Fall, 2022 Hudson River Valley tour
 

Planning a driving tour northward along the Hudson River Valley starting from Tarrytown, NY. We have tickets for a Kykuit visit, with a side trip to Sleepy Hollow. Then north to the FDR and Vanderbilt Museums, staying a night or two in Kingston, finishing up with a visit to some upriver towns including Hudson, NY. This is a rough itinerary, so any suggestions for lodging, activities and eateries from travelers to this area would be much appreciated.

There's the Storm King Art Center on the Bear mountain side of the Hudson.

https://flic.kr/p/2hKNi3H
The DIA in Beacon

https://flic.kr/p/2gSxAGr
Kingston is nice for wandering around

https://flic.kr/p/8KzXiQ
Olana is definitely worth a visit

https://flic.kr/p/8KA2Xu
The CIA offers delicious and affordable breakfasts

https://flic.kr/p/8KzW8J

Mostly whining about my trip last August, which was one of the least satisfactory US trips I have even taken, reasons:

1. It was insanely hot and humid, all the way north well into the Adirondacks. Bad luck, it happens.

2. The National Park Service properties, the FDR House, the Eleanor Roosevelt House, and the Vanderbilt Mansion, were all closed due to covid Tuesdays to Thursdays, so I was only able to walk around the exteriors. Nearly all of the US had reopened by this time so this area was an outlier. The FDR Library, which is not a NPS property, was open and very much worth the visit. If you plan to tour all 4 items you will need 2 days. Library tickets are timed and sold in advance, the other places you may have to wait for a tour.

3. West Point tours were not operating due to covid. I got entrance using the contractor pass interview method but this provided access only to the grounds (Trophy Point, the National Cemetery/Custer Grave) and not the buildings. This was probably enough anyway.

4. The Hudson River is never visible from either US 9 on the east bank, or US 9W on the west bank. I expected there would be river views driving up the valley. River views are sparse, none from the FDR House, a little from the Vanderbilt Mansion, but never from the roads except when crossing on a bridge.

I find that October 15 is peak for leafpeeping in the Mid Hudson Valley. For earlier or later visits, head north or south until you see hordes of sightseers.

As for visibility of the Hudson River from the US highways, they are few and far between. Most of the really great views are taken up by the multimillion dollar mansions (think of the Gilded Age of robber barons) and religious facilities (due to land grants). Get off the major highways and try the side roads. Lots of close by viewing of the river and its tributaries available.

As for heat in August, yep, that's called summer.

Most venues that were closed due to covid in 2021 are now open, but do your own research for mask requirements, hours, etc.

The now pedestrian bridge gives a good view of the Hudson, as does the view from the veranda of Olana.

This is the view from the former RR bridge in Poughkeepsie

https://flic.kr/p/8KzYE5
and the view from Olana:

https://flic.kr/p/8KzZ2u