Hudson Valley Activities

From dining to gallery hopping to exploring the Great Outdoors, the Emerson and the Hudson Valley has everything you need to create the perfect getaway. Peruse our Activity Menu for information on local events and things to do. Our Reservations department is ready to help you customize your Emerson experience and our Concierge is happy to assist you in scheduling the adventure of your choice.


Within Emerson Resort & Spa

  • Take a closer look at the Emerson Resort & Spa.
  • See the World’s Largest Kaleidoscope. The Kaleidoshow is complimentary for our guests.
  • Play a game of volleyball in our Recreation Park. Badminton, horsehoes, children’s playground and picnic tables make our Recreation Park the perfect place to spend an afternoon.
  • Sit, Stay and Play at our Catamount Dog Park! Featuring a 60 foot wide by 100 foot long dedicated area just for canines with a dog run, doggy shower, fresh running water and special section for small dogs.  The Catamount Dog Park provides a safe area for your pet to run, relax, mingle and make friends!
  • Enjoy the perfect picnic. Our kitchen will prepare a delightful picnic for an afternoon hike or biking excursion. We’ll even provide you with directions to a few of our staff’s favorite picnic locations.
  • View this video and see how teens find fun at the Emerson!
  • The Hudson Valley is alive with unlimited natural beauty, arts and culture. If you’re enchanted by the area and would like to call the Hudson Valley home, visit the Free Style Realty office located in the Country Store.

Immediately Around Emerson Resort & Spa

  • Be sure to spend time in nearby Phoenicia…a Great Little Town! Congratulations to Phoenicia, named one of the USA’s Top Ten Coolest Towns by Budget Travel Magazine!
  • Hiking and biking. The Catskills are rich with scenic mountain trails.  Prefer a guided hike or biking excursion? Click here for rates.
  • Pursue the trout known to reside in the Esopus Creek. Fishing permits
  • are available in Phoenicia, and if you’re lucky enough to bring something back, our chefs will be pleased to prepare your catch for dinner.
    Guests have often been known to spot deer in this area.
  • Hop on the Catskill Mountain Railroad and enjoy a ride along the scenic Esopus or in the historic city of Kingston.
  • Looking for thrills and chills? Town Tinker Tube Rental offers whitewater tubing on the Esopus.

A Short Drive Away

  • Enjoy the winter wonders of Belleayre Mountain. Just minutes west of Emerson Resort & Spa, Belleayre Mountain offers winter sports such as skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing; and summer sports such as hiking, mountain biking and swimming. Belleayre also offers a breathtaking Sky Ride to the summit of the mountain on select summer weekends and holidays.
  • Pay a call to Mt. Tremper’s Zen Mountain Monastery.
  • Explore the funky eclecticism of Woodstock. For a full list of shops, galleries, restaurants and events, visit the Woodstock Chamber of Commerce and Arts.
  • On your way to Woodstock, stop by the Elena Zang Gallery.  The gallery hosts contemporary fine art by regional and internationally known artists, outdoor sculputres, pottery and an outdoor pottery studio.
  • Take a scenic walk around portions of the Ashokan Reservoir, a man-made wonder that provides much of the drinking water for New York City.
  • Shop at the many antique galleries in Saugerties. Don’t forget to visit the Saugerties Light House that illuminates the Hudson River.
  • On your way to Margaretville, take a ride on the Delaware and Ulster Railroad in Arkville.  Enjoy a train ride in period coaches following the original roadbed of the Ulster and Delaware Railroad that originally connected Kingston with Oneonta, New York.
  • Sample Hudson Valley wines on a winery tour of the surrounding areas that originally connected Kingston with Oneonta, New York.
  • Witness world-class horse jumping in a multi-million dollar facility in nearby Saugerties at the Horse Shows in the Sun complex. Visit their website for a schedule: www.hitsshows.com
  • Explore historic structures, gallery exhibits, lectures relating to local heritage, and narrated walking tours of Kingston’s historical districts.  Visit fohk.org for more information.
  • Board the Rip Van Winkle for a scenic and historical Hudson River cruise.
  • Experience world-class rock climbing and ice climbing on the dramatic cliffs of the Shawangunck Mountains.

Visit a Museum

  • Visit New York’s first capital, Kingston, established in 1777. Here you can see the original Senate House and Museum.
  • Stop by the “Stockade Area,” the refurbished business district that dates back to Peter Stuyvesant in 1658.
  • Do not forget to visit the Hudson River Museum that displays Hudson River artifacts and provides boat rides.
  • Visit the Empire Rail Road Museum in nearby Phoenicia and learn more about the “Ups and Downs” railroad that brought tourists to America’s first wilderness in the 1800’s.
  • While in Woodstock, visit the Center for Photography on Tinker Street.
  • Take a peek at the Black Bear Museum Trading Post in Esopus, containing authentic costumes and Native American artifacts.
  • Tour two of the Hudson Valley’s most famous National Historic sites: Springwood, the lifelong home of Franklin D. Roosevelt; and the Vanderbilt Mansion, the country estate of Frederick Vanderbilt.
  • Visit the Culinary Institute of America and dine in one of their several restaurants.

Experience the Arts and Theater

  • Each summer for nearly 90 years, the Maverick Concert Hall has hosted Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon chamber music concerts in their hand-built concert hall just outside of Woodstock.
  • The New York Conservatory for the Arts in Hurley offers performances in dance, theater, music, and many other events throughout the summer.
  • Just down the road in Phoenicia, the Shandaken Theater Society performs several musicals and dramas each summer in its turn-of-the-century theater.
  • Every Saturday in July and August the Belleayre Conservatory produces concerts, opera and other music performances near the top of the Belleayre Ski Center at Highmount.
  • The Woodstock Playhouse offers a diverse summer schedule of musical events in their new outdoor bandshell auditorium.
  • The annual Woodstock Film Festival held each Autumn features film premieres, appearances and workshops by notable directors and actors, as well as gala events and concerts.

Hudson Valley Events

For a list of current events/activities, please visit these helpful sites:

The Emerson does not guarantee availability for the activities listed on this page.  Hours of operation and rates are subject to change.