Recently, my sister and brother-in-law, who both grew up here in the Hudson Valley, came for a visit. They live in Ohio and have lived there for over 30 years, but they still consider themselves New Yorkers. And every time they come back, they make it a point to appreciate some things that they just can’t get in Ohio, some things they can’t even get outside of the Hudson Valley. Ready for the list?

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    1

    Buttered hard rolls

    My brother-in-law especially needs his buttered hard roll fix when he comes to town. Around here you can’t even walk into a store and not see buttered hard rolls. In Ohio they don’t even know what a hard roll is, much less a buttered hard roll.

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    2

    Great pizza

    Here in the Hudson Valley we have so many choices of places to go for great pizza. From New York City style, to gourmet, to real Italian wood fired. That’s not the case in Ohio, believe me.

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    3

    Diners

    Okay, diners are not exclusive to the Hudson Valley, but they’re not everywhere. In New York, New Jersey, Connecticut it’s easy enough to find a diner, but you’d be hard pressed to find one in Ohio, other Midwest states or even on the West Coast.

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    Jackie Corley/Townsquare Media of the Hudson Valley
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    4

    The Mountains

    That is one of the best things about the Hudson Valley. I grew up with my choice of places to hike all within a short drive from home. No matter what direction I look, there are mountains. Not in Ohio. It’s flat. There are nice woods and parks with trails, but if you want to go on a mountain hike, you better go to another state. There is nothing as beautiful as being surrounded by mountains, even if you don’t realize it until you’re somewhere without them.

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    5

    The Hudson River

    When I asked my sister and brother-in-law about what they miss here in the Valley, they said the river. And I was like, “The river? There are rivers everywhere.” That’s when I was informed that those rivers are not the Hudson River. I guess that’s why people call it The Mighty Hudson. It’s earned its name. I live within walking distance to the river, and I do love and appreciate it. It’s a beautiful sight, for sure.

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