The ride up to NY was pretty uneventful except for the rough, heavily traveled roads that bounced us all over the place. Don't know how dad managed to keep the truck on the road and SA attached to us. M & D got all excited to see the Hudson River once again as we crossed over on the FDR Mid-Hudson Bridge.
We arrived in early afternoon to a couple BIG surprises..
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Mom misread the Reserve America campsite info here, we knew we weren't going to have sewer hookups & internet, but she missed the info about NO fresh water...UGH! So...we went a couple of campsites over to fill our water tank. That was a new adventure! Thankfully, we are very, close to the bathrooms, so that helps on water usage.
Then, we had the challenge of backing into this site...it's huge, but not easy to get a rig this big into it...M & D were up to the task...NO PROBLEM, MAN!!!
While they were busy getting SA set up, I noticed a visitor on our site...
A baby raccoon started out at the bottom of this tree then decided to climb up it when I jumped up on the picnic table to get a better look. Mom got the park ranger because she couldn't decide, if it was just paralyzed with fear or rabid. The ranger wanted to take it home to raise, but wasn't sure if it was well...It fell out of the tree; so it was moving even slower...He and another ranger followed the raccoon into the woods away from the campsites...
He/she was a cute, little fellow and I wanted to make friends...DARN!
We went down to the Norrie Mills Marina and saw the yacht, Adena out on the Hudson.
This state marina wasn't big, but it was well protected from the river traffic
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Dad took this view from the back of Staatsburgh Historical Site that faces the Hudson...this back view was painted by one or more of the Hudson Valley Art School painters...more on that later
The Mills mansion from the entrance...it's opening up tomorrow, but there were no tickets available for inside tours this weekend.
Staatsburgh State Historic Site This site along with many of the other state and federal sites haven't been reopened yet, so all we did is explore the grounds. It's a lovely spring day, so we are happy to do just that. Mom researched what we are missing...after reading the signs, she found this website...with virtual tours. These short videos show and tell more than mere photos can...
"In the 1890s Mr. & Mrs. Mills commissioned the prestigious New York City architectural firm of McKim, Mead and White to remodel and enlarge their home. Work began in 1895 and when completed in 1896, the house had been transformed from a 25-room Greek Revival style home into a Beaux-Arts mansion of 65 rooms and 14 bathrooms. Although the interior was lavishly decorated, mostly in the styles of 17th and 18th-century France, many architectural features of the earlier Livingston home such as the all the trims, moldings and many of the fireplaces had been preserved. This melding of grandeur and heritage is characteristic of the American Renaissance period."
Mom fell in love with the tiny, historic village of Staatsburgh that we drove through on the way to the historic site. No surprise...she has a few photos that she and dad shot.
Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site
Since Governor Cuomo is slowly reopening; this site isn't open inside either. Once again, mom found Vanderbilt Hyde Park Virtual Tours to see the inside, when we couldn't...It makes the Mill mansion look small and FDR's home, Springwood look like servant quarters compared to both of these...
"The 50-room Classical-style mansion was built in 1898 by Frederick William Vanderbilt, a grandson of Commodore” Cornelius Vanderbilt—the shipping and railroad magnate and richest man in America during his lifetime. One of eight heirs to his family’s fortune, Frederick purchased the property in 1895 and hired Charles McKim(of McKim, Mead and White, then the country’s leading architecture firm) to fashion a “country house” in which the family could entertain guests during the spring and fall.
Vanderbilt also used the property as a “gentleman’s farm,” often spending hours among its gardens and specimen trees. The limestone façade features columns on all four sides. Stanford White created most of the interiors, which are intact and include an antique carved and painted Venetian ceiling, 15th century Flemish tapestries, Ming vases, Renaissance chairs, and 16th century Florentine chests. Landscaped grounds feature a formal terraced garden, expansive lawns, carriage roads, and a three-mile-long riverside hiking trail."
"Outside, the estate is beautifully landscaped. First developed by previous landowner Samuel Bard, the grounds were planted with a variety of exotic trees and plants, including one of America’s oldest Ginko trees, which dates to 1799. Later owner Walter Landgon, Jr. added a formal garden, hiring a Boston landscape architect to design a gardener’s cottage, tool house and garden walls, which still exist.
The Vanderbilt’s added to this design with a terraced garden, water features, statues and arbors. The rear of the estate overlooks the Hudson River. Indeed, the National Park Service maintains over 200 acres of the original property, which is free to explore, and includes one of the country’s first steel and concrete bridges." Some of the outer buildings that are still in good shape are being used by the park service for dorms or offices.
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| The signs around the CIA campus cracked us up... |
Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park, NY Lily wrote about this place five years ago when M & D were able to take a tour and eat here too. Once again, mom has to write about this place since I couldn't go...
We ate in American Bounty this time. The CIA restaurant experience has never disappointed us and tonight was NO exception!
Mike had their Spring Thyme cocktail. I don't even like gin, but this was light, refreshing and beautifully presented with an elderberry flower sprig. He had the yummy brisket flatbread while I had their delightful spinach/carrot salad. Unusual for me, she ordered the NY strip while Mike chose the pork (at our waiter, Maurice's suggestion.)Both entrees melted in your mouth delighting their taste buds the whole way down...Maurice suggested we share their carrot cake for a less filling dessert...It was perfect after such a rich meal! Light, similar to a sorbet over graham crackers than a normal carrot cake. It paired perfectly with a NY ice cider. I wanted to mention their NY wine choices were very good too!
For my foodie family and friends, they have added special classes at many of their schools...CIA Foodies as you can see in the poster above. We love OLD Diamondsides made from silverware...
"In the fall of 1869 Frederic and Isabel returned to America from an 18-month-long trip to Europe and the Middle East. While living in Cosy Cottage they decided to build another house – one that was much larger and more permanent. Impressed by the architecture they saw in cities like Beirut, Jerusalem and Damascus, they envisioned a home that incorporated Middle Eastern elements and designs.
Drawings by Richard Morris Hunt document that Church considered using him as an architect, but ultimately he decided on Calvert Vaux, who was then designing Central Park’s buildings. Vaux had professional qualifications and personal ties to the Church family. He was the author of Villas and Cottages (1857) a pattern book for rural domestic architecture. And, Vaux’s wife Mary was the sister of Jervis McEntee, a close friend. Church spent about two years working with Vaux. While the exact contributions of the two are unclear, Vaux probably was responsible for structural elements, while Church devised myriad ornamental elements.
It is believed that both, probably with Isabel Church’s input, sited the house and its many windows to frame the magnificent views.
Mom could see his various paintings in her mind; as she looked out at their views here... In the fall of 1872, the family moved into the second story of the new house while the decoration of the first floor continued. Church chose the color scheme for the house, mixing paint on his palette, then instructing his workmen on how to mix the colors. Eclectic furnishings soon filled the house, gathered from the long trip abroad, from shops in New York City, and even from a missionary in Persia. The thousands of objects and the painted décor evoke the great civilizations of the past, and present a rich contrast to the natural world visible through the windows."
"The Hudson River School Art Trail connects you with the places in nature that Thomas Cole and the Hudson River School artists made famous in their 19th-century landscape paintings. Cole founded this nation’s first major art movement, now known as the Hudson River School, and advocated for the preservation of the American landscape as a national treasure. Today, you can visit these magnificent views thanks to extensive preservation efforts."
View from the Rip Van Winkle Bridge
Thomas Cole (1801-1848) founded the Hudson River School as one of America's premier landscape painters. Cedar Grove, his home in the historic Catskill region, was named a National Historic Site in 1999 and is open to the public today. Visitors can tour the grounds, see rotating exhibitions of Hudson River School art, and learn about the life of Thomas Cole.
Originally, when Cole and his family lived here it was a large farm with many buildings. A number of the buildings were rebuilt when they opened the museum.
The museum had framed his large color wheel that Thomas had made for his studio color reference. It seems he loved music, as much as art; and felt there was a distinct correlation as seen in the above info.
The bottom images were a very interesting multimedia presentation of his work displayed in the Cole's formal parlor/dining room. In his family parlor, they had a variety of his musical instruments. It turns out he was very musical along with artistic.
One of his paintings on display in his New Studio. I hadn't known that he created architecture as well, until I came here.
Displayed in Thomas Cole's home and at Olana, Church's home; they had Cross Pollination, an exhibition of more contemporary artists work that fit that theme.
M & D love to visit old Inns and Taverns. As you can see, Beekman's Inn in Rhinebeck, NY claims to be the oldest working Tavern/Inn in the US. When M & D read the history of this tavern, it was like reading a Who's Who of the US from our birth until now...
They enjoyed their meals there very much! Dad found his Chicken Parmesan to his liking. While Mom said her turkey pot pie was the best that she had ever eaten! Shucks, no leftovers for me...
Mom and dad decided our last day here would be a day to include me in all our events!!! YEAH! First, we headed to a late brunch. Our NY campsite neighbors told us to go to the
Eveready Diner, if we wanted a good meal, so off we went...
It turns out this Diner was on the Food Network thanks to Guy Fieri. It has been around for a long time. Mom loved the art deco architecture and finishes and the lovely landscaping outside. Dad loved his breakfast and I certainly enjoyed bites of mom's!
We passed through the darling town of New Paltz, NY to visit our first distillery stop...it had a definite hippy vibe going on according to dad. What would I know?
Our next stop was Coppersea Distillery that specializes in Ryes/Bourbons and speciality cocktails...some new varieties for mom and dad to try...They said YUM!
While dad was taking his turn tasting, I was enjoying the scenery behind the barn and rolling around in something that was just delightful...maybe geese poo???
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We decided to try the highly recommended Rorbibero Winery in New Paltz, NY, next. What a lovely place, with lots of space to spread out for large groups, music and simple food...Their wines were definitely more expensive, and not as pleasing to mom and dad's palate; as others they favor. M & D only bought a rose and a white to enjoy at a later date.
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Our final stop for the day was Tuthilltown Spirits, now this place was really awesome!
After dad enjoyed his bourbon/rye tastings and mom, their speciality "old fashion" made with bourbon, chocolate and raspberry liqueurs called, "I'll have what she's having." Silliness...
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| We headed to the old grist mill and creek to see what it looked like...I just wanted to play in that water... |
We have had a wonderful time in the Hyde Park area, but we are ready to move on tomorrow to RI...
Mom and dad were very disappointed not to be able to revisit Springwood, FDR's home, only the grounds were open...
Dad enjoyed seeing FDR's home without all the scaffolding that surrounded it the last time they were here...if you are interested in seeing and reading about this place more extensively, it's in Lily's blog attached to this one...back in 2016.
Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site
"Outside, the estate is beautifully landscaped. First developed by previous landowner Samuel Bard, the grounds were planted with a variety of exotic trees and plants, including one of America’s oldest Ginko trees, which dates to 1799. Later owner Walter Landgon, Jr. added a formal garden, hiring a Boston landscape architect to design a gardener’s cottage, tool house and garden walls, which still exist. 
The museum had framed his large color wheel that Thomas had made for his studio color reference. It seems he loved music, as much as art; and felt there was a distinct correlation as seen in the above info.
While dad was taking his turn tasting, I was enjoying the scenery behind the barn and rolling around in something that was just delightful...maybe geese poo??? 
Our final stop for the day was Tuthilltown Spirits, now this place was really awesome!
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