Destination: Beacon
Dutchess County city is filled with walkable neighborhoods, spirit of revival.
Tucked into the midhudson Valley along the west side of the Hudson River, the city of Beacon is in the midst of a revival.
In the early 1900s, the city was given the name Beacon by the Fishkill Landing and Matteawan villages due to the proximity to Mount Beacon, which had played a role in the American Revolution: Signal fires burned at the top were used to alert Gen. George Washington when the British were coming.
Now, the Dutchess County city is filled with walkable neighborhoods sprinkled with boutique shops and cozy eateries, and unique places to stay. The city also plays host to one of the largest contemporary art museums in the country, Dia Beacon, which opened in 2003.
Lodging The Roundhouse, 2 E. Main St.
Dating back 200 years, The Roundhouse is a restaurant, hotel and event space. It stands ongrounds that were once part of the Matteawan Manufacturing Co., one of the city's first factories. Other manufacturing facilities would later set up shop in the same area. The Roundhouse building housed a massive turbine that powered a belt system using water from the Fish Kill. After big industry left, the factory buildings fell into disrepair and sat vacant for years before the property was purchased by a local family in 2010. Their vision was to save and restore as much of the original property as possible, and to turn it into a destination for travelers as well as locals.
I first learned about the unusually shaped hotel when I came across it on Tiktok and I knew I had to experience it in person. Go for the penthouse: There’s a huge balcony overlooking Beacon Falls and the Fish Kill, which lights up at night. You can see the view from the comfortable bed or from the huge circular soaking tub. There’s also a living room area with a wet bar and a TV, a huge shower with multiple rain showerheads, and a hand-blown glass chandelier in the highceiling bathroom.
Dining The Roundhouse, 2 E. Main St.
With farm-to-table options and plenty of locally sourced offerings, even behind the bar, dinner at The Roundhouse continued the quality offered in its lodging. There was an excellent cocktail selection incorporating fresh seasonal ingredients. We began our meal with the burrata with heirloom apple, fresh fig, crostini and vincotto, along with the jumbo lump crab cakes with pickled onion, tarragon lemon aioli and petite greens. The creamy burrata and huge chunks of crab meat got us off to a great start. Then we split the Hudson Valley Duck Breast, which came with plenty of greens, and the Steak Frites, which featured prime New York strip in an au poivre sauce. We ended the experience with the 7 Layer Chocolate Cake of strawberry, chocolate mousse, white hot chocolate and crispy pearls, and the Hudson Valley Apple Crisp with Honey Crisp apples and buttermilk ice cream.
Hudson Valley Food Hall, 288 Main St.
For a light lunch out and about, check out the Hudson Valley Food Hall. It hosts a variety of vendors offering drinks, plus everything from smothered cheese fries to Asian food. I got food from Momo, which had a variety of stuffed dim sum dishes including chicken and yak. It was absolutely delicious — and inexpensive.
Yankee Clipper Diner, 397 Main St.
For a quick breakfast or lunch before hitting the road, stop into the Yankee Clipper Diner. Breakfast options include pancakes and waffles, and comfort food include meatloaf and fresh pie. The menu is huge. The diner also has an excellent French onion soup.
Dia Becaon, 3 Beekman St. Housed in an old Nabisco facility, this cavernous art museum has a collection that dates from the 1960s to the present. With 160,000 square feet. it is one of the largest exhibition spaces in the country for modern and contemporary art. Because of COVID restrictions, the museum is open but only by reservation. Still, an expansive place for social distancing if there ever was one.
Exploring
The area is filled with boutique shops to explore, and various places to pop in for a quick snack or goodies to bring home. Have fun browsing through some of my favorites, like Flora Good Times (197 Main St.) for some greenery and new plant babies for your home. Kringles Christmas House (134 Main St.) is the perfect place to find silly and classic Christmas goodies year-round, like festive ornaments and snowman light fixtures. Lucky Thirty One (217 Main St.) is a classy boutique filled with apparel and accessories displayed among the exposed brick. Browse through their handbags, dresses, tops and jumpsuits to find some fresh pieces. Glazed Over Donuts (315 Main St.) has a menu that allows you to select what glaze you want, along with toppings and drizzles like grape jelly. Explore the selection of decadent double cream soft spreadable cheeses, cured salty meats and rich European butters at Beacon Pantry (382 Main St.). Keep an eye out for hidden street art on the sides of the shops and buildings while exploring the neighborhood.