Things to do in the Hudson Valley

5 to 2 hours, and once off the train, the region's main draws are spread out and not well connected by public transport. Storm King Art Center, an open-air sculpture park, is seasonal (April to November) and requires a timed ticket booked ahead; the river towns of Cold Spring and Beacon, home to the contemporary art museum Dia:Beacon, sit at different stops.

A rental car helps link these places, but even then a single day only covers one or two stops, not the valley as a whole. Foliage season, late September into October, is the most sought-after and crowded time to visit. Plan on a full day at minimum, and an overnight stay avoids stacking multiple train trips back to Manhattan.