with a waterfall and stunning views from atop a fire tower. If the 6 mile trek is too long, there are shorter options available. I use this guide by The Studio @Beacon whenever we hike in and around Beacon.

Shop:

One of the best things about small artist towns are the cute boutiques where you can find locally made and unique merchandise. Some of my favorites on Main Street include Zakka Joy for fun and quirky gifts, and Blackbird Attic for a well curated consignment shop. Also, a Christmas never came in my house where my grandfather didn’t show up with a delectable box of chocolate from Alps Sweet Shop. Note once again that most shops in Beacon are primarily open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday post COVID.

In addition to unique boutiques, Beacon has no shortage of art galleries on Main Street. The galleries tend to cluster at the eastern edge of Main St. near the train station and the western edge of Main St. near Overlook Falls. Several of the galleries are temporarily closed due to COVID restrictions. Following are the galleries that are currently open. There are many more that were not open at publication but may be opening soon.

On the eastern edge of Main St. is Hudson Beach Glass which features a contemporary glass gallery upstairs as well as a fun shop downstairs. Also open are Bannerman Island Gallery, and Marion Royael Gallery. On the western edge of Main St you will likewise find Green Mountain Minerals which features minerals and gems from all over the works, and Beacon Artist Union both to be open. A full list of the galleries in Beacon is available here. Check their hours of operation before going as they are constantly being updated in accordance with state guidelines for COVID.

Eat:

Without fail, my 94 year old grandfather and I always ate at the classic Yankee Clipper Diner where he could get the best BLT around. But for more sophisticated fare, I love the Roundhouse on the east end which offers great outdoor dining with stunning views of Fishkill Overlook Falls. I am also comforted that the restaurant takes everyone’s phone number just in case contact tracing becomes necessary.

Other favorites in town include Kitchen Sink Food and Drink which blends local ingredients with modern flare and is open on weekends for dinner service. Furthermore, the Beacon Falls Cafe combines an eclectic menu and cozy atmosphere to make for excellent comfort food.

Have a great day out in Beacon and keep exploring! #letsgoeverywhere