TOURING BY CAR, BIKE OR FOOT

Almost 400 years after Henry Hudson first made his way into the valley that bears his name and the area now known as Dutchess County, much still waits to be discovered by modern-day explorers traveling by car, bike or on foot. Whether visitors are seeking autumn’s brilliant foliage or opportunities to travel back in time to turning points in American history, Dutchess County offers countless riches that have for centuries inspired artists and writers.

Nearly all of the area’s 800 square miles have been mapped and outlined in user-friendly, self-guided tour brochures that offer something for everyone. The guides, available from the Dutchess County Tourism Promotion Agency, clearly indicate all routes and offer corresponding mileage references. Directional signs are posted along roads and trails at key locations.

Starting with options for sightseeing by car, Drive Tour #1 covers Rhinebeck, Red Hook and Milan, some of the earliest settled communities in the county. The drive passes through a countryside of meadows, wooded hills, lovely mountain vistas and numerous historic sites. The Rhinebeck area provides views of rambling stone walls, locust-lined avenues, forest preserves, decorative gatehouses and orchards. Red Hook is home to prestigious Bard College (www.bard.edu), an intellectual and artistic center with a stunning Hudson River campus that includes two magnificent former estates. Milan offers rural landscapes and views of many historic monuments, including a white-framed, neo-Colonial Revival town hall.

Hyde Park, Clinton and Pleasant Valley make up Drive Tour #2. Motorists driving through Hyde Park will want to tantalize their taste buds at The Culinary Institute of America’s (www.ciachef.edu) five award-wining restaurants. The Franklin D. Roosevelt (www.nps.gov/hofr) and Eleanor Roosevelt (www.nps.gov/elro) national historic sites are other must-see landmarks. The FDR site includes the former president’s family estate, his library and archives as well as the rose garden gravesite where he and Eleanor are buried. The Eleanor Roosevelt home at Val-Kill is a former weekend retreat on 180 wooded acres. The 40-mile tour also features the narrow-laned hamlet of Staatsburg; the Quaker-settled town of Clinton, named for George Clinton, New York state’s first governor; mill sites along Little Wappinger Creek; and the village of Pleasant Valley, known for fishing and dairy farming.

Drive Tour #3, in the Poughkeepsie and LaGrange area, illustrates Dutchess County’s scenic diversity. It features rural churches and cemeteries, noted colleges and little red schoolhouses and miles of historic farmlands. Visitors will enjoy passing picturesque streams, pastures, orchards and golf courses, and also crossing the Mid-Hudson Bridge, one of the most beautiful suspension bridges in the Northeast. Poughkeepsie is home to Vassar (www.vassar.edu) and Marist Colleges (www.marist.edu) as well as Locust Grove, the Samuel Morse Historic Site.

The 50-mile Drive Tour #4 of Wappinger, Fishkill, East Fishkill and Beacon winds through the major communities of southern Dutchess County. Wappinger, which takes its name from the Wappinger Indians, has the only village green in the county and numerous historic private residences and public structures. In Fishkill there is the Madam Brett Homestead, a unique Dutch farmhouse built around 1709. The oldest house in the county, it reflects family fortunes through seven generations. The Fishkill Village Historic District contains residential and commercial architecture of the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. Scenic vistas of Newburgh Bay are visible from Spy Hill in Beacon, a Revolutionary War lookout point.

Driving tour #5 includes Union Vale, Beekman, Pawling and Dover in the county’s southeastern corner. This region is characterized by pastoral farm lands and small towns that arose from 18th century iron mines and 19th century railroad expansion. Miles of white fencing enclose champion thoroughbreds at Sugar Maple Farms in Union Vale, while Beekman is noted for charming old farmhouses and numerous small lakes. The early 18th century Beekmanville Hamlet Hotel, once a popular stage stop, has become an arts center. In Pawling, a brick entrance marks the Peale Center for Christian Living (www.guideposts.org), founded by world-renowned spiritual leader Dr. Norman Vincent Peale.

The longest in the series at 85 miles, Drive Tour #6 treats travelers to some of the most spectacular views in the United States. Pine Plains, Northeast, Amenia, Washington and Stanford are comprised of rolling country hills dotted with farms, picturesque hamlets and their inviting shops and restaurants. Along the route it’s not uncommon to see rare livestock breeds, such as Dutch Belted Galloway cattle, grazing near the road. The breathtaking landscapes include the crest of a long hill between Silver Mountain and Charlie Hill Roads, known to have been a favorite spot of FDR. The tour also features the Millbrook School, a backdrop in several major films, and the Institute for Ecosystems Studies’ Mary Flagler Cary Arboretum (www.ecostudies.org) with its nature trails, gardens and exhibits.

While motorists can meander for miles along Dutchess County’s back roads and main thoroughfares, sections of the historic and scenic driving tours also are excellent routes for cycling. Published guides from the Dutchess County Tourism Promotion Agency provide detailed maps, describe sightseeing highlights and offer difficulty ratings as well as shorter alternative routes.

Bike tour #1 winds through the heart of a Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area, beginning in historic Hyde Park. Highlights of the 60-mile trek include the Franklin D. Roosevelt and Eleanor Roosevelt national historic sites, Wilderstein (www.wilderstein.org), Montgomery Place (www.hudsonvalley.org) and the grand Gilded Age mansions of Frederick and Louise Vanderbilt (www.vanderbilt.org) and Ogden and Ruth Livingston Mills. The route leads through the charming village of Rhinebeck, where the Beekman Arms (www.beekmanarm.com), regarded as America’s oldest continually operating inn, is located, as are more than 200 historic houses. On weekends in season, the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome (www.oldrhinebeck.org), a living history museum, offers a chance to stop for an antique air show.

Pleasant Valley, Clinton Corners and Schultzville are points along bike tour #2. This 27-mile route showcases central Dutchess County’s rural landscapes. Cyclists can take a break from the outstanding scenery at Clinton Vineyards (www.clintonvineyards.com), which provides tours, tastings of award-winning wines and picnic areas. Any one of the general stores or farm markets along the way can supply provisions.

Bike tour #3 encompasses Pleasant Valley, Millbrook, Verbank and Clinton Corners. The 39-mile route passes through rolling hills and fields and along the fenced borders of impeccably manicured horse farms. A worthwhile detour is the Mary Flagler Cary Arboretum, the botanical garden and research center. Another nature site close to the route is Innisfree Garden, which contains unique “tea cup” gardens designed in a Chinese style dating back 1,000 years. Millbrook boasts excellent antique shopping, a farmer’s market and frequent special events.

The farm landscapes and rolling meadows continue on the 25 miles of the Harlem Valley area explored by Bike Tour #4. It begins at the Dover Plains train station, convenient for visitors from New York City, who can bring their bikes on the Harlem Valley rail line. Highlights include the historic village of Pawling, filled with quaint stores and restaurants, and the Webatuck Craft Village. Webatuck is a working craft village with buildings dating to the 18th century. Cyclists also will enjoy tranquil views of the Ten Mile River, a real hot spot for trout fishing.

Bike Tour #5 is dedicated to a different section of the Harlem Valley. Beginning also at the Dover Plains train station, this route is 30 miles long and passes through Millerton, Wassaic and Amenia as well as the historic hamlets of Leedsville, Amenia Union and South Amenia. A highlight of the tour is a four-mile traffic-free stretch on the Harlem Valley Rail Trail (www.hvrt.org). The Town of Millerton makes for a great rest stop, filled with country stores, antique shops and crafts stores such as Gilmor Glassworks. Overall the route is notable for its views of historic barns and up close experiences with nature. Cyclists should be prepared to stop for sheep, cow and wild turkey crossings.

Bikers and hikers are becoming increasingly aware of the Harlem Valley Rail Trail. In the fall of 1995, work began to convert an abandoned railroad bed into a 30-mile paved trail with designated parking areas and a central information center. Modeled on successful rail trails in communities throughout the Northeast, it will eventually connect Wassaic in Dutchess County with Chatham in Columbia County and numerous public recreation areas along the route.

Cyclists who really want to log some serious miles can follow a bike route that links New York City with Montreal and passes through the heart of Dutchess County. Called Bike Route 9, it intersects with another long-distance route that runs east-west, beginning at New York’s border with Massachusetts and concluding in Buffalo. The two trails present opportunities for people to bike across the entire state, making side trips when the mood strikes. Dutchess County officials and cycling enthusiasts helped map Bike Route 9 with New York State Department of Transportation officials. The effort is part of an innovative bicycle-pedestrian system for the 21st century.

Among the hundreds of miles of additional hiking trails available to Dutchess County visitors, a number have become favorites. The 2.5-mile Stanford Trail in Pine Plains leads to the 1,400-foot peak of Stissing Mountain. At the top, climbing a 90-foot tower yields fantastic panoramic views. The Hyde Park Trail links the Mills-Norrie State Park, home to the 65-room Mills Mansion, with the Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site. The 12-mile trail along the shores of the Hudson River is a scenic, leisurely walk. In southern Dutchess County about 30 miles of the Appalachian Trail can be accessed. It provides a great opportunity to travel along part of the 2,000-mile walking path, which extends from Georgia to Maine and is the longest such trail in the world. On weekends, the Metro-North Harlem Line makes a special stop at a junction between the Pawling and Wingdale stations where passengers can get off and pick up the trail.

No matter what the route, visitors can take a break from sightseeing and feast on Dutchess County’s homegrown produce at one of the many pick-your-own farms or farm markets, or enjoy a free taste of world-class wines at one of three award-winning wineries. A host of other diversions and activities includes square dances, art festivals, bazaars, auctions and chamber music recitals at leading colleges.

Visitors who plan a Dutchess County get-away can make reservations to please a wide range of tastes and moods, from an elegant bed-and-breakfast or quaint inn with country French or English decor, to accommodations at one of the many motels, suite hotels or major hotel chains. Those who prefer an outdoor experience can camp at several public and private parks and campgrounds.