Travel in county Hudson

Soon temperatures that can dip as low as -40 (where the Celsius and Fahrenheit scales meet) will have Winnipeggers shivering. But this city in the heart of Canada stays warm with a surprising number of soothing options to thaw out, whether you’re a resident or just visiting.

Sometimes, when living in New York City, you need a break from the hustle and bustle, and leaving the city isn't always possible.

For over ten years, the Jaipur, India-based brothers and founders of Trunks Company, Priyank and Paritosh Mehta, have been on a mission to revive the steamer trunk and support local artists who make them. This week, they’ll be exhibiting 11 of the most ornate examples of the company’s work at the Salon Art + Design fair at thePark Avenue Armory, from a library trunk with quilted leather lining that’s embedded with speakers and lit with LED spotlights to a hand-painted red, white and navy blue Games Island Trunk that unfolds to become a tiny casino featuring amusements like Jenga, poker and chess. About a dozen craftspeople work two to three months on each of the trunks, which are meant to be statement pieces in a home rather than accompanying their owners on a trip, says Paritosh. “We’ve been commissioned to craft a trunk in the shape of the Taj Mahal Palace by the hotel, and to make a trunk for a collector to display his watch collection,” he says. “We’re building a whole lifestyle around heritage trunks.” Next year, though, the company plans to debut its most practical collection to date: hand-painted trunks with wheels that one can actually travel with.

Think of New York and an image of the skyscrapers of Manhattan likely comes to mind. The Empire State Building and the Rockefeller Center famously provide high-altitude views over that skyline — but there are other alternatives, whether hanging over the edge of a 100-storey building in Hudson Yards or sitting at a picnic table at a brewery in Brooklyn.

In hospitality, timing is everything. There has been an undeniable hotel boom over the last two years, mostly of pandemic-delayed projects that finally came to fruition. This fall, however, it feels like things are slowing down—in a good way. The openings that we’re most excited about these days feel less like catch up and more like highly specific, precious moments: the Pacific Northwest’s first Ritz-Carlton, an Old Hollywood icon reborn, and a monumental New York City opening. Each feels special in its own way, and exactly like the kind of place we want to lay our heads this season. Here, the most exciting fall hotel openings of 2023.

Now a trip to the urban jungle of New York City can come with a day on the sand, as Manhattan debuted its first-ever public beach on Monday. 

Netflix has a new documentary series—“Predators”—with incredible cinematography of some of the world’s apex carnivores, including the polar bears of Churchill in Manitoba, Canada. Churchill is known as the polar bear capital of the world (as well as the beluga whale capital) and it’s easy to see both animals in the wild on a trip to this subarctic Canadian town.

Earlier this year, I took Amtrak's Adirondack train from New York City to Montreal, a 12-hour journey that snakes through the Hudson Valley and into Canada. The route had just reopened after being halted since 2020, and I was eager to see what it was all about. 

In earlier eras, notables such as Theodore Roosevelt, Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, Thoreau, Emerson, Sinclair Lewis held court on the grounds of Troutbeck, a private estate since the 1700s in the eastern stretch of the Hudson Valley. These days, since reopening as a resort in 2017, the property is still a cultural gathering place on its 250 acre, Lower Berkshires spread but now the guests are mostly serenity seeking New Yorkers up from the city a two hour drive or train ride away. (Out of staters also fly into Stewart International Airport an hour away). And there are new additions and others in the works to attract them all.

For decades, authors, artists and presidents have all been drawn to the Hudson Valley in New York.

The East Village is now home to a second sustainable sushi spot.

After 18 years of living in New York State, I’ve learned quite a bit about the country’s fourth-most populous state. From where to go and what to do, to what to eat and how to get around, here are some tips from a local on how to make the most of your visit to the Empire State.

An unusual nigiri will soon be on offer at Bar Miller, a new omakase restaurant in New York City’s East Village: the humble bluefish, sourced from the New York-New Jersey coast, served raw. “Bluefish has this reputation as being a lesser tier, like a poor man’s fish. But if you treat it with care, it’s incredible,” says Jeff Miller, the executive chef. “When it’s in season, it’s rich, fatty and buttery, with a little bit of subtle tuna iron quality.” Featuring bluefish on a sushi menu is surprising when the city is awash with omakase that, like those in Tokyo, offer prestigious (but unsustainable, according to Seafood Watch) fish like bluefin tuna, Japanese yellowtail and Japanese eel. “Sometimes I think my life would be so much easier If I’d gone that route,” Miller says in reference to the classic omakase menu for which there are standard suppliers. Instead, through trial and error, he built a menu entirely from domestic fish. Bar Miller, which is set to open on Sept. 27, serves San Franciscan anchovies, Hudson Valley eel head trout, and Long Island porgy. (The latter, Miller says, tastes sweet and “super subtle [with] a deep oceanic flavor.”) Miller’s attention to local delicacies extends beyond marine life: The restaurant’s sushi rice is farmed in the Hudson Valley; its sushi vinegar is fermented in Pennsylvania; its soy sauce comes from Connecticut. Even its sake is hyperlocal, fermented in Sunset Park and Bushwick. For Miller, sourcing locally is about expanding on his lifelong appreciation of Japanese cuisine; sustainability is an attendant benefit.

Yes, NYC can easily monopolize all of your vacation time but don't sleep on the incredible landscapes that await you in New York State – we've got all the info you need on how to get there and around.

Every passing month highlights a new facet of New York State, drawing millions of visitors to its hills, islands, forest, lakes and festivals.

From the shores of Lake Ontario and the Thousand Islands on the Canadian border, down through the Finger Lakes and the Catskills, and out to the tip of Long Island, New York State has something to suit every kind of traveler.

The beauty of New York State lies not just in its landmark attractions, but also in the places in between – the foliage-blanket hills of the Catskills , the serene stillness of the waters in the Finger Lakes and the silent strength of the peaks of the Adirondacks .

Striking American landscapes, quirky antique stores, fabulous hikes and some of the best bakeries you’ll ever find. Welcome to New York State! From one end to the other, the Empire State is crammed with outdoor adventures, cool art, great food and friendly people.

A day trip to leafy Westchester in autumn offers a variety of attractions: historic sites, scenic beauty, casual dining, and special events that will appeal to adults and kids of all ages.

It isn’t hard to find a bit of respite from New York City’s clamor. Really.

Many people lament Labor Day weekend as the unofficial end of summer, but the autumnal equinox isn’t until September 23. Meaning: there’s no reason to panic and rush through the season. You have plenty of time to soak in the sun and warmth, and if the past years are any indication—you’ll be able to enjoy what feels like summer well into October.