A Relaxed Weekend in Hudson, NY
Coming up for the weekend? Here are two easy ways to do Hudson: one if you want to stay walkable, another if you’ve got a car and want to explore a little farther.
Upper Depot fits either version — as an afternoon reset, a place to meet before dinner, or the kind of stop that turns into the rest of the evening.
Why Upper Depot fits the weekend
Hudson is one of those places that works whether you come up for one night or stretch it into a long weekend. You can walk a lot of it, eat well, see something interesting, and still keep the pace pretty relaxed. If you’re coming up from the city, Jersey, Boston, or anywhere nearby, this is a good place to do less planning and still have a good time.
Upper Depot makes sense somewhere in that plan. We’re a brewery and taproom in a restored historic train station in Hudson, brewing beer on site and pouring a rotating draft list in a space that’s easy to settle into for a while. If you want a good afternoon reset, a place to meet friends before dinner, or an easy way to wind down after walking around town, this is a pretty good spot for it.
If you’re coming by train and want to stay walkable
Hudson is a good town to do on foot. The downtown core is compact, Warren Street gives you plenty to browse without trying too hard, and it’s easy to build a day around a few shops, a meal, and one or two things you actually want to see instead of cramming in ten stops.
Start with a slow walk through downtown and Warren Street. Pick a few places that look interesting and let the day shape itself a bit. If you want a cultural stop, Hudson Hall is one of the city’s anchors right on Warren Street, and Basilica is another good one to check if you like to plan around an event, show, or market.
By late afternoon, that’s a good time to head to Upper Depot. Have a beer, sit for a while, and figure out whether you want dinner after or whether this turns into the start of the evening. That’s really the role we’d recommend for it: not a rushed stop, more like the part of the day where things get easier.
If you want to turn that walkable day into more of a beer afternoon, there are a couple of other Hudson spots worth knowing about too. Return Brewing is a practical one because its Hudson location is walkable from the Amtrak station and north of Warren Street. Union Street Brewing is another easy in-town option if you want to keep the day local.
If you’ve got a car or want to explore a little farther
The second version is for people who want Hudson as a base, but not the whole map. In that case, it makes sense to get out for a few hours, see something with a little more space around it, and then come back into town for the evening.
Olana is a great place to start. The house, the grounds, and the views all make the area make more sense once you’ve seen them. If you want a second stop, Art Omi is a good one because it gives the day a totally different feel. It works well if you want outdoor time without turning the day into a full hike.
After that, head back toward Hudson and let Upper Depot be the reward stop. That version of the day works especially well in summer: a little scenery, a little art, and then a beer in a place where you can actually sit and stay a while.
If you want one more drink stop in the wider area, Old Klaverack is a solid brewery mention for the drive version, and Cooper’s Daughter is a good detour if cocktails or spirits are more your speed.
What’s Happening Around Hudson This May
If you’re making a weekend of it, here are a few good reasons to get out and see a little more of what’s happening around Hudson this month.
Basilica Farm & Flea Spring Market — A really good Mother’s Day weekend stop if you like markets that feel a little more creative than standard fairground shopping on May 9 and 10.
Open Community Contemporary Dance at PS21 — If you want something a little different without overplanning it. There's a weekly Thursday evening movement class in Chatham that’s meant for all bodies, not just dancers. Thursdays at 5:45 PM.
Structure, String at Hudson Hall — A strong in-town art stop if your weekend leans more toward design and gallery than shopping. Opens May 8 and runs into July.
Annea Lockwood: Home Ground at PS21 — One of the more offbeat picks this month. A good excuse to head out toward Chatham for something a little different. May 16 and 17.
Strauss's Alpine Symphony at Bard — If you want one bigger evening outing, this is the polished version of that plan. May 9 and 10.
What’s Worth Checking Out Around Hudson This June
June is a good month to make a real day of Hudson: walk Warren Street, catch something local, and swing back to the Depot for a beer on the deck. Here are a few nearby things worth building a weekend around.
Hudson Flag Day Parade Festival- Saturday, June 13 | Warren Street + waterfront
A very Hudson kind of day: parade down Warren Street, waterfront activity, live music, and fireworks to close it out. Come early, expect town to be busy, and make Upper Depot your before-or-after stop.
Frederic Church at Olana - All month | Olana State Historic Site
Olana’s Frederic Church: Global Artist exhibition runs through the season, which makes it an easy June add-on if you want a quieter culture stop before heading back into town.
The Gay Boat: Italy at Hudson Hall- Thursday, June 18 | 6 PM
A free Pride Month book launch and conversation with Hudson local Rich “Trixie” Volo. Funny, local, and a little offbeat — pretty much exactly the kind of thing that makes a Hudson weekend more interesting.
Joyce/Cage Performance - Thursday, June 11 | 7 PM | Time & Space Limited, Hudson
If you want something a little off the main drag, TSL has a Joyce-and-John-Cage night that’s part film, part live performance, and very much a Hudson arts-world curveball.
PS21: Groundtone / Make Music Day - June 18–21 | PS21, Chatham
A short drive from Hudson, PS21’s Groundtone weekend brings experimental music, outdoor performance, and Make Music Day energy to Chatham. Worth a look if your weekend can handle something a little less predictable.
Art Omi Summer Opening - Saturday, June 27 | 3–6 PM | Ghent
A short drive from Hudson, Art Omi opens new work by Nayland Blake and Tschabalala Self across its 120-acre grounds. It’s free and open to the public, with RSVP required.
Planning your day around one of these? Check hours and details before you go, then come find us at the Depot.
If Beer Isn’t the Only Thing You’re After
Neverstill Wines — A good in-town option if you want to stay on foot and work a wine stop into the weekend.
WYLDE Hudson — A solid coffee stop for getting the day started or taking a break between walking around town.
BackBar — A good cocktail-and-bar option if you want to shift gears later in the day without leaving Hudson.
Hudson Chatham Winery — A good short-drive winery option if you want a little more room to settle in, especially outdoors.
Cooper’s Daughter Spirits — A good detour if someone in your group is more in the mood for cocktails or spirits than another brewery stop.
A few practical questions
Is Hudson easy to do without a car?
Yes. Hudson’s downtown is compact and easy to explore on foot, especially if you’re staying close to Warren Street and keeping most of your weekend in town.
Can Upper Depot fit into a train weekend?
Yes. That’s actually one of the easier ways to do it. Walk around town first, then stop in later in the day for a beer and a slower hour or two.
Do you brew beer on site?
Yes. We brew on site and rotate the tap list over time.
Do you serve food?
Yes. We regularly have food available, and guests can bring outside food too.
What if we want to make a bigger day of it?
That’s where the second itinerary comes in. Olana, Art Omi, and a few other short-drive stops are all easy ways to fill out the day before heading back into Hudson.
Where should I look for current events in Hudson?
Visit Hudson’s events calendar is one of the best places to start if you want to see what’s happening while you’re here.
Where should I look for events beyond downtown Hudson?
Columbia County Tourism is a good next stop if you want ideas a little beyond Hudson itself, especially if you’re willing to drive a bit.
What’s a good source for arts and culture events near Hudson?
For arts and culture, check calendars from Hudson Hall, Basilica Hudson, Olana, Art Omi, and Bard/Fisher Center. Those are some of the most reliable places to look if that’s part of your weekend.
Plan your stop
Want to plan your stop? Check our current hours, see what’s on tap, and take a look at upcoming events before you head over.