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I am traveling to the scenic Hudson River Valley next week and are looking for advice on the best towns to visit. We will be going all the way from New York City to Albany. Where should I stop to look around? What is the nicest towns in the Hudson River Valley?
I've always been fond of Millbrook, in central Dutchess County.
Over on the other side of the river, I've always liked going up Platte Cove Road, from West Saugerties (Ulster County) up to Tannersville (Greene County). Also in Greene County, try Route 23A from Palenville up to Haines Falls. None of these towns are very large, however.
Rhinebeck....beekman arms restaurant..vanderbuilt mansion is in hyde park...wow..lots of bed and breakfast kind of things.
Honestly..if you can....take the taconic parkway up to route 55 (lagrange)..then head west to route 9 north (about 20 minutes)..then take route 9 north all the way up..you can catch vanderbuilt, rhinebeck, and see the historic valley areas. Then you can take the Rhinecliff/Kingston (some one tell me if I have the bridge name wrong)..over the river..and go straight and catch the 87 thruway north of there and that dumps you into albany.
I did the estate tour route from Albany to NYC last year and I'd recommend it if you like that sort of thing. The grounds are just as interesting as the houses.
My two favorites were the Clermont Estate and the town of Rhinebeck for the Beekman Arms. In Hyde Park you have not only the Roosevelt Estate, but the Vanderbilt one, and on the southern tip of town the CIA (Culinary Instutue of American) where you can reserve for lunch or dinner - yum!
I would think Hyde Park - mostly because of the Franklin D. Roosevelt home, which is now a museum and fascinating. Not much to do in Millbrook or Rhinebeck, other than just walk around. And Millbrook is quite small, as well.
It seems towns are being recommended based on their historic mansions, and rightly so...they're all worth a visit. In addition to the other posts about Hyde Park, Vanderbilt, etc., check these out.
The Mills Mansion at Staatsburg is incredible - oppulence of the gilded age. I believe this mansion influenced the setting in Edith Wharton's book, 'House of Mirth' Staatsburgh State Historic Site
If you love extensive gardens with the historic home, there's Montgomery Place at Annandale-on-Hudson
www.hudsonriverheritage (broken link)
And my personal favourite, Olana, just outside Hudson, built by the great Hudson River Artist, Frederic Church. Make a point of seeing this one. It's indescribable. While in Hudson, if you're into antiques, don't miss the antique mecca of Hudson's main street.
I used to have a house in East Jewett and I never found a town of interest but in riding through the area you see some beautiful country and quaint buildings.
The one place I do recommend is Olana in Hudson NY which was the home of Frederic Church who was considered the best of the Hudson River school of painting.
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