Happy in Hudson — Backward in heels

With our two kids away at sleep away camp, my husband and I decided to take a last minute little getaway to Upstate New York. As I started to research the area, Hudson, New York, sounded like it would be the perfect place for us.

Just two and 1/2 hours north of New York City by car or Amtrak, Hudson is an eclectic mix of hip, cool, quaint, gritty, picturesque, charming and grand all in one. It is like Williamsburg, Brooklyn and Mayberry USA had a baby. The minute you hit town you are hit with an enclave of hip hotels, foodie restaurants galore, swoon worthy architecture with rich color painted Victorian homes, perfect for the 'gram, and shop after shop of antiques, home stores, vintage clothes, galleries and design forward specialty stores. Basically, I fell in love in 15 minutes flat!

We were there for only three days in the middle of the week which is good and bad. Good, because we pretty much had the place to ourselves, but bad because many of the shops are only opened Thursday-Sunday so just be aware that it is a weekend town. We had to check out many of the shops on Thursday, the day we were leaving. Basically, the majority of these shops can be found on the mile long Warren Street.

At the very top of this street, we stayed at the newish Rivertown Lodge, which is a 27 room boutique hotel, converted 1920s movie theater. We both LOVED our stay here. The design is Scandinavian chic with a minimalist, clean & modern vibe coupled with a warm & homey feel. Our room, (#8 Corner Room) was simply furnished but incredibly chic, comfortable and clean. They have a common area with a wood burning stove with a library nook and a shared kitchen area with coffee and tea. There are Papillionaire bikes lined outside available to hotel guests. Bummed that we actually did not get a chance to use them.

The hotel has an ultra cozy bar and restaurant, Tavern, open Friday through Tuesday from 5pm-‘til late. The kitchen menu is inspired by the bounty of the Hudson Valley and the flavors of North Africa and Morrocco. We were lucky to meet the chef, Gaby Gulielmetti, who was delightful. We LOVED our meal here. It felt like a special and unique dining experience. I also am still dreaming about my Aperol Margarita cocktail I had at the bar before dinner.

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The highlight of our trip was our excursion to Kaaterskills Falls. The actual trail is short at 1.4 miles roundtrip, but extremely steep with slippery rocks in certain sections near the falls so wear appropriate shoes. Once you reach, the top you are treated to the glorious falls where we took a plunge in the brisk but exhilarating 50 degree water. This is truly a must hike if you are in the area.

One of our days turned out to be a bit rainy which was the perfect time to hit Bodhi Holistic Spa right on Warren Street. We both got the 90 minute deep tissue massage and the whole experience exceeded every expectation. We both left there practically comatose as our muscles, mind and bodies were so relaxed. Just fyi, my masseuse was Margaret and my husband's Isabella for reference as we both thought they were great.

This was followed by an exceptional meal at Fish & Game, an award winning James Beard Best Chef. Again, the minute you stepped up to this restaurant, you knew you were in for a special dining experience and everything from the service to the food to the decor was a meal to be cherished and remembered.

There were two store experiences that I want to highlight as well. One was at Hawkins New York, a modern home store that was beautifully curated and chock full of gorgeous things for the home. The other experience was at 2 Notes Hudson, a natural and organic fragrance store. Owned by Carolyn Mix and Darcy Doniger, who are Maine transplants and musicians as well as perfumers, hence the name. They are beyond delightful, passionate and knowledgeable about their fragrances and be forwarned, it is practically impossible to just choose just one fragrance as they all smell divine. The best part is all the ingredients are natural and organic and created on site as you wait. I left smelling great but also inspired by their kindness and beautiful product.

On your way home make sure to hit Montgomery Place Orchards in Red Hook, NY for a loot of all the glorious fruits and vegetables. I do not believe I ever ate such a sweet and juicy peach in my life. All in all, I am not a fan of repeating trips, but I left a piece of my heart in Hudson and will definitely return soon, maybe come fall, when the leaves are changing and a hot toddy will be in order and also to just explore a bit more and take a cue from the residents and move at a more leisurely pace.