Fall Foliage | Recreation | Parks | Estate Tours | Views | Other Activities & Events | Wineries | Antiques | Outdoors | Novelties | Arts | Other

Sight Maps: Here, Hudson Valley Heritage Map | Dutchess County Tourism Map
Poughkeepsie | Kingston/Red Hook/Rhinebeck

Fall Foliage:
Fall foliage viewing (Leaf Peeping) is one of the most popular tourist activities around October in this area. It depends on the weather but the best times are:
2nd and 3rd week in October according to NYFallFoliage.com & NYlovesU.co.uk.
Late September and early October according to ActiveRain.com

The coffee table book "The Hudson River: A Great American Treasure" by Greg Miller is recommended by scenic photographers. You might get some ideas for your own photography.
See also:
Best viewing spots below.
New York State - Fall Foliage
Fall Colors in the Hudson Valley @ ActiveRain.com
Hudson Valley's Top Ten Spots for Fall Foliage

Recreation:
Hiking                               Biking
Catskill- (Ulster Co.)                   Dutchess County Tours  
Dutchess Co.                          James Baird State Park (G3)         
Walkway Over the Hudson (F2)       Catskills 
Hyde Park Trails Source: NYSparks.state.ny.us (pdf)
Hudson Valley - Catskill - NW CT hiking resources
Hyde Park Walkabout Trail Brochure (pdf)
Fishing                              Climbing 
Catskills                               Catskills-Shawangunk Ridge (Trapps) (F0) 
                        
Boating                              Skiing 
See Hudson River Enjoyment              Hunter (Y0)
                                       Windham (W,-1)
Golf - Tennis: James Baird State Park (G3)
Dinsmore Golf Course, 5371 Albany Post Rd. (Rt 9), Staatsburg (D2)
Golf Courses

Poets' Walk (B2) River Road (Co Rd 103), Red Hook
A superb example of Romantic landscape design. It features a series of outdoor "rooms," each intended to elicit a distinct emotional reaction -- elation, foreboding, etc. Nearly 2 miles of trails.

James Baird State Park (G3)

Sights:
Estate Tours in the "The Great Estates Region"

Olana 5720 Route 9G, Hudson, NY 518-828-0135 (Y3)
Olana, the estate of Hudson River School artist Frederic Edwin Church, is a unique three-dimensional work of art comprised of romantic landscape design, breathtaking views and exotic architecture. Unbeatable Hudson River Valley views

Clermont State Historic Site (518) 537-4240 (A2)
1 Clermont Avenue, Clermont, NY 12526
Located off Woods Road. Country estate of seven generations of the prominent Livingston family. Restored mansion, visitor center, exhibit galleries, formal gardens, carriage trails, picnicking.

Montgomery Place - 55 Montgomery Way, Route 103 Annandale-on-Hudson, (Red Hook) (B2)
Janet Livingston Montgomery, widow of General Montgomery killed in the battle for Quebec in 1775
434 acre Livingston family estate with restored 23-room mansion and gardens, waterfall, walking trails, special events, views of the Hudson River and Catskill Mountains.

Astor Estate 1926 - Rhinebeck (C2) - Alice Astor, the daughter of John Jacob Astor IV

Wilderstein (C2) 1850's (Rhinebeck) - Suckley family - Route 9 (330 Morton Road)
"Wilderstein" (wild man's stone) is a reference to a nearby Indian petroglyph.

Mills Mansion Remodeled in 1896 (Old Post Road, Staatsburg)
at the Staatsburgh Historic Site- Ogden Mills and his wife Ruth Livingston, who inherited the property, built the house in 1895-96 and furnished in the styles of Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI.

Springwood Remodeled 1915 (Hyde Park), Franklin D. Roosevelt
Route 9 (4097 Albany Post Road), Hyde Park, NY 12538 - 800-FDR-VISIT
Lifelong home of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, including gravesite and Rose Garden Area. Contains extensive displays on the lives and careers of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt and exciting interactive exhibits.

Val-Kill (Hyde Park) - Eleanor Roosevelt
Located on Route 9G (56 Valkill Park Road). Restored home of Eleanor Roosevelt.

Vanderbilt Mansion (Hyde Park) - Frederick Vanderbilt -
Route 9 (119 Vanderbilt Park Road, Hyde Park)

Springside National Historic Site
Springside was the estate of Matthew Vassar.
Recognized as the last surviving example of the work of America's first native-born landscape architect, Andrew Jackson Downing.

Locust Grove (Poughkeepsie) (G2)- Samuel F.B. Morse - Telegraph
2683 South Road, Route 9, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 - (845) 454-4500
Home of Samuel F.B. Morse (Telegraph) designed by A.J. Davis. Extensive furniture collection, china, art, telegraph exhibits, gardens, nature walk.
(Samuel Finley Morse is Tom McBrides 5th cousin 6 times removed.)

The Sleppy Hollow Area of Westchester County:

Van Cortlandt Manor (Croton-On-Hudson) - Pierre Van Cortlandt

Kykuit (Sleppy Hollow) - John D. Rockefeller, Jr.

Sunnyside (Tarrytown) - Washington Irving

For more information see:
Estates of the Hudson Valley at HudsonRiver.com
Great Estates at HV/net
Great Estates Region: Two Day Itinerary (pdf)
Architectural Traditions in the Hudson River Valley Map (pdf)

Views:
Top Ten Spots for Fall Foliage at the Ramapo Times
Top 10 Fall Foliage Viewing Spots at Hudson Valley Tourism.

Olana 5720 Route 9G, Hudson, NY (Y2)
Catskill Mountain House Site at North South Lake State Park, Route 18, Haines Falls (Y1)
Vanderbilt Mansion in Hyde Park. Benches on the lawn provide magnificent views of the western side of the Hudson River, perfect for watching the sunset. Part of that view includes the Shawangunk Ridge. (E2)
Walkway Over the Hudson , Poughkeepsie (F2)
Clermont State Historic Site 1 Clermont Avenue, Clermont, NY (A2)
Pride of the Hudson Boat Ride, Newburgh Landing (I1)

Catskills:
Hunter Mountain Summer Skyride (Y0)
Fire tower at Overlook Mountain near Woodstock (42.07831,-74.11078) (A0)
Route 44/55, a scenic road that takes you through the charming village of Gardiner and past Minnewaska State Park over the Shawangunk Ridge, past the north east's rock climbing mecca. Three overlooks give you sweeping views of the Wallkill and Rondout Valleys with the spectacular backdrop of the Catskill Mountains. (F/G0)

Rockland County:
The Lighthouse Lawn at Stony Point Battlefield
Bear Mountain Lookout at Bear Mountain State Park
Monteverde mansion, 28 Bear Mountain Bridge Road, Cortlandt Manor, dates from 1760 and is now a restaurant. Sip a glass of wine on the lawn or enjoy dinner in this fine home while you take in sweeping views of Bear Mountain and the Hudson River.

Connecticut:
Litchfield Hills, Connecticut (US 7). Litchfield county covers all of NW Connecticut.
Viewing spots on the Appalachian Trail in Connecticut.

Other Activities & Events:
Events and Outings at Scenic Hudson

• Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome | America's Original Living Museum of Antique Airplanes! Air-shows every saturday and sunday from the middle of June to the middle of October
• The Great Jack O' Lantern Blaze in late October when Van Cortlandt Manor (525 S Riverside, Croton-On-Hudson) is illuminated by 3,000 hand carved jack-o'-lanterns.
• Headless Horseman;
  Headless Horseman Hayride & Haunted House , 778 Broadway, Ulster Park, - September-October, evenings/weekends, Dusk-11:00PM. Reservations required.

  Since 1996 the Historic Hudson Valley organization has held Horseman's Hollow at Philipsburg Manor, 381 N Broadway, Sleepy Hollow, NY.

  See The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

• Fall Apple picking - Sept. - Oct.
• Fly Fishing the Esopus near Rt 28 in the Catskills west of Kingston. April 1-November 30. See FlyFishingConnection.com and Esopus Creek @ Orvis.com
• The World's Largest Kaleidoscope at the Emerson Resort & Spa Route 28, Mount Tremper, NY. They have designer kaleidoscopes ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars.
• Hiking, Fishing, Rock Climbing, ... in the Catskill Mountains west of the Hudson Valley.

Hyde Park Historical Society Museum
PO Box 182
Hyde Park, NY 12538
(845)229-2559
Located at 629 Albany Post Road.

Hyde Park Railroad Station
River Road
PO Box 135
Hyde Park, NY 12538
(845)331-9233
Built in 1845 and based on a design shown at the Pan American World Exposition of 1898. The station has been restored to its original condition by the Hudson Valley Railroad Society, Inc. and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Delaware and Hudson canal historical society and Museum 845.687.9311
23 Mohonk Road, High Falls

Old Dutch Church 272 Wall Street, Kingston - 845 338 6759
Founded in 1659, it still has a active congregation. The Church Heritage Museum archives are available for public research.

The Fred J. Johnston Museum Wall and Main St, Kingston (845) 339-0720
The elegantly furnished c. 1812 Federal style house on the corner of Wall and Main Streets is the culmination of the taste and vision of one man: Fred J. Johnston. An antiques dealer who attained national stature.

192 acre John Burroughs Sanctuary, home of the National Historic Landmark "Slabsides" rustic cabin retreat built in 1895. On Floyd Ackert Rd, between Old Post Rd. and 9W in Esopus

Petroglyph at Suckley Cove:
The Suckley estate Wilderstein is named after an Indian Petroglyph on the property. The name translates as "wild man's stone" from the German.
Petroglyph at Suckley Cove is a figure holding a peace pipe in his right hand and a tomahawk in his left.

Wineries...

Cascade Mountain Winery
Flint Hill Road
Amenia, NY
(845)373-9021
A farm winery with free tours and tastings and a Gourmet restaurant. Open 7 days from 10-6 all year...
Clinton Vineyards
Schultzville Road
Clinton Corners, NY
(845)266-5372
"A Classic" - New York Times
Millbrook Vineyards
Wing & Shunpike Roads
Millbrook, NY
(845)677-8383 or (800)662-WINE
...wines produced from European vinifera grapes...carefully selected varieties...

Antiques...
Millbrook Antiques Mall
(845)677-9311
... almost 40 shops under one roof...
Millbrook Antique Center
(845)677-3921
...multi-dealer...

Outdoors...
Innisfree Gardens
Tyrell Rd
Millbrook, NY 12545
(845)677-8000
...200-acre garden created by an American Quaker using oriental design ... with Egyptian and Roman influence...
Institute of Ecosystem Studies
at the Mary Flagler Cary Arboretum
Route 44A
Millbrook, NY
(845)677-5359
...a division of the famed New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx, 2000 acres featuring The Perennial Garden...

Novelties...
Chimney Hill Farm
Rhinebeck, NY
(845)266-5543
Larry Longo claims to have the best Maple Syrup east of the Mississippi...

Kaatskill Kaleidoscope, 5340 Route 28, Mount Tremper, NY (A,-1)
Worlds largest Kaleidoscope
Arts...
Hudson Valley Art Trail at HV/Net

Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center
Vassar College
124 Raymond Ave.
Poughkeepsie, NY 12604
(845)437-5632
The college's permanent collection spans the history of art from ancient Egyptian to contemporary American. In addition, special exhibitions are offered throughout the year.(G2)

Dia:Beacon (845) 440-0100 (J2) 3 Beekman St, Beacon, (off 9D South of I-84)

Hudson Valley Art Trail
Art Styles - The Hudson River School[1] was a mid-19th century American art movement embodied by a group of landscape painters whose aesthetic vision was influenced by romanticism. The paintings for which the movement is named depict the Hudson River Valley and the surrounding area, including the Catskill, Adirondack, and the White Mountains;

The Bardavon Opera House
Market Street
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
(845)473-5288 or (845)473-2072.
The oldest continuously operating theatre in New York State and among the oldest in the nation ...

Other
Culinary Institute of America: (1946 Campus Drive (Rt 9), Hyde Park) (F2)

Links:
List of sights from DutchessTourism.com
Dutchess County Online - The Official Web Site of Dutchess County, New York
Dutchess County Tourism - Scenic Tours
Sights & Attractions in The Hudson Valley | Fodor's Sights Reviews
Planning a Trip in Hudson River Valley at Frommer's
Hudson Valley Region Attractions at ThingsToDo.com
Scenic Hudson Catskills
Great Estates Region at HV/Net
Hudson Valley Estates at HudsonValey.org
Estates of the Hudson Valley | Historic Hudson River Towns at hudsonriver.com
Mansions of the Hudson Valley at squidoo.com
Dutchess County Online - The Official Web Site of Dutchess County, New York
Dutchess County Tourism
Rhinebeck, NY at hudson-river-valley.com
A Tourist Guide to Rhinebeck, NY at bukisa.com
Westchester County Tourism NY
Adjoining Areas
Adirondak Region
NW Connecticut
Southern Vermont
Boston Area
New York City
North East New Jersey