The Poughkeepsie area, located in the heart of the Hudson Valley 90 minutes from New York City, offers many exciting things to do year-round. Pack a picnic lunch and experience the beauty of the region at one of its many parks and historic sites. Cruise up the Hudson River and explore the mansions along the shores… many historically owned by the Vanderbilts, Roosevelts and Livingstons. The majestic Hudson River surrounded by mountains and rolling hills offers visitors breathtaking views. For shoppers, our neighborhood is filled with specialty shops offering unique gifts, clothing and antiques created in the Hudson Valley by local artisans. It also is home to many beautiful wineries offering award-winning wines. Its first-rate restaurants offer unique dining featuring many of the Valley's local bounty. For the adventurous, get ready to hike, camp or sail. Many parks and lakes offer fishing, cross-country skiing, golfing, boating and more. After the sun sets, enjoy the nightlife, theater, comedy, dancing and concert events.

• Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site – The Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site contains "Springwood", the lifelong home of America's only 4-term President. Also on the site is the Presidential Library and Museum, operated by the National Archives. Visitors may enjoy a guided tour of FDR's home, take a self-guided tour of the Museum, stroll the beautiful grounds, view the Rose Garden, where President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Eleanor Roosevelt are buried, or hike miles of trails on this 300-acre site. Visit the bookstore operated by the not-for-profit Roosevelt-Vanderbilt Historic Association in the Carriage House.

• Poughkeepsie Post Office – A National Historic Landmark, with five distinctive murals depicting historic occasions in local, state and national history, including the Ratification of the United States Constitution by New York, the Poughkeepsie Post Office is a Federal WPA design building.

• Springside National Historic Site – Springside is recognized as the last surviving example of America's first native-born landscape architect, Andrew Jackson Downing. Stroll 20 acres of old carriage roads and first site in the City of Poughkeepsie given federal recognition for its historic importance. 845/471-0183.

• Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site – The Vanderbilt Estate in Hyde Park, New York is perhaps the best, most intact example of the types of estates constructed by wealthy industrialists in the 19th century. The fully furnished, 54-room mansion is placed in a wondrous landscape with breathtaking views of the Hudson River and distant Catskill Mountains. If offers a glimpse into a past world known by only an elite few. Take a guided tour of the Vanderbilt Mansion (access to Mansion is by guided tour only), browse the exhibits in the Visitor Center, or explore the exquisite gardens and grounds.

• Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum – One of ten presidential libraries administered by the National Archives and Records Administration, the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum contains extensive displays on the lives and careers of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt and exciting interactive exhibits. The FDR Library is located in nearby Hyde Park and is open April – October, 9am-6pm; November - March, 9am-5pm. The Research library is open Mon.-Fri., 8:45am-5pm. 800/FDR-VISIT; FDRLibrary.marist.edu.

• Samuel F.B. Morse Home – Locust Grove, the home of Samuel F.B. Morse, is a National Historic Landmark, with an extensive furniture collection, china, and decorative arts. Morse, artist and inventor of the telegraph and Morse code, lived at Locust Grove for 25 years, until his death in 1872. Overlooking the Hudson River, the 150-acre estate of Samuel F.B. Morse includes an Italianate villa designed by Alexander Jackson Davis containing extensive collections of American and European decorative and fine arts. Three miles of carriage roads wind through landscaped grounds, romantic gardens and shady groves. Ninety-minute tours begin with an orientation video at the Visitor Center, followed by a short walk to the house which is situated on acres of spreading lawns, magnificent trees, and elegant gardens overlooking Hudson River. Expert guides conduct visitors throughout the three floors of the house which are furnished with collections of American and European furniture and paintings exhibited in period-room settings. The Morse Gallery features exhibits which include telegraph equipment and paintings by Samuel Morse. The Museum Shop, opulent gardens and lush grounds are also available for visitors. www.morsehistoricsite.org.

• Dutchess County Fairgrounds –Sponsored by the Dutchess County Agricultural Society of Rhinebeck, New York, Dutchess County Fairgrounds is host to the second largest agricultural fair in New York State and a variety of events from April to November. The Fairgrounds is situated on 140 acres, just four blocks north of the center of Rhinebeck, and is beautifully landscaped with permanent exhibit halls, horticulture and antiques buildings, pole barns, a sit-down restaurant and several other facilities that are used to full capacity during the annual Dutchess County Fair. The Fair opens August 19, 2008 and runs until August 24th 2008. The nationally renowned juried Crafts At Rhinebeck is held the last weekend in June and its counterpart, Craft At Rhinebeck Fall Festival and NYS Wine Tasting, is slated for the first weekend in October. The calendar year of events also includes Antiques Shows, a Sheep and Wool Festival, an Antique Car Show, the Iroquois Indian Festival and the Northern Dutchess Hospital Mother’s Club events. The Fairgrounds have survived for over 150 years as an institution serving the local and regional community with a one-of-a-kind, old fashioned family experience.

• Casperkill Country Club – The Casperkill Country Club in Poughkeepsie is the most complete public country club and family recreation center in the Hudson Valley. Relax with your friends and family at 3 outdoor pools, work out at the Health & Fitness Center, play tennis, racquetball, basketball, or bowl. Enjoy 2 gymnasiums, 5 ball fields, a billiards room, a bocce ball court, a children's playground area, a 2.5 mile jogging/walking trail, a snack bar and an outdoor patio. The Club also features the18-hole Robert Trent Jones Sr. championship course and a 21 bay driving range. For business and social functions, Casperkill can accommodate your guests in 22,000 square feet of meeting and banquet space. Gym rentals and day passes are available. Contact: 845/433-2200 or www.casperkill.com.

• Dutchess Wine Trail – Follow the Dutchess Wine Trail through the vineyards, orchards and farms that provide the bounty of the Hudson Valley. Along the way, you can sample wines that have gained international recognition while you tour the wine cellars and chat with the owners and winemakers. The Dutchess Wine Trail takes you to Alison Wines & Vineyards, Clinton Vineyards and Millbrook Vineyards, all within a half hour of each other between the Taconic State Parkway and New York Route 22 to the east. En route, you'll pass by thoroughbred horse farms, dairies, orchards, woodlands, lakes and trout streams that will transport you to a simpler time. Enjoy the Gardens of Wethersfield and Innisfree, as well as the mansions along the Hudson River. Visit the wineries, sample the wines, each a taste of seasons past, savor the many fine restaurants, shop for antiques, and enjoy the country life and rural splendor. At the wineries, you will be sampling a medley of European wine varieties vinified as sparkling wines, dry to semi-dry table wines and late harvest dessert wines that have won their share of Gold Medals in both National and International Competitions as well as the praise of wine critics across the country. www.dutchesswinetrail.com.
  
  Clinton Vineyards is celebrating their 30th Vintage with a big party on June 14th. All is invited. Tickets: $35.00 per person. Please call Clinton Vineyards for details, (845) 266-5372.

• Millbrook Vineyards & Winery – The Millbrook Vineyards & Winery in Millbrook, NY has been rated one of the top New York State wineries for the last seven years by wine critics and consumers. Specializing in classic French varietals like Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc and Pinot Noir, you'll taste 15 world-class wines that are only a short drive away. Learn about the winemaking process on their fully guided tour, then taste what wine enthusiasts have been raving about. After your tasting, take a stroll on 130 acres, with three beautiful ponds and scenic mountain views. Open year-round, seven days a week. Hours: 12-7 p.m., Memorial Day through Labor Day, and 12-5 p.m. the rest of the year.

• Cascade Mountain Winery & Restaurant – A farm winery with tours and tastings, award-winning wines and a critically acclaimed restaurant. Cascade Mountain was founded in the spring of 1972 by the Wetmore family who pioneered the production of premium table wines on the eastern side of the Hudson River. Cascade Mountain features a full line of delightful table wines and a highly rated restaurant. Customers come from all over the world to enjoy a few pleasant hours on top of the Berkshire foothills accompanied by some of the best food and wine to be found in the Hudson River Valley. The Winery and Vineyard are available for weddings and special events. Restaurant and winery hours are seasonal. Call 845/373-9021 for a current schedule; www.CascadeMt.com.

• Unites States Military Academy at West Point – Experience the impressive sight of West Point and breathtaking views of the Hudson River Valley. Founded in 1778 on the western banks of the Hudson River, the United States Military Academy at West Point is the most preeminent military academy in the country and one of the most famous tourist attractions in the world. With much to offer in history and culture, it’s the nation's oldest service academy and the site of the nation's oldest military post in continuous operation. More than 3 million visitors annually have seen pistols that belonged to George Washington and Gen. George S. Patton Jr. at the West Point Museum; regimental battle flags going back to the Civil War; the largest working church organ in the world at the Cadet Chapel; and Trophy Point, where tourists can see, touch and sit on one of the many links from the Great Chain, the 500-yard chain that stretched across the Hudson at West Point during the Revolutionary War and served as a barrier to enemy ships. West Point is also known as the education force behind some of American's greatest leaders, such as President Dwight Eisenhower and Douglas MacArthur. Beyond the rich history, visitors can see an array of collegiate sports at Michie Stadium, concerts and performances at Eisenhower Hall Theatre, and free concerts by the USMA Band. West Point is on the western banks of the Hudson River, 45 miles from Poughkeepsie. The West Point Museum holds a diversified collection of 16th through 20th century arms, uniforms, flags, military art, West Point memorabilia, and trophies of wars since the Revolution. More than 2,000 artifacts document military activities from ancient Egypt through Desert Storm. The Museum is open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Campus Tours, through the Visitor's Center, run daily with a cost of $5 for adults and $2.50 for children under 12. Contact the Visitor's Center at 914-938-2638 or visit www.usma.edu.

• Mid-Hudson Civic Center McCann Ice Arena – Located on the banks of the beautiful Hudson River in Poughkeepsie, the Mid-Hudson Civic Center McCann Ice Arena is a multi-purpose recreation, entertainment, convention center with programs ranging from concerts to trade shows. It has been the site of performances by international and world famous artists of all varieties, as well as a community meeting place and recreational ice skating facility. The Center is a unique facility composed of Mair Hall and the McCann Ice Arena. Both facilities are available for rental by promoters, organization, businesses and individuals. Mair Hall is a 3,000 capacity venue for concerts, trade shows, banquets, and assemblies. The McCann Ice Arena is a NHL-size rink, with programming that includes public skating, private rental, leagues, and is home to the McCann Academy of Skating. Contact: 845/454-5800 or www.MidHudsonCivicCenter.com.

• The Spaceship Discovery Science and Technology Center – The futuristic Spaceship Discovery Science and Technology Center is a hands-on and virtual educational center, where children and adults enjoy interactive robots, a science station, competitions, and a virtual museum. During your visit you will see robots, a space port, a time machine, a high definition Starship Theater, their mission control with simulated Mars Rover and much more. You will also experience numerous interactive and hands-on displays and interesting audience participation demonstrations. Contact: 845/229-6263; SpaceshipDiscovery.com.

• Hudson River Sloop Clearwater – The Hudson River Sloop Clearwater is an organization of people who have given of themselves as members, as supporters and as volunteers - to bringing about a cleaner, safer world for future generations and us. Clearwater conducts environmental education, advocacy programs and celebrations. The nucleus of the activities is to protect the Hudson River, its tributaries and related water bodies, and to create public awareness of the estuary’s complex relationship with the coastal zone. A magnificent natural design blending the freshwater streams of the Adirondacks with the salt tides of the Atlantic, the Hudson is a prime example of an estuary’s ecosystem that, as a type, ranks second only to rain forests in biological productivity. www.clearwater.org.

• Overlook Golf & Recreation Center – Located in Poughkeepsie, Overlook Golf & Recreation features an 18-hole miniature golf course, a golf driving range, 10 lighted baseball/softball batting cages, a go-cart track, and bumper boats. Hours: Mid-Mar.- Nov., 9am-9pm. Contact: 845/471-8515.

• McCann Memorial Golf Course – Located in Poughkeepsie, McCann Memorial Golf Course features an 18-hole championship course, a driving range, putting greens, a pro shop, lessons, a snack bar, and a restaurant. Hours/Rates: March - Nov., Tues. - Sun., 7am, Monday, noon. Weekdays: $20-32, Weekends: $23-37. Cart rental: $14 for 9 holes, $25 for 18 holes. Contact: 845/454-1968.

• Vassar College – Founded in 1861, Vassar College is a highly selective, residential, coeducational liberal arts college. Consistently ranked among the top liberal arts colleges in the country, Vassar is renowned for pioneering achievements in education, for its long history of curricular innovation, and for the beauty of its campus. Located in the scenic Hudson Valley, 70 miles north of New York City, Vassar is in a residential area three miles from downtown Poughkeepsie. With only 2,400 students, the 222 faculty members teach all classes, virtually all holding the doctorate or its equivalent. Students may concentrate in a single discipline, an interdepartmental or multidisciplinary program, or they may design an independent major. Maintained as an arboretum, the Vassar campus has more than 200 varieties of trees on 1,000 acres. The campus hub, Main Building, connects to the College Center, with a snack bar, café, art gallery, bookstore, post office, and computer store. The central campus includes classroom buildings, residence halls, the library, three science buildings, two observatories, the computer center, the Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center, the studio art facility, the music building, and three theaters. The college offers more than 100 student-run organizations and clubs, publications, and a broad spectrum of ethnic, religious, and political groups. Students and faculty enjoy campus-wide events, guest lecturers, visiting artists, performers, workshops, athletic events, and concerts. Vassar offers an extensive athletics program with 23 varsity teams (N.C.A.A. Division III), club sports and intramural leagues. Visit www.vassar.edu.

• Marist College – Marist College, recognized for excellence by U.S. News & World Report, TIME Magazine and the Princeton Review, and by Barron's Best Buys in College Education, is noted for its leadership in the use of technology to enhance the teaching and learning process. Founded in 1929, Marist's 150-acre campus in Poughkeepsie overlooks the Hudson River in the heart of the historic Hudson Valley, midway between New York City and Albany. What started as a school for the training of future Marist Brothers has developed into one of the leading colleges of the arts and sciences in the Northeast. Marist is ecumenical in character and reflects the ideals of the founder of the Marist Brothers, St. Marcellin Champagnat: commitment to excellence in education, a pursuit of higher human values, and dedication to the principle of service. Marist is dedicated to the development of the whole person in a way that will prepare graduates for an enlightened, sensitive, and productive life in the global community of the 21st century. Visit www.marist.edu.

• Hudson River Fishing – Look for tackle busting, trophy class fish, or just experience the tranquility of a secluded trout stream. Throughout Dutchess County, there are numerous spots for catching trout, bass, pickerel and perch, as well as places for dip-netting smelt, alewives and blueback herring. The Hudson River's emerging striped bass fishery is quickly becoming the destination point for anglers from around the globe. For trout fisherman, our many stocked streams and lakes have miles of public access available, much of which is ideal for fly-fishing. The beautiful Hudson is an ideal setting for numerous species, including largemouth and smallmouth bass, striped bass, brown bullhead, carp, white catfish and American shad.

• Hunting – For sporting clays, trap and skeet shooters, Dutchess County is a top Northeast destination with four shooting clubs and preserves open to the public. Dutchess is one of the top two counties in the Southern Region of New York State for deer hunting. Special archery season for deer spans about six weeks, five weeks before the regular gun-hunting season and one week after. In designated hunting areas you can also find pheasant, grouse, woodcock, squirrel, cottontail rabbit, raccoon and waterfowl.

• Arlington Art Gallery – Arlington Art Gallery specializes contemporary landscapes inspired by the Hudson River Valley and the surrounding area, as well as the Catskill Mountains, Adirondack Mountains, and White Mountains of New Hampshire. Works also include still life subjects and photography of the Hudson Valley area. Shows are scheduled monthly. The gallery represents the finest artists in the Hudson Valley Region. Located 2 blocks north of Vassar College. Hours: Tues.– Sat. 11am-7pm, Sun 12-3pm, Open late Thursday night until 9pm. (845) 473 – ARTS www.arlingtonartgallery.com



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