World's Greatest Places 2021
Hudson River Valley Life
Just Follow the River
The Hudson River Valley is known for its rich landscapes, sustainable-foods, diverse culture, and has a wide variety of vibrant cities and historic towns. Follow your sense of adventure, find great food around every corner, engage with a proud community, and be a part of history right at Marist in the heart of the Hudson River Valley.
Marist has created partnerships with IBM, the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Presidential Library in Hyde Park, and the Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook, offering students and faculty opportunities to collaborate with these world-renowned leaders in business, history, and ecology. In addition, the College has initiated several innovative programs that provide students with unique learning opportunities, such as the Marist Institute for Public Opinion and the Marist Bureau of Economic Research
Coming Soon: Hudson Heritage
Directly up the road from the Marist campus comes "the Hudson Valley’s preeminent open-air, walkable, intergenerational community." The 156-acre site is creating opportunities for residential, hotel, medical and other properties, as well as a 153,000-square-foot retail shopping village. Hudson Heritage will include:
750 residential units
150 hotel rooms
24, 700 square foot Education and Performing Arts Center
40,000 square feet of medical and office space
153,000 square feet of retail and commercial shopping space
Cinema
Aside from the movies frequently shown on campus, the Hudson River Valley is a hub of great cinematic experiences. Two drive-in movie theaters are located a stone’s throw from campus, the Overlook Drive-in Theatre and the Hyde Park Drive-in Theatre. Film buffs rejoice because only a little bit further is the annual Woodstock Film Festival, described as a “haven for those who love independent and challenging cinema.” Browse Fandango’s list of movie theaters near Marist.
Concerts and Coffeehouses
Marist hosts annual concerts with top artists like Jason Derulo and Goo Goo Dolls, as well as open mic coffeehouses for smaller student performances. But the concert scene is incredibly active off-campus, too. From small local venues like The Chance, showcasing bands like All Time Low, to major music landmarks like Bethel Woods Center for the Arts featuring performers like Pentatonix and Pat Benatar, there is always a surplus of music events to attend in the area.
Cafés
The Hudson River Valley is known for its population of friendly, socially active, and intellectually engaged people. While you’re bound to find many of these folks at the Starbucks on the Marist campus, you are likely to also run into them at any number of Poughkeepsie’s popular coffeehouses. The Poughkeepsie Grind, The Crafted Kup, and The Ugly Mug are all very local to campus and attract the kind of individuals you can be confident will brighten your day.
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Craft Beverages
The appreciation of small-batch craft brews is very much alive in the Hudson River Valley. Mill House Brewing Company, located minutes from campus, offers a wide range of distinct styles and seasonal brews. Bad Seed Cider Company’s taproom and farm bar are just across the Hudson, and the most dominant cider innovator and distributor in the world, Angry Orchard, is less than an hour from campus. Check out Travel Hudson Valley’s comprehensive directory of craft beverages throughout the area.
Local Accommodations
Perpetually welcoming to tourism, lodging options abound right near campus. From hotels to bed and breakfasts to cozy retreats, visitors can be confident they will enjoy their stay in comfort and style. Browse local lodging options.