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    Franny Reese State Park

    4.4 (7 reviews)

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    Eric C.

    This park was actually really nice. The parking lot is small enough to promote lack of crowds, so people can socially distance properly. The hikes themselves were just the right amount of challenging and bless you with a nice view. The location is perfect too.

    Yes, this is the opening to the park. Be careful!
    Bill S.

    Finding the Franny Reese State Park was a challenge for us not being from the area. I put in the address on our GPS and it said arrived. Arrived? I'm at a friggin' dead end road! Once we parked and got out of the car, we saw the map of the park. Then we saw the stairs. Those exorcist like steep stairs. *Disclaimer - If you have kids in strollers or folks with physical challenges, this park is not for you. Once we walked down the steep steps, the hike was on! My wife is saying, where the hell are we? This is some Sleepy Hollow BS. Yes, there are no lights and I would hate to be out here when it gets dark or in the rain. There are leaves everywhere and can make the steep hike challenging. My wife is getting nervous climbing up the hills. Are we there yet? She keeps asking and I keep saying: winners never quit! We push through and get to the top of a scenic spot. So beautiful, the views are amazing. We rested for a few minutes. Should we continue? I said, if I roll my ankle you'll have to leave me for the wolves to feast on. I'm done thanks. We did maybe 10% of the park. If you get here early then you'll have the entire day of sunlight. I wouldn't want to be here after dark, finding my way back to those steep stairs.

    View of the Mid-Hudson Bridge from the 'scenic overlook'
    Garner S.

    Forget the rail trail! Head just a little bit South and explore this hidden gem of a hike right under the Highland side of the Mid-Hudson Bridge! Access the park from a staircase at the Mid-Hudson Bridge right at the end of Haviland Road (there's a parking lot), and enjoy the nicely-maintained steep hike up the trail. Then feel free to explore the trails up along the ridgeline, and the accompanying views of Poughkeepsie and the Hudson Valley. You can also check out (but not enter) the estate of Charles Roberts from the late 1800s (http://blogs.hudsonvalley.com/hudson-valley-history/2014/05/23/a-hike-with-history-the-franny-reese-state-park/) and enjoy a history lesson while out on the hike. This is a fairly easy hike (apart from the initial climb) and the trails are very well marked and groomed by Scenic Hudson. I like running the Mid-Hudson Bridge and then the Franny Reese 2.6mi loop, and it's a nice change from the Rail Trail. This park is seemingly under appreciated, so it's worth checking out if you want a nice, approachable, and quiet hike very close to Poughkeepsie/Highland.

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    Tour with Donovan

    Tour with Donovan

    5.0
    (13 reviews)
    8.2 mi

    I'm so glad we found Tour with Donovan after searching for tours of the wineries in the Hudson…read moreValley. Donovan is awesome. Very professional, listened to what we wanted, then took us to three wineries that were fantastic. Each winery had its own unique character and the wines were spot on, as well the spirits in the last one we went to. Donovan's van was very clean, well air conditioned, and had all the amenities needed to go from one winery to the next. He's very knowledgeable of the area, well prepared, and an all around fun and great guy. He picked us up at our hotel at Marriott Courtyard Poughkeepsie and after the tour dropped us off at the Beacon Train station it really worked out very well. We'll be gathering a group of friends and hopefully do another tour in the fall or before Christmas. For sure we will pick Tour with Donovan again! Thanks Donovan!

    My 8 friends and I took a 5 and a half hour tour with Donovan and it was beyond perfect. Donovan…read moreworked with me on planning the entire itinerary and made sure we were visiting wineries I'd never been to before that would fit the type of vibe I was looking for, since I was the birthday girl. Donovan set up each reservation so I had to do nothing but, book my trip with him and when he arrived he even had champagne and bottled water for us! At each stop Donovan made sure that we were treated like royalty. He didn't just drop us off, he got out with us and set us all up comfortably at each winery even going out of his way to get ice for our wine and helping us choose the best reviewed wines at each stop. Then Donovan even took pictures of our group at each stop and then sent them all to me to make sure I had memories of our trip. Donovan's vehicle was clean and well taken care of. All 9 of us fit comfortably with room for a few more. He was so hospitable and so much fun to hang out with on our drive to each stop. He played the music we liked and kept us laughing the entire time. I can't say enough about Donovan. I would definitely recommend him 100%.

    Photos
    Brew Tour gone right.
    Brew Tour gone right.
    Respect and Honor is what I present on every Tour.
    Respect and Honor is what I present on every Tour.
    Selfie with Donovan in the vineyard

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    Selfie with Donovan in the vineyard
    Franklin D Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum

    Franklin D Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum

    4.7
    (129 reviews)
    4.6 mi

    Interesting historical site to learn about FDR that includes the museum, house, clean visitor…read morecenter with shop and grounds. We were fortunate to come on a day they had a Revcon event, a reenactment and activities to celebrate our 250th birthday. They had a schedule for the day with oxen, butter making, historical games and information, a reenactment with musket, etc. Additionally we did a self-guided tour (45 minutes) of the house because it was the weekend; I think a guided tour would have been nice to get more tid bits. Unless you have a national park pass, there's a cost for the house and the museum. If you only want to do one, I'd personally choose the museum. The museum was very well done and interesting to walk through. It's a good size and you go through his life, presidency and Eleanor too. Stop into Hyde Park for a bite too.

    I've never been to a presidential library before, so I didn't know what to expect, and I also…read moredidn't know that much about FDR. I think the combination of these two things made for a great visit, because I felt like I learned a lot which made my experience more enjoyable. The museum is extensive, and even had a small section devoted to his little dog. There is rather sizable section for Eleanor as well, and a lovely statue of them both sitting on a park bench on the grounds. It was an excellent way to spend a rainy afternoon in the area!

    Photos
    Franklin D Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum
    Study
    Study
    Franklin D Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum

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    Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park

    Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park

    4.6
    (362 reviews)
    1.4 mi

    In the summer, I love visiting the Walkway with friends and family. My favorite part is taking in…read morethe landscape throughout the walk and walking alongside others. The park facilities are clean and they offer a trolley service during specific parts of the day (there's a lot of great on-site, signage and information about this and other services). When I visited they had a few little food trucks: I really enjoyed the frozen peach frozen from the Lemon Love truck - the perfect combination of sweet and tart flavor! There's also a lot of of history on the walkway - statues, markers, and small interactive signs create a cool opportunity to learn about the area. For parking on the Ulster County side be prepared to park in spots on the side of the road that are metered or in the general lot. The bridge takes 30 to 40 minutes to walk making it a great morning or afternoon activity!

    Disappointed by the Tram Service at Walkway Over the Hudson…read more I visited the Walkway Over the Hudson on a very hot day in August. I have a heart condition, so after arriving, I realized that it was simply too hot for me to safely walk across the walkway. At the entrance, I saw a sign indicating that a tram was available until 3:30 p.m. I was very grateful to see this service and understood it to be an option that would make the walkway accessible to people who may have difficulty walking the entire distance. When the tram arrived, I got on and explained to the volunteers that I was very thankful they offered this service. Unfortunately, about halfway across the walkway, the tram stopped and we were asked whether we wanted to get off there or continue to the end. I explained that I needed to return to the side where I had parked my car. I was very surprised when I was told that the tram would not take me back and that I would have to walk in the extreme heat. I became overheated while trying to make my way back. Given my heart condition, this was a frightening and potentially dangerous situation. I understand that there may be rules and limitations regarding the tram, but those limitations should be made very clear before passengers board. If the tram is not available to return passengers to their starting point, visitors--especially those with mobility or health concerns--should know that before getting on. Unfortunately, because of this experience, I would not recommend the Walkway Over the Hudson to anyone who may have difficulty walking long distances, particularly on a hot day. I hope the organization will reconsider how this service is communicated and operated so that others don't find themselves in the same situation

    Photos
    Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park
    Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park
    Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park

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    Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site

    Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site

    4.6
    (36 reviews)
    4.9 mi

    We enjoyed the peacefulness of the grounds and the walk to the house from the parking lot. The…read morebirds swooping over the pond in search of bugs was a nice backdrop to all the nature around us. The Rangers were friendly and our tour of the house was amazing. The Ranger was very knowledgeable of Eleanor's life and her contributions to society. She made it so interesting with personal stories, my favorite was her private talk with JFK prior to offering her endorsement. The furniture and photos really took you back in time.

    Ranger Deborah was awesome!! Such a welcoming and knowledgeable tour guide that made our tour at…read moreVal Kill, the home of Eleanor Roosevelt, amazing. It was really interesting to learn more about Eleanor, who was truly a fascinating and hard working individual. There are all sorts of personal touches around the house that made it feel very homey and welcoming. There is a memorial to the 75th anniversary of the passage of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, an effort which Eleanor led, in the gardens too. The grounds are pretty and welcoming, and the community is allowed to just stop by and play on her tennis court whenever it is open. The home itself requires tour tickets with a ranger, which you can get at the small cottage that serves as a visitor's space, featuring an exhibit, film, and maps/stamps/etc. Restrooms are in a third building on the property and were clean and well-kept.

    Photos
    Eleanor's office
    Eleanor's office
    Photos of family and many famous friends in Eleanor's living room
    Photos of family and many famous friends in Eleanor's living room
    Eleanor's living room

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    Eleanor's living room

    Franny Reese State Park - hiking - Updated August 2026

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