The Hudson Valley

Unsurpassed Natural Beauty

In his history of the city of Poughkeepsie, James Smith lauded the Hudson Valley for "its mountains of wondrous grandeur, its fruitful plains, and vales of rare scenic beauty. In varied natural scenery it is scarcely surpassed by any." The description is as apt today as when he wrote it in 1882. Located in the heart of the valley midway between New York City and Albany, Vassar College is an ideal base for exploring the Hudson Valley.

Franklin and Eleanor

Designated a National Heritage Area by Congress in 1966, the Hudson Valley has more major historic sites per square mile than any other area in the U.S. In particular, it is a haven for Roosevelt scholars and history buffs. Springwood, pictured at right, Franklin D. Roosevelt's home and burial place, the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library and Museum, and Val-Kill, Eleanor Roosevelt's home from 1945-1962, are all located in Hyde Park and are open to the public.

The Great Outdoors

The Shawangunk Mountain Range, a 50-mile ridge, 260 feet high, is considered one of the premier climbing areas in the East. The most popular climbing cliffs are just across the river from Pougheepsie on the Mohonk Preserve, outside the village of New Paltz. In the village, you can hire a climbing instructor, rent or buy gear, and learn to rappel. If you're not quite up to dangling from the end of a rope, how about jumping out of a plane? Try tubing on the Esopus or hiking in the Catskills or on the Appalachian Trail.

Walkway Over the Hudson

The world's longest elevated pedestrian bridge, the Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park is a railroad bridge converted into a pedestrian park spanning the Hudson River. At 1.28 miles long it connects the Dutchess County and Hudson Valley Rail Trails with new sections added as they are completed.

Photo: Victoria Gemme '13

The Art Scene

The Hudson Valley's scenic beauty and its proximity to New York City create an alchemy that appeals to both artists and patrons. The valley's newest gem is Dia:Beacon, a former factory converted into a museum to house the Dia Foundation's renowned collection of major works from the 1960s to the present. Located right on the river, within easy walking distance from the Beacon train station, Dia:Beacon is a destination for visitors from all over the world.

Down on the Farm

Have you ever been to a real, old fashioned county fair? For a week in August, the state's second largest agricultural fair takes place in Rhinebeck, just north of Poughkeepsie, at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds. During September and October, harvest festivals abound, and the apple picking is the best there is. Call ahead to find out when the picking starts for your favorite variety.

A Birthplace of Environmentalism

The modern environmental movement won its first major battle in 1965 when the U.S. Court of Appeals blocked Con Edison from building a giant hydroelectric plant on the river at Storm King Mountain. That wasn't the end of the battle, however. To carry on the fight, Pete Seeger built the Clearwater sloop and carried the message up and down the river. In 1980, Con Edison finally waved a white flag and agreed to donate the land to be used as a park. Today, Clearwater is one of many preservation organizations in the valley, protecting the river and open spaces.

Let Us Entertain You

Built in 1869, the Bardavon Opera House is the oldest continuously operating theater in New York State. In the 19th century, it was known as the Collingwood Opera House, and Vassar students often performed there. In fact, the first American production of Sophocles' Antigone in the original Greek was performed on the Collingwood stage by Vassar students. Today the Bardavon is the county's leading performance venue for touring artists and home to the Hudson Valley Philharmonic.

Millionaires' Row

The fabulous mansions that grace the banks of the Hudson River range in style from Olana, the Persian-inspired palace of Frederic Church, one of the principal painters of the Hudson River School of landscape painting, to the neoclassical mansion of Frederick Vanderbilt, the grandson of shipping and railway magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt, the wealthiest man in America in his day. The mansions are owned and operated either by the National Park Service or New York State's Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation, and are open to the public.

The Big Apple

An hour-and-a-half on the train from Poughkeepsie, and you're in the heart of Manhattan—Broadway, Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, MoMA, Madison Square Garden, the Museum of Natural History, Central Park, Fifth Avenue, Greenwich Village, and the best Chinese food this side of the Sierra Nevada.