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Winter, spring, summer and fall — exciting adventures are always in season here in Dutchess County! With so many fascinating places to visit and interesting things to do, New York’s Hudson Valley truly is a year-round travel hot spot. Outdoor excursions, a vibrant arts-and-culture scene and world-class dining — you'll find all that and more. Consider these Top 10 January events as you plan your stay this January and let the beauty and wonder of Dutchess County warm your soul.
You can explore the Hudson Valley for less this winter during Hotel Week in Dutchess; between Jan. 26 and Feb. 9, participating establishments will offer hotel rooms for only $99 per night. What a deal!
If it’s a cozy getaway you’re seeking, check out our Top 10 Boutique Hotels and BnBs and book a relaxing, rejuvenating trip to New York City’s backyard. Located only 90 minutes north of Manhattan, Dutchess is dotted with quaint towns and villages perfect for a winter road trip. With nine Metro-North rail stations in the county and two Amtrak stops, getting here is quick and easy.
Keep that camera handy, as the scenery here is breathtaking in every season. Feel free to share your photos here and tag @dutchesstourism on social media.
Open every day, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. by appointment at the Millbrook School, Millbrook
Did you know the Trevor Zoo was open year-round? This charming AZA-accredited zoo — the only one in the nation run by a high school — features more than 160 exotic and indigenous animals, including several endangered species. Members of the Millbrook School’s student body care for all the animals at the zoo every day, making it a rewarding experience for the students and the visitors alike! Click here to learn more about this one-of-a-kind attraction and to book your reservations.
Wednesday, Jan. 1, at multiple locations
After a night of New Year’s Eve revelry, a first-day hike is the perfect way to start the new year on the right foot (pun very much intended). So, lace up those boots, zip up those parkas and head to one of these Dutchess locations:
• Staatsburgh State Historic Site (Staatsburg): Join members of the park staff for a free, 1.2-mile hike along the woodland trail in Mills Norrie State Park on the historic grounds of the Mills family’s opulent Gilded Age estate. The hike will begin at 11 a.m. near the mansion and will include a visit to a small, little-known cemetery in the forest. Enjoy free hot cocoa courtesy of the Friends of Mills at Staatsburgh at the end of the hike. Click here to complete the required registration.
• Walkway Over the Hudson (Poughkeepsie): Step into the new year on the World’s Longest Elevated Pedestrian Bridge and enjoy stunning views of the Hudson and the surrounding highlands from 212 feet above the river. The Walkway is a former railroad bridge over the Hudson that opened on Jan. 1, 1889, and served as part of the Maybrook Line of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad until it was damaged by fire in 1974 and subsequently closed. The rebuilt span opened in 2009 as the Walkway, and its first-day hikes have become a New Year’s Day tradition. The Walkway is 1.28 miles across; it is flat and paved, and it has no stairs. No registration is necessary for this free hike, which begins at 11 a.m. For more details, click here.
Related: Find your new favorite museums, muses and more with the Dutchess Tourism Inspiration Finder, a mobile passport program featuring discounts at some of Dutchess County’s world-class arts attractions. Click here and connect with your creativity.
Jan. 12, Jan. 26, Feb. 16, March 2, 4 p.m., at the Howland Cultural Center, Beacon
The Howland Chamber Music Circle presents its annual Piano Festival, featuring four sensational performances by world-renowned pianists that are sure to warm the hearts of concertgoers throughout the winter. The Cann Duo — the sister tandem of Kimberly and Michelle Cann — will kick the festival off on Jan. 12. Chaeyoung Park is up next on Jan. 26, followed by Clayton Stephenson on Feb. 16, and Shai Wosner on March 2. All four shows are set in the quaint and intimate concert hall at the Howland Cultural Center, where every seat is a good one and the acoustics are impeccable. Each performance will be immediately followed by a reception with the artists. Click here to purchase tickets to the Piano Festival and other great HCMC shows.
Jan. 16–Feb. 16 at Vassar College, Poughkeepsie
Visit Vassar College’s picturesque campus for this 23rd-annual exploration of the arts of the 20th and 21st centuries. All MODfest events are free and open to the public. This year’s program includes the artwork of Michael Kelly Williams, which will be on display at the Palmer Gallery Jan. 16–Feb. 16; a performance by the Vassar Repertory Dance Theatre in the Frances Daly Fergusson Dance Theater in Kenyon Hall on Feb. 7; a performance of a "Metropolis Reimagined," which is new scoring of the 1984 restoration of Fritz Lang’s classic film, "Metropolis," performed live by acclaimed pianist Po-Wei Ger and electronic artist Drake Andersen on Feb. 8 in the Skinner Hall of Music; and other assorted performances, workshops and lectures. Click here to see the full schedule.
Saturday, Jan. 18, 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m., at the Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park
CIA Chef and author Genevieve Meli leads this one-day baking class, which will highlight the techniques and recipes documented in her new book, "Baking an Impact: Small Changes for More Sustainable Baking." Inspired by the book, this new hands-on class will help you incorporate local, sustainable and Earth-friendly ingredients into your baking. You'll prepare classic and familiar recipes — with a twist — like broccoli stem scones, black bean sesame cakes, and sourdough crumble chocolate bars. Yum! You will also receive a signed copy of the book. Click here to register.
Monday, Jan. 20, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. at Clermont State Historic Site, Germantown
Enjoy a Celebration of Community at the Livingston Mansion at the Clermont State Historic Site in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Learn about the Livingston family and the enslaved men and women, native communities, servants, and other underrepresented groups who lived and worked at Clermont. Take a free tour of the mansion, and make sure to check out the award-winning exhibit, "Redefining The Family: The Livingstons and the Institution of Slavery" in the Visitor Center. Click here for updates on all the events coming up at Clermont.
Saturday, Jan. 25, 12 p.m. at Hyatt House Fishkill
Boutique Wines, Spirits & Ciders presents this one-of-a-kind celebration of all things whiskey. Whether you like bourbon, rye, scotch, Irish whiskey, or Japanese whiskey, this event will have something for you, including the finest pours from legendary and emerging brands. Passionate distillers and brand representatives will be on hand answering questions, offering advice and highlighting the craftsmanship and care that go into each bottle. Explore a stellar whiskey lineup featuring products from the U.S. and beyond. To purchase tickets, click here.
If time allows, make a weekend out of it! Book a room at Hyatt House Fishkill, which is located just off Route 9 and is convenient to several of the Hudson Valley's most popular attractions. Click here to book your room.
Sunday, Jan. 26, 5 – 10 p.m. at Mill House Brewing, Poughkeepsie
Mill House Brewing Company presents its wildly popular Wild-Game Dinner featuring a multi-course, family-style, wild-game meal, along with beer and cocktail specials, raffles and games. Purchase individual tickets or reserve a table for your party for this popular dinner. Tickets for this sixth-annual event are sure to sell quickly, so don't wait! Click here for details.
Related: The Dutchess Tourism Taste Finder is a mobile passport program that serves up perks at craft beverage tasting rooms and tap houses throughout Dutchess County. Click here to obtain “The Pass to Fill Your Glass.”
Monday, Jan. 27, 2 p.m., at the Wallace Center, FDR Presidential Library and Museum, Hyde Park
In honor of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, The FDR Presidential Library and the Jewish Federation of Dutchess County present an author event and book signing with Rebecca Brenner Graham. Graham's book, "Dear Miss Perkins: A Story of Frances Perkins' Efforts to Aid Refugees from Nazi Germany," documents how Perkins — who served on FDR's cabinet as U.S. Secretary of Labor from 1933–45 and was the first woman ever to serve in a presidential cabinet — helped save the lives of countless Jewish refugees. As Adolf Hitler rose to power, thousands of German-Jewish refugees and their loved ones reached out to the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service — which was then part of the Department of Labor — applying for immigration to the United States, writing letters that began "Dear Miss Perkins..." Click here to complete the required registration for this free public event. Books will be available for purchase at the event.
Thursday, Jan. 30, 3 p.m., at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum, Hyde Park
Every year on Jan. 30, the National Park Service hosts a ceremony to honor Franklin D. Roosevelt on his birthday in the Rose Garden where the former President is buried alongside his wife, Eleanor. All are invited to this free, public event, after which all visitors are welcome to gather in the Wallace Center for birthday cake and refreshments. FDR’s birthday parties — known as Birthday Balls — were important affairs during his years in the White House, although not because he sought fanfare or attention from the American people, but because they were opportunities to raise money and awareness for the battle against infantile paralysis, with which FDR himself was afflicted after contracting polio at age 39 in 1921. These fundraising efforts — which we now know as the March of Dimes — provided the financial backing to develop new methods of treating polio and ultimately led to Jonas Salk’s discovery of the polio vaccine in 1955. Click here for details about this and other great events at the FDR Library and Museum.
Sunday, Jan. 26, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. at Dia Beacon
Dia Beacon is home to an extraordinary collection of contemporary art, and on the last Sunday of each month, Hudson Valley residents (residents of Albany, Columbia, Dutchess, Greene, Orange, Putnam, Rensselaer, Rockland, Saratoga, Schenectady, Sullivan, Ulster, Washington, and Westchester counties) receive free admission to the gallery to view this vast collection. Plus, City of Beacon and Newburgh residents receive free admission to Dia Beacon every day. And there is much to see! Among the many long-term exhibitions on display at Dia Beacon is “Shadows” by Andy Warhol. “Shadows,” is a single painting in multiple parts and is spread across 102 canvases; it is considered one of Warhol’s most abstract works. Click here for information on Hudson Valley Free Day.
Attached photo of the Walkway Over the Hudson courtesy of @julialeemuzi.
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