Woodstock Revisited
Tours for 4 or more.
Contact us for tour schedule.
Woodstock gets credit for hosting the famous 1969 Woodstock Festival
that was actually held in Bethel, some 60 miles away. We don’t know why
Woodstock’s name is synonymous with this rock ‘n roll concert and we don’t
care, just be glad that Woodstock’s today defines itself as an arts community.
They
have every right to do so by virtue of Byrdcliffe, the first arts and crafts
colony in the United States founded in 1902 by Ralph Radcliffe Whitehead, an
Englishman who studied under John Ruskin. Byrdcliffe flourished briefly until
roughly just before World War 1 as a commune, a haven for artists to work, and
produce furniture, pottery, metalwork, etc. Artists described as egoists balked
at Whitehead’s restrictions and rules and moved on, many of them elsewhere in
Woodstock. Today we can visit White Pines, the former home of Whitehead and see
the some 30 artists cottages that dot the landscape around White Pines.
Our Day
in Woodstock
A
selection of the following determined by interest, concert, and exhibit
schedules.
-
Byrdcliffe is a must. Byrdcliffe visit and tour of White Pines
-
Opus
40, close to Woodstock, is an intriguing sculptural destination on a 6 acre
site of an abandoned bluestone quarry. This amazing structure built by one
man, Harvey Fife over 37 years, is a maze of platforms, ramps and bridges
marked by a 15 foot monolith. The catskill, Overlook Mountain, is your
vista. (For more information on Opus 40,
click here to see an article from the New York
Times).
-
Maverick Concert Hall, opened in 1916, was built from trees on the
grounds. This National Historic Site, a rustic venue is the longest continuous
summer music festival in the United States. All chamber music concerts.
-
Visits
to art galleries and an artist’s studio whose work we love.
-
Brief
stops at Woodstock Artists Association Museum and the Center of Photography,
home of nationally-recognized photography workshops and exhibits.
-
Time
to visit the shops of Woodstock.
Cost
Tours
for 4 or more. Price depends on number in group.
Themed Tours
for Larger Groups
-
Family Farms: An overview of the vigorous farm scene in the Hudson
Valley. Farmer’s market, premium apple grower, a winery, and a jeep ride
through a small herd of Black Angus cattle. Finally, a Salute to the Pie
Ladies of the Hudson Valley, a sampling of the best.
-
Private Garden Tours: The Garden Conservancy runs summer tours of the
most incredible home gardens. Schedule available in March 2009.
-
Art Trail: Introduction to the Hudson River School of painting at the
homes of two of its most prominent painters, Frederic Church’s Olana and
Thomas Cole’s Cedar Grove. See the actual landscapes they painted.
-
Antiquing in Hudson: No one can visit the more than 60 antique stores
in one day. We’ll lead you to the best with brief talks by some of the
owners. Walking tour of historic Hudson’s Warren Street.
-
Stately Homes along the Hudson: Clermont, Staatsburgh, Wilderstein.
Garden views at Montgomery Place, glorious Hudson River vista at Bard
College.
Challenge us to create a tour just for your group to reflect your
interests.
Prime time for these tours is May through October. However, some tours are
available year round. Tours can be booked every day of the week.
Cost depends on number in group, where you are coming from, etc.
Contact
us for more information on our Themed Tours or to plan a day for your
group. |
