For every season there is a reason to come to Dutchess County! From antique car shows to pre-Broadway summer theater; from county fairs to great shopping for unique home decor and antiques; there is always a reason to spend a weekend in Dutchess County.

Where to Stay

The White Hart Inn in Salisbury, CT sits just over the NY border. Enjoy cocktails and a great dinner in the hotel restaurant.

Originally built as a farmhouse in 1806, The White Hart is an inn and restaurant on the village green of historic Salisbury in Litchfield County, Connecticut. The White Hart underwent a large-scale renovation in 2010 and was reimagined and reopened in 2014. The property features 16 guest rooms, three dining rooms, a taproom with a full-service bar, two outdoor dining patios, a large porch with drink service, a ballroom and café. The artwork of Jasper Johns, Frank Stella, Terry Winters, Donald Baechler, Hugo Guinness and Duncan Hannah is displayed throughout the premises.

Or you could choose to stay at The Millbrook Inn—a building that’s over 100 years old and set on a country road dotted with lush farmland and grazing horses. It’s a serene retreat located in the heart of the Hudson Valley. 

AirBnb & Vrbo also have a great selection of vacation rentals in the area.

Saturday

Unwind-Shop-Eat

Have breakfast at the Inn or head straight into Millbrook, NY and enjoy breakfast in the classic Millbrook Diner, then take a stroll up Franklin Avenue for some antiquing and weekend shopping therapy.

Millbrook Antiques Mall is located in the heart of the Mid-Hudson Valley and picturesque Dutchess Country. The mall offers some of the finest antiques in New York State, with over 30 shops under one roof. Since 1979, the Millbrook Antiques Mall has specialized in American and European 18th and 19th century fine furniture. The shop also offers three floors of collectibles, decorating accessories, vintage jewelry, country primitives, rare books and much more.

Orangerie Garden + Home provides a retail environment that evokes a sense of style by curating an assortment of indoor and outdoor plants, items for memorable entertaining, and unique accents for the garden and home.

Creel and Gow in Millbrook, NY has an extensive range of fascinating and exquisite objects sourced from all around the world by avid collectors and world travelers Jamie Creel, Marco Scarani, and their adventurous team. It’s the perfect resource to embellish one’s life with originality or find that unique gift for discerning individuals. Rare minerals, taxidermy, coral, silver shells, unusual decorative objects and exotic accessories fill these veritable cabinets of curiosities.

Tent New York

Next, jump on to Route 22 and head a short distance up the road to Amenia, NY and visit Tent New York. Founded by Interior Designer Darren Henault, Tent is a treasure trove and a delight for the senses. The furniture, upholstery and unique home accessories all have a great story—brushes and brooms from a palm unique to a particular prefecture in Japan, hand-carved wooden spoons, curvaceous lamps made by a renowned ceramicist, and down-filled sofas upholstered in fabrics from iconic European purveyors. Everything has texture, weight and “hand”—or, a sensuous feeling as you touch and feel it between your fingers or with your palm—and reflects Henault’s taste and discerning eye for the well-made. A visit to Tent is a must! You’re bound to find just the perfect thing and, if you can’t, then Tent can help you source whatever it is you're looking for.

Evening

If you want something super casual, head across the street and enjoy cocktails, pizza and a drive in movie at Four Brothers Drive In; or, if it’s not Drive-In season and you want to see a movie, just a little way down the Road is Millerton, NY and The Moviehouse—a great independent theater with three screens, plus a bar and screening lounge that boast a retro speakeasy vibe. Enjoy tapas before or after the movie at 52 Main.

The area is also home to a host of great restaurants—all of whom use local Hudson Valley produce to create exquisite treats for your palate. Reservations are recommended.

Cafe Les Beaux - a classic French bistro located in the heart of the bucolic Village of Millbrook. Chef Herve Bochard’s dishes, rooted in the flavors of the Brittany Sea and the land of Provence, are infused with the distinctive taste of France. The menu features classic dishes, an extensive wine list, and an ever-changing list of specials showcasing the bounty of product that can be found locally. Les Beaux has been drawing diners, locals, and visitors alike, for close to two decades—making it the Zagat Rated #1 French Bistro in Dutchess and Westchester Counties.

Barbaro - a gathering place for the residents and visitors of Millbrook. A place for warm exchanges and intimate gatherings alike, BARBARO has ingrained itself into the fabric of the historic town’s community. Whether you come for the inviting atmosphere, the simple yet elegant Italian cuisine, or the carefully crafted cocktails and curated wine selection, you will feel engulfed by the palpable Italian hospitality of this inviting enclave.

Seravan - the restaurant of James Beard award-winning chef, Serge Medikians. Serge and his team take their greatest pleasure in the relationships they have developed with their guests, both local and visitors alike; making Seravan a true Mediterranean oasis of culinary hospitality.

Sunday

Book a boozy brunch tour…

Tenmile Distillery in Wassaic is a small, independent distillery adhering to traditional methods of whisky-making from a time before global production schedules and the mass market. Sample their first Single Malt Whisky, due for release in 2023, as well as their delicious Sinpatch Vodka and Listening Rock Gin.

Millbrook Vineyards & Winery was named “the Hudson Valley’s flagship winery” by The New York Times and “a great place to visit” by The Wall Street Journal. The winery is conveniently located and is a glorious place to visit any time of year for a tour and wine tasting.

Contemplate nature…

Innisfree Garden was established between 1930 and 1960 as the private garden of Walter and Marion Beck and inspired by scroll paintings of the 8th-century Chinese poet and painter, Wang Wei. With the help of landscape architect Lester Collins from Harvard University, individual garden scenes inspired by the Chinese paintings were connected to an overall landscape around a glacial lake, thereby keeping with the ecological surroundings. In addition to its inspirational landscape and gardens, Innisfree offers season-long public programs.

Take a hike…

Walk or bike the Harlem Valley Rail Trail, comprised of 26+ paved miles through stunning rural Dutchess and Columbia County landscapes.

…or go for a ride.

Book a trail ride or, for the less experienced horseback rider, lessons with Bridget at MisFit Farm.

When your outdoorsy adventures are over and before you head home, drop into the village of Millerton for lunch or tea at Harney & Son’s Fine Teas or Oakhurst Diner, browse the shelves at Oblong Books and take a last stroll along Main Street before you leave.