Region takes top billing alongside Dubai, Costa Rica, and Mongolia
July 27, 2021Updated: July 27, 2021 11:36 a.m.
The Hudson Valley is one of the top 100 places in the world according to Time, which just released its picks for the most extraordinary destinations to explore across the globe. The region is “fast becoming one of the most popular locales in New York,” the magazine noted.
This year, the third annual list, titled “The World’s Greatest Places of 2021,” paid tribute to the travel, tourism and hospitality industries and the people and businesses at the forefront of them. The list is compiled based upon nominations of places that offer new and exciting experiences, and includes the Hudson Valley among many more far-flung destinations, like the idyllic Portuguese town of Arouca, Antarctica and others.
Why the Hudson Valley? The magazine cites the region’s “country charm” and “succulent agriculture” for helping to attract city dwellers looking for greener, less populated places to relocate to during the pandemic. Not only did the influx of newcomers help draw attention to the Hudson Valley, its proximity to New York City and rural appeal played a part in luring vacationers during the pandemic. Rather than fly internationally or to another U.S. state, many New Yorkers booked stays at Hudson Valley short-term rentals and hotels, which have multiplied in recent years.
“Travelers will also have their choice of new hotels: Hutton Brickyards in Kingston, with luxury cabins close to the Hudson River, and The Maker, a hotel, restaurant, lounge and café in Hudson that celebrates all things artisanal,” wrote Diandra Barnwell for Time.
While Time doesn’t specifically mention the Catskills, the area is experiencing a hotel boom of its own, having added 2,000 rooms to its lodging inventory over the past two years, according to the Catskills Association for Tourism Services. Sullivan County in particular has seen a spate of new resorts and boutique hotels openings this year, including Callicoon Hills. In Dutchess County, there are at least 15 additional hotel projects in various stages of planning.
Time also nods to the opening of Legoland in Goshen as part of the Hudson Valley’s allure, which fully opened in early July. The theme park’s adjacent hotel is accepting reservations for stays beginning August 6. The addition of the new 150-acre theme park is also one of the reasons why Goshen was named one of the 15 best small towns to visit in 2021 by Smithsonian Magazine.
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