I will be driving from my home just north of DC to visit a friend just east of Hartford, CT in a few weeks. I don't have a tight time schedule and would like to see some things along the way. I am considering Hyde Park area, Olana State Historic Site and other places along the Hudson River. I have been to West Point and to Sunny Side. Suggestions anyone for a woman traveling alone?

Both Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt homes are right in Hyde Park and well worth a visit. The CIA is a good place to eat and they have a great store if you want to get some fun kitchen gadgets.

Olanna is very interesting as is nearby Hudson, NY, which may be the Midcentury Modern furniture capital of the East Coast, but that is quite a bit North of a direct route. If you are up that way, you can certainly pass through the Berkshires on the way to the Hartford area. If you like houses, Daniel Chester French's home and studio are interesting. Further north, I can never get enough of Hancock Shaker Village.

In Hartford, Mark Twain's House and Harriet Beecher Stowe's houses would be worth stopping. Continuing with Ackislanders suggestion, drive through the Berkshires stopping at the Norman Rockwell museum in Stockbrodge

IN Hartford itself, the Wadsworth art museum is quite nice. They have a good collection of the Hudson River School paintings.

Just west of Hartford in Farmington, CT is the Hillstead Museum also worth a stop. If you are interested in ancient history, Dinosaur State Park in Rocky Hill, CT, just south of Hartford is also interesting.

Thank you all. You have given me much to absorb and have helped me make some decisions. Has anyone eaten at the Culinary Institute? I am considering that in addition to as many of the other things you have mentioned that I can squeeze in. Yes/No?

CIA is definitely great. There are more than one place there, make reservations.

Yes, to CIA. Only lunch, sort of a garden atmosphere. Food excellent. Shop fun.

Important Roman Catholic theologian Teilhard De Chardin buried on the grounds (it used to be a monastery).