Poughkeepsie

Thanks to the opening of the Walkway-Over-the-Hudson National Park and a devoted group of talented chefs, this once prosperous city is experiencing a bit of a renaissance. Founded in 1687, the Queen City of the Hudson (as it's known) served as the capital of New York after the British burned down Kingston during the Revolutionary War. It’s the county seat of Dutchess County and home to some of the area’s best performance venues including the historic Bardavon 1869 Opera House. It also has a host of sophisticated restaurants serving first-rate cuisine.