Located in the scenic Hudson River Valley, Bard College offers its students a rigorous liberal arts education from a historic 1000-acre campus in Annandale. The campus, spread across parks and woodlands is a mix of charming old buildings, brand new facilities and cutting edge architecture, home to 2,000 undergraduates. Campus life revolves around nearby Tivoli, Red Hook and Rhinebeck. The school is known to be quite progressive with a liberal, artistic student body. 

Transportation: Amtrak provides service to Rhinecliff, about nine miles south of Annandale. Taxi service is available at the station to take you to campus. Bard is approximately 90 miles north of NYC and one hour south of Albany. If you want to explore the Hudson Valley area, traveling by car is the best option.

Visitor Information: Tour Bard

Stay: When world-renowned artists Brice and Helen Marden converted a 100-year-old building into a hotel in the center of Tivoli (5 minutes from campus) everyone expected it would become the hot place and Hotel Tivoli does not disappoint. The ten guest rooms have been done up with vibrant colors, lush furniture and rugs. There’s fabulous art from the Marden’s friends including works by Robert Rauschenberg and Francesco Clemente. Looking for more of a traditional B&B check in to the Suminski Innski, also in Tivoli. In Rhinebeck, 20 minutes away, dating back to the Revolutionary War, sleep at the historic Beekman Arms and Delamater Inn.  For Parents or Graduation Weekends, consider the rustic chic, charming, Barn in Tivoli featured here on And North. 

Coffee: Enjoy a cup of coffee at Tivoli General, using beans from local Hudson Valley roaster Monkey Joe. 

Breakfast: Grab a quick croissant, pastry or brioche at Tivoli Bread and Baking. Enjoy the classic breakfast menu, and their freshly made, organic bread at Bread Alone Café in Rhinebeck. 

Lunch: Everybody loves Murray's Tivoli, located in a renovated church right in the center of town, serving the best in local, fresh, and seasonal foods. (Murray’s is also an excellent breakfast choice.) In Red Hook, student’s favorites include Bubby’s Take Away Kitchen for Mexican and Taste Budd’s Café for soup and sandwiches. 

Dinner

Casual: In Tivoli, Osaka is popular with both students and locals alike for its excellent sushi and Japanese dishes. Also in Tivoli, enjoy tacos and other Mexican bites at popular Santa Fe. A friend of ours who has the wonderful antique and home furnishings store Spruce in Rhinebeck loves Le Petit Bistro, Rhinebeck’s long-standing cozy French bistro, Cinnamon for Indian dishes, and Aroi for Thai and Sri Lankan fare. 

A Step Up: Savor a cocktail on the porch of the Hotel Tivoli before heading inside to dinner at The Corner Restaurant, with an eclectic, global farm to table menu from chef Devon Gilroy. Gaskins in Germantown has a fresh-from-the-farm vibe, started by two Brooklyn chefs committed to using local ingredients from local farmers. Market Street in Rhinebeck specializes in contemporary Italian cuisine featuring an extensive menu of pizzas, pasta and creative market driven entrees and salads. Terrapin, also in Rhinebeck, offers a kitchen to table holistic dining experience. Mercato is another favorite Italian over in Red Hook. 

Local Attractions: Visit Blithewood Garden, the formal Italianate walled garden located on the main campus of Bard. You couldn’t ask for a better setting: with the awe-inspiring backdrop of the Hudson River and Catskill Mountains. Artists, musicians, and poets draw inspiration on the 2 miles of trails at Poets' Walk, located in Red Hook, on the scenic River Road. Two other beautiful spots for hiking include Ferncliff Forest and Clermont State Park. You can’t miss, at least a visit, to the dazzling Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at Bard College designed by Frank Gehry. Summer brings SummerScape and the Bard Music Festival, while the rest of the year there are original productions and concerts by acclaimed artist and various student productions. Check the schedule here before you plan your visit. If you’re in town on a Sunday, Rhinebeck has an excellent Farmers Market, and the town is a lovely place to stroll and browse.  

Before You Leave: Stop by SawKill Farm and bring home some pasture-raised meats, homemade soaps, wool from the farm’s sheep and artisanal goods from the Hudson Valley.