Taking train from Grand Central to Poughkeepsie
 

Headed to NYC for a week's vac. Thinking about taking the train from Grand Central up the Hudson to Poughkeepsie for a roundtrip with 2 kids. Is it family safe & would you recommend it as for as sighseeking? Thanks, Williamston

Absolutely family safe.

Instead of stopping at Poughkeepsie, you might consider stopping at Cold Spring, a much smaller, more picturesque town, with many shops in a walking area.

I too wonder why Poughkeepsie. If you want a day out of town, I think there are lots of other options.

http://www.stonebarnscenter.org/
http://tinyurl.com/ydwg4e
http://as0.mta.info/mnr/getaway_tick...t_outbound.cfm

Check out the website www.hudsonvalley.org for some good ideas of places to visit that are closer than Poughkeepsie and thus easier and faster to get to.

The train is a great ride. AND if the kids are 5-11 the family fare is just about free, for the kids. :) Very safe and scenic ride- if you have nothing else to do. :)

If you're only going to Poughkeepsie for the train ride, then yes, go. If you plan to be walking around, I don't think you'll find much of interest near the POU train station ... and will find the area near the station a little "sketchy". However, if you plan to rent a car or take a taxi from POU to someplace (eg: Culinary Institute, FDR home) then I guess it would be good.

If you just want a nice train ride and some local walking/touring around, then take "gb944"'s advice & just go to Cold Spring.

Re: taxis - I doubt a ride to CIA would cost much, but not sure how much it would be to further north to FDR, Vanderbilt, etc.

Our son teaches in Poughkeepsie and I don't see this as a destination, but no doubt you can find lots to do of interest along the Hudson Valley as some have suggested. Taking a train ride with the kids sounds like fun anyway.

ozarksbill

There is nothing around the POK train station. You would need to rent a car or take a taxi. (You have to take a taxi to the closest car rental place)

If you want to drive through the Hudson Valley, there are many nice places to stop. Rhinebeck, Hyde Park (FDR & Vanderbilt houses), Olana.