It's time to move your college student into their new Hudson Valley home for the 2026-27 school year! While you're here, you should get a taste of their Dutchess County experience. Marist University welcomes new and returning students for move-in Aug. 24–29. For those studying at Vassar College, move-in dates are Aug. 24 and 28. Returning students will land on the Bard College campus Aug. 29, though first-year students will discover the region for the first time Aug. 7.
Read on for hidden-gem hikes, craft beverage destinations, top free things to do and activities for every generation of the family.
Check out our campus itineraries for Vassar | Marist | Bard
Have questions about planning your trip to Dutchess County? Call us at (845) 463-4000.
• Hudson Valley Renegades minor league baseball games, select dates throughout August at Heritage Financial Park, Wappingers Falls
• 36th Bard Music Festival: "Mozart and His World," select dates, Aug. 7–16, at the Fisher Center at Bard, Annandale-on-Hudson (Plus, Justin Vivian Bond performs at the Spiegeltent Aug. 7, 8 and 9, and BenDeLaCreme on Aug. 14 and 15, with After Hours DJ sets to follow on Friday and Saturday nights)
• Jazz in the Vineyard, Saturday evenings through Sept. 5 at Millbrook Vineyards and Winery, Millbrook
• Sunflower Picking and Live Music, Aug. 6–Sept. 6, Thursdays–Sundays, at Hudson Valley Cold Pressed Oils, Pleasant Valley,
• Colonial Trades Day, Aug. 8 at Brinckerhoff House Historic Site, Hopewell Junction
• Walkway At Night, Aug. 21 at the Walkway Over the Hudson, Poughkeepsie
• Poughkeepsie PorchFest Music Festival, Aug. 23
• Animals After Hours, Aug. 28 at the Trevor-Lovejoy Zoo at The Millbrook School, Millbrook
• Dutchess County Fair, Aug. 25–30 at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds, Rhinebeck
• Sunflower Festival, Aug. 28–30 and Sept. 4–7 at Barton Orchards, Poughquag
• Hudson Valley Hot Air Balloon Festival, Labor Day Weekend, Sept. 4–6, at Tymor Park, LaGrangeville
For more Dutchess County events, click here.
Dutchess County is home to The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, making it a premiere destination for foodies. Many chefs at local restaurants are CIA-grads, so menus at eateries pop with creative ideas, Hudson Valley ingredients and industry-leading innovation. Plus, diners can choose from a massive variety of styles, including but not limited to Italian, Indian, New America, Puerto Rican, Middle Eastern, Thai, Japanese, Korean, Irish, Mexican and Brazilian. To browse through our eclectic assortment of eateries, click here.
TIP: Monday and Tuesday tend to be off nights for restaurants, bars and other Dutchess County businesses. Check hours of operation for each place you plan to visit, and make reservations for guaranteed seating at our most popular dining hotspots.
Few destinations in the world are more iconic for autumn than the Hudson Valley. Luckily for parents during Family Weekend, Dutchess County has several farms and orchards open for apple and pumpkin picking. Enjoy fruit fresh off the trees, dig into the region's famous cider donuts and get the cutest fall photos with the family. For pick-your-own apple orchards, click here.
Dutchess County has many completely FREE activities that are excellent experiences for families. Hike Peach Hill Park in Poughkeepsie, discover classic art at Francis Lehman Loeb Art Museum and contemporary works at the Wassaic Project, stroll through our Great Estates and more! For the full top 10 list of free things to do in Dutchess, click here.
Are you traveling with younger siblings to move your college student in? Make a real trip out of it with these incredibly fun summer spots for the whole family to enjoy. Read on for waterparks, drive-in movie theaters, unique farm activities and more.
Late summer is one of the best times of the entire year to go hiking in the Hudson Valley. Get ready to traverse tranquil trails! Choose from our list of under-the-radar destinations for peaceful jaunts into nature. Conquer these upward paths for stunning views of the Catskill Mountains, Berkshires and Hudson Highlands. For 10 stellar outdoor experiences, click here.
Any craft beverage fans in the family? Select a 1-day or 3-day pass for all 21+ members of the family to score free tastings, merch and more at your choice of 13 Dutchess County hotspots. Spend time at breweries, cideries, wineries, distilleries and meaderies, several of which are located on breathtaking farms! In fact, Poughkeepsie itself is home to several producers on the list, including Plan Bee Farm Brewery and Zeus Brewing Company. For the full list of destinations on the Taste Finder craft beverage passport, click here.
Related: The Dutchess Tourism Trail Finder is a mobile passport program featuring attractions, experiences, and can’t-miss sights throughout the region. For your convenience, they’re presented in four carefully crafted trails, each catering to a distinct set of interests. To find the perfect trail for you, click here.
Visiting with a multi-generational family? We have plenty of experiences for groups of all ages. Fascinating historic sites, bucolic farms and breathtaking brunch spots overlooking the Hudson River are on the table. Plunge into the lives of the Roosevelts at the FDR Presidential Library & Museum, watch WWI biplanes soar over Red Hook (or take a ride in one yourself), stroll across a Chinese and Japanese-inspired landscape at Innisfree Garden and more! For our top 10 activities for every generation to do together, click here.
Plus, download our FREE Connection Finder family fun trail for deals and discounts. Visit alpaca farms, bring the little ones to climbing gyms and trampoline centers, enjoy ice cream made with local dairy and catch late-season flicks at a retro drive-in theater. To download your passport, click here.
The bridge now known as the Walkway Over the Hudson opened in 1889 as the Poughkeepsie-Highland Railroad Bridge – at the time of its opening it was the longest bridge in the world. In 1974, a fire that was likely started by a spark from a train’s brakes destroyed the tracks. In 2009 the Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park re-opened as the longest, elevated pedestrian bridge in the world and it’s the perfect spot to view the majestic Hudson River. Want another vantage point? Take the 21-story, ADA-compliant, glass elevator from the Poughkeepsie waterfront up to the bridge. Plus, a wheelchair-accessible electric tram means everyone can experience this world-class view!
Related: Ways to Enjoy the Hudson River
Wondering where you can go and bring along your pup in Dutchess County? Here’s a few of our dog-friendly hiking trails, historic sites, craft beverage hotspots and more in the Hudson Valley!
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