Wander Sleepy Hollow Lake: Activities Guide

Uncover the Charm of Wander Sleepy Hollow Lake: From River Cruises to Drive-In Movies

Image courtesy of Association of Property Owners of Sleepy Hollow Lake

Situated within the picturesque landscape near Wander Sleepy Hollow Lake, visitors can delve into the rich history of the area by exploring local historic sites and the engaging firefighting museum. A relaxing river cruise offers stunning views and a peaceful escape on the water, while the vibrant farmers market provides a taste of fresh, local produce. Downtown Hudson invites exploration with its charming streets, eclectic shops, and lively music venues. For a unique experience, enjoy a classic movie night at the drive-in or embark on an adventurous kayaking trip on the serene lake waters.

Olana State Historic Site

Image courtesy of Olana.org

Distance from Wander Hudson: 8.9 miles 

Location: 5720 NY-9G, Hudson, NY 12534

Hours: 8AM-5PM daily  

Phone: (518) 828-1872

Website: https://www.olana.org/ 

During the mid-19th Century, Olana was home to renowned painter Frederic Church, his wife Isabel, and their four children. Church purchased the land to build the house based on a former spot he used to frequent to paint and sketch. The home is an eclectic mix of Victorian design with Middle Eastern accents, collected through Church’s many travels. You can read more about Church and the history behind Olana here. 

There is a 60-minute, one mile-long walking tour for $12/per person that discovers the naturalistic landscape of the area that inspired some of Church’s works. A $40/per person electric vehicle guided driving tour takes you onan hour drive along 5 miles of carriage roads designed by Church himself where you can experience both river and mountain views. A 30-minute version of the vehicle tour is offered too for $20/per person. Lastly, there are guided and self-paced tours of the interior rooms of Frederic Church’s home which range from $10-$25/ per person.

If you are interested in visiting Olana, be sure to purchase tickets in advance online. 

Hudson Cruises Inc 

Photo courtesy of Brooklyndoublewide.com

Distance from Wander Hudson: 11 miles 

Location: 196-498 Water St, Hudson, NY 12534

Hours: 9AM-10PM daily 

Phone: (518) 822-1014

Website: https://hudsoncruises.com/ 

For over 18 years Hudson Cruises Inc. has offered sightseeing trips and river tours in Hudson, New York. Shake up date night or a family reunion with our Friday evening Murder Mystery, a weekend Hudson Valley Sightseeing trip, or a lighthouse tour. 

The lighthouse tour takes you around the Hudson-Athens Lighthouse, built in 1874, and located in the middle of the Hudson River. 15-passenger Little Spirit will take you on a 1.5 hour trip where you will also hear stories about the Historic Hudson area. You can bring along a snack (or perhaps a charcuterie board for a special occasion) and enjoy it on the picnic tables outside the lighthouse. Tours are offered August through October. 

On Fridays, the company runs a 2-hour murder mystery cruises with professional actors, where guests are encourge to uncover clues to solve the mystery. The cruise includes a dinner buffet and a cash bar. 

Prices per tour vary from $15 (children)- $75 (themed tour). Be sure to check out Hudson Cruises' fall foliage cruise from September- early November and all other cruise offerings (including private tours) here. Tickets must be purchased in advance as they sell out quickly!

Hudson Farmers Market 

Photo courtesy of Premier Medical HV

Distance from Wander Hudson: 11 miles

Location: Corner of 6th and Columbia St (Put in 653 Columbia St. into your GPS) 

Hours: Saturdays 9AM-1PM

Phone: (518) 300-3496

Website: http://www.hudsonfarmersmarketny.com/ 

You can find the Hudson Farmers' Market at the corner of 6th and Columbia St from 9am to 1pm. We have 30+ regular vendors, plus a rotating list of guest vendors and live music each week. The Hudson Farmers Market offers a wide variety of products including vegetables, fruit, herbs, honey, mushrooms, cheese, eggs, meat, poultry, fish, cut flowers, plants, medicinal herb and body care products, bread, baked goods and a host of prepared foods. There are also some local distillers that sell their products at the market from time to time. Market runs from mid-April through mid-November each year.

Hudson River Skywalk 

Photo courtesy of Hudson River Skywalk 

Distance from Wander Hudson: 6.2 mile 

Location: 27-16 NY-23, Catskill, NY 12414 (Rip Van Winkle Bridge) 

Website: https://www.hudsonriverskywalk.org/ 

If you are looking to get some steps in, walk along the Hudson River Skywalk, a six mile out-and-back pedestrian walkway that connects Hudson and Athens. As you stroll along, take in the natural beauty of the landscape around you; these views inspired the works of Frederic Church’s Olana and Thomas Cole’s site. 

Downtown Hudson 

Photo courtesy of The Warehouse 

Photo courtesy of Hudson Valley 360

Photo courtesy of Davis Orton Gallery

Distance from Wander Hudson: 11 miles

Location: 535 Warren St, Hudson, NY 12534

The main strip and central part of downtown Hudson lies on mile-long Warren Street. If you are interested in boutiques and antique shopping, downtown Hudson is the place for you. Hudson is home to over 30 antique shops that feature rustic pieces, mid-century modern furniture and even some ancient greek-inspired statues. A few shops to check out include The Warehouse (99 S 3rd St, Hudson, NY 12534), Foley & Cox Home (317 Warren St, Hudson, NY 12534), Theron Ware Works of Art (548 Warren St, Hudson, NY 12534) and Saugerties Antiques Center (220 Main St, Saugerties, NY 12477).  

If you’re an aspiring art critic or simply enjoy pursuing art installations, look no further! Warren street is also home to dozens of local art galleries for you to enjoy. Some of our suggestions include Pamela Salisbury Gallery (362 1/2 Warren St, Hudson, NY 12534), Limner Gallery (123 Warren St, Hudson, NY 12534), Davis Orton Gallery (114 Warren St, Hudson, NY 12534), and SEPTEMBER (449 Warren St #3, Hudson, NY 12534). But, we will let the art critic in you make the final judgment on which is your favorite. 

As you stroll along Warren Street, pay close attention to the historic architecture; some of the buildings along the street date as far back as the 18th century. Many of the houses in Hudson embody distinctive features of New England building traditions and are distinguishable from the Dutch vernacular traditions evident elsewhere in the Hudson Valley. We suggest walking by one of the principal landmarks of the town, the First Presbyterian Church of Hudson (369 Warren St) built in 1837. You can find more information on Hudson historic buildings along with a self-guided walking tour here. 

Hudson Hall at the historic Hudson Opera House

Photo courtesy of Weddingwire.com 

Distance from Wander Hudson: 10.6  miles 

Location: 327 Warren St, Hudson, NY 12534

Hours: 9AM-5PM Tuesday-Friday; 12PM-5PM Saturday & Sunday; Closed on Mondays 

Phone: (518) 822-1438

Website: https://hudsonhall.org/ 

The Hudson Hall, built in 1855, is New York State’s oldest surviving theater. Throughout the years, the theater was a showroom for artists Frederic Church and Stnford Gifford, a lecture space for abolitists Henry Ward Beecher and Susan B. Anthony, and was even visited by the 26th U.S president, Teddy Roosevelt. The building was restored between 1992-2017 and now serves as the city’s vibrant performance hall. 

The hall boasts vibrant summer music festivals featuring Baroque and early music, as well as themed musical performances throughout the year. For example, Hudson Hall hosts the annual Hudson Jazz Festival in February and carols around the holidays. Tickets for these events can be purchased in advance online or at the door. 

In addition to live music, Hudson Hall also holds a variety of workshops and community events, to include zumba classes, performances for children, pop-up exhibits by local artists, cooking classes, and book readings. For more information, click here. 

Basilica Hudson 

Photo courtesy of Basilica Hudson 

Distance from Wander Hudson: 11 miles

Location: Basilica Hudson, 110 S Front St, Hudson, NY 12534

Phone: (518) 822-1050

Website: https://basilicahudson.org/events/ 

Basilica Hudson is an arts and performance venue in Hudson, NY, that was established in 2010 out of a repurposed 19th-century factory, now solar-powered. The Basilica is home to eclectic music festivals, large marketplace events, film screenings and public installations. Most of the programs are free or sliding scale. In 2015, Basilica Hudson became a nonprofit aimed at growing the regions sustainability efforts to help the Hudson waterfront evolve. For more information on upcoming events, click here. 

Hi-Way Drive-In Theatre

Photo courtesy of Google Images 

Distance from Wander Hudson: 5 miles 

Location: 10699 State, Rte 9W, Coxsackie, NY 12051

Phone: (518) 731-8672

Website: http://www.hiwaydrivein.com/ 

You can add a drive-in movie theater on the list of places that you can visit! Load up on snacks and drinks, maybe grab a few pillows and blankets and head over to Hi-Way Drive-in Theater for a cozy, relaxing night. Tickets are $11 for ages 12 and up, and $6 for ages 3 - 11 (children under 3 years of age are admitted free). The gate and the SnackBar open one hour before the start of the movie. You can find additional information and a list of current movie screenings here. 

FASNY Museum of Firefighting

Photo courtesy of FASNY Museum of Firefighting

Distance from Wander Hudson: 11.7 miles

Location: 117 Harry Howard Ave, Hudson, NY 12534

Hours: 10AM-4:30 PM Wednesday-Saturday 

Phone: (518) 822-1875

Website: https://fasnyfiremuseum.com/ 

The FASNY Museum of Firefighting is a hands-on museum celebrating 3 centuries of firefighting with over 90 engines, apparatus & art. The museum was established in 1925 and features rare fire engines dating back to 1731. The museum has a resident dalmatian named Molly that greets visitors and is also a certified therapy dog. The museum is open year-round and offers a variety of events for children and adults alike. Tickets to the museum are $12/adult, $8/child, and free for children under three years old. 

Screaming Eagle Outdoor Adventures 

Photo courtesy of Google Images

Distance from Wander Hudson: 2 miles 

Location: 28 North Warren Street, Athens, New York 12015

Hours: 9AM-5:30PM Tuesday-Sunday; Closed Monday

Phone: (518) 312-7729

Website: https://screamingeagleoutdooradventures.com/ 

Screaming Eagle Outdoor Adventures offers single and tandem kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, as well as guided kayaking tours down the Hudson River. Kayaks must be rented per time slot as they are disinfected between each guest. Screaming Eagle also offers sunrise and sunset paddles and guided tours. 2-hour self-guided single kayaks rentals are around $50 and tandem kayaks are around $75. Meanwhile, a 2 hour single kayak guided tour is $75 and $150 for tandem kayaks.

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For questions or assistance with travel recommendations in the area be sure to contact Wander Concierge. Just text 737-377-3205 to get started! Prepare for an unforgettable adventure during your stay at a Wander home!