The DL: This cute little walkable town is home to 15,000 people and is only about 1.5 hours north of NYC via train. It has recently become known for the modern museum DIA, Second Saturdays (arts and music farmers market type of event on the main street), and Mt. Beacon to hike.
How to get here
- Drive – Plenty of places to park
- Train – this is what we did, took the Hudson line on metro north from grand central. Its easy, affordable, and a beautiful ride on the water. Once you get off its about a .5 mile walk to the first part of the main town if just going to DIA: Beacon that is right next to the train station. There are sidewalks the entire way and a little cut through with stairs by the police department to make the walk shorter. When you get off the train follow the crowd/signs and head towards the main street. There is also a community beacon bus loop that is supposedly free. The walk to the beacon hike entrance is almost 2 miles as a heads up.
Where to Eat in Beacon
- Roundtable, make a reservation! They have a wonderful patio outside or indoor that overlooks the waterfalls (top left picture)
- Hudson Valley Marshmellow Factory
- Hudson Valley Foodhall – smaller food hall but good options, the entrance is deceiving with just a regular store door (right photo)
- Glazed Donuts – there will be a line
- The Chocolate Studio
- Beacon creamery (vegan and DF), a few picnic tables outdoors
- Blank square coffee – lots of indoor seating and a cute patio
- Beacon Falls Cafe
- Royal Crepes – can form a wait pretty quick
- Beacon Pantry – local food and finds, good if you want to pick up things for the hike or to picnic
- Beacon Bread Company – a popular stop
- Alps Sweet Shop
Where to Shop
- More Good
- Hudson Valley Vinyl
- Beacon bath and bubble – homemade soaps and scrubs, also have make your own soda float station
- Vintage Beacon
- Raven Rose Florist
- Beacon Natural Market – also good if you want to pick up things for the hike or to picnic
- Artisan Wine Shop
- Any of the antique stores
- There are so many great options on Main Street you could easily spend the whole day going in and out of shops
What to Do in Beacon
- Dia – Modern Art Museum – during covid you must make reservations
- Hike Mt. Beacon – be ready to actually hike, this is not your leisurely hike in casual shoes. The pathway is steep and rocky, and very crowded!
- Fishkill Overlook Falls (right next to roundtable and right photo)
- Denning point distillery
- Hudson Valley Brewery
- Take a picture with the mural on S. Chestnut Street
- Madam Brett Park
- Pete and Toshi Seeger Park – right by the train station, a small park on the water
- Homespun Backyard Market
- Second Saturdays – check the town schedule, we went during COVID and there wasn’t much going on from the arts and music perspective.
- Bannerman Castle – must take a boat to get here
- Town Crier Cafe – live music
- Hudson Beach Glass shop – blowing class
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