| "The Rhine Valley of the Americas." It's a | | | | rugged mountains, of endless bubbling brooks, gurgling |
| well-deserved but little-known nickname for the | | | | streams, and mighty waterfalls crisscrossing so much |
| Hudson Valley, a spectacular, 120-mile stretch of | | | | of the terrain that there sometimes seems to be |
| breathtaking, unspoiled scenery and carefully | | | | another one at every turn of the road or path. Huge |
| preserved history along the Hudson River between | | | | swaths of land have been locked away by the state |
| Albany and New York City's northern Westchester | | | | as "forever wild," assuring future generations the |
| County. To those who know it well, comparing the | | | | same welcome tranquility. Small family farms and |
| Hudson Valley to that romantic and storybook | | | | sprawling apple orchards dot the landscape, often |
| European river is no stretch. | | | | with roadside stands out front in season. |
| There are so many reasons that the ten New York | | | | It's no place to be a couch potato. Not with some of |
| counties bordering the mighty Hudson, among the | | | | the finest hiking to be found on the East Coast, and |
| oldest and most scenic counties in the state, draw | | | | cycling that draws bikers from hundreds of miles |
| tens of thousands of visitors annually-many of whom | | | | away, and snowshoeing, skiing, tubing, canoeing, rock |
| decide to make it their home. | | | | climbing... one region is even revered by thrill-seekers |
| For some, it is the charm of the long, rich, and | | | | as "the hang-gliding capital of the East." If it can be |
| carefully preserved history seen nearly everywhere | | | | done out of doors, there's a prime place to do it |
| from the tiniest hamlet to the valley's small cities. The | | | | here. Beautifully. |
| pivotal roles that the Northern European settlers, | | | | Rural but not rustic. Country living that's never far |
| who gave the area its distinctive character, played | | | | from a taste of high culture. Visit Hudson Valley Wine |
| here as early as the Revolutionary War can be | | | | Country and you'll find numerous winery tasting |
| discovered mostly in books, on plaques, and at | | | | rooms where you can sit down, meet the owners, |
| monuments. But what they left behind, the | | | | and sample their award-winning wines. The renowned |
| abundance of venerable and painstakingly crafted | | | | Culinary Institute of America, in the center region of |
| stone homes and businesses, the quaint | | | | the Valley, has trained many of the nation's great |
| "downtowns" still looking more suited to horse and | | | | chefs, and not a few graduates have happily stayed |
| carriage than "horseless carriages," the old millworks | | | | "close to home," bringing sophistication and creativity |
| and more-all are stately proof that this is a place | | | | to a surprising range of unpretentious local |
| where time stands still in the best sense. And the | | | | restaurants, bistros, and cafes throughout the Valley. |
| centuries-old heritage of much of these treasures is | | | | Rare and precious, this mix of solitude, refinement, |
| memorialized by the many National Historic sites and | | | | spectacular beauty, abundant culture, and easy |
| landmarks. All less than two hours, on average, north | | | | accessibility. No wonder it beckons to such a wide |
| of New York City. | | | | variety-weekend get-away travelers, tourists from |
| The Hudson Valley is also home to some of the | | | | every part of the world, and of course those who |
| most beautiful countryside and wilderness in all of | | | | work in New York City seeking to relocate to a new |
| New York State. This is an area of serene and | | | | home in the peace and quiet of The Valley. |