I have to admit, this little piece of history reminds me of the colonial era spots in Virginia…read more They offer tours (I had just missed one when I got there) but there are info plaques at the houses, and there is a map you can use to pretty much do your own tour.... the pictures I got were totally awesome. I think the grave yard was one of my favorite spots... all of that history, and the artwork that goes into the memory of those that are gone. The churches and houses all were so pretty and well kept. The whole town itself is absolutely cute, and there are plenty of places to eat after you explore.

I loved the tour and all of the details of the homes and residents. Fascinating piece of American…read morehistory.

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.

There's something about the Mid-Hudson Bridge that stands out, and it's the structure, design, and…read morealso the LED lights at night. It's well supported and every time we've driven across it, we've never had any issues. The bridge only contains three lanes, and the middle lane is only served during rush hour in the morning (east) and in the late afternoon until the evening (west). During this time, a lot of traffic will occur especially when merging together from each side. Dealing with this procedure on a regular basis will eventually build in, and get the hang of it. The Ez-Pass is fully electronic now which will move things quicker when approaching eastbound. To end, there is a walkway on the side that's part of the Walkway Loop Trail. A great bridge with a lot of history and useful details.

Everybody has their version of a "happy place." For me, that "happy place" has always been the…read moreHudson Valley. When I was a kid, my parents took regular trips up to the FDR homestead in Hyde Park (my late mother was a staunch Republican, but she was a big admirer of Eleanor Roosevelt), the Vanderbilt Mansion (as a kid, I used to think I'd like to live in just such a grand palace someday, with its breathtaking views of the Hudson River below and the mountainous landscapes beyond...well, maybe in another life!), West Point, and an antiques fair every October in Salisbury, CT. Even as a restless kid with a short attention span, I loved our car rides up there and thought of the region as the epitome of nature's majestic grandeur and calming, historic beauty-- as far as I'm concerned, if God does exist, he exists in the Hudson Valley (although the residents of the City of Poughkeepsie or the City of Newburgh might tend to disagree with me). When I was in grade school, we were close enough geographically to the area to enable our class to take field trips upstate, and we always came across this bridge. I never paid much attention to how we got to the bridge, but I remember vividly the slanting, sloping ride down from the tolls to the bridge itself. Years later, exploring the area as an adult, unsure of where I was going, I stumbled onto the Rt 9W entrance to the bridge, and was delighted at the old memories it immediately brought to mind. Taking that ride down from the tolls to the actual bridge as an adult brought back memories in the same way that listening to "The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia" on the radio does. Talk about time machines! Its 1930 opening was attended by then-Governor, soon-to-be President Franklin Roosevelt (probably my favorite President, with apologies to Abe Lincoln, although I have to say I've just finished a biography on Ulysses Grant by Ron Chernow...which I highly recommend...that upped my admiration for that particular White House occupant appreciably...but again I digress...), and Eleanor, who cut the ribbon on the west side of the bridge (the wife of former Governor Al Smith...who lost his bid for the Presidency because of his Catholicism...cut the ribbon on the east side). It's probably wise to keep your attention focused on the road once you're on the bridge itself, but I've always been unable to keep from sneaking glances over at the glittering Hudson below, the train tracks snaking along beside it, the trees and foliage beyond (I used to take photographs at the Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery on the east bank of the river, but you really can't see it from the bridge, even though you can clearly see the bridge from the cemetery). Reviewer Ruth H. of Milton mentions that caution is necessary if you take the exit off the bridge for Rt. 9 South, and I couldn't agree more. It's the only unpleasant aspect of the passage from Ulster to Dutchess County. If you take the exit at a time of day (or night) when traffic is relatively light (or your car has great acceleration), it's not especially dangerous. At other times, though...it's dangerous. Stress inducing, at the very least. Vehicles speeding south from the north will come bearing down on you with potentially disastrous results. She suggests continuing on to Market St., making a right, and following that route to a safer Rt. 9 exit. I've never gone that way, but I will the next time I find myself making a journey in the area. You can also go straight when you pass over the bridge, drive through the depressing urban blight of the City of Poughkeepsie (my apologies to the residents there, but that's how it struck me), and eventually enter the pastoral allure and spiritually restorative tranquility of Dutchess County's countryside-- i.e., my "Happy Place." Not just a bridge, for me...but memories. Good ones.

Bulls Bridge is a historic covered bridge in Kent, CT. It goes over the Housatonic River and was…read morebuilt in 1842. It is still open for vehicles to drive over it. There is only one other covered bridge in the state that still allows vehicles to drive over it. There is a small parking lot nearby. You can walk on the bridge but it is very tight and there are no sidewalks, just becareful for oncoming traffic. The bridge is beautiful and the view of the river is great; there are small openings inside the bridge to view. There are trails nearby and you can even see the dam spillway. I'm a fan of history and covered bridges, so this was definitely worth a visit and a bucket list item for me. I reduced a star because it can be potentially hazardous for pedestrians. It's only one lane so vehicles from both directions would have to stop at the stop sign and let one another pass. Overall, a beautiful and well made structure!

There are not a lot of surviving covered bridges in the northeast (only three in Connecticut!) so…read moreit was pretty awesome to be able to visit this one that carries Bull's Bridge Road over the Housatonic River in Connecticut, very close to the New York border. The bridge was completed in 1842 with a Town lattice design. The bridge is a single lane and remains open to vehicular traffic. I opted to park the Sprinter van in a nearby parking area that acts as a trailhead. The bridge can be walked as a pedestrian but is not designed for such, so be on the lookout for cars and be sure to make your presence known. There was originally a 6 cent toll here but that is obviously long gone. The other two bridges are the West Cornwall Covered Bridge and the Comstock's Bridge. [Round number review 1700 of 2024 - 103 in Connecticut - 22723 overall]

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!

My boyfriend and I were in Kaaterskill Falls for our annual hike at the Rail Trail, when we…read morediscovered Saugerties Lighthouse. I don't even know how to be honest. But we like to drive around getting lost a lot, which is how we discover most places. The entrance is a little hidden, small parking lot. The trail is full of greenery. There is a mixture of bridges and dirt paths. Also we noticed little figurines hidden along the way. They are very cute! The views on the way to the lighthouse were as stunning as of the lighthouse alone. At some point you have to walk over the water - so it is wise to look at the tide schedule so you don't get wet or trapped. The lighthouse is dipped in history that you can read on their website (saugertieslighthouse.com). It is truly an incredible little place. I read there are tour and you can even stay there overnight! We definitely want to do either one or both in the near future. It was definitely an amazing find, which we will incorporate into our annual visits. Breathtaking location. The volunteers are doing a great job maintaining it. Definitely made for a memorable visit.

This place is really cool! There aren't any other lighthouses that I know of in the immediate area…read moreof the Hudson Valley that is accessible on foot (without a boat). During the week the lighthouse deck is open so you can walk to the back deck to enjoy this place up close but on the weekends the deck is closed to guests that might be staying the night. You can actually lodge at the lighthouse which is even cooler than just visiting the outside. The walk to the base of the lighthouse is an easy walk but don't arrive too late because the tide could be really high making the walk likely very muddy or very wet to pass. Parking area is super small so arrive early to ensure parking or you'll have to wait in your car for a spot to open up. I wouldn't advise parking on the grass of the adjacent coast guard property since there are signs that say come back if there is no parking likely implying "If you park here you will be towed" but signs don't explicitly say that so beware if you park outside lot.

While part of the F. D. R. National Historical site in Hyde Park, a visit to Top Cottage requires…read morethe purchase of an additional ticket, a parks service provided bus ride (included in the Top Cottage ticket price) and about 90 minutes total commitment to see it. (About an hour at the cottage and the remainder bus time) For some or all of those reasons, many folks do not have Top Cottage on their list of things to do when visiting the FDR site. That is a shame because for four of us visiting the FDR site earlier this month, Top Cottage was one of the highlights. Not only of the F.D.R. site but of the three days we spent in the Hudson River Valley. Highly recommended! Built during his second term of office, Top Cottage is where Roosevelt would "escape the mob" (although you'll learn that neither he nor anyone else over nighted here during his time as President) to recharge his spirit. FDR also entertained visiting dignitaries here - like the King and Queen of England for the famous "hot dog picnic". Sadly, after FDR's death one of his sons and his wife moved into Top Cottage and it was eventually sold to settle the son's divorce, then sold again and only came into the possession of the Park' service in the late 1990's (?). It opened to the public in 2001. At Top Cottage you'll be able to browse around the inside on your own and if it is a nice day you'll have the great pleasure of sitting out on the same back porch as did FDR, Winston Churchill and others and listen to the wind and watch the same hills in the distance. It's easy to understand why Roosevelt felt his spirit revived by time spent there. And if you are very fortunate you will have Bob to drive the Top Cottage bus (such a nice guy) and remarkable "Ranger Charlotte" leading the tour. (That's her providing a wonderful tutorial on the Top Cottage porch in one of our photos.) You can find more information about Top Cottage at the National Parks service web page listed here. http://www.nps.gov/hofr/planyourvisit/top-cottage.htm If you're in Hyde Park, treat yourself and visit it. (Open daily from May through October.) Only a few tours (maybe four?) are offered daily and only a limited number of people (maybe 16?) are permitted on each tour. So just as Roosevelt used Top Cottage to "escape the mob", that's also true for those who tour it now. A tip: After riding the bus up, you'll have an option to ride the bus back to Wallace Center the FDR site or walk down a forest path to Valkill when weather permits.

Excellent spot. 1)…read moreThis is FDR's retreat during his presidency. 2) Also known for the famous visitors such as Churchill. 3) The tour is nice, and you can sit and touch most of the stuff inside. 4) I would not say to put this on top of your to do list, it is something is you saw the other 4 spots and just want to get this out the bucket list.

Visiting Kingston for the weekend and it's so lovely in the Fall! Highly recommend buying tickets…read morefor the Hudson River Cruises and sailing along the Hudson, so pretty!

Folk House collective is a great example of interesting works a collection of artworks that have a…read moreunique style!