Open Letter To May 2021: Stuff the Hudson Valley Wants to Do

Dear Month of May - I realize that you aren't summer but can we talk about the cold temperatures that have kick off your first week. I am starting to think that April will turn out to be a warmer month than you.

Looking ahead on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) long term forecast It looks like the next week or so is still going to be a bit unpleasant. Sixty's by day and forty's by night is a bit of a bummer. Even the first holiday of the month, Mother's day started out with promised but ended with rain. So here is what I hope we can count on from you for the rest of the month.

Many of us have been waiting over a year to really get out with friends. We are trying to make plans to go places and see people while we are there. With the current COVID situation we still have to take precautions and indoor gathering are still limited. So I am hoping that you May can figure out a way to warm up so that we can all enjoy time outside.

There are a few things on the schedule for this month that didn't get to happen last year that I an hoping with good weather and more people vaccinated we will be able to do, so here is my list.

michaeljung

College Graduations

The class of 2020 was denied but 2021 is going to make sure graduation happens in person even if it is only the graduates. Now if we can get the weather to cooperate it will make it easier for Marist, Vassar, SUNY New Paltz, Bard and others to do something for graduation.

Pete Marovich

Memorial Day Parades

This is a tradition that we all look forward to in the Hudson Valley. Not having the parades last year was difficult. Here is to hoping some sort of gathering can be figure out to honor our soldiers who paid the ultimate price for serving our grat country.

millann

Memorial Day BBQ

Let's face it we are all ready for sunny days, cornhole and BBQ. May has to deliver a good weather Memorial Day weekend so we can all enjoy it with friend.

Daniel Hurst

A Camping Weekend to unofficially open Summer 2021

And of course the last weekend in May is always the unofficial start to summer. And boy are we ready for a summer full of concerts at Bethel Woods, County Fair and Hudson Valley festivals. Family camping trips close to home or far away are all on the agenda for this May.

And don't forget trips to the beach

LOOK: Here are the 50 best beach towns in America

Every beach town has its share of pluses and minuses, which got us thinking about what makes a beach town the best one to live in. To find out, Stacker consulted data from WalletHub, released June 17, 2020, that compares U.S. beach towns. Ratings are based on six categories: affordability, weather, safety, economy, education and health, and quality of life. The cities ranged in population from 10,000 to 150,000, but they had to have at least one local beach listed on TripAdvisor. Read the full methodology here. From those rankings, we selected the top 50. Readers who live in California and Florida will be unsurprised to learn that many of towns featured here are in one of those two states.

Keep reading to see if your favorite beach town made the cut.