Want a taste of retro Americana? Start the day off with a classic Americana breakfast at the retro Eveready Diner in Hyde Park, featured on Food Network’s Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.
Take in fresh air and spy early Spring bloom at the walled Beatrix Farrand Garden at Bellefield on the grounds of the Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site. Inside, discover the lives of this presidential power couple and learn about adaptations made to the estate to accommodate his paralysis from polio.
The FDR Presidential Library and Museum’s special exhibit “Black Americans, Civil Rights and the Roosevelts, 1932-1962” examines the political evolution of the Roosevelts regarding racial justice and activism. Through documents and artifacts on display for the first time, the exhibit highlights the voices of Black community leaders, wartime service members and ordinary citizens who pushed the Roosevelt administration for progress.
Nearby, walk the grounds of Eleanor’s Val-Kill Cottage—the only National Historic Site dedicated to a first lady—and learn about her contributions to drafting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Grab a quick lunch before heading to the Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park. (Tip: Emy Delights and Bites and the Apple Pie Bakery Café in Hyde Park or Lola’s in Poughkeepsie are excellent options). Step-by-step, cross the world’s longest elevated pedestrian bridge for breathtaking panoramic views of the Hudson River and surrounding mountain ranges. The Walkway also has an elevator from Upper Landing Park and an electric tram for any visitors with mobility limitations.
National Geographic named antiquing in the Hudson Valley as one of the 20 top travel experiences for 2024, and Hyde Park shopping lives up to the praise. Hunt for heirloom collectibles at Hyde Park Antiques Center, a 9,500-square-foot shop that was used as the headquarters for FDR’s secret service contingency in the 1930s and 40s.
Live the Gilded Age life through a tour of Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site. Formal gardens evoke the antiquities of Greece and Rome. Up the road in Staatsburg, find a 79-room Beaux-Arts mansion belonging to Ogden and Ruth Livingston Mills. Staatsburgh State Historic Site offers themed tours and miles of hiking trails connecting Mills Mansion to Mills-Norrie State Park and the Hudson River. For more of Dutchess County’s history and discounts on experiences, get the free Story Finder mobile passport.
Visit the spectacular Dassai Blue Sake Brewery—the first of its kind in the United States—to observe production of Junmai Daiginjo-only sake (the highest level of premium sake). On a tour, sample Dassai Blue 50 and 23.
For dinner, there’s no better choice than an evening at one of The Culinary Institute of America’s world-renowned on-campus restaurants. CIA students bring traditional and contemporary American cuisine to life with local ingredients at American Bounty. At Ristorante Caterina de’Medici, experience authentic regional Italian cuisine, wood-fired pizza and rustic comforts in a Tuscan-style villa. Sleek and modern, The Bocuse Restaurant reimagines French cuisine with contemporary twists and techniques inspired by legend Paul Bocuse.
Stay across the street at the newly-opened The Inn at Bellefield/Hyde Park where you can listen to FDR’s fireside chats in common areas. Shop local specialties at “Eleanor’s Market.”
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