Hello, my name is Lauren, and I’m a Twitterholic.
In March 2009, I started Tweeting. What began as a harmless online activity that all the cool social media kids were doing has now become an energy-zapping, headache-inducing, and quite frankly, lonely little cyber sport that I can’t seem to tear myself away from.
Just now, in the middle of writing this I had to go on Twitter: check new followers, hotel buzz, travel deals, wedding tips, restaurant openings, iTampons?? Must.make.it.stop.
What better place to plan an escape from your computer than New York’s Hudson Valley? (I’d tell you to leave your iPhone at home, but I know you’ll bring it anyway—and probably Twitter about the trip too. Sigh.)
oMmmm.
Castle on the Hudson | 400 Benedict Ave., Tarrytown | 914.631.1980 | castleonthehudson.com
Stay at a hotel that takes you back to the middle ages—long before the Internet. Wrap yourself in a goose down comforter or cozy up to a wood-burning fireplace with a good book. This 100-year-old castle, just 30 minutes north of Manhattan, also comes with regal views of the Hudson Valley and surrounding hillsides.
How to get there: Take Metro North to Tarrytown station. If you haven’t set up free transportation with the hotel in advance, take a 5-minute taxi ride.
Cost: Castle escape special offers one night in a deluxe room plus a $50.00 voucher towards food or non-alcoholic beverages for $275.00, Sunday-Thursday.
Brotherhood Winery | 100 Brotherhood Plaza Drive, Washingtonville | 845.496.3661 | brotherhoodwinery.net
North Fork shmorfork. Take a tour of the underground, hand excavated cellars at America’s oldest winery, dating back to 1839. The experience of exploring a historic landmark will return when you’re drinking the wine at Home restaurant in Manhattan.
How to get there: Take Metro North to the Salisbury Mills-Cornwall station, then take a 7-minute taxi to Brotherhood.
Cost: For $10, the tour & tasting pass includes a tour, tasting, and a Brotherhood wine glass.
Huguenot Street | 18 Broadhead Ave., New Paltz | 845.255.1660 | huguenotstreet.org
The words “historic charm” take on new meaning at this remarkably intact street dating back to 1677. Walk the grounds of six original homes built by the first French-speaking Protestant settlers, find some knickknacks in the town’s antique shops, pick up some local produce at the Winter Sun Farmer’s Market, and bask in the brilliant views of the Shawangunk Ridge.
How to get there: Take the Adirondack Trailways bus line out of New York Port Authority on 8th Ave and 42nd St. to New Paltz bus terminal.
Cost: Free to wander outside, $9 standard tour.
Village Tearoom | 10 Plattekill Ave, New Paltz | 845.255.3434 | thevillagetearoom.com
This is where the locals go for a romantic meal that celebrates slow food and fresh, organic, all natural ingredients from Hudson Valley farms. Inside the homey red barn-like building (parts of which originated in 1833), order the artisinal cheese platter, crisp roasted free-range chicken with house-made heirloom apple chutney, then a slice of lemon lavender pound cake or a plum tart for dessert.
How to get there: From Huguenot Street, take a 4-minute cab ride or in nicer weather, walk the 15 minutes.
Cost: $5-$25
Walkway Over the Hudson | 9 Vassar St., Poughkeepsie | 845.454.9649 | walkway.org
At 200 feet high, the former railroad and tallest pedestrian bridge in the world opened this past fall. You’ll be so enamored of the Hudson Valley views you won’t want to reach for your phone to snap a twitpic. Imagine that. If it’s a nice day, bring your bike on Metro North and ride the rail trails.
How to get there: Take the Metro North to the century-old Poughkeepsie station, and make sure to look up at the bridge. (Use your iPhone GPS to navigate you the rest of the way.)
Cost: Free
If you are planning a visit to the area’s historic hot spots, contact Myriam at Hudson Valley Traveler.
The co-founder and editor-at-large at offMetro, Lauren is a sustainable travel specialist and freelance journalist with frequent bylines in National Geographic, Bicycling Magazine and Shape. Follow Lauren’s adventures at @laurenmati.
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram