7 Amazing Things to Do in Beacon, NY
- Ryan "Charlie" Charles
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
Located just 70 miles north of New York City, Beacon has become one of the Hudson Valley's most exciting destinations. Easily reached by car or direct Metro-North train service from Grand Central Terminal, Beacon offers visitors a unique combination of food, history, outdoor recreation, arts, and small-town charm-- making it the perfect day-trip destination from New York City!
Whether you're planning a day trip or a weekend getaway, here are 7 amazing things to do in Beacon that have HVFFT’s stamp of approval!
Explore Main Street
The obvious place to start… Beacon's vibrant Main Street stretches for more than a mile and is filled with independent shops, cafes, bookstores, galleries, restaurants, and local businesses of all kinds! Other Hudson Valley towns have their accolades for sure— I love Woodstock, Rhinebeck, Hudson, Kingston etc.— but none can hold a candle to the sheer magnitude of Beacon’s main street. There are 75+ restaurants alone with at least another 75+ independent, one-of-a-kind shops. Simply wandering around is a perfectly acceptable “thing to do” here!
Visit Dia Beacon
But for those who want to get off the hustle and bustle of Main Street…. One of the world's premier contemporary art museums— and the largest modern art space in America— Dia Beacon attracts visitors from around the globe with its expansive galleries and large-scale installations. Dia is down the hill towards the train station so if you are coming via the Metro North it’s a great idea to do this first thing before heading up to tackle Main Street.
Climb Mount Beacon
For adventurous visitors who want to start even FURTHER out of town… the Mount Beacon trail offers one of the most rewarding hikes in the Hudson Valley, with sweeping views of the Hudson River and surrounding mountains. Mount Beacon is the tallest mountain in the Hudson Highlands and boasts a 60 foot climbable “fire tower” with a lookout cab, where on a clear day you can see as far north as Albany and as far south as the NYC skyline!
These beautiful waterfront parks (where the Metro North train station resides) offer walking trails, picnic areas, kayaking opportunities, and stunning Hudson River views. There are festivals, concerts and other events here throughout the year; the Beacon Sloop Club (founded by legendary folk singer Pete Seeger); and it will eventually connect to the Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail — a 7.5-mile, ADA-compliant multi-use linear park connecting Cold Spring to the south and Beacon, free for the public to use. That project is currently underway, is said to cost hundreds of millions of dollars ,and is slated for completion in 2031
Visit Bannerman Castle
And as long as you’re in Riverfront Park… take a boat tour— or even a kayak— to the iconic castle ruins located on Pollepel Island. This uninhabited, 6.5-acre island in the Hudson River featuring the crumbling, abandoned ruins of a massive, early 20th-century mock-Scottish castle built by a wealthy munitions merchant and has guided tours as well as special events like music concerts, film screenings, plays and even farm-to-table dinners!
Enjoy Beacon's Restaurant Scene
Back into town we go -- because that is the real reason you visit Beacon! From bakeries and cafes to farm-to-table dining, Beacon has become one of the Hudson Valley's top food destinations. There are simply too many to go through— and so rather than try and enumerate the highlights here we’ll save that for a blog post of its own!
Drink To Your Health
Beacon features 5 major craft beverage producers, including four breweries and one cornerstone distillery (Hudson Valley Brewery, Industrial Arts Brewing Company, Pillow & Oats Brewing, Two Way Brewing Co and Dennings Point Distillery)— as well as numerous wine bars (we love Paul Brady Wine!), award winning craft cocktail lounges like Wonderbar Beacon — not to mention numerous tap houses featuring local craft beers (Draught), live music (Town Crier Cafe) and of course the local bar-cade (Happy Valley Arcade Bar)!
And remember, if none of the above options seem like your thing you can always…
Explore Beacon with Hudson Valley Food & Farm Tours!
Looking for a fun and delicious way to experience Beacon? Join our GOURMET BEACON guided walking food tour featuring local tastings, fascinating history, and visits to some of the town's most beloved businesses. This 3-hour tour of Main St. passes through the award winning Beacon Farmers Market and is a great way to be introduced to the area!