While youÂre waiting for suggestions from people who has actually read books regarding your quest; I thought you could browse this link

grelobe

Here is a link that might be useful: The Hudson River Bookstore

Sorry the link doesn't work as I expected.
Anyway on the left there's a section Titled:The Hudson River Bookstore
grelobe

A part of Edith Wharton's "Age of Innocence" was set in the Hudson River Valley, as I recall. (great book, by the way!)

World's End by T. Coraghessen Boyle. Takes place in the area around Peekskill which he calls Peterskill. Named for a section of the river near West Point.

Dragonwyck by Anya Seton.

Thanks--and great link, Grelobe. Lots of intriguing titles. Interesting that the fiction is all Washington Irving.

ginny darn it, we just traded in our guide books after we came back from our trip. We did go to Irvings house, but didn't go to any of the artists museums. What I did enjoy were all of the historic places that made the early revolution come a bit more into focus for me. I'd suspect that books dealing with General Washington, the French Indian War (or as they call it on the Canadian side: the 7 year war).

If you need some travel tips, give me a holler. I will tell you tho that the guide books were very optimistic about what we were going to see, and they often were wrong about opening days and times. So check sites before you go.

Well, that's scary, Cindy, as I am planning this trip for a group of us. Guess I'll be making lots of last-minute phone calls.

And here's another question, if it isn't sacriligious on a reader's forum: Are there any DVDs anyone would recommend that are set in the Hudson River Valley? With that gorgeous scenery.

Several of Gail Godwin's books are set in the Valley, near Poughkeepsie.

I went to Amazon, trying to find one book in particular, and couldn't. I did find several guide type books that as a resident of the lower Hudson Valley I would like to have.

What kind of trip, what kind of budget, how much time? And when?

The trip is next June but I like to get an early start. I went to Rome in April and read casually for six months and intensively for three months and it wasn't enough, tho it was very helpful. In fact, I am still immersed in Rome--what a thrilling experience. The reading made a huge difference, as I don't have to convince anyone here.

We're going for only three days but plan on packing a lot in. As of this moment, I have eight major sights on our list. The focus is historic gardens and houses, history, landscape and the paintings of the Hudson River School.

Good, that gives me some time...it is too beautiful a weekend to spend it going through my reading journal, or my book shelves. I also have some area travel guides...I will peruse them, and see if I can come up with list for you. Do you need ideas for places to stay as well?

ginny, we went for four days and felt that was more than enough for what we wanted to see (tho granted some things we didn't get a chance to see - yes, double check everything!) FWIW we loved the Vanderbilt and the FDR homes, and the town of New Palz has a street with homes dating from the original Huguenot families of the late 1600s.

Where are you staying? One place that we absolutely loved was Captain Shoemakers B&B in High Falls. Right in the middle between Kingston and New Palz with easy access to other sites. The place was built in the 1790s, its rather rustic (something to consider in case any in your group are used to 5 star places) but its absolutely beautiful. Our room was right next to a creek. Breakfast is marvelous and the hosts couldn't be nicer or more helpful.

I'm taking notes-DH and I have the Hudson Valley on our list of future travels as well. Of course, we'll be doing minor league ball parks in there as well as museums, houses and gardens-I plan the daytimes, he plans the evenings.

I don't know where we are staying. Will probably figure out the itinerary first and then pick the place. Where I'd really love to stay is not in the budget--Troutbeck in Amenia. Drool.

I really appreciate the tips and future advice. Personal experience is really the best. And yes, the Hudson River Valley is only a few hours from so many states and provinces that it's a great destination thru most of the year. The sight of the river and the mountains alone is worth the drive.

I was rather surprised by some of the prices of hotels. One that we wanted to stay in, at the little town of Cold Spring, was $172! That was more than the bed and breakfast we stayed at in NYC!

I grew up in Rockland county, which is the western shore of the river right above NJ.

Welcome to the area. But, be warned, if you drive, there are many narrow winding roads with sometimes heavy traffic. Concentrate, slow down and take your dramamine.

If you have time, I suggest making a quick trip to Nyack and Piermont by the Tappan Zee bridge. Charming river towns. And the most memorable meal of your visit might take place at Xavier's restaurant in Piermont. Unbelievably delicious and elegant (New American/French): Take the best meal you ever had and double it (the pleasure not the portion of food). That's Xavier's.

On the book front, I recently read The Sisters Grimm: Fairytale Detective series of books for kids. If you enjoy reading children's literature these four books (so far--more to come) are loads of fun. The story takes place in Fairyport Landing, a village on the banks of the Hudson inhabited by fairy tale characters. The influences of The Shrek movies and HP books is apparent in the tales but the author Michael Buckley adds some twists of his own. The town as it is described (minus the magical creatures) reminds me of Cornwall, a lovely place just north of West Point.

T.C. Boyle's most recent novel Talk, Talk also takes place partly in Peterskill/Peekskill. Very entertaining read. He really nails the current state of American culture.

And of course Cheever is Westchester (or Westchester a few generations back). Mix yourself an Old Fashioned, read a few of his stories and you'll be looking for a sponsor so you can join the country club.

Speaking of Westchester, don't miss Sleep Hollow or Kikuit, the Rockefeller home (on the Eastern bank by the TZ. Boscobel, just north of the Bear Mountain Bridge is also worth a trip.

If you want to get in the Hudson Valley mood with some contemporary music, The Fountains of Wayne's "Welcome Interstate Managers" captures the frenetic pace and tone of the area. And of course, Billy Joel has some good songs that mention the region. And when Frank Sinatra wanted to get a way from it all, he took a kyack to Nyack, remember?

You should have a wonderful visit. The only thing that could make it better is to be there around the third week in October when the Autumn leaves are at their peak. Ah, to be picking apples at The Orchards or Dr. Davies Farm on a glorious fall day....life at its sweetest!

Your post makes me want to go today, Amy, but it's awhile yet. We are going to Kykuit and to Boscobel--can't wait. In my own opinion, much of Westchester County is too urbanized to have kept that Hudson River Valley feeling, sad to say.

We heard on the news that the Tappen Zee was closed most of a day last week-we were stuck once when they closed it for two hours to clear a rather awful wreck-I read a whole book.

Ginny12- are you planning to visit Olana, the beautiful home of Frederick Church?

Yes, we are. We visited Olana in November of, I think, 1989 but I think we are due for another visit. It has been closed for quite awhile for refurbishing, tho it looked good when we saw it the first time. I hope they have done something with the gardens, which were unrestored at that point.

Is there a museum with paintings of the Hudson River School in the Hudson River Valley? If so, I haven't heard of one.

Check out The Albany Institue of History and Art.
They seem to have a permanent and ongoing exhibit of the Hudson Valley School of painters.

Don't know if you intended to go that far up the Hudson Valley but your best bet for finding exhibits of these painters would probably be in the capital city of Albany.

Good luck and enjoy.
Yvonne