Overview
Columbia County is a county in New York's Hudson Valley region.
4 sights · 1 places to eat
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Columbia County
Martin Van Buren National Historic Site
Kinderhook. Lindenwald is the retirement home of the 8th president. Van Buren was the first US president born after the nation's independence and, to date, the only Dutch speaking president. House is open for guided tour…
Olana
The mountain-top villa of Frederic Church, one of the most prominent Hudson River painters and one of the United States' most significant artists. From the hilltop home there are sweeping views of the Catskills, the Huds…
Mount Lebanon Shaker Village
Once the largest Shaker village—at its peak, over 6,000 acres and 100 buildings. Now the village is mostly in ruins or demolished, but the shell of the massive stone still stands. For 2006, open only for special events. …
Shaker Museum and Library
Old Chatham. Probably the premier collection of Shaker artifacts. The collection includes items from Shaker communities in New York, Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. Museum season runs from Memorial Day weekend t…
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Oct. Summer highs reach about 84°F; winter lows dip to about 16°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Jul and Jun. (climate data from nearby Albany)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- ALB Albany International Airport, Albany — 36 mi away (major hub). Directions
- BDL Bradley International Airport, Hartford — 53 mi away (major hub). Directions
Taconic State Parkway runs through the county and connects Albany and the I90 east-west portion of the Thruway system to New York City via the Saw Mill River and the Henry Hudson Parkways.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Sample 3-day trip
- Day 1: New Lebanon — The Darrow School, Cemetery of the Evergreens, Church of Our Saviour.
- Day 2: Hudson — Olana State Historic Site, Hudson Opera House, Hudson-Athens Lighthouse.
- Day 3: Kinderhook — Martin Van Buren National Historic Site, Columbia County Museum.
Built from the best-covered destinations in this region; open each for its own day plan.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Places in Columbia County
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Cities
- Hudson
- Kinderhook
- New Lebanon
Get in
By air
By car
Taconic State Parkway runs through the county and connects Albany and the I90 east-west portion of the Thruway system to New York City via the Saw Mill River and the Henry Hudson Parkways.
By train
- Amtrak, . Runs on the Hudson River side of the county. Long distance connections are available at the station in the city of Hudson.
See
See Martin Van Buren National Historic Site
Kinderhook. Lindenwald is the retirement home of the 8th president. Van Buren was the first US president born after the nation's independence and, to date, the only Dutch speaking president. House is open for guided tours daily from Memorial Day weekend through the end of October; Saturday and Sunday, November through the first week of December. Grounds open year round dawn to dusk. Visitor center open 9AM to 4:30PM on dates the mansion is open.
See Olana
The mountain-top villa of Frederic Church, one of the most prominent Hudson River painters and one of the United States' most significant artists. From the hilltop home there are sweeping views of the Catskills, the Hudson River, and the Taconic Hills. Interior of the house is closed for rehabilitation work through July 2007. Grounds are open.
See Mount Lebanon Shaker Village
Once the largest Shaker village—at its peak, over 6,000 acres and 100 buildings. Now the village is mostly in ruins or demolished, but the shell of the massive stone still stands. For 2006, open only for special events. Call or check web site for schedule. See other Shaker villages in the northeast United States through the itinerary Touring Shaker country.
See Shaker Museum and Library
Old Chatham. Probably the premier collection of Shaker artifacts. The collection includes items from Shaker communities in New York, Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. Museum season runs from Memorial Day weekend through fall: open daily 10AM-5PM, closed Tuesdays. Adults $8, children ages 8 to 17 $4. Library open year round by appointment.
Buy
Fresh sheep's milk cheese and yogurt at Old Chatham Sheepherding Company, 155 Shaker Museum Road, Old Chatham, +1 888-743-3760, . Award-winning cheeses produced on site from a flock of 1,000 sheep. Visitors welcome. Cheese is available at a 24/7 self-serve shop in a restored Shaker barn on the farm.
Eat
Eat Destino
One of Chatham's, if not Columbia county's best Mexican restaurants. They feature a full menu of specialty margaritas using fresh ingredients. Be sure to stop by on a Wednesday or Thursday evening from 5-7pm for happy hour which features drink specials on beer, wine, and... you guessed it... margaritas. In addition to fantastic drinks and service, the food is outstanding, it's difficult to choose because everything looks so good!
Nearby
Great Barrington
City / town · 29 listings · 14 mi away
Mount Washington
City / town · 4 listings · 15 mi away
Stockbridge
City / town · 5 listings · 16 mi away
Sheffield
City / town · 2 listings · 17 mi away
Cairo
City / town · 2 listings · 19 mi away
Lenox
City / town · 53 listings · 19 mi away
Lee
City / town · 3 listings · 20 mi away
Saugerties
City / town · 3 listings · 20 mi away
My experience
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