The Hudson Valley is full of quaint towns, historic mansions, delicious restaurants, and amazing boutiques.  Yesterday was such a gorgeous day, I wanted to do some leaf peeping and explore new towns.  This was my itinerary:

1. New City, NY: Pick up my mom and sister

2. Drive North on the Palisades Parkway, cross the Bear Mountain Bridge and drive North on Route 9D for major leaf peeping

3. Hyde Park, NY: (1) Culinary Institute of American (CIA) to have lunch at Apple Pie Bakery and (2) Visit the Vanderbilt Mansion

4. Drive North on Route 9 to Rhinebeck, NY and stop to check out boutiques and antique shops.

I finally made it to the CIA!!  It’s a gorgeous campus that’s situated right on the Hudson River.  There are 5 restaurants at the CIA, the Apple Pie Bakery is the only one where you don’t need a reservation.  They have cafe type food and amazing pastries and breads.  I had a beet and goat cheese salad, truffle grilled cheese with kale chips and apple pie.  Everything was delicious and made by the students!  After lunch, we headed to the Vanderbilt Mansion which has beautiful views of the Hudson river.  I couldn’t fathom the fact that this was one of many mansions that the Vanderbilts owned.  I loved the architecture and elegance of the mansion.  Our last stop was Rhinebeck, which was put on the map by Chelsea Clinton’s wedding last year.  I found an amazing boutique kitchen goods store called Blue Cashew Kitchen Pharmacy.  Their merchandise is unique and functional without sacrificing a keen design aesthetic.  I met Gregory and Sean who are the owners and buyers of Blue Cashew and discovered that they are Manhattanites just like me.  They pretty much convinced me that I needed to move up there.  The area doesn’t have a country bumpkin feel but an artsy, bohemian, and design-oriented feel.  It’s almost like Williamsburg transplanted upstate.  There are great restaurants, people, shops, and events every weekend so what are we city folk so afraid of?

{At the CIA in front of Roth Hall}

{Contemplating whether I should enroll here}

{I love the contrast of the blue skirt with all the yellows}

{Restaurants are in Roth Hall}

{61% chocolate mousse cake}

{Truffled grilled cheese with kale chips}

{Slice of the double crusted apple pie}

{Backyard of Vanderbilt mansion}

{The mansion’s terrace}

{Stairway to heaven}

{Can you believe this view?}

{Fall colors}

{I loved the beaux-arts architecture}

{Rhinebeck village}

CIA

1946 Campus Drive (Route 9), Hyde Park, NY 12538

http://www.ciachef.edu/visitors/hp/

Vanderbilt Mansion

http://www.nps.gov/vama/index.htm

Blue Cashew Kitchen Pharmacy

6423 Montgomery Street (Suite 3), Rhinebeck, NY 12572

https://bluecashewkitchen.com/shop/home.php