We spent the first part of our Weekend Getaway in the Hudson Valley City of Beacon, NY. This beautiful town is set only a few hours from New York City, any art lover’s paradise. In effect, a perfect place to get out of the daily rut and soak in some newness.

Mostly, we revel in our trips to the Dia: Beacon, a contemporary and modern art museum. Uniquely, the Dia foundation transformed the Nabisco Box Printing factory on the banks of the Hudson River into Dia: Beacon. The brick, steel, concrete, and glass retained from factory building offers a backdrop of industrial city architecture to display works of art.

Furthermore, the large floor plates and optimized natural light create an exemplar context for art, landscapes, and environments. The environmental sculptures Torqued Ellipses from Richard Serra probing orientation and space are particularly engaging.

Stepping away from city living and hustle-bustle means on outings we like it not to do much. Be entertained, eat up, drink in and get a charge out of it! Not only it means keeping it spontaneous, but also, to delight in the unexpected.

We stayed at the Roundhouse Hotel, a historic structure built in the 1800s and a manufacturing company then. Formerly, the Rounded building housed a turbine and fed from creeks above the falls parallel to train tracks. It powered the belt system in the building. Later, a local Beacon family restored and created a new and vibrant Roundhouse. Clean, modern design in an industrial building, here repurposed original details abound.

Now, a hotel with curved walls of a defunct factory, it sits along the Fishkill Creek falls.   What a splendid view from our room!

Also, we found a perfect spot to spend a lazy dinner at the Patio overlooking the picturesque falls. With Summer heated up, string lights shining, rapids tumbling, and fireflies staying out late, we couldn’t help but rejoice in the time. 

After this recharge, we headed to our next stop Hunter Mountain in Catskills. Watch out this space for more!

Just a Little Bit More …

~ For another day trip from NYC, head to Cold Springs, NY

~ In other things, Perfect Still Head of a Red-Tailed Hawk ~ 2021 Audubon Video Photography Awards

~ These spectacular drone views of The Great Pyramid of Giza ~ by Alexander Ladanivskyy

~ On Reevaluation of the relationship of Nature and Construction ~ Works by Robert Smithson