Saugerties is one of those quaint villages that seems to have it all. Nestled between the Hudson River and the Catskill Mountains, it offers water, mountains, art, theater, parks, shopping, great restaurants, and a super-friendly community vibe. Not only that, Saugerties has a very green sensibility—meaning it’s got a ton of creative people and businesses working together to support the environment with recycled and eco-friendly goods and locally grown, organic foods. It’s a fabulous destination for a weekend retreat, or for many separate weekend retreats for that matter, since there is so much to see and do.
To start your weekend
Check in to one of the many distinctive inns, hotels or bed and breakfasts that Saugerties has to offer. Diamond Mills Hotel is a luxury boutique hotel, poised beautifully above the falls of the Esopus Creek. Besides the 30 lavish guest rooms with private balconies overlooking the view, Diamond Mills also has a fabulous restaurant, The Tavern, featuring contemporary American cuisine.
In the decorated streets of Saugerties, you will find fashion and vintage apparel, home wares, hardware, chocolates and other delicious goodies, wines, jewelry, antiques, books and gifts all in a short walk that includes Market Street, Main Street and Partition Street. Head there for some breakfast at Love Bites, then get shopping! If you are looking for designer clothing and accessories, stop in at Cherry Blossoms Boutique or DIG for some fabulous additions to your wardrobe. Saugerties classic shop, Montano's Shoes has been providing quality footwear since 1906. Rock Star Rodeo is another creative studio and retail store with vintage furnishings, eccentricities, and unconventional gifts and housewares that shouldn’t be missed.
After All Of This Shopping
You’ll need to stop for lunch, and Saugerties has some great surprises! One exciting eatery, now open for the season, is Cue, a mind-blowing outdoor BBQ shack. Everything at Cue is homemade, fresh, and locally sourced. They have smoked ribs, brisket and pulled pork as well as satisfying faux meat/vegetarian options and house made desserts.
After Lunch
For a different and inspiring experience, swing by Fiber Flame Studio. There you can walk in and print a tote bag, collage a picture frame, paint a pot, mosaic a vase, and experiment with materials, techniques and the boundaries of art. But, if you are feeling less into art and more into sport, there’s still plenty of options. Check the calendar for the Saugerties HITS horse shows and get the rush and excitement of a first-class horse competition. Any golfers, new and experienced, will want to check out the Lazy Swan Golf Course—a championship-caliber golf course with remarkable landscaping and natural beauty.
When you are through with all of that you’ll be as hungry as a bear. You can stay right at The Lazy Swan and dine at their restaurant, Vivo Italian Restaurant, for some remarkable authentic Italian cuisine. Or, for a nice big steak or fresh seafood instead, try Land & Sea Grill & Steak House, a great family owned favorite. Another treat for your mouth, and a real local experience, is New World Home Cooking. They have fabulous locally sourced cuisine based on spices from home cooking recipes all over the world. New World Home Cooking also has great local culture and a fabulous music scene.
Second Night
Stay in one of Saugerties’s many enchanting bed and breakfasts on your second night. For a romantic getaway in a Victorian home with all the modern amenities you are accustomed to, you’d be delighted by the personalized service you receive at Barclay Heights Bed and Breakfast at Smythe House. Another unique beauty is The Chateau and Tudor rooms at Saugerties Bed and Breakfast. Set in a remarkable English Tudor mansion that was built in the roaring ‘20s with over 500 feet of private river front, it is known for its notable architecture, design and gourmet breakfast. The Saugerties Lighthouse is a unique bed and breakfast that is actually, you guessed it, in the renovated historic lighthouse. The lighthouse is an 1869 historic beacon on the Hudson, and it now houses a museum and bed and breakfast. It’s a great place to visit during your stay, regardless of where you sleep. A gentle half-mile trail takes you beneath beautiful willow and cottonwood trees, along tidal pools, and through wildflowers patches, before opening onto the Hudson River and the lighthouse.
After a true taste of the Saugerties village street-life From your first day, and a good night sleep, you should be ready to enjoy some of the amazing nature excursions that Saugerties boasts. There are many fabulous parks throughout the village. Ulster Landing Park has something for everyone in your family—a beach with swimming, state hiking trails, Hudson River waterfront, volleyball, basketball, horseshoes, bocce ball and more! For some simple park pleasure, visit Village of Saugerties Beach. There you will find a playground, a kayak/boat launch, a fishing area, and a sandy beach with a swimming dock on the Esopus Creek.
After Some Morning Fun
Satisfy your stomach with a Sunday brunch at Miss Lucy’s Kitchen. They serve delicious hormone/antibiotic-free meats, eggs and poultry. They also use vegetables and herbs right from their garden! Then head to Opus 40, an amazing showcase of the phenomenal rock sculpture masterpiece built by Harvey Fite over a 37-year span. Run around on the stones and marvel at this handmade wonder.
To top it all off
Grab some dinner at another one of the amazing Saugerties eateries. At Café Mezzaluna, food, art and entertainment combine for a superb Latin bistro experience. If you love beer, try the Dutch Ale House. They specialize in creating a cuisine conscious tavern, using fresh and local ingredients to pair with their amazing beers. They keep 15 craft beers on tap, and many more by the bottle. After a good meal, and some great drinks, treat yourself to handmade organic, fair trade chocolates at Lucky Chocolates—it’s the best way to end any day.
I think by this point you must be giddy. Full of creative new merchandise, some rocks from the shore, and amazing foods and sweets, you have had a real taste of Saugerties. Now maybe you’ll understand why everyone in the streets is smiling, and has a big “Hello” greeting for you when their eye meets yours. It’s because Saugerties is good for the body, mind and soul.
If you haven't already seen it check out our Visit SAUGERTIES Video
Below are the Featured Hot Spots
Café Mezzaluna
626 Route 212
845-246-5306
cafemezzaluna.com
Café Tamayo
91 Partition Street
845-246-9371
cafetamayo.com
CUE
136 Partition Street
845-246-4283
cueshack.com
Dutch Ale House
255 Main Street
845-247-2337
dutchalehouse.com
Emiliani Ristorante
147 Ulster Avenue
845-246-6169
welcometosaugerties.com
Fez
71 Partition Street
845-247-7198
fez-mediteroccan.com
Land & Sea Grill & Steak House
395 Route 212
845-246-0355
landandseagrill.com
Love Bites
85 Partition Street
lovebitesfood@gmail.com
Lucky Chocolates
115 Partition Street
845-246-7337
luckychocolates.com
Miss Lucy’s Kitchen
90 Partition Street
845-246-9240
misslucyskitchen.com
New World Home Cooking
1411 Route 212
845-246-0900
newworldhomecooking.com
Red Onion
1654 Route 212
845-679-1223
redonionrestaurant.com
Stella’s Station
114 Partition Street
845-849-5304
welcometosaugerties.com
The Tavern At Diamond Mills
25 S. Partition St., Saugerties
845-247-0700
DiamondMillsHotel.com
Barclay Heights Bed & Breakfast at Smythe House
158 Burt Street
845-246-3788
smythehouse.com
Chateau and Tudor Rooms at Saugerties Bed and Breakfast
122 Burt Street on the Esopus Creek
845-246-4058
saugertiesbedandbreakfast.com
Diamond Mills Hotel
25 S. Partition St., Saugerties
845-247-0700
diamondmillshotel.com
Harmony House
1659 Route 212
845-679-1277
harmonyhousebedandbreakfast.com
Saugerties Lighthouse
168 Lighthouse Drive
845-247-0656
saugertieslighthouse.com
Village Inn
135 Partition Street
845-246-5916
villageinnsaugerties.com
Cherry Blossom
14 Partition Street
845-246-2020
cherryblossoms12477@gmail.com
DIG
89 Partition Street
845-246-3833
digtheshop.com
Fiber Flame Studio
1776 Route 212
845-679-6132
fiberflamestudio.com
Green
92 Partition Street
845-247-3812
greeninsaugerties@gmail.com
HITS
319 Main Street
845-246-8833
hitsshows.com
Home of Arm of the Sea Theater
PO Box 175, Malden-on-Hudson
845-246-7873
armofthesea.org
Lazy Swan
1754 Old Kings Highway
845-247-0075
thelazyswan.com
Montano's Shoes
77 Partition Street
845-246-4381
montanosshoestore.com
Rock Star Rodeo
110 Partition Street
646-707-4126
rockstarrodeo.com
Parks/Trails
Opus 40
50 Fite Road
opus40.org
Saugerties Lighthouse Trail
saugertieslighthouse.com
visitvortex.com/Saugerties_Lighthouse_Trail
Seamon Park
Route 9W
845-246-2321
visitvortex.com/Seamon_Park
Ulster Landing Park
916 Ulster Landing Road
845-336-8484
visitvortex.com/Ulster_Landing_Park_Sojourner_Truth co.ulster.ny.us/downloads/UlsterLandingPark.pdf
Village of Saugerties Beach
43 Partition Street
845-246-2919
village.saugerties.ny.us/content/Parks/View/3
visitvortex.com/Saugerties_Beach
