I enjoy history and will be in this area in June. Have always wanted to visit the FDR library. Worth the trip? Any tips on anything else in that area? I will have one full day out of a business meeting.

Yes, it is worth the trip. I was there last summer and it was lovely. The CIA is right by there. (Culinary Institute of America)If you enjoy anything to do about food, it's the place to go. It's amazing!!

Yes, it is definitely worth the trip! And also go to see Elanor Roosevelts get away.

If you want to eat at CIA, make reservations NOW. Check for website and see what's available [they have different restarants]. I am not sure if they are open year round or if you can get reservations [maybe lunch instead of dinner?] but try - it's worth it.

Definitely worth the trip. Check out the combo tickets on the website. Recommend reservations. When we went, they were sold out for the day first thing in the morning.

Yes, FDR's home and museum at Hyde Park (both within the estate) are definitely worth a visit. Nearby is also the Vanderbilt Mansion which is also definitely worth a stop.
There is much to see in the Hudson Valley. Check out these two websites:
www.hudsonvalley.org
www.hvnet.com

Realize you will need to rent a car to do this trip (the trip up/back is beautiful if you stay on the parkways - scenic roads from the 1920's - slower speeds but pretty. Train can get near the area - but after that there's no public transit and cabs are rare/expensive.

I have also always wanted to see the FDR library in Hyde Park. Where would you fly into? Any suggestions on where to stay?

If you weren't going to New York City, Albany is the closest airport.

Hyde Park is a National Park

http://www.nps.gov/hofr/

FDR Library

http://www.fdrlibrary.marist.edu/tourist.html

To stay:
http://www.fdrlibrary.marist.edu/accomo3.html

"I have also always wanted to see the FDR library in Hyde Park. Where would you fly into? "

The closest airports are
#1 Stewart/Newburgh (SWF)
#2 Westchester (HPN)
#3 Albany (ALB)
#4 LGA

"if you stay on the parkways - scenic roads from the 1920's - slower speeds but pretty. "

The Taconic Parkway from Westchester to Dutchess counties is no longer a slower speed road - speed limit is 55, but speeds average near 65 the whole way.

Drive time from LGA to Hyde Park is about 2hrs.

j62 is right about airports! Sorry, it's been a while since I lived there and I'd totally forgotten about Stewart. Is Albany really further than Westchester? Flying into Westchester used to be pretty expensive. I am pretty sure Southwest flies into Albany which might result in cheaper airfare IF you are in or near a SW city for departure.

The Southwest effect at Albany is diminishing. The airfares there are almost as high as anywhere else local.

Use kayak.com to find the cheapest alternatives (search on nearby airports) within reason.

Stewart is closest, but definitely will require a car rental.

A very good book about Teddy Roosevelt is called The River of Doubt....by Candice Millard. I know its not the same Roosevelt, but its in the same family. Its about TR's trip down an unexplored tributary of the Amazon River in Brazil. Really an amazing book.

Thanks for the input to my post. I will book reservations early as I only have the one day to go.

Reservations are a really good idea. There were a lot of disappointed seniors who had driven there unaware of online booking the day we visited.

I checked the airlines and it's much cheaper to fly into Laguardia. Looks like we'll do that and rent a car. Next question, any hotel recommendations? Also, how many days would you stay in the area?

Well, for me Paris is a 7 day stay, London and Rome are 5 day stays, (just to give you comparisons). Hyde Park and environs area 2 day stay.

See below comment. I cannot find booking online and the telephone number has been busy two days. Anyone know where to go? It is not on the FDR site.

Reservations are a really good idea. There were a lot of disappointed seniors who had driven there unaware of online booking the day we visited.

the phone number is listed here at the official website http://www.nps.gov/hofr/planyourvisi...servations.htm it says "Reservations are optional for individuals. To make a reservation please call 1-877-444-6777 or go to recreation.gov."

got cut off before!
and here's the website for booking online http://www.recreation.gov/tourParkDe...14&agency=NRSO
Look at the fees part, there are several combination tours available with nearby sights