It is easy to envision why Cold Spring was first established. While strolling along the Main Street with the Hudson Highland mountains and Hudson River in the distance, it is such a magical place. This little town, located in Putnam county, is an easy day trip and the perfect place to leave your car and walk to all the shops, parks and playgrounds. It is also the perfect place to plan a staycation, and explore like a tourist! Cold Spring has so much to offer from shopping, to kayaking in the Hudson River and to enjoying amazing local eateries; many with outdoor seating! It feels like taking a trip to a small European village, and no need for a passport!
Let's start our staycation in Cold Spring right on
Main Street! The Street runs right through the town and ends at the waterfront. My family loves to park next to the train station, there is free parking all along the street and waterfront. We then walk perusing the shops, galleries and eateries, taking it all in. The antique stores are fun to explore, filled with all manner of interesting finds. We love how quaint it all is, cafe tables spilling out onto the sidewalks, racks of handmade items outside inviting you to look inside, or you may even find free artisanal candy tastings!
Some of our very favorite stops on Main Street are all the antique stores, each one more interesting than the next. My daughter loves finding old, silly toys, I love perusing the old houseware items from a time long forgotten, and my husband loves finding old military relics. There is definitely no shortage of things to see and explore when you step inside one of these eclectic stores! It's akin to treasure hunting.
After you have had your fill of treasure hunting, there are lots of places to stop for a bite to eat! One of our favorite places is, the unassuming,
Garden Cafe. This is more of a casual, quick bite, but they serve great local coffee, homemade soups, paninis and they have make your own sundaes! The best thing about this place is that there are board games and books for the kids! My daughter and husband love sharing a hot chocolate over an intense game of chess. It is a great place to stop and refuel if you want something quick and good.
Another family friendly place to catch a bite, is the
Cold Spring Depot! Housed in the old train depot, circa 1893 this restaurant serves up classic American comfort food. You can sit by a roaring fire in the colder months or relax outside on their patio and watch the trains go by during the summer. It is my daughter's favorite place to have a burger!
Our next stop in Cold Spring is the gorgeous and
historic waterfront! A short walk from Main Street, past the train tracks you will find the most charming waterfront park! Cold Spring's waterfront area is the perfect place to let your children run and explore while you relax and take in the views. A pavilion sits in the middle of the waterfront, and on summer nights you can catch free local concerts. The waterfront park runs from a private marina, where you can watch sailboats launch all the way to a hiking trail that takes you along the rocky shoreline of the Hudson River. My family loves to grab a homemade ice cream from
Moo Moo's Creamery and take in the stunning vistas.
After you leisurely explore the waterfront, there is no reason you have to stay on dry land. Hudson River Expeditions offers kayak rentals and tours right from
Foundry Dock Park. It is a great way to explore the Hudson River and see Cold Spring from a different perspective. Besides what feels more like a staycation than getting out on the water!
The last stop on our staycation adventure is one of my favorite playgrounds in the whole Hudson Valley! Yes, that's right, the whole Hudson Valley!
Cold Spring Tots Park is a very unique playground. Fenced in, it's filled with donated toys, a huge sandbox, lots of "roads" for driving play cars and of course the traditional playground staples. A large oak tree shades the playground which makes it nice and cool during the summer months. We love bringing a soccer ball to shoot goals on the soccer net next to the park or laying out a blanket to enjoy the soft, shaded grass! There is no public bathroom but a short 2 minute walk from the playground is the
public library and bathrooms.
This is only a small snippet of things to do while you enjoy a getaway to Cold Spring. There is so much more that you could add to your staycation; about a 10 minute drive from Cold Spring are some of the Hudson Valley's best hiking spots. How about an
old fashioned trolley that gives rides during the summer season, something my daughter adores, or you can head over to nearby Garrison and explore the historic home and grounds at
Boscobel. There is no end to things you can plan for your Cold Spring staycation!
Updated on February 22, 2023
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