Kingston
Around Kingston
Photo: Amy Lavine · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Metro area · New York · 182k people
Kingston
Locals say Hudson Valley · “The First Capital”, “K-Town (less common)”
Where the river meets the mountain, and the apples taste like autumn.
Hudson River BlueCatskill GreenAutumn Orange
Welcome to the Hudson Valley! Whether you're here for the Gunks, the cider donuts, or the river views, you'll find a laid-back vibe and plenty to explore. Enjoy the local flavors and the friendly folks you'll meet along the way.
Clubs for Kingston
No clubs for Kingston yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Kingston. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Kingston. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Minnewaska State Park Preserve Cliff-top lake and miles of hiking trails
- Mohonk Preserve Protected land with the famous Labyrinth and Sky Top Tower
- Walkway Over the Hudson Old railroad bridge turned pedestrian walkway
- Historic Stockade District 18th-century stone houses and cobblestone streets in Kingston
- Senate House State Historic Site Site of the first New York State Senate meeting
- Saugerties Lighthouse Restored 1869 lighthouse on the Hudson River
- Outdoors Hike the Gunks
- Outdoors Swim at Lake Minnewaska
- With kids Apple picking at local orchards
- With kids Walkway Over the Hudson
- Evenings Live music at UPAC
- Evenings Brewery taprooms
- Locals love Farm stands and orchards
- Locals love Craft breweries and cider houses
Through the year
- Ulster County Fair August Agricultural fair with rides, animals, and local food
- Woodstock Film Festival October Independent film screenings and panels in Woodstock
- Hudson Valley Garlic Festival September Garlic-themed food, crafts, and live music in Saugerties
- O+ Festival October Music, art, and wellness events in Kingston
- New Paltz Street Art Festival June Live painting, murals, and street performances
Four distinct seasons with cold winters and warm summers; the Hudson Valley is known for its dramatic fall foliage. Best: Fall is ideal with crisp air and brilliant foliage; spring is also pleasant.
Talk like a local
- “The Gunks”
- The Shawangunk Mountains, a popular climbing and hiking area
- “Stewart's”
- Stewart's Shops, a local convenience store chain known for ice cream
- “The Walkway”
- Walkway Over the Hudson, the pedestrian bridge
Getaways
- Hudson, NY Antique shops and riverfront
- Monticello, NY Catskill resorts and Bethel Woods
- Poughkeepsie, NY Walkway Over the Hudson and Vassar College
- Albany, NY State capital, museums, and nightlife
Local flavour
Rooting for New York Yankees (MLB), New York Mets (MLB), New York Giants (NFL), New York Jets (NFL), New York Knicks (NBA), New York Rangers (NHL), New York Islanders (NHL), New York Red Bulls (MLS), New York City FC (MLS), New York Liberty (WNBA), Albany Devils (AHL – now Utica Comets, but locals follow AHL hockey)
Eat and drink
- Apple Cider Donuts A fall staple from local orchards, often paired with fresh cider.
- Farm-to-Table Cuisine The Hudson Valley is a hub of organic farms, artisanal cheese, and seasonal menus.
- Craft Beer Numerous breweries and cideries along the river, part of the region's drink culture.
- Stewart's Shops Ice Cream A beloved upstate NY convenience store chain known for its ice cream and coffee.
Where people go
- Apple orchards and farm stands Scattered across Ulster County, a defining seasonal destination.
- Historic districts and stone houses Kingston's Stockade and Rondout neighborhoods, plus 18th-century farmhouses.
- Catskill mountain trails The region is a gateway to the Catskill Park, with peaks like Slide Mountain.
- Cider houses and breweries A modern farmhouse culture that thrives on local ingredients.
- Antique shops and flea markets The area is known for its vintage finds and upstate bric-a-brac.
Heritage and traditions
Kingston and Ulster County take pride in being New York's first capital, with deep Dutch and Huguenot roots, a living farm-to-table and arts culture, and the scenic Catskills and Hudson River right at hand.
This time of year in Kingston
- Apple picking and the Garlic Festival Fall Fall harvest traditions.
- Woodstock Writers Festival October A weekend of readings and workshops in the arts colony of Woodstock.
Say it like a local: “the Thruway” — Interstate 87
Festivals
- Rosendale Street Festival July A free two-day music festival in the village of Rosendale.
- Hurley Stone House Day June Tours of historic stone houses in the colonial village of Hurley.
- New Paltz Regatta April A canoe and kayak race on the Wallkill River.
- Kingston Classic April A 10k road race through the streets of Kingston.
- Saugerties Pro Musica Summer A chamber music series in the Saugerties area.
- Woodstock Writers Festival October A weekend of readings and workshops in the arts colony of Woodstock.
Landmarks with a story
- Old Dutch Church A 1659 Dutch Reformed church, one of the oldest in the state.
- Huguenot Street Historic District Seven stone houses from the 1700s, built by Huguenot settlers.
- John Burroughs Sanctuary The home and writing cabin of naturalist John Burroughs.
- Byrdcliffe Arts Colony A 1902 utopian arts community that helped make Woodstock an artists' haven.
- Hurley Historic District A village with over 30 stone houses from the 1600s and 1700s.
- Rosendale Trestle A 940-foot railroad trestle, once the longest in the world, now part of a rail trail.
Food traditions
- Shad bakes A Hudson River tradition of cooking shad on planks over open fires, celebrated by local fire companies.
- Maple syrup open houses Sugar shacks in the Catskills open their doors for pancake breakfasts and syrup tastings.
- Farm dinners Chefs cook multi-course meals at local farms, using ingredients from the surrounding fields.
- Garlic-infused dishes The Hudson Valley Garlic Festival inspires garlic ice cream, garlic sausage, and more.
- Dutch speculaas Spiced cookies baked for Sinterklaas, a Dutch tradition kept alive in the region.
Music and arts
- Hudson Valley School of Art 19th-century landscape painting movement.
- Byrdcliffe Arts Colony Early 20th-century arts and crafts community.
- Maverick Concerts Summer chamber music series in Woodstock.
- Rosendale Street Festival Eclectic music festival.
A little history
- 1652 Dutch settlers founded the town of Esopus, later Kingston.
- 1677 Huguenots from France settled New Paltz.
- 1777 Kingston became the first capital of New York; the British burned it later that year.
- 1828 The Delaware and Hudson Canal opened, linking the coal fields to the Hudson River.
- 1902 Byrdcliffe Arts Colony founded in Woodstock.
- Game day Kingston Classic 10k
- Game day New Paltz Challenge triathlon
- Outdoors Rock climbing at the Gunks
- Outdoors Fishing for striped bass in the Hudson
- With kids Rosendale Trestle trail
- With kids Hudson River Maritime Museum
Locals speak with a mild upstate New York accent, using Dutch-derived place names like 'kill' for stream and 'clove' for valley. They often say 'the Thruway' for I-87 and refer to the Shawangunk Mountains as 'the Gunks.'
Only here
- Kingston was the first capital of New York.
- The Walkway Over the Hudson is the longest elevated pedestrian bridge in the world.
- The Hudson Valley Garlic Festival is the largest garlic festival in the Northeast.
- The Rosendale Trestle was once the longest railroad bridge in the world.
New here? A few tips
- Learn to pronounce 'Saugerties' (Saw-ger-tees) and 'New Paltz' (like 'paults').
- Get used to the Thruway (I-87) for north-south travel.
- The weather varies; pack for cold winters and humid summers.
- Try a cider donut at a local orchard in the fall.
- Explore the Stockade District for history and shops.
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Part of Greater New York
Nearby
Every areaCatskillsNew YorkHigh peaks, deep valleys, and a warm welcome.HudsonNew YorkA river town with a creative soulMonticelloNew YorkCatskill comfort and borscht belt warmth.Hudson ValleyNew YorkRiver, ridge, and orchard.TorringtonConnecticutWhere autumn lingers and hills hold their secrets.AlbanyNew YorkHistoric capital, modern spirit.PittsfieldMassachusettsWhere art and nature meetWaterburyConnecticutWhere the river meets the brass
Kingston, NY. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.