I'm back on a two-day work week... and I must admit a nice little spring jaunt was just what I needed. Nothing wrong with an extended weekend, sometimes just as enjoyable as one of my longer vacations. The weekend was spent visiting with most of the clan in New York City and then I head for a two-hour drive on Monday to visit a man friend of mine I haven't seen since before covid times, who used to live in the Philly area. I am not sure what took me so long to visit Kingston, but I was pleasantly surprised by this jewel of a town, and I can see why know our dear Anne Marie always told me to go see the Hudson Valley. Kingston is indeed in the Hudson Valley and is charming, blending rich Revolutionary era history with a very quaint yet vibrant and hip feel, all along the Hudson River waterfront. The reason Hudson Valley has an idyllic reputation in the first place I'm thinking, is because of towns like Kingston. A great mixed creative arts district, much history, and the town is dotted with stone houses and Federal era brick building which house everything from private homes to museums, bookshops, art galleries and farm to table eateries, with not one chains, big box, equity backed coffee shops in sight. Yay for Kingston! Meanwhile the downtown area is nestled right on the banks of the Hudson River. I didn't have time to get in and see many places for a long period of time but did see and get the feel of the town pretty good. My friend even took me out on his sailboat as nippy as it was. I have to go back for the lighthouse tour one day. Some visual aids I took...
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OMG love the photos!
ReplyDeleteThis probably deserves a whole week, no? Each of those historical places could take hours. Loved the little lighthouse. Your friend was awesome!
XOXO
I agree with your comment I have to go back just for the lighthouse tour. There were so many quaint little lighthouses my God.. they were awesome.
DeleteWhat a gorgeous spot. The architecture whore in me was having a field day looking at your photos. And I love that they keep the chain stores at bay. Camden is like that, too, keeping fats food places and Starbucks and that ilk outside the city limits.
ReplyDeleteI think we would get along fine! I'm to the point where I am so tired of big box and corporate chains. I'm to the point where I'm very seldom use them. I can't tell you the last time I was in a big box. It's been over 6 years since I've been in a Starbucks. If you and Carlos ever get to New York City you should plan a couple days in Kingston I think you two would really like it.
DeleteMy goodness, you did make the rounds, didn't you?
ReplyDeleteAnd I even handled some rounds!
DeleteSuch gorgeous architecture! And love the Sojourner Truth historical marker. What a hero that woman was!
ReplyDeleteI was familiar with her and her history but somehow it escaped me that's where she lived, I had no idea.
DeleteFor a second, I thought that sign said Old Butch Church.
ReplyDeleteNo, Old Dutch Church. But if it's any consolation I did meet an old Butch.
DeleteLooks like a very nice place.
ReplyDeleteI’ve heard it’s a wonderful place to live (except for the kind of winter we can’t tolerate anymore). When we were planning our move to Spain and my mother was pretending to support us while complaining to her entire family, one of my cousins suggested (so we’d be closer to my mother in NYC) we move to Kingston because, as he put it, “they have gay people there.” Much of my family members have homes in a town near there, but clearly they didn’t want us there (where they don’t welcome gay people).
ReplyDeleteI like a totally see you and Jerry living here. And what I like the most is it's near water. Any more I love living near a body of water of some sort, whether it be a river ,lake or the ocean. Something very rejuvenating about water.
DeleteThe Hudson Valley has many historic towns like New Paltz, Rhinebeck, Tarrytown and Hyde Park. I love vacationing on select weekends there to get away from the insanity of DC.
ReplyDeleteRex in DC
I've been to Tarrytown. While it's been a couple of years that was an incredible town to visit. Of course we went in the autumn right near Halloween so that was a cool time to go. And I'm happy to report I had no run-ins with the Headless Horseman.
DeleteSo many pretty places and things to see.
ReplyDeleteEveryone will be biting at the bit to see your posts. With as long as you've been gone you should have blog fodder for about 3 months after this trip.
DeleteIf I ever get chance to check out the east coast, I will make sure I visit and old grave yard.
ReplyDeleteI love a good cemetery.
DeleteI never made it to Kingston. It looks lovely. We lived in Warwick, NY, for a few years. Of all the places I've lived, Warwick is my favorite. Pretty, pretty little town. That and nearby Sugar Loaf were just perfect. I miss it to this day.
ReplyDeleteIf I get back up that way I'll have to check Warwick out. I suspect you feel for Warwick how I feel about New Hope. I have a trip back to New Hope soon.
DeleteYou must go next trip through! In the fall, they have a huge apple festival. Love New Hope also (I'm from Yardley). My kids are pushing for me to move back home but so pricey. Some friends have suggested Delaware instead of the Philly area (b/c of the more favorable taxes?). We'll see. I think I just need to win the lottery & buy a house in Stone Harbor, NJ, & then I'm set.
DeleteLOL!!!! I too have been trying to win that big lottery!!!! If I do I will send you some doe!!!! And yes Delaware does not have state tax and it is a beautiful state. But Bucks County is soooooo pretty. Or as some call it Big Bucks County, lol! My dear late uncle and his family were from Yardley also.
DeleteSome fascinating and attractive buildings; it would be a pleasure to visit the Hudson Valley if it were not for the crowd of poisonous idiots in the Goldish House.
ReplyDeleteWhat ballroom? That's no ballroom, it's a hole in the ground.
The Hudson Valley surely was beautiful and so full of history, I'm already looking forward to a return trip again. This was the second town I have visited in the Hudson Valley, the first being Tarrytown which is famous for the village of Sleep Hollow...yes that Sleepy Hollow.
DeleteBummer! Kingston is just an hour away from me. Ships passing in the night....
ReplyDeleteWHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You mean we were that close?!?!?
DeleteI love the photos, and I wouldn't mind living in that lighthouse.
ReplyDeleteI thought once, it would be cool to live in a lighthouse too.
DeleteI'd had made the trip for the dessert case and the architecture alone!!!
ReplyDeleteI'd love to get there sometime and see the lighthouses and ships. It's not like I'm all that far. It was a great weekend in NYC though!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThat right....the drive only took me a little over two hours to get there.
DeleteWelcome back, Maddie! Kingston has some fine architecture - and colourful, too - but it was the cakes that stopped me in my tracks. Mmmmmm.....
ReplyDeleteYes....my friend was hard pressed to get me out of there, what with so many succlent and delicious cakes and desserts.
DeleteMy lands! I haven't been to Kingston in ages! Nice to see it's as charming as it's always been. We used to go on weekends to the Hudson Valley a lot back in the early 80 to mid 80's. Loved your snap shots as always.
ReplyDeleteMmm! Ahoy, matey! Nice to see a boy intently focused on his mast!
ReplyDeleteAnd knows how to use on too!!!!!
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