abram

My 45 year HS reunion is being held in Tarrytown, NY in mid-August, and my DH & I have decided to add a week's vacation. I'd like to mosey up the Hudson (maybe as far as Saratoga Springs, maybe not) and then into the Catskills. Coordinating when we can be where with what's open when will be a little bit of a challenge, but I think that I'm up to it! We like history, nature, hiking, some art, seeing what makes one place different from the place down the road.
As I've been reading multiple guidebooks and surfing the Internet, here are some of the places that sound interesting to me. I'd love to hear the impressions of people who have visited.
Boscobel
Manitoga
DIA
Washington's HQ
Walkway across the Hudson
Vassar College & art museum
CIA
Hyde Park Roosevelt sites
Vanderbilt Mansion
Staatsburg Historic Site
Old Rhinebeck Aerodome
Opus 40
Olana
Martin Van Buren Historic Site
Shaker Museum
State Museum
State Capitol Rockefeller Plaza & Corning Tower
Berkshire Bird Paradise
Yadoo Gardens
Dance Museum
Harness Racing Museum
Saratoga National Historic Park
Saratoga Springs History Museum
Iroquois Museum
Flyfishing Museum
Delaware & Hudson Canal Museum
Museum at Bether Woods
Senate House State Historic Site
Huguenot Street Historic tour
Gillinder Glass
New Windson Cantonment
Storm King Art Center
West Point
Bear Mountain Park

Thanks a bunch!

gb944

I don't think there's a bad choice in the bunch. You might have a bit of difficulty getting onto West Point since 9-11.

HowardR

YOu've left off one of the best destinations in the Hudson Valley, specifically, Kykuit, the Rockefeller estate. And, interestingly, it's in Pocantico Hills which is adjacent to Tarrytown.

Otherwise, you've got a good list.Here are the other sites on my A-List (in no particular order of preference):

Storm King Art Center
The Roosevelt Home and Museum in Hyde Park
Vanderbilt Mansion
Boscobel
West Point
Olana
Walkway across the Hudson
CIA

getowt

It sounds like you are thinking of driving north on the east side of the Hudson River, then back south on the west side, which is certainly a very doable plan. Since there is so much to see and do along your proposed route, I would skip the Berkshire Bird Paradise, which, in my opinion, is not worth it for the time it would take you to get there, and there is nothing else nearby to draw you to the area.
(I feel the Iroquois Museum is also out of your way in the other direction.)

August in Saratoga is the horse racing season and it will be packed. Unless you really like horses, I would not recommend going there then. Hotels, restaurants and streets will be jammed.

There is a very recent and comprehensive trip report posted in these forums about Albany, so you might want to read that to help you decide about including it in your itinerary.

Have you looked into stopping in Hudson, NY? A once down-on-its-heels town that has experienced a revival in recent years. Lots of nice shops, restaurants and pretty 19th century buildings. We like the restaurant Mexican Radio. Olana is just south of Hudson, and is very beautiful and unique (to this area) for it's architectural style.

DIA is great for modern art. Definitely worth a stop. Historic houses on the Hudson River you've mentioned are also wonderful to see for a glimpse into a by-gone era and some history, although you might not want to visit all of them because you have so many other possibilities on your list.

Is sounds like you might really enjoy the planning part of a trip, but honestly, this would be a wonderful trip to do as a "ramble". Except for Saratoga, I don't think you will have trouble getting accommodations, and you could just set out each day and see how far you get, rather than having a strict schedule. At any point, you can just cross the river and head back in the other direction, hitting the spots on the southern leg of the route.

abram

Thanks for the responses! I really appreciate the help.

HowardR, you're right--I did forget to include Kykuit,which is on my list.

getowt, I'm not a rambler--that just isn't fun for me. We've tried it a couple of times, had trouble finding hotels that met our criteria, and ended up spending way too much vacation time looking for a place to stay. I like having a plan--knowing that it's fludi and might get changed along the way.

HowardR

I agree about DIA: Beacon and would add that to my A-List.

Jo1023

I think Museum at Bethel Woods (if you mean the Woodstock site) is pretty far off the path you seem to be following and I'm not sure it's worth the effort. It's pretty isolated and not much around to see/do or fun special places to eat/stay for such a short trip or unless you're heading to a concert (in which case beware of the potential for horrendous traffic on 2-lane roads--we missed almost half a concert because of that). As for the Shaker Museum, I assume you mean the one in Pittsfield Mass (which I highly recommend). It's a east of where you seem to be heading. Nice if you've got plans for the Berkshires (Tanglewood, theaters, nice restaurants) but might be a bit of a stretch considering your other sites. I don't think I'd try to do both Saratoga as well as Pittsfield--think you'd be better focusing on one or the other. We just checked out B+B's in Hudson--it's a growing market and there are some really nice ones. It could be a central stop on the east side of the Hudson, quirky little town with lots of interesting shops (mostly antiques, not many bargains) and art galleries. Have fun!

debsnj

Make lunch or dinner reservations at the CIA as far ahead as possible.

nytraveler

August in Saratoga is racing season. This is a huge amount of fun- but it means that hotel prices are at least double - if you can find any (many people reserve in Jan as soon a they get their seats for the major races). At this point you might find someplace to stay in Lake George- but expect prices to be sky high there as well.

Agree that everything will be packed and traffic will be horrendous. If you will not be going for the racing - and willing to put up with the delays and prices - I would leave it for another season.

J62

My 2c - don't have a lot of time right now to add details.

Boscobel - yes, but only for a summer Shakespeare show- google search hudson valley Shakespeare.

Manitoga- never heard of it
DIA - yes
Washington's HQ - no
Walkway across the Hudson - yes, pretty cool, especially if you're passing through

Vassar College & art museum - no
CIA - yes, for dinner at any of the restaurants, or lunch at the deli/cafe.
Hyde Park Roosevelt sites - yes if you're a history buff, no otherwise
Vanderbilt Mansion - yes, best of the mansions
Staatsburg Historic Site - no for inside tour. Yes for a short / med hike along the Hudson.
Old Rhinebeck Aerodome - yes, on weekends, if you like air shows., Beware of Dutchess co fair dates in the same area - weekend traffic can be horrendous. (late Aug IIRC)
Opus 40 - no idea
Olana - no idea
Martin Van Buren Historic Site - no
Shaker Museum (Albany? - never been)
State Museum - no
State Capitol Rockefeller Plaza & Corning Tower - capitol yes, plaza/tower not worth a detour.
Berkshire Bird Paradise - no idea
Yadoo Gardens - no idea
Dance Museum - pretty cool
Harness Racing Museum - never been
Saratoga National Historic Park - (battlefield, i assume? ok, but better w/ bike for a nice ride around the park)
Saratoga Springs History Museum - no
Car museum - yes (this wasn't on your list)
Saratoga Springs congress park/water sampling - yes (wasn't on your list) agree with other poster that Aug is tough due to racing season.
Iroquois Museum - no idea
Flyfishing Museum - no idea
Delaware & Hudson Canal Museum
Museum at Bether Woods
Senate House State Historic Site
Huguenot Street Historic tour
Gillinder Glass
New Windson Cantonment
Storm King Art Center - definitely
West Point - yes, if you can
Bear Mountain Park - no. much better places to hike. Worth a drive through at most.

You might have missed a few - I'd need to think a bit when I have more time.

I can recommend restaurants anywhere on the east side of the Hudson, + ALbany, SS areas, and New Paltz on the west side.

abram

I'll definitely re-think going as far as Saratoga Springs--my DH, a very good natured traveller, hates crowds. Thanks to all for that advice.

We're not going into Mass--just can't get everywhere in less than a week. We land in White Plains around noon Aug 6, and have to be back in Tarrytown for the start of the reunion festivities the evening of Aug 12. I was thinking of the Shaker Museum in Old Chatham.

I'm trying to sketch out an itinerary so that I can start deciding where to stay, especially when we're going to be in Hyde Park so I can make reservations soon at the CIA.

Some things (like Bear Mountain) have nostalgia value for me--I'd like to take my DH to places that I haven't visited since I was growing up in Ardsley, 45+ years ago.

Jo1023, we're going to be spending some time in the Catskills, so I don't think Bethel is that far out of the way. I especially want to go to South Fallsburg, just because that's where my Dad grew up--in his mother's hotel.

debsnj

Abram - do you remember Frieheifer chocolate chip cookies? Everyone used to bring them back from the Catskills to NYC.

Jo1023

Shaker Museum in Old Chatham is a rather small personal collection. The New Lebanon/Pittsfield museum isn't far from there (less than 20 miles east) and is much more worthwhile if you're going that far anyway. They've preserved some buildings which have great history--esp the round barn. If you're going to Chatham, check out the Old Chatham Sheepherding Company which is just down the road from the museum. Not a big operation, but interesting if you're nearby. You can buy cheese onsite. The Old Chatham Country Store (also nearby)is a good stop for lunch or breakfast/dinner on weekends. Lippera's Chatham House is another good restaurant in Chatham (very cute town with nice shops) for lunch or dinner as is Blue Plate (dinner only).

HowardR

I agree about the Shaker sites. The one in the Pittsfield area is larger and more interesting than the one in Old Chatham.
I disagree with J62 about Boscobel. It has one of the best views of the Hudson River.

getowt

other tidbits:

allow time for stopping at farms in Dutchess and Columbia Counties even if it's just to buy a couple of pieces of fruit as a car snack (support local agriculture!)

Dutchess Co. Fair is Aug. 23-28 this year

Have you looked into Mohonk Mountain House? Not that you need another place to visit; you've got plenty of great ideas already!

Freihofers is still in business and still makes chocolate chip cookies, although some of us feel they're not quite the same as they used to be...

bspielman

Opus 40, located in a former quarry near Saugerties, is a unique sculpture/structure composed of fitted stones and covering six acres, the product of almost four decades of work by a single individual, Harvey Fite. If you're nearby, it's worth a detour to see and wander through.

Boscobel, a restored Federal-era mansion, sits on a bluff on the east shore of the Hudson, with a spectacular view as far as the Bear Mountain Bridge. Across the river and slightly downstream sits the West Point Military Academy. In the summer, Boscobel is the home of the Hudson River Shakespeare Festival, performed in a large tent adjacent to the broad lawn that affords the river view.

North of Newburgh on the west side of the Hudson at 222 South Plank Road, is a great Italian restaurant, Il Cenácolo. Very highly rated in the Zagat Guide (F28,D24,S26) and definitely worth seeking out for a truly great meal.

Ozarksbill

Quite a list, abram. We loved the Hudson Valley and enjoyed sites while son was teaching at Vassar. Throwing in my two bits worth...yes I have memories of a nice concert on the slope behind Boscobel mansion. I think a Hudson Valley trip must surely mean visiting various mansions such as Hyde Park, Vanderbilt, Olana, Van Buren (Nat'l Historic Site), etc. Not mentioned so far is Val-Kill where Eleanor and her pals relaxed. Huguenot St. is in New Paltz, another of the quaint area towns, nicely preserving very old houses from the early Dutch era. CIA means Culinary Institute of course. Nice elegant dining treat though pricey. Famous Catholic theologian Tournier buried behind there.