Quick trip to Poughkeepsie area
 

Hi:

I am doing a quick turn around trip to Poughkeepsie. We are flying in on a Tuesday and flying out on Thursday. Tuesday later afternoon after checking into the hotel, lets say 4ish we will have time to ourselves, and again on Thursday all day until about 4PM when we have to be back at the Newburgh airport. Wednesday is taken with going to the CIA for a tour and graduation ceremony.

I have never been to the area before, we will have a car and are staying at the Hampton Inn.

I am looking for suggestions of things to see/do in the area on Tues and Thurs. With so little time I would rather not venture into NYC during this trip, just because I think it would be overwhelming coming from small-town midwest. I love outdoorsy things, parks, walks etc. Also enjoy museums, theater, local events.

I am not interested in shopping excursions to malls, golfing, sailing. I would welcome suggestions that include small local shops and artisan studios.

Also any suggestions on food? I want to avoid any chains like Bonefish Grill, or Five Guys etc and no fast food please. I can get those here. I am looking for any little gems you may know of that are unique to the area.

Thank you for any suggestions.

Well, of course you should visit FDR's home in Hyde Park. A truly lovely place and very near the CIA.

I totally agree with Bedar, and also visit Eleanor Rosevelt's home and there is a Vanderbilt home nearby too.

Eat at the CIA!!

You don't say precisely when you are coming, but if the weather is nice, I think the Walkway Over the Hudson is a must-see. It should be nice in the spring once the leaves come on, but the views are good anytime.

Two recommendations in two totally different directions.

Storm King is a marvelous out door sculpture park. Cannot recommend it enough.


http://stormking.org/

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Town of Rhinebeck, about 25 minutes from Hyde Park.

Thanks for the quick suggestions. Will check them all out, they sound wonderful.

We may be eating at the CIA after graduation, don't have the specifics on that yet. Still need details of Wed. from the parents of the graduate.

We will be there Mid-April, just before Easter.

DIA:Beacon for art

Agree with the walkway over the Hudson. Even if it's chilly it's a fantastic view from this 1880's RR bridge / now walkway 200' above the hudson.

Yes, Dia Beacon for large scale modern art. if you like that. if not.. your choice.

Another option close by is Innisfree Garden.
www.innisfreegarden.org

For dinner, try out the Artist's Palate
www.theartistspalate.biz

It's been a few years since I was there (since I lived in POK), so I can't confirm it's still top notch.

Another option is terrapin in Rhinebeck, just a short drive north of POK/Hyde Park.

The casual dining hot spot in that area is the eveready diner. Classic american/east coast diner. theevereadydiner.com

Two more dining options if you are in that immediate area:

Lola's & Crave, both are on Washington St, right under the walkway approach on the POK side. There's a stairway 1 flight down to Washington St. so easy to get to by foot if you're on the walkway or vice versa.

Storm King

Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site preserves the Stone Cottage at Val-Kill, the home of First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt in Hyde Park

Tuthilltown Spirits Farm Distillery in Gardiner NY is New York’s first whiskey distillery since prohibition, distilling some of America’s most prized spirits here in the Hudson Valley. They also have a very good restaurant for lunch or dinner.

FDR house tour and the FDR presidential library. Both are on the same site. Eleanor Roosevelt's cottage tour is close by. Vanderbilt Mansion, you can tour the house and there is an extensive park grounds that you can walk along too.

The FDR House, Val Kill and the Vanderbilt Mansion are all run by the National Park Service. If anyone is 62 years old and a US Citizen, or permanent resident, buy the senior access pass at the visitors' center right now its still $10.. and it gives the pass holder and 3 adults free admission into all US Park sites that have an admission charge.

The FDR library is run independently and has a separate admission. the exhibits span his career and the history of the US at that time. 10-

Storm King is an outdoor sculpture park in a lovely setting. If the weather is good this is really nice. It reopens April 5, and is open on Wed-through sunday 10am-530pm.

Hopefully you will have a meal at the CIA, there are some non reservation places but as the students train in each place be sure to check what will be open at that time. Meals there are terrific.

Vassar College is beautiful in the spring. Some of the newer buildings were designed by major architects such as Eero Saarinen who was married to a Vassar girl. (Most of the buildings are much older)


The Art Center is a wonderful museum with a broad collection of paintings and objects. They have a program of lectures that might interest you. Closed Mondays.

http://fllac.vassar.edu/

There are also exhibitions at the college's Palmer Gallery. And the Shakespeare Garden is pretty.

Wow excellent suggestions. Now to narrow them down and fit them in. I just discovered that Tuesday night we are going to a BBQ sponsored by the graduate and her friends. So crossing the bridge that afternoon is likely out as we arrive at 4 and the bbq is at 6. Hopefully we can squeeze it in before the graduation or maybe just get up superearly on our last day and get stuff done :)

Thanks,
J