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TRAVEL FOR THE 50+ WOMAN ... |
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Travel By-The-Book : Senior Women's Travel : Favorite Cities : Theatre Tours |
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Hudson Valley (New York)/The Berkshires (Massachusetts)Escape the falling dollar and explore America's treasures. The Hudson Valley in New York and The Berkshires in Massachusetts offer a wealth of diversions. Choose from two tours:
One-day Tour of Hudson, New YorkAvailable many Fridays and Saturdays, May through NovemberThe city of Hudson, in the Hudson Valley, is two hours north of New York City. Arrive in Hudson about 11 a/.m. by Amtrack or car from New York City. The fare on Amtrack is around $66 round trip, expensive but well worth it. The tracks run right along the Hudson with lots to see: West Point, a ruined castle, tiny lighthouses, the Catskills and many bridges. Exclusive: I supply a written script of what you will be seeing with a brief history of the under-appreciated Hudson River. You can also fly to Albany, where we will pick you up for the one-hour drive to Hudson. Think of Hudson, as a possible pre-trip before going on to New York City. Why Hudson? As a new resident of Hudson (less than a year) and a tour operator specializing in Europe’s most vibrant and exciting cities, I am intrigued and entranced with Hudson. Why does a native of New York City love this rural town? Hudson fascinates me because of its rich history and varied architecture, much of it has survived and been lovingly restored. Hudson also offers an excellent picture of a young 18th century town moving more than once from boom to bust and back again to a thriving community. I also idolize the Hudson River, and deplore its lack of respect. It’s importance in the development of New York state is little-known and under-appreciated. Hudson is also a study in contrasts…older residents who are a little distressed over changes in their town, a determined farming community dedicated to preserving their small farms, and the new people who with the earlier residents bring sophisticated vibe equal to many larger cities. Entrepreneurs, mostly from New York City, bring a cultural energy that extends to every segment of the arts…I call it Hudson Valley Lifestyle.
Tour Highlights Hudson’s Historic Warren Street and Olana: • 57 antique shops, 27 Art Galleries, Artists’ Studios…I will lead you to the best. My favorite Hudson shop has an eclectic mix of furniture, home accessories plus jewelry, scarves, and tempting miscellany. • The story of Hudson…the city has gone through many boom to bust cycles. Its history includes periods ranging from a whaling, merchant economy to an infamous period of prostitution and corruption to its present thriving stance. • A dictionary of American architecture…Fine examples of Federal, Greek Revival, Second Empire and Italianate styles. As a member of Historic Hudson, an organization devoted to preservation of Hudson architecture, I rely on their extensive research to tell Hudson’s architectural history. • Performing arts venues…At the Hudson Opera House, see the first theater in New York State, a huge theater waiting for renovation. Time & Space Limited is a factory-like space that hosts edgy movies, controversial speakers and quirky music. • Lunch at a favorite restaurant…The chef-owner, a New York City émigré, has created an informal restaurant serving delicious salads and sandwiches and more substantial entrees. • After lunch, visit Olana, just a few minutes by car, from Warren Street. Olana is the former home of Frederic Church, one of the leading painters, in the famed Hudson River School of painting. Olana is a Moorish villa with spectacular views of the Catskills and the Hudson River, a landscape that was the inspiration for the Hudson River painters. • Farmer’s Market, the best in the area. You might want to stock up on farm grown vegetables here. • Back to Warren Street, for afternoon tea, at our new tea salon and art gallery. I favor their lavender lemonade and chocolate biscotti. Leave for home or choose to stay overnight at a bed and breakfast and continue your exploration of the Hudson Valley the following day, self-guided or with us. Cost 1 to 2 people: $195. Does not include lunch and admission to Olana ($6) 2 to 4 people: $325 Larger group tours: prices on request.
Hudson Valley and The Berkshires TourJune 26 - 30 or August 7 - 11, 2008 See performance details of chosen tour below. Day 1 Hudson’s Historic Warren Street and Olana: • 57 antique shops, 27 Art Galleries, Artists’ Studios…I will lead you to the best. My favorite Hudson shop has an eclectic mix of furniture, home accessories plus jewelry, scarves, and tempting miscellany. • The story of Hudson…the city has gone through many boom to bust cycles. Its history includes periods ranging from a whaling, merchant economy to an infamous period of prostitution and corruption to its present thriving stance. • A dictionary of American architecture…Fine examples of Federal, Greek Revival, Second Empire and Italianate styles. As a member of Historic Hudson, an organization devoted to preservation of Hudson architecture, I rely on their extensive research to tell Hudson’s architectural history. • Performing arts venues…At the Hudson Opera House, see the first theater in New York State, a huge theater waiting for renovation. Time & Space Limited is a factory-like space that hosts edgy movies, controversial speakers and quirky music. • Lunch at a favorite restaurant…The chef-owner, a New York City émigré, has created an informal restaurant serving delicious salads and sandwiches and more substantial entrees. • After lunch, visit Olana, just a few minutes by car, from Warren Street. Olana is the former home of Frederic Church, one of the leading painters, in the famed Hudson River School of painting. Olana is a Moorish villa with spectacular views of the Catskills and the Hudson River, a landscape that was the inspiration for the Hudson River painters. • Farmer’s Market, the best in the area. You might want to stock up on farm grown vegetables here. • Back to Warren Street, for afternoon tea, at our new tea salon and art gallery. I favor their lavender lemonade and chocolate biscotti. Overnight: Hudson Bed & Breakfast Day 2 Bard College…a treasure just a half hour from Hudson. Frank Gehry’s magnificent Performing Arts Center, the newly reinvigorated Hessel Museum of Art that thanks to its new director has won praise from the New York Times and New York magazine. Bard hosts a wide range of concerts with its acclaimed American Symphony Orchestra and its graduate music and voice programs and lectures on a variety of fascinating topics.
Kaatsbaan International Dance Center…a 153-acre complex that is a studio and living facility for dance companies to hone their skills before performances in large cities. There are three summer free performances of their teen-age summer dance programs plus performances by leading companies in the fall. Rhinebeck…The Fairgrounds is home to antique and craft fairs and wine and food festivals. You can plan your visit to coincide with these fairs. The town has a good mix of boutiques. Overnight: Hudson Bed & Breakfast
Day 3 On to The Berkshires…We attend a morning rehearsal at Tanglewood. Then we explore Lenox and its many great shops and/or visit The Mount, Edith Wharton’s home that has been undergoing extensive renovation and its beautiful gardens. Overnight Hudson Bed & Breakfast
Day 4 Williamstown…Visit the Clark Institute of Art, an amazing museum with a renowned Impressionist collection that includes 30 Renoirs. Afternoon matinee at the Williamstown Theatre or Berkshire Theatre Festival. If time allows, a brief stop at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporay Art (Mass MOCA), a factory building that has been transformed into the home of avant-garde, often controversial contemporary art. Overnight: Hudson Bed & Breakfast Day 5 Leave for home June 26 – 30: Itinerary & Concert and/or Theater details Thursday, June 26: Hudson Friday, June 27: Friday evening at Tanglewood, Mark Morris Dance Group Mark Morris is a giant among choreographers of modern dance. The Mark Morris Dance Group, based in Brooklyn, was formed in 1980 and performs around the world. He has choreographed works for leading dance companies everywhere including the American Ballet Theatre and the Paris Opera Ballet. In addition, Morris has worked extensively in opera for both the Metropolitan Opera and the English National Opera. Saturday, June 28: Lenox Mass. -- The Mount, Chesterfield, Norman Venforth Hall Sunday, June 2: Williamstown & Williamstown Theatre Festival or Berkshire Theatre August 7 – 11: Itinerary & Concert and/or Theater details Thursday, August 7: Hudson Friday, August 8: Bard Music Festival, the World of Prokofiev Saturday, August 9: Tanglewood :10;30 AM rehearsal All Mozart program, Andre Previn conducts,,,Lenox The Mount and Venforth Hall Sunday, August 10: Williamstown, Clark Institute of Art, and Mass MOCA
Costs Not included: Bed & Breakfast for four nights. The bed and breakfast we recommend is $200 for the first night, $100 for each additional night. If they are filled similar prices at other Hudson bed and breakfasts. Remember, Hudson is a small town so it is advisable for us to make your hotel reservations as soon as possible. Also not included are lunches, alcoholic beverages, tea in Hudson. |
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