Up on the Shawangunk Ridge, Sam’s Point feels a world away from the Hudson Valley’s village streets, with its rare pitch pine barrens and rock crevices where ice can linger well into summer. Follow the trails to the Ice Caves for a little subterranean adventure, or make the longer hike towards Verkeerder Kill Falls, a 187-foot waterfall tucked into the rugged landscape. Bring sturdy shoes and check trail conditions before setting off.

The house of Frederick and Louise Vanderbilt in the late 1890s, this National Historic Site is a Gilded Age triumph of marble, exotic wood panelling, French tapestries and rich velvet, looking out across manicured lawns towards the Hudson River and Catskill Mountains. Save time for a stroll through the formal gardens, where European-inspired landscaping gives the grounds their own grand entrance.

School’s out, and the old Beacon High School has found a rather more creative second life. KuBe (short for Kunsthalle Beacon) houses contemporary local art exhibitions, experimental project spaces, artist studios and performance venues across its sprawling former classrooms and corridors.  Check ahead for opening hours and current exhibitions.