48 Hours in Storm King, NY
Darlings, if the city’s relentless symphony of sirens has begun to sound like a distress call, it’s time to retreat. Just ninety minutes north, Storm King unfurls—a pastoral stage where colossal sculptures commune with the elements, and the Hudson Valley whispers, “You may exhale now.”
Friday Evening: Arrival Amid the Gloaming
As daylight performs its final bow, glide up the Palisades Parkway toward a quieter kind of grandeur. Check into The Caldwell House, a stately bed-and-breakfast with all the trimmings, or, The Cromwell Manor Inn, a brick beauty from 1820, oozes Greek Revival charm with its grand columns and wraparound porch.
Dinner, naturally, should feel like a warm embrace. Head to Pepettini in Cornwall, an authentic Italian restaurant located in a converted early 1900's bank, a stone's throw from the Hudson River. Keeping true to their central / southern Italian heritage, Pepettini specializes in fresh seafood and more traditional dishes not typically found in American-Italian restaurants. Try the sea scallops pappardelle or sole francese with shrimp over rissotto.
A classic favorite, Menashe Kadishman’s Suspended is another of the iconic sculptures at Storm King Art Center.
Saturday Morning: A Waltz with the Wind at Storm King
Layer up: cashmere optional but encouraged. Make your way to Storm King Art Center, that 500-acre dreamscape of sculpture and sky. In early winter, it transforms into a place of sublime quietude. You’ll find yourself face-to-face with giants: Serra’s towering steel arcs, Calder’s jubilant forms, Noguchi’s meditative stones. The air is crisp, the light theatrical. The hills, dusted with frost, are nature’s own chiaroscuro.
When hunger hums, visit Jones Farm in Cornwall next door for breakfast, lunch, and the yummiest desserts. Can’t miss the views of the farm and Schunemunk Mountain in the distance.
Jones Farm, Cornwall NY
Saturday Afternoon: Of Cider, Cellars, and Curiosities
No Hudson Valley escapade is complete without a gentle descent into local libation. Begin at the famous Angry Orchard’s Innovation Cider House, where cinnamon meets crisp air and fermentation becomes fine art (ahem it’s a treehouse!) Ask about their barrel-aged reserve.
Then on to Brotherhood Winery, America’s oldest and most venerable winery. They were able to stay open during Prohibition because they made wine for church services. Tour the largest underground cellars in the country, then visit the spacious tasting room. Descend into its candlelit cellars and imagine you’ve stepped into a secret society of oenophiles.
If you must indulge in a bit of material pleasure, lose yourself among the treasures at Newburgh Vintage Emporium—a labyrinth of bygone glamour and artisan finds. The perfect setting for one’s “I simply found it upstate” story.
The Angry Orchard Cider House
Saturday Evening: The Glow of Gastronomy
Dinner should be an event. Choose Citrus Restaurant in New Windsor for a delicate blend of Thai and Indian cuisine. It’s just 5 minutes south of Storm King Art Center. Try the citrus sham savera (spinach and homemade cheese dumplings served with tangy tomato honey sauce), malabar curry (a mixture of ginger coconut & curry leaves), and their signature mango cheesecake.
Or head to Newburgh and dine at Blu Pointe for fresh seafood (colossal crab cocktail or lobster lollipops), prime steak (sirloin) or A5 wagyu tataki, and one of the best views of the Hudson Valley River. Post-dinner, drift to Ms. Fairfax, where the lighting flatters, the cocktails soothe, and conversation hums in low, confident tones. Ask for the Whispering Heat: a cocktail featuring botanical gin and fresh lemon, softened by honey, while gently cracked pink peppercorns. Cocktail in hand and a soft murmur of locals nearby, what could be better to end the evening?
Sunday Morning: Brunch and Benedictions
Your farewell act begins at Fiddlestix Cafe in Cornwall. Have the Strawberry Fields Forever French toast. You’ve earned it.
Before surrendering to the southbound highway, stop at Storm King Mountain Trailhead. A short hike delivers cinematic views of the Hudson—silver light on water, wind in the trees, a moment suspended. Breathe it in. The city can wait.
If You Go: Quick Counsel
Best Season: October through late December, when the air is crisp and the crowds mercifully absent.
What to Bring: Layers, boots, a thermos, and your most contemplative mood.
Getting There: A swift 90-minute drive or a Metro-North journey to Beacon, then a scenic rideshare across the river.