Things to do
Art: The Sculpture Park can be your first stop on an art tour showcasing the massive outdoor sculpture at Opus 40 (10-minute drive), then you can drive west to Woodstock (20-minute drive) for a look at the hippie-flavored lifestyle and fine art or east to Bard College (20-minute drive) to see some trend-of-the-moment international art.
Galleries in Kingston (15-minute drive) offer a beguiling variety, too.
SAUGERTIES ARTISTS STUDIO TOURS, August 16 and 17
Hiking: The gorgeous private waterfront leads directly into The Esopus Bend Nature Preserve, a 150-acre nature conservancy containing meandering trails and spectacular views all along the Esopus “creek” (it is actually wider than most rivers!). The hike can last hours and reward you with multiple bird sightings, animal tracking adventures, and fifty-odd varieties of butterflies. The terrain varies from steep hills to lush wetlands. (See below for Calendar of Events)
Also nearby (a 5-minute drive): Saugerties Lighthouse, a half-mile easy walk. This is a must-see for all lovers of the Hudson River. Bring a picnic and savor the look and feel of being on a boat in the Hudson, because the Lighthouse juts way out into the river, surrounded by a sandy beach and tall reeds.
Catskill Mountain hikes are within a 20-minute drive. For more leisurely walking, the park-like setting of Poet’s Walk in Red Hook is a 15-minute drive.
NOTE: Ulster County has scored an “A” for best air quality from the American Lung Association!
Dutchess and Columbia counties score a low “C.”
Antiques: Saugerties Village (3-minute drive) is a must-visit, for variety and reasonable prices. For the intrepid, there is the vast Warren Street in Hudson (30-minute drive). Also Kingston (10-minute drive), or Rhinebeck (15-minute drive).
HITS Saugerties (Horse Shows in the Sun): late spring and all summer long, riders and thoroughbreds descend on Saugerties.
Food: the Hudson Valley is known as a gourmet paradise, and Saugerties boasts exceptional dining, from 4-star bistros to cozy pubs, all within a 3-minute drive from The Chateau and Tudor Rooms. These restaurants feature food from local farms. Some top restaurants: Cafe Tamayo, Miss Lucy’s, Red Onion.
In the fall: the crowd-pleasing Garlic Festival Saugerties.
Ice-Skating and Tennis: Saugerties boasts a large indoor ice-skating rink (5-minute drive)
and a year-round pro tennis facility called Total Tennis (10-minute drive)
Touring the Hudson River Valley mansions in Dutchess County (well, you may find that your Tudor or Chateau room is as beautiful as any Vanderbilt!).
Strongly recommended: Olana (40-minute drive north), the queen of the Hudson Valley museum estates, once the home of the renowned nineteenth-century painter Frederic Church.
Doing the Wine Trail from Ulster County to Dutchess. The decorated wines are in Millbrook, but that shouldn’t stop you from sipping the vino all over the region.
Pick-your-own seasonal fruit and vegetables at the local farms.
Saugerties Farmers Market (a 3-minute drive) is where locals gather to shop in the summer
every Saturday.
Calendar of Events
for Esopus Bend Nature Preserve – click for calendar
August 9 Butterfly Slide Show and Walk
August 17 Kayak and Canoe Tour
August 24 Animal Tracking Adventure
September 17 Hudson River Ramble Hike
October 25 Autumn Birding Field Trip