This Popular Hudson Valley Item is Surprisingly Confusing to Out-of-Towners

Often, something special can begin to seem normal if you spend enough time with it in your life. Day in and day out, they slowly fade into the background like the clouds in the sky or the grass on the ground.... until a newcomer arrives and begins to point them out.

This can be especially true in areas like the Hudson Valley, NY, where tourists travel hundreds if not thousands of miles to take in sights that can often just feel like parts of the commute for local residents. From the glorious changing of the leaves in autumn to the peaks of the Catskill and Shawangunk mountains, sometimes you need that outside perspective to be reminded about the uniqueness of our corner of New York.

Hudson Valley, NY Newcomer Confused by New Sight

Earlier this week, a newcomer to the Hudson Valley reminded us yet again that sometimes, what's "normal" in rural New York can be baffling to the uninitiated. This time, the focus was on something we have way more experience with than any city slicker: bugs.

Introducing Bug Hotels to Out-of-Towners in New York

"Fairly new to the area. Been here a little over a year. Went to Burger Hill [in Rhinebeck, NY] today and saw this. Is it some sort of beehive?!" said a recent post in The Hudson Valley Facebook group. It turned out that even some locals were unfamiliar with the invention.

Bee Houses in the Hudson Valley, NY

Many residents quickly confirmed the newbie's guess. The particular structure they spotted was the "Nature's Way Better Gardens Bee House" that can currently be purchased from Ace Hardware, amongst other retailers. Those looking to save their $14.99, however, can easily make a structure of their own.

How to Make a Homemade Bug House in New York

The idea behind the bee (and other insect) homes is to create protected areas for pollinators and other beneficial bugs to safely live. Even something as simple as an organized pile of tree branches, hollow stems, and bricks can make the perfect habitat for pollinators like bees and pest-eaters like the ladybug (below).

While it's nice to help some newcomers learn the local ropes, there are still some very "Hudson Valley" things that tourists have yet to discover (looking at you, Butt Corners Road). Check out some more New York oddities below.