An Insider's Spring Guide to Kingston and the Hudson Valley
Edgewood Lawn at Hutton Brickyards
By Eric Steinman
After an epic - and some would say supremely punishing - winter, spring has arrived in the Hudson Valley. It happens every year, of course: the magnolia and cherry blossoms bloom, bald eagles hunt along the river, and fox kits begin practicing their own skills. Yet, it remains unquestionably storybook-magical and not to be missed.
Hutton Brickyards is the ideal launching point for any excursion, whether you are heading into nature, hunting for culture, or seeking a meal that will beckon your return. What follows is a curated rundown of the best the region has to offer this season, brought to you by longtime local and former Editor in Chief of Edible Hudson Valley Magazine, Eric Steinman.
Outdoors: Hikes & Biking
JOHN BURROUGHS SLABSIDES
Dubbed the "Father of American Conservation," 19th-century naturalist John Burroughs was, some 150 years ago, one of the most famous Americans of his time. When you visit Burroughs Sanctuary in the town of Esopus, you step back into unadulterated nature with 4.5 miles of rough-hewn trails and a chance to get up close and personal with the rustic cabin he called Slabsides, which Burroughs built to entertain visitors like Walt Whitman and Theodore Roosevelt.
Opus 40 Sculpture Park
OPUS 40 SCULPTURE PARK
At the site of a formerly abandoned bluestone quarry, this singular vision from late sculptor Harvey Fite is a sinuous and continuous grand earthwork that is easy to explore but difficult to forget. Using only hand tools - not a hint of mortar nor cement - Fite worked from 1939 until his death and fitted together thousands of stones to form a series of terraces, ramps, and steps as a showcase for his sculptures. Named by Architectural Digest as one of "the most beguiling works of art on the entire continent," this creative and architectural oddity is a place of natural beauty, contemplative engagement, and singular artistic vision.
356 George Sickle Road, Saugerties. (845) 246-3400
INNISFREE GARDEN
A unique 185-acre meticulous and curated garden that invites you to get pleasantly lost for the afternoon.
362 Tyrell Road, Millbrook. (845) 677-8000
RIVER TO RIDGE BIKE TRAIL
This scenic 6-mile cycling loop brings you through forest, farmland, and back into downtown New Paltz.
WIDOW JANE MINE
Weird and wonderful - this historic limestone mine is quiet, just a tad creepy, and definitely otherworldly.
Eats & Drinks
ENG’S
Celebrating its 100th year of dishing out Chinese-American cuisine, this atmospheric culinary throwback has kept it Cantonese-real for a century and recently received a significant nod from the James Beard Foundation as the 2026 America's Classics Award winner. Settle in for sizable egg rolls with duck sauce and chow mein, and you feel transported back to anytime in the last century. You might also recognize the restaurant as a recurring dining destination in the Apple TV series Severance - and for those with an uncompromising appetite, Wednesday and Friday evenings offer an all-you-can-eat smorgasbord buffet.
Chleo
CHLEO
Honestly, one of the hands-down best restaurants in the region. This woodfire eatery with a solid and sophisticated wine program lures you in with comfy banquettes and dried flowers hanging from the ceiling. The menu is Mediterranean-forward — think hearth-fired bread with ricotta and duck cannelloni with maitake mushrooms. An inviting destination in the heart of the historic Stockade District in Kingston.
288 Fair Street, Kingston. (845) 514-2290
LITTLE RYE BAKEHOUSE
Sweet and savory is the play at this tiny bakeshop with large ambitions
SALT BOX
By name alone, this place sounds curious - and this pocket bar, with a charming patio open during good weather, is a great spot to grab a drink (or two) with friends.
Arts & Culture
CPW
Formerly known as the Center for Photography Woodstock, now relocated to Kingston and commonly referred to as CPW, this not-for-profit contemporary photography gallery in a converted four-story cigar factory in midtown has become a nexus for discussion and representation of experimental and documentary photography. Currently on view is work by celebrated photographer, MacArthur Grant recipient, and novelist Ocean Vuong (The Emperor of Gladness, On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous). The Upstate Biennial opens at the end of May.
25 Dederick Street, Kingston. (845) 679-9957
ASSEMBLY KINGSTON
Located on the third floor of a former schoolhouse, the city's newest concert venue provides up-close and intimate shows with a roughly 450-person capacity and consistently eclectic live music offerings. This spring brings new wave and synthesizer pioneer Thomas Dolby (April 16th), then celebrated songwriter and former Smog frontman Bill Callahan arrives for a two-show stint (May 9th), followed the next week by the loud and spirited Dirty Dozen Brass Band (May 16th).
CREATIVE CIRCLE COLLECTIVE
A creative space for the creative class — a great place to get in touch with your inner faire.
62 Plains Road, New Paltz. (845) 633-1033
HONKY TONK WEDNESDAYS AT THE VFW
A place to get your boots stomping and your two-step revitalized.
708 East Chester Street, Kingston.
Shopping
LAGUSTA’S LUSCIOUS
A widely praised and ethically sourced vegan chocolatier and cafe in New Paltz where being vegan doesn't feel like an impediment. You could enjoy a hot and creamy tahini meltaway drink, spring-themed lemon violet truffles, and chocolate peanut butter bunnies - provided they haven't all sold out.
25 N. Front Street, New Paltz. (845) 633-8615
MAISON APRÉS
Short for la vie après l'amour - "life after love" in French - this combo event space, cafe, art gallery, and upcycled fashion outpost sells preloved vintage clothing and housewares, as well as locally made ceramics and jewelry. The space, which evokes a sort of Parisian industrial vibe, is host to clothing swaps, embroidery workshops, and an upcoming June caning workshop (as in fixing or repair of wicker chairs) taught by Bill Murray. No, not that Bill Murray.
RHINO RECORDS
Old school floor-to-ceiling record store with comics, books, CDs, and all manner of media arcana.
History
SOJOURNER TRUTH TRAIL
Born enslaved as Isabella Baumfree in the Hudson Valley in 1797, she later changed her name to Sojourner Truth and became an impassioned leader in civil rights and the nation's move toward the abolition of slavery and emancipation - even meeting with President Abraham Lincoln to further her cause.
One of Truth's most historic contributions was the delivery of her "Ain't I a Woman?" speech at the Ohio Women's Rights Convention in 1851, which challenged the marginalization of Black women and highlighted the intersectionality of race and gender.
Follow Truth's journey along the Sojourner Truth Trail - a 0.3-mile trail through the woods - located on the scenic Shaupeneak Ridge in Esopus, within Sojourner Truth State Park, which opened in 2022.
Plan Your Spring Stay
Hutton Brickyards is your ideal base camp for all of the above - sitting right on the Hudson River in Kingston, minutes from the best of what the Valley has to offer this season.
