HV/Net
presents the "A List", the best the
Valley has to offer.
These are the most important and interesting places
to visit,
the starting point if you're on a short visit
into this
most special of river valleys. |
| West
Point Military Academy
West Point, NY
(845)938-2203 |
|
Perched
high atop a peninsula jutting out into the mighty
Hudson River, West Point proved to be the lynch
pin in defeating the British in the American
Revolution. Holding and defending this high
ground prevented the British from dividing the
colonies in two by controlling the Hudson River.
Their goal was to take the Hudson and eliminate
the flow of commerce between the New England
colonies and the South. General George Washington
knew the strategic importance of the Hudson
River and poured his resources into its defense
and military improvements.
The
most important of these fortifications was atop
West Point. From this strategically important
location all shipping and river traffic was
under his control effectively bottling up the
British in Manhattan. The location was of such
importance that it was the fortifications at
West Point that Revolutionary hero Benedict
Arnold attempted to surrender to the British,
bringing about his downfall and flight into
exile as a traitor to his country.
In
1802 by Act of Congress, Thomas Jefferson created
the first military academy in the United States,
at West Point. Now, the oldest military academy
in the country, West Point Military Academy
serves the US Army as its primary officer training
grounds with thousands of cadets at any one
time marching and attending classes, continuing
the proud traditions of the "long gray
line."
Visiting
West Point can be a fun and exciting experience.
To enter the post, you go to the Visitors Center
in Highland Falls, immediately outside the Main
Gate. The Visitor Center has interactive displays
about the "Point" showing cadet life.
The West Point Museum is located just behind
the Visitor Center and is not to be missed.
It houses the largest collection of armamant
in the world and is an educational as well as
exciting museum to visit. From the Visitor Center
you can take guided tours of the Point aboard
air-conditioned coaches with guides relating
the history and pointing out the sites. On the
tour you stop at the Cadets Chapel and at Trophy
Point. One of the fun experiences of being at
the Point is when the cadets, unannounced, burst
out of the barracks, in formation, and march
about chanting at the top of their lungs. As
quickly as they appear, the dissappear again
into the barracks and the field grows silent
again.
Unfortunately,
at the time of this writing the post is on high
alert as a result of the September 11 attack.
Access to West Point is basically via the guided
coach tours. However, during times when the
post is not on high alert, the public is welcomed
onto the post to wander the grounds and take
in the sights and sounds of cadet life. Monuments
to some of the greatest Generals of American
History surround the Parade Grounds and Trophy
Point provides the single most spectacular view
of the Hudson River to be found in the entire
Valley. For those interested in investigation
the pase, the Cemetery at West Point houses
some of the most prominent people in the history
of America. Presidents and Generals as well
as enlisted men can be found resting in this
hallowed ground.
The
West Point Band holds scheduled concerts in
season at the amphitheatre at Trophy Point.
Make sure to check the schedule as it is an
experience not to be missed. Eisenhower Hall
also provides a venu for touring shows and theatrical
events throughout the year. When planning your
trip to West Point, just remember that it is
the single most visited site in the Hudson Valley
and for awhile at least it will remain on security
high alert, so allow time and have a little
patience. You will surely enjoy your visit and
the experiences you have at West Point.
Map
It - Panorama
#1 - Panorama
#2 - Web
Page |
|
Woodbury
Common Premium Outlets
Route
32
Central Valley, NY 10917
(845)928-4000 |
|
Woodbury
Common is a mecca for shoppers from around the
world. A collection of over 200 discount outlets
and Designer Direct Discount Shops, Woodbury
Common sprawls out amidst vast parking lots
offering the best of New York fashions and designer
goods of all descriptions. Definately not for
the faint of heart or pocket book, Woodbury
Common welcomes you onto its broad pedestrian
avenues and food courts for an enjoyable shopping
outing.
To
get to Woodbury Common, you can take special
buses from the NY Port Authority directly to
the complex or you can easily arrive by car.
Take the New York Thruway to the Harriman Exit
and stay as far right as you can. Take the very
first exit after the tolls and a special spur
exit onto Woodbury Common Boulevard will branch
off to the right delivering you directly into
the parking lot.
Internationally
famous designers like Ralph Lauren, Anne Klein,
Donna Karan and dozens more all maintain outlets
at Woodbury Common. There are shops filled with
designer luggage, accessories and shoes, shops
with every manufacturer of perfume represented.
There are scores of shops filled with world
famous manufacturers as well such as Levi's,
Nike, Mikasa, Corning, Coach and Samsonite just
to name a few. Shop after shop awaits your pleasure
as you wander in and out browsing and purchasing
the best and most stylish goods available in
the country.
Imported
gourmet foods, chocolates, coffees and cheeses
are waiting for your pleasure. Restaurants and
a Food Court provide a welcome place to sit
and recover from the dizzying array available
to you. Benches abound out on the pedestrian
avenues in this colonial inspired mall giving
you a place to rest your tired feet and take
stock of what you've found and purchased.
For
the die hard and avid shoppers amongst us, Woodbury
Common is a fun and exciting place to go. You
could easily spend a week there and not get
into each of the shops. So preapre yourself
and get a good night's sleep, arm yourself with
a list of what you are looking for and start
at one of the many maps of the complex that
greet you at every entrance. Armed with a plan,
you can successfully lay seige to one of the
greatest shopping locations in the world. Or,
you can just lazily stroll around and be drawn
into the shops beckoning you to enter and take
home some of their wares.
Map
It
|
| Storm
King Art Center
Old
Pleasant Hill Road
Mountainville, NY 10953
(845)534-3115 |
|
Arguably
the most important site for Modern Sculpture
in the world. Storm King Art Center nonetheless
sits quietly and serenely down a small two lane
country road almost hidden from public view.
As you whiz up the Thruway, you might notice
a few odd looking metal assemblages over in
a field, or if you are carefully looking you
might see a row of columns perched on the top
of a hill. But you'll probably just wonder what
they are and forget about them a couple of miles
down the road.
Well,
don't just wonder, get off the Thruway and go
find out! You'll be pleased you did!
Make
sure to take the time to visit Storm King Art
Center for one of the most enthralling experiences
in art. Storm King consists of 500 acres of
manicured lawns, groves of trees and carefully
developed vistas. Within this manicured landscape
stand monumental sculptures, large pieces that
can only be appreciated in a large setting.
Some created just for Storm King, all created
by Modern Masters, these sculptures form a unique
collection in the world. Storm King celebrates
the relationship between sculpture and nature.
The exhibition space is defined by the landscape
and limited only by the sky. Unencumbered by
walls, the flow of space is punctuated by sculpture
with the pieces affected by the changing light
and weather, your experience of them changes
as the day changes. Brilliant yellow metal sobers
in the late afternoon sunlight to a rich golden
color. Massive marble creations transform as
the play of shadows dance across their undulating
surfaces. As you stand atop a hill and gaze
into the distance through rows of carefully
planted trees, large structures spring up from
the fields demanding your attention but softened
into the landscape.
Because
of this interplay between the landscape, the
sky and the sculpture, no two visits to Storm
King are ever the same. On a brilliant clear
day you can stand in one spot and admire dozens
of master works. On a cloudy and foggy day,
you wander through the mists being surprised
as giant works disolve out of the vapor. Sunny
days highlight the colors and interplay of shadows.
Cloudy or rainy days highlight the forms and
masses and relationships between works and the
rolling hills. Each visit is a unique experience
and each visit is a pleasurable journey into
the mind of the artist.
For
a single admission price, (not the cheapest
place in the Valley to visit), you can wander
the grounds as much as you like. You can spend
hours on the trails, pathways and roads experiencing
the works from every angle. As you wander the
grounds, one piece is put into the background
of another, then brought forward with other
works setting the context in the distance. The
relationships between pieces and spatial connections
combine with the sky the weather and the landscape
to provide an ever kelidascope of visual experiences.
Plan
on spending several hours at a minimum on your
visit to Storm King Art Center. If you are unfamiliar
with modern sculpture, take one of the docent
guided tours showing the highlights of the collection.
It's a pleasurable entry into the subject in
the best location for the subject. Or armed
with an excellent map and brochure, strike out
on your own into the world of Alexander Calder,
Henry Moore, Lousie Nevelson and dozens of other
Modern Masters.
Although
not the only way to get to Storm King Art Center,
unless you are armed with an excellent map,
make sure you are on Route 32 heading north
out of Harriman or south out of Newburgh/Vails
Gate. If you are coming north from Harriman,
you will go past the old 4 Star factory and
drive along the Moodna Creek and over an old
iron bridge. Just past the bridge you make a
left onto Orrs Mills Road. From the north, you
will come out of Vails Gate heading south and
go down a long hill with the road being three
lanes, your way only one lane. At the bottom
of this hill you will make a right onto Orrs
Mils Road. Once on Orrs Mills Road, just follow
the blue and white signs to Storm King Art Center.
Map
It
- Web
Page |
| Bodles
Opera House
39
Main Street
Chester, NY
(845)469-4595 |
|
"Fun
fun fun" is the bill of fare at Bodles
Opera House. An old "country opera house",
Bodles serves up both dinner and entertainment
Wednesday through Sunday nights with a dizzying
variety of bands, acts and artists that will
have you snapping your fingers to show tunes,
Swing Dancing to the big band sound of the NY
Swing Exchange, sipping a cocktail and grooving
to hot jazz or laughing in the aisles at Bodles
very own Variety Show, the entertainment changes
almost nightly.
Long
a tradtion in Chester, Bodles has evolved into
one of the hottest venues for quality musical
entertainment in the Hudson Valley. Noted artists
from the pop and folk world regularily perform
at Bodles attracting an audience from New York
City up to Albany. The small town casual laid
back atmosphere, rough wood barn like interior
and comfortable country flair all combine to
make Bodles a unique place to enjoy the best
music to be found. Artists like Red Grammer,
John Sebastian, Larry Chance and the Earls,
and many reknowned folk singers regularly grace
the performance platform at Bodles. Every Thursday
is Open Mic Night where surprisingly talented
local performers get their chance to make it
big at Bodles. Wednesdays are reserved for cool
Jazz and Blues and Sunday usually finds a devoted
crowd listening to classic folk and folk/rock
at the Sunday Concert Series.
Although
you don't go to Bodles for spectacular food,
its good country fare and the perfect compliment
to your evening of entertainment. Bodles has
a full bar as well to keep you in the spirits
and keep your spirits high. Dancing and interacting
with the performers is the order of the day
and the charm of this truly intimate performance
space. Keep some time available to go to Bodles
while you are in the Hudson Valley, you'll have
a rolicking good time!
Map
It
- Web
Page |
| American
Revolutionary War Sites |
|
Frequently
overlooked in the great sweep of history
as being the central battleground of the
American Revolution, the Hudson Valley
determined the success or failure of the
Colonial States in their quest for independence
from Great Britain. Strategically, the
Hudson River was the only navigable river
into the interior of the continent and
its location empowered whoever controlled
it to either allow or prevent commerce
between the northern Colonies and those
in the south. Should the British have
been able to gain control of the Hudson,
the outcome of the war would surely have
been different.
And
the British spent great time, effort and
resources attempting to gain control of
the mighty Hudson River just so they could
control the commercial trade routes between
north and south. Their first act in the
war was to take Manhattan and drive General
Washington and his continental troups
north chasing them up to White Plains
and forcing them across the river. In
a massive effort, they then descended
south from Canada under the command of
Gen. Burguoyne, down through Lake Champlain,
down the Hudson battling the colonists
at every turn. Finally at Saratoga, Burguoyne
lost his momentum and was defeated and
captured, bringing the battle over the
northern Hudson to a close.
Throughout
the war, various fortifications and sites
in Orange County were pivotal in the efforts
of Washington and his troops to stay the
British and prevent them from coming up
into the Hudson Valley. Chief among these
locations was West Point, site of the
major fortifications along the Hudson
and commanded by Benedict Arnold. Washington
himself spent more time in the Hudson
Valley and Orange County than any other
location in the colonies during the war
years. And as the war drew to a close,
it was Orange County that Washington chose
as his last staging ground for his troops
and his entorage to insure the British
didn't attempt a run up the Hudson before
the final treaties could be signed.
Orange
County is rich in Revolutionary sites
ranging from the mundane of camp life
for enlisted men right up Washington's
final residence prior to his resigning
from the Continental Army. As individual
places, they do not overwhelm the visitor
with their grandeur or the role they played
in the struggle for independence. Collectively,
they should overwhelm the visitor in significance
to their daily lives and how different
America would be today were it not for
the foresight, diligence and sacrifice
made to hold and defend these places in
Orange County. |
| |
| West
Point
West
Point, NY 10996
(845)938-2203 |
|
Already
mentioned in our "A-List" of
places in Orange County for the US Military
Academy, West Point is none the less one
of the most important locations of the
American Revolution. It was from here
that all defenses of the Hudson River
were coordinated. It was from here that
all forays to meet and defeat the British
were planned and launched. And it was
from here that the defense of the Colonies
was focused.
Any
visit to West Point visibly shows its
strategic significance in maintaining
control of the mighty Hudson River. And
control of the river was vital to both
sides in the conflice. The goods of the
nation floated down or across the Hudson
to the colonies in the south. Goods from
the south had to go across or float upriver
to reach the desperate colonies in New
England. Commercial traffic was virtually
held captive to overland routes as the
British controlled the Atlantic. Breaking
this vital commercial traffic route would
have brought the colonies to their knees
and the British would have won the war.
Still
to be found at West Point are early battlements
and redoubts, the tell tale remnants of
the early significance of this site to
the Colonies. From West Point great iron
chains were streatched across the Hudson
to block the passage of ships. As a stronghold,
West Point was never challenged head on,
it was only challenged from within as
treachery vied with loyalty to claim control
of the fortifications. Walking around
West Point today, from the bluffs commanding
the view to the south around to the high
rocky heights controlling river access
to the north, it is obvious why so much
effort was spent in creating and holding
this most vital of locations in the Colonies.
Map
It - Panorama
#1 - Panorama
#2 |
| |
| Washington's
Headquarters
84
Liberty Street
Newburgh, NY 12550
(845)562-1195 |
|
In
this modest even then antique stone Dutch
farmhouse overlooking the Hudson River,
General George Washington established
his final Field Command Headquarters after
his glorious campaign defeating Cornwallis.
He quickly returned to the Hudson Valley
after Yorktown because the primary British
stronghold in America, Manhattan, still
contained tens of thousands of British
troops and a harbor full of British Frigates
and Battleships.
The
central command of the British Forces
was housed and maintained in Manhattan,
making the necessity of keeping them trapped
in Manhattan vital in forcing the final
resolution to the war. The defeat of Cornwallis
may have been the final turning point
of the war making the defeat of the British
inevitable, but it was General Washington
and his campaign of containment and pressure
exerted from Orange County and his headquarters
in Newburgh that finally brought the war
to its conclusion.
Washington
brought his armies along with him back
to Orange County and there they and he
encamped for 18 long months while the
Treaty of Paris was crafted and finally
signed. From here, Washington left for
New Windsor to address his troops and
bid them farewell, and it was from here
that he left for Manhattain where he resigned
his commission and retired back into private
life as a plain citizen.
Located
at Washington's Headquarters is a museum
filled with artifacts and information
about Washington, his stay in Orange County
and the course of the Revolution through
the Hudson Valley. Events are held regularily
to commemorate Washington and his wife
Martha. Birthdays are celebrated and historical
moments are commemorated in fun filled
family friendly entertainments.
Washington's
Headquarters is now located in a fairly
tough section of Newburgh, so a certain
amount of care is required when you plan
your visit. Park close and make sure to
lock your car not leaving anything of
value obviously visible. The neighborhood
is safe enough, but its general run down
appearance might cause you some alarm.
Common sense precautions are sufficient.
Map
It
|
| |
| New
Windsor Cantonement
Temple
Hill Road
Vails Gate, NY 12584
(845)561-1765 |
|
The
troops of Washington's armies were encamped
for miles along what is now known as Route
300. Their huts and tents streatched for
a great distance both north and south
of the road as well as for about three
miles along the road. Central to this
encampment was the building known as "The
Temple", an accurate reconstruction
now on the exact site of its original
construction at the New Windsor Cantonement.
New
Windsor Cantonement, a New York State
Park, is excellently maintained and totally
handicapped accessible. When you enter
the site you are directed to a Visitor
Center where a small museum shows you
the events that swirled around the area
at the end of the war. From here you take
a self-guided tour through the grounds
with a good map and explainatory brochure.
As you walk the grounds costumed guides
are available to answer questions and
give demonstrations on various aspects
of being an enlisted man in the army.
Musket demonstrations are held on a regular
basis and are thoroughly enjoyed by the
kids as they are freighteningly loud and
fill the air with acrid smoke and bits
of flying paper wadding.
There
are several small huts on the grounds
that evidence proves were original to
the site during the encampment. You are
invited into The Temple to listen to speeches
and lectures, into the huts to see how
the armies lived, and to ask questions
of the costumed guides. Demonstrations
of all types are held, frequently on summer
and fall weekends, making a visit to the
New Windsor Cantonement a real family
fun outing.
Map
It |
| |
| Last
Encampment of the Continental Army
Route
300
Vails Gate, NY 12581
(845)561-5073 |
|
Located
just across Route 300 from the New Windsor
Cantonement, the Last Encampment of the
Continental Army is a site owned and operated
by the Town of New Windsor. It's an interesting
site and very different from the Cantonement
just across the road. Here you will see
archiological excavations revealing enlisted
men's huts and other evidence of occupation
here by the Continental Armies.
Reconstructed
on the site are two huts and you are invited
inside where a guide will help you discover
what life was really like for the enlisted
men at that time. You can climb the obesrvation
tower and get an overview of the entire
site and really get a feel for the crowded
contitions of the encampment.
There
is a constant schedule of reenactments
and demonstrations, usually on weekends,
that you and your family will enjoy. Demonstrations
on cooking and rifle firing are a regular
feature of these events. The Last Encampment
is a substantially lower keyed place with
compared with the New Windsor Cantonement.
Its local, exceedingly friendly and staffed
by interested and engaged local historians
and history buffs. You will get a real
feeling for the common soldier here, what
his life was like and what he had to endure
to survive. It's a very family focused
experience and your children are welcomed
and encouraged to explore and discover.
The
site is basically handicapped accessible,
unless it's been raining and then the
ground will be too soft for wheelchairs.
Visiting the Last Encampment is well worth
the small effort to get there and by combining
it and the New Windsor Cantonement across
the street you will get a vibrant and
real idea of life in the army at the time.
Map
It |
| |
| Knox
Headquarters
Forge
Hill Road
Vails Gate, NY 12581
(845)561-5498 |
|
Officers
of the Continental Army were housed in
local residences around the New Windsor
and Vails Gate area during the final encampment
of the Continentals there. As "gentlemen"
they expected better accommodations and
finer food than were dolled out to the
enlisted men. In the area many of these
old houses still exist, but remain in
private hands and are still private residences.
The house that General Knox and several
other officers stayed in has become a
New York State Park and Historic Site.
Visiting
the house is a trip back into the 18th
century as the interiors have been restored
to an accurate representation of their
condition at the time. Guides take you
through the house, explaining the houses
prior history, who General Knox was as
well as the other officers who stayed
at the house, what they did and how it
all fits together with the massive army
encampment at New Windsor and Vails Gate.
From Washington's Headquarters, the road,
now Route 94, ran down the river and swung
inland past the residences of the officers.
The road then went further west where
the armies themselves could be found encamped
on either side.
This
house is an example of the officers lives
at this time. The guides are very informative
and knowledgable on the times and what
they meant. They engage the kids in the
tour trying to bring their interests to
bear on what they are seeing. The furnishings
and restorations are accurate and depict
the house as it would have been inhabited
by General Washington's officers.
Map
It |
|
| Goshen
Historic Track & Harness Racing Museum
|
|
If
you're a smart traveler you know that the best
way to see a region is off the main highways
and touring about on the back roads and country
lanes. It's here that you get a real sense and
feel of an area. If you are doing this in mid-Orange
County, you can't help but notice huge tracts
of land devoted to horse breeding. Great stables
tucked away in the hollows and beautiful horses
roaming the vast pastures is a trademark of
the area.
"Odd"
you might say at first, and "beautiful."
But then, you wouldn't be expected to know the
intimate history of an area, you wouldn't be
expected to know that Orange County is the cradle
of Standardbred horse breeding and harness racing
in America. But it's very true and one of the
prides of New York State.
The
late 18th century and the 19th century saw Orange
County become the preeminent location for Standardbred
horse breeding and harness racing in America.
Goshen, the center of the county, became the
center of this sport with the races being held
down Main Street in the early days. Surrounding
Goshen were the most famous breeders in the
country and after it was built in 1838 the local
race track became one of the most important
venues for the sport of harness racing in the
world. Out of Orange County came some of the
most important Standardbred horses the world
has ever seen, including the majestic Hambiltonian,
the foundation sire of the breed, foaled in
1849 and reared here in the heart of horse country,
Orange County.
The
gentlemanly sport of Harness Racing was developed
and then sanctified on the race courses of Orange
County before the sport lost popularity in the
early 1900's. What remains of this greatness
are a few breeding farms scattered about and
the Goshen Race Track, the oldest trotting track
in the world, still operating with a full summer
season. This National Historic Site, built in
1838 and located right in the middle of the
village of Goshen, is a picturesque little standard
one mile track with a small wooden grand stand,
barns and outbuildings, all intimately huddled
together in the heart of Goshen. On beautiful
late spring and summer days you can find horses
in their sulkies and harness out on the track
running their paces and training for glory in
the world of harness racing. The grand stand
is open and free to the public at these times
and you are invited to sit and watch. During
the brief racing season in Goshen in the late
spring and early summer, there is little more
exciting to do than to come to the race track
and thrill to the horses as they speed around
this charming and intimate track.
Just
around the corner from the Historic Track, at
240 Main Street, is the Harness Racing Museum
& Trotting Horse Hall of Fame. As Goshen
was the capital of the sport, it is only fitting
that this museum was founded right here adjacent
to the track. The museum is an exciting and
family friendly exploration into the world of
horse breeding and harness racing. The museum's
collection includes more than 1,500 works of
art, 1,000 pieces of ephemera, 5,000 photographs,
300 jockey outfits, 50 sulkies and so much more.
All of this is assembled into exciting interactive
presentations where you are encouraged to explore
and discover. Children love the museum and its
video presentations and interactive displays.
Let your kids climb into a sulky and grab the
reigns!
Map
It - Web
Page |
|
| Investigate
the rest of HV/Net's "Must See" list!
|
How
did they qualify to be included?
HV/Net
has attempted to assemble for you the best,
most important and most interesting sites to
visit in the Hudson Valley. In other words,
this is the "Must See" or "A
List" of sites and attractions in the Valley.
We have endeavored to go to every site, visit
every historic museum, play at every attraction
and delve into every hidden corner of the Valley
to find and filter for you the best the Valley
has to offer. We've walked, toured, pondered
over, poked at, schlepped through, listened
to and been interpreted at, we've slogged, enjoyed,
been disappointed, trekked over, and sneezed
at the dust of just about every place in the
Hudson Valley there is.
From
all of that, we have assembled the best of the
best. Inclusion in this list was ultimately
based upon a few basic criteria:
- The
site must be of major historical or cultural
importance, or ;
- The
site must be a unique representation of its
historic or cultural type, and therefore be
of importance, or ;
- The
amusement or entertainment must be fun and
exciting and ;
- The
location must be accessible, easy to find
and worth the effort, and ;
- The
location must meet expectations of what should
be found, and ;
- The
location must be clean, family friendly and
safe, and ;
- The
staff must be friendly, helpful and willing
to put in the effort to enhance your experience.
Exclusion
from our list of the Must See Locations of the
Hudson Valley doesn't mean a site or attraction
isn't good or worth the time and effort to go.
It does, however, indicate that the site or
attraction is probably specialized in nature
& not of broad general interest, may be
difficult to find or get to and so given a limited
amount of time..., or in a very few and thankfully
extremely rare instances, may be dirty, perceptively
unsafe or staffed by rude and unfriendly people.
HV/Net
invites you and encourages you to explore the
hundreds of sites and attractions in the Hudson
Valley not on our Must See List. We provide
you all the information we can on everything
there is, just search through your listings.
But,
armed with our Must See List and your knowledge
of the amount of time you have and what your
interests are, we think this is a start in your
enjoyment of this most marvelous and historic
of river valleys. |
|
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©1998-2003
by Hudson Valley Network, Inc., All Rights Reserved.
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