Whether you arrive in your electric Porsche or by Amtrak with a backpack, entering the small city of Hudson gives an illusion of stepping onto a movie set — Wes Anderson’s, no less.

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    The city that was initially settled by whalers from Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard and thrived as a whaling hub in the 18th century has recently earned a reputation as the Brooklyn of upstate New York. Amid hip coffee bars and boutique stores, Queen Anne style mansions and Victorian houses are still erect while derelict buildings are spotted throughout the city, indicating the faint remnants of the seedy history of Hudson. After all, Columbia Street — formerly Diamond Street — was notorious for gambling and prostitution in the early 20th century.

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   This complete jumble and multi-layers of history are all laid bare in Hudson, strangely looking harmonious together and giving away the history of the rise and fall — and rise again — of the city.

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   For those who want a quick and casually stylish getaway without a fuss or a mass of people, Hudson ticks many boxes. It's easily accessible from New York City —2 hours by car or Amtrak— and yet, it feels green, outdoorsy and historic. This deceptive remoteness conveniently comes with stylish hotels and comfortable Scandi-style lodgings; lip-smacking restaurants and bakeries are abundant; art galleries and vintage furniture stores have made the town a shopping destination.

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   Hudson is small as a city but a big cabinet of curiosities, the kind of place where you need to linger and revisit to uncover and discover things hidden, with an open mind and willingness to explore.