What is the best route along the Hudson River for sightseeing? ( Historical stuff )
Thankyou!

It all depends on which part of the Hudson River valley you want to see. Where are you starting from? How far up are going? What time of the year and for how long?

Howard,

I didn't post this original request, but 2 sisters and I (40ish)are planning a get-away from kids, jobs,etc. in August and want to visit this area, esp. historical sites. We will be coming from the Phila. area and would like to see West Point, FDR house, and the "wine country". We only have a long weekend to work with. Any suggestions you would have would be appreciated! Thanks!!

Go over the GWB, get on the Palisades Parkway, go to Bear Mt. Go over the bridge (Bear Mt Bridge) and turn left at the fork. That puts you on Rt 9. Just drive, the road wanders around through many little towns, along the Hudson. Bosco Belle (sorry about the spelling) is a restored mansion, Cold Springs is a town full of antique stores and a couple of good restaurants, on up to Poughkeepsie and Hyde Park. In Hyde Park you can go to Roosevelts home and library, The Vanderbilt Mansion, Mills Mansion, Livingston Mansion, into Rhinebeck, charming, home of the oldest inn in American the Beekman Arms. The pub in the Beekman Arms was where Washington hung out with his men waiting for orders about this battle and that. Farther north is Hudson, the town. One big Antiques Shopping extravaganza! Just bring lots of money, nothing is cheap in this town but it is fun to look. A few good places to eat there also, one called Charleston.
Then you can either take 9 back south or get on the NY State Thruway and go home faster.

If you stop in Hyde Park, consider eating at the Culinary Institute.Wonderful meals available to the public, served in different rooms (Italian in one, French in another..)
If you're going to be there at a peak time, I'd call ahead for a reservation.

For both tb and Maureen, I would start the Hudson River drive further south in Tarrytown. Cross over the Tappan Bridge and head up Route 9 to visit Kykuit, the Rockefeller Estate. You park at Philipsburg Manor, a restoration on Route 9 in Sleepy Hollow (2-3 miles north of the bridge on Route 9). You park there and take a bus for the tour. I think it's the most interesting estate on the Hudson.
From there you can head up Route 9 into the Bear Mountain area and follow Route 9D, a most scenic road and the location of the previously mentioned Boscobel property. Then, follow 9D north back to Route 9.
Or, instead of going on 9D, you can cross over the Bear Mountain Bridge and follow Route 9W to West Point. You would then continue on 9W and cross back over the Hudson and go north on Route 9 to Hyde Park and Rhinebeck and take in some of the sites mentioned by njgirl. (Incidentally, she has one wrong direction. When you get off the Bear Mountain Bridge, you take a left at 9D, not 9.)
Check out these two excellent websites for more info:
http://www.hudsonvalley.org
http://hvnet.com

Thanks everyone for great ideas. Howard, I always enjoy your postings especially anything about NYC. Thanks again!!