In Hudson, lakeside experiences at Lakefront Park meet art, local history and culinary discoveries. The park offers a swimming beach, paved paths and a public boat launch. Those interested in trees can also explore self-guided Hudson Tree Treks through parks or along residential streets. Each offering has a different focus, from a walk by the water to art and history.
Lakefront Park: Paths, Swimming Beach and Tree Walks
Lakefront Park offers several ways to spend time outdoors. Along with the swimming beach and paved paths, there is a public boat launch. Use of the launch requires a fee; seasonal passes are available. These details are especially useful if you plan to pair your visit to the park with a boat trip: fees apply to the launch, and seasonal passes are offered.
The Hudson Tree Treks are self-guided routes through parks or along residential streets, passing various tree species. One specific route is the Lakefront Park Tree Trek: it runs from Picnic Point, south of Buckeye St. and the boat launch, along the shore of Lake St. Croix. It then follows the path north of the Beach House near Vine St. This connects the general idea of tree walks with a named route in the park; the trek offers its own way to experience the trees and lakeshore.
Art and Local History
The Phipps Center for the Arts offers a diverse mix of theater, music, dance and visual art. It also offers art classes and studio programs for all ages and skill levels, including pottery and drawing. Its program therefore includes both a range of art forms and hands-on opportunities to create. For your plans, this offers a different way to experience Hudson than a walk in the park: the focus here is on culture and artistic activities.
Local history can also be experienced in different formats. At the Octagon House Museum, the History Alcove features an extensive collection of historic objects related to the town’s history. The Lakefront Heritage Project, meanwhile, is a historic walk along the path in Lakefront Park. Banners tell the story of local Hudson history along the way. The collection and the walk offer different perspectives: the History Alcove brings together historic objects, while the Heritage Project explores the town’s history along a path in the park.
Food Tastings and Road History
The Hudson Food Walk features tastings at six stops in the historic downtown. The guided tours last three hours. This makes the walk a specific culinary experience with several stops and a clearly stated time frame. By comparison, the Hudson Tree Treks are self-guided and pass various tree species. The two formats explore different themes: tastings at six stops in one, trees in parks or along residential streets in the other.
Another historical connection is the Yellowstone Trail: Hudson is part of this highway, established in 1912 as the first transcontinental highway. The trail offers a perspective on the town’s road and transportation history, while the Lakefront Heritage Project presents local history along the path in the park. Together, these examples show how Hudson’s historical themes connect both to a region-spanning highway and to local history.
There are several specifically described ways to plan your stay: paths and a swimming beach at Lakefront Park, tree walks, art programs, historic collections and walks, and tastings as part of the Hudson Food Walk. Comparing guided and self-guided experiences reveals a clear difference in format: the guided Food Walk tours take three hours, while the Tree Treks are self-guided. This distinction can help you organize activities according to your interests and preferred way of exploring.
Discover more destinations: New Richmond
Return to the main travel overview: St. Croix County.
