1. People From Hudson Valley Will Out Do Even The Californian Wine Snobs
Hudson Valley locals were making wine way before Californians and are still taking full advantage of the dozens of wineries throughout the region.
2. And The Craft Brewery Scene Is Equally Awesome
Between Cave Mountain, Captain Lawrence, and Hyde Park Brewing Company (not to mention a handful of other delicious local breweries), the Hudson Valley clearly has both wine and beer snobs covered.
3. All The Best Swimming Holes Are A Secret
If someone is discussing Minnewaska in hushed tones, it might be directions to the best swimming hole.
4. They Like To Eat, Eat, Eat Apples And… More Apples
It’s basically a sin to come to the Hudson Valley and then leave without trying the apples. Pick your own, drink the cider, or eat a homemade apple pie. Otherwise, you’ll seriously be missing out.
5. Eggbert Is Better Than Santa Any Day
Hudson Valley kids know that it’s Eggbert at Devitt’s Nursery & Supply, not Santa, who they need to impress Christmastime.
6. It’s The Worst Place Ever… For Couch Potatoes
If you don’t like hiking, biking, swimming, kayaking, mountain climbing, or even just sitting on gorgeous bluffs and looking out at mountains instead of your TV, this may not be the place for you.
7. Everyone Instantly Becomes A Photographer
It’s okay, the locals are used to it. You can pull out your camera and start snapping away at the thousand beautiful things in your line of vision now.
8. The Best New York Slice Is Actually Served In Hudson Valley
From thin crust slices the size of your face, to brick oven pizza with fancy organic toppings, the Hudson Valley has it all. Plus, Hudson Valley Pizza Fest is probably what heaven looks like for pizza lovers.
9. Everyone Is A Total Locavore
It’s all a part of the green mentality. There’s nothing people from Hudson Valley love more than fresh, local produce from all the nearby farms.
10. Don’t You Dare Say Hudson Valley Is Upstate
Not everything north of New York City is upstate New York, okay? It’s not like it’s north of Albany or anything.
11. Calling It The New Brooklyn Is Even Worse
Honestly, the second those words come out of your mouth, Hudson Valley locals are just going to fall to their knees, throw their face toward the sky, and scream, “Noooooo!”
12. No One Is Trying To Get Out Of Their Small Town
Hudson Valley natives are really tired of people asking when they’re going to move to NYC. The answer is never. Have you seen the Hudson Valley? Literally all of it is gorgeous.
13. But Everyone Comes To Hudson Valley When They Want Out Of The Big City
Folks from NYC love driving up to the Hudson Valley for a few days away from the constant chaos, noise, and weird smells of the city.
14. Transplants Have To Work For It
The respect of Hudson Valley natives, that is. There are a whole lot of people who were born and raised, and don’t really want transplants messing with the place they love. It’s not impossible to join the community, but you’ll have to work extra hard if you’re from NYC.
15. Woodstock Didn’t Actually Happen In Woodstock
If you came to see the place where the famous 1969 music festival took place, sorry. You’ll have to drive over an hour west to Bethel.
16. But That Doesn’t Mean The Hudson Valley Is Hippie Free
They’re just generally the kinds of hippies who like to make a little dough on a festival that didn’t actually happen in the town of the same name.
17. And It’s Not Just Your Hippie Great Uncle That’s A Pete Seeger Fan
It’s also the entire town of Beacon (where Seeger lived) and most of the rest of the Hudson Valley area.
18. It’s Still Actually Affordable
Part of the reason calling it “the new Brooklyn” gets that kind of reaction is because, well, duh, people want it to stay that way. It’s amazing that the cost of living in this little oasis is still as reasonable as it still is.
19. Hudson Valley Gets The Pretty Part Of The River
Not the radioactive muck part or whatever is going on around New York City these days.
20. But It’s Not Easy Being Green
There are a lot of people who totally deserve credit for the pretty, swimmable part of the Hudson River. It took a lot of hard work by Hudson Valley environmentalists to get it to that point.
21. But Environmentalists Know How To Celebrate Their Success
The Clearwater Festival is an annual music and environmental festival with educational displays, good food, and rides, that Pete Seeger frequents. So in short, it’s totally awesome.
22. Hudson Valley Locals Don’t Want None Of Your Big Box Stores
The reason you haven’t seen a Starbucks on every corner or a Wal-Mart off every exit? Tons of pushback from Hudson Valley locals who want their stores to stay local too.
23. You Don’t Have To Go To The City For Great Art
Sure, you could drive down to see The Met, but why would you when the Hudson Valley Center for Contemporary Art, the outdoor Storm King Art Center, and dozens of awesome art galleries are all in your backyard?
24. And Neither Do The Thespians
If you ever have any doubts of the Hudson Valley’s theater talent, the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival will instantly cure you.
25. A Little Snow Never Slows Hudson Valley Down
And in the Hudson Valley, anything under five feet is still considered a little. They’re so used to ridiculously cold winters that even a blizzard means they’ll just layer up and pull the sleds out.
26. Even With Those Winters, Hudson Valley Seasons Can’t Be Beat
The winters tend to be a deal breaker for most out-of-towners, but Hudson Valley locals know a whole lot of snow is worth a whole lot of beauty the rest of the year, especially when those fall leaves start to change colors.
27. If Hudson Valley Locals Seem A Little FDR Obsessed… It’s Because They Are
If you grew up in the Hudson Valley, you went on at least fifty school trips to Roosevelt’s Hyde Park home or his wife Eleanor Roosevelt’s Val-Kill getaway residence. Plus, he’s one of America’s favorite presidents—of course everyone is proud.
28. Even Yankees Can Make Fantastic BBQ
Southerners might think they know all there is to know about BBQ, but Hickory BBQ in Kingston is definitive proof to the contrary.
29. You Can Visit A Castle Without Going To Europe
You don’t need an expensive plane ticket to see the awesome Bannerman Castle on Pollepel Island.
30. Arts And Crafts Are Serious Business
This isn’t your third grade art class. Sugar Loaf is an entire Art & Craft Village where the best New York artisans flock to do their thing. Where did you think all those awesome local goods Hudson Valley folks love were coming from?
What do you have to explain to out-of-towners about the Hudson Valley? Tell us in the comments below!
