Winter in Dutchess: An LGBTQ-Friendly Getaway

Date Published: December 11, 2024

Only 90 minutes north of New York City in the picturesque Hudson Valley, Dutchess County is a vibrant, sophisticated vacation destination where everyone is welcome. There is so much to do, see and taste here year-round, and winter is a particularly charming time to visit!  

Start 2025 on the right foot — or the left foot, if you prefer — at one of our First-Day Hikes on New Year’s Day. Hikes are being hosted at the Walkway Over the Hudson, the 1.26-mile repurposed 19th-century railroad crossing in Poughkeepsie is the world’s longest elevated pedestrian bridge and offers panoramic views of the river and the surrounding highlands; and on the woodland trail within Mills Norrie State Park on the grounds of Staatsburgh State Historic Site in Staatsburg. 

Taste the wholesomeness and purity of our farmland in our world-renowned farm-to-table cuisine. Dutchess is proud to be the home of The Culinary Institute of America, the nation’s foremost culinary college where famous chefs like Anthony Bourdain, Charlie Palmer and Anne Burrell sharpened their skills. Visitors are invited to take tours of the CIA, enroll in their cooking workshops and bootcamps, and dine at their student-led restaurants right on campus in Hyde Park. Fine-dining options abound in Dutchess County, as quite a few CIA graduates have stayed locally and opened a diverse array of restaurants — so bring your appetite and prepare to embark on a mouthwatering gastronomical adventure!   

If you like show tunes — and who doesn’t? — then you’ll absolutely love the monthly “Broadway in Beacon” open-mic nights hosted by Will Reynolds and Jen Malenke featuring Broadway performers and incredible local talent. This wildly popular event is held at the Lyonshare Public House in the walkable City of Beacon, which also offers a plenitude of trendy boutiques, restaurants and art galleries. 

And speaking of art galleries, the Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie is home to more than 22,000 works of art, including paintings by the leading artists of the Hudson River School movement of the mid-1800s, like Thomas Cole and Sanford Robinson Gifford, as well as masterpieces of the 20th century by Georgia O’Keeffe, Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso and Jackson Pollock. If Andy Warhol is more your style, then head to Dia Beacon, where you can see his work “Shadows,” which is a single painting composed of 102 separate canvases. 

Looking for a little gravity-defying adventure? Head to the LGBTQIA+ Climbing Nights at the Gravity Vault indoor rock-climbing facility in Poughkeepsie. All skill levels are welcome at these casual, hangout-style events, which are held on the second Thursday of each month. It’s a great way to meet other queer folks in the climbing community!

Sweeten your winter excursion with a trip to Soukup Farms in Dover Plains during New York State Maple Weekends, scheduled for the last two weekends in March. This third-generation family farm has been producing maple syrup since the 1950s and now operates more than 2,000 taps.

Perhaps you’d like to treat yourself to a few nights of luxury and extravagance while you relax and re-balance. If so, then Mirbeau Inn & Spa in Rhinebeck is the place to do it. This 50-room resort, which is reminiscent of an old-world chic Parisian hotel, received a Four-Star Award in 2024 from Forbes Travel Guide, the prestigious global rating system for luxury hotels, restaurants, spas, and ocean cruises. Mirbeau is listed among the Top 10 Boutique Hotels and BnBs in Dutchess. 

If you’re planning a Hudson Valley getaway this winter, be sure to take advantage of discounted hotel stays during Hotel Week. Between Jan. 26 and Feb. 9, participating hotels and inns will be offering rooms for $99 per night. What a deal! 

These are just a few of the many unforgettable experiences waiting for you here in Dutchess County. 

Sometimes called “New York City’s Backyard,” Dutchess is easy to get to by car, train or plane — but oh-so-hard to leave!