It’s easy to think of the Hudson Valley in terms of its major towns, but the surrounding villages and hamlets have plenty to write home about. From Garrison to Wappingers Falls, here’s a sampling of what’s waiting “off the Beacon path.”
Hudson Valley Shakespeare
2015 Route 9, Garrison; Hvshakespeare.org
For decades, Hudson Valley Shakespeare has been a cornerstone of the region’s cultural life, drawing audiences to open-air performances that marry language, landscape, and a sense of shared experience. This season marks a defining new chapter: HVS’s inaugural run at the Samuel H. Scripps Theater Center, a permanent home overlooking the Hudson Highlands.
The move from a temporary tent to a purpose-built, open-air theater transforms what the theater can offer while preserving what has always made it distinctive. The new venue maintains HVS’s signature relationship to the natural environment—actors, audience, and river still in dynamic conversation—while expanding the scope of the experience with improved acoustics, increased seating, and a longer performance calendar.
At the heart of the 2026 season (June 10-September 27) is a trio of ambitious productions that reflect the theater’s evolving programming ethos. Two Shakespearean works anchor the lineup: “As You Like It,” the pastoral comedy of exile and reinvention, and “King Lear,” the towering tragedy of power, family, and unraveling authority. Alongside them is a new staging of Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil’s “Les Miserables,” bringing the scale and emotional sweep of the musical into HVS’s elemental, actor-driven style.
Together, the productions underscore the theater’s enduring mission: to present great stories—classical and contemporary alike—in a setting that invites audiences to gather, reflect, and experience live performance as something immediate, communal, and rooted in place.
Graceland Tattoo
2272 West Main Street, Wappingers Falls; Gracelandtattoo.com
Graceland Tattoo has built its reputation the right way—over time, through consistency, and a commitment to work that lasts.
For over 20 years, Graceland has been a steady presence in the Hudson Valley, earning recognition as an award-winning studio—including six consecutive Chronogram Readers’ Choice Awards—where craftsmanship and connection go hand in hand. Known for its consistency and professionalism, Graceland continues to set the standard for tattooing and piercing in the region. The approach is straightforward: create tattoos and piercings with intention, precision, and care that holds up long after the appointment ends.
Well-rounded tattooers—Adam, Cookie, and Dana—bring decades of combined experience, with a shared focus on strong design and clean execution. From bold color work to smooth black and gray, each piece is built to fit the individual. Clients can choose from a vast catalog of flash or collaborate on custom work that reflects something more personal.
Graceland’s piercing program is led by Allison, whose 25-plus years of experience set a high standard for safety and service. With a focus on quality jewelry, proper technique, and clear guidance throughout the healing process, the experience is designed to feel informed, comfortable, and professional from start to finish.
Every project—whether it’s a first tattoo or part of something larger—is approached with the same level of care, clarity, and intention. Gift certificates are available in any denomination, offering a thoughtful way to mark an occasion or start something new.
At its core, Graceland Tattoo is a place built on trust, thoughtful work, and relationships that extend well beyond the chair.
Station Inn
7 Memorial Avenue, Pawling; Stationinnpawling.com
With modern guest rooms, luxury suites, and full-service apartments, Station Inn offers an exceptional blend of sophistication and comfort in the heart of charming Pawling, NY. The town is the perfect home base for nature lovers, shoppers and foodies to explore the Hudson Valley.
Viscount Wines & Liquor
1173 Route 9, Wappingers Falls; Viscountwines.com
Viscount Wines & Liquor, a locally owned family business, celebrates over 50 years of serving the Hudson Valley and beyond. Nationally recognized as a Beverage Dynamics Top 100 Retailer, they have also received a Market Watch Community Service Award for donating millions to the local community. Their massive 40,000-square-foot showroom is the largest in the Hudson Valley, and features an incredible selection of over 12,000 items. Alongside this expansive inventory, their expert staff offers over 125 years of combined experience. From perfect wine selection and food pairings to seamless party planning, customers receive unmatched, knowledgeable service.
Earth Angels Veterinary Hospoital
44 Saint Nichols Road, Wappingers Falls; Earthangelsvet.com
Earth Angels Veterinary Hospital, a locally owned and operated integrative facility, opened its doors in 2009 and provides its patients with a mix of the best in conventional and alternative medicine including wellness programs, supplement protocols, pain management, surgery, dentistry, dog/cat boarding, and more. Coming May 2026 Earth Angels is pleased to announce the addition of doggie daycare to their list of services.
Root 9 Dispensary
1546 Route 9, Wappingers Falls; Root9dispensary.com
Root 9 Dispensary approaches its shelves the way a seasoned record collector builds a crate—patiently, deliberately, with an ear for what matters. Long before opening its doors, the team behind Root 9 was cultivating relationships with some of New York’s most respected growers and producers, laying the groundwork for a menu that feels like a point of view, not just inventory.
That groundwork shows in the breadth of the offerings. The flower selection is notably expansive, moving from everyday staples to harder-to-find cultivars and limited drops. On any given visit, that might mean the sweet, dessert-like profile of Sunset Sherbert, the bright lift of Strawberry Amnesia, or the heavier, end-of-day ease of Pink Punch—alongside curiosities like Dr. Jekyll & Mr. High or OMC#1, strains that reward a little exploration.
Beyond flower, the dispensary carries a wide range of products—edibles, concentrates, vapes, and topicals—each selected with the same level of scrutiny.
What distinguishes Root 9 isn’t just access, though that’s part of it. It’s the curation itself: a process shaped by experience, regional knowledge, and close relationships with growers shaping New York’s legal cannabis landscape in real time.
The result is a menu that feels considered at every level—one where the question isn’t what’s available, but what’s worth bringing home. And speaking of home: Home delivery from Root 9 is now available.
This article appears in May 2026.
