- I love visiting the Hudson Valley in New York because it reminds me of the French countryside.
- The region has delicious local ciders and cheese, plus views of rolling green hills and orchards.
- The Hudson Valley also has a lot of historic charm and some great French restaurants.
Visiting New York’s Hudson Valley often transports me to the French countryside.
The region is only an hour from where I live, and many parts of it remind me of Normandy, France, which I visited as a child and as an adult.
I loved my time exploring the historic French city’s lush landscapes, sipping on fermented apples, tasting decadent cheeses, strolling through charming towns, and visiting history-turning battle sites.
A trip to Normandy isn’t in the cards again for me anytime soon — so I’ve been excited to find the Hudson Valley has much of its gustatory, aesthetic, and historical charm.
There are plenty of French-style ciders and cheeses in the Hudson Valley
I’ve found many basic similarities between what the farmers and makers in the Hudson Valley and Normandy create, especially when it comes to cheese and hard cider.
Cider is one of Normandy’s signature drinks. The region even has a famous 25-mile-long Cider Route through green rolling hills, charming farmsteads, apple trees, villages with esoteric cheeses, and the remnants of epic battles that shaped world history.
This drink is also huge in the Hudson Valley. Although its orchards and farmsteads are more scattered, the area also has rolling hills, historic villages, dozens of cideries, and tasty locally produced cheeses.
I’ve found many of the Hudson Valley’s cideries offer tasting experiences for families that exude the laid-back Northern French approach to hosting that hypnotized me in the first place.
One of my favorite spots is Indian Ladder Farms, a century-old family farm that has classic ciders sourced from its 90-acre orchard, housemade beers, local wines and spirits, pick-your-own berries and pumpkins, nature trails, and farm tours.
Both at the Indian Ladder and in Normandy, I was able to sip fresh cider outside in the sunshine while watching children (not all of them mine) frolic merrily in the countryside.
And, of course, cider can’t be consumed in Normandy without cheese — and the Hudson Valley also produces some wonderful varieties.
If I put on a blindfold and sat down to a plate of farmstead cheese and a glass of cider born and bred in the Hudson Valley, I’d swear I was back on vacation in Normandy.
Hudson Valley’s towns are also filled with charm and history
Like Normandy, the Hudson Valley is a great stop for history buffs.
Towns throughout the region have landmarks and museums dedicated to their roles in early American history and the Revolutionary War, plus plenty of historic architecture.
One highlight is Kingston, established centuries ago in the shadow of the Catskill Mountains, which has preserved pre-revolutionary stone homes.
The surrounding downtown area has many boutiques, galleries, and restaurants, too. A highlight is Le Canard Enchaine bistro, which has well-executed French dishes, a candlelit dining room, and rustic-elegant decor. Don’t miss its garlicky, butter-soaked escargot and authentic tarte Tatin.
I also suggest a stop in Cold Spring, another Hudson Valley town with great shopping, a range of historic tours, incredible food, and opportunities to boat, hike, and cycle in the beautiful outdoors.
For stick-to-your-ribs French bangers in Cold Spring, try Brasserie Le Bouchon, which has red-and-white checked tablecloths, cassoulet, steak au poivre, and a killer wine list.
Beacon, Hudson, Rhinebeck, and Millbrook are also charming stops in the Hudson Valley with charming architecture, killer art and antique scenes, and excellent food and drinks.
In any of these towns, tucking into dinner — starting with a locally sourced cheese board, of course — while gazing out rolling green hills or a shining river transports me back to Northern France without the language barrier or passport requirements.
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