Key attractions, sites in the valley

There are dozens of ways to learn more about history -- all a short drive away. For a start, here are 20 attractions and sites in the valley with which you can't go wrong.

Columbia County

Clermont Historic Site: Off Route 9G in Columbia County, 2 miles north of Tivoli. The Hudson River estate was the Livingston family homestead from 1730 to 1962. The site offers formal gardens, a sloping lawn for picnicking, and hiking trails, which are open from 8:30 a.m. to dusk. House tours are available from May 1 to October 31, Wednesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and from 1-5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free. For more information, call (518) 537-4240.
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Dutchess County

Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site: Route 9G, Hyde Park. Visitors can learn something of the famous first lady other than her husband. The site features Mrs. Roosevelt's stone cottage as well as a main house where she once operated a furniture manufacturing shop. Val-Kill is open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., from April to October. Open weekends November, December and April. Call 229-9422 for more information.
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Franklin D. Roosevelt home, gardens, library and museum: Operated by the National Archives on the grounds of the Roosevelt Home off Route 9 in Hyde Park. Displays the lives and careers of 32nd president and his wife, Eleanor. The library is open by appointment. For more information, call 229-8114. The home is open daily, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Call (845) 229-9115 for more information.
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Innisfree Gardens: Tyrrel Road, Millbrook. These enclosed Chinese gardens surrounding Tyrrel Lake are a perfect picnic spot. The gardens are open from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays from May 1 to Oct. 31. Open weekends from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Call 677-8000 for information and admission prices.

Mary Flagler Cary Arboretum: Route 44A, Millbrook. The site offers display gardens, greenhouses, research displays, 5 miles of hiking trails, biking and nature trails. Open Mondays through Saturdays May to the end of September, from 9 a.m.-6 p.m., and Sundays from 1 p.m.-6 p.m. Hours from the end of September to April are 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Mondays through Saturdays, and from 1-4 p.m. on Sundays. The gift shop is closed Mondays. For more information, call 677-5358.

Montgomery Place: Annandale-on-Hudson. Visitors to this restored 434-acre estate have the run of a 23-room Federal period mansion overlooking the Hudson River, nearly 200 acres of woodland trails, pick-your-own apple orchard, a fruit stand and a picnic grove. Open daily, except Tuesdays, April through October, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., with the last tour at 4 a.m. Open weekends in November, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and the first two weekends in December, noon to 5 p.m. For more information, call 758-5461.

Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome: World War I and pioneer aircraft, plus weekend air shows are the focus of this special flying museum. The airshows are open Saturday and Sunday from June 15 to October 15. Airshow admission includes the price of museum. Rides are $25 per person for parties of four or more. Call in advance for rides. Museum is open seven days a week. For more information, call 758-8610.

Stony Kill Environmental Education Center: Route 9D, Wappingers Falls. Farmland, woods and a diverse trail system lace 756 acres on the Hudson River. Nature and natural-history programs also are offered. Trails are open from dawn to dusk. The center is open from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Mondays to Fridays and from noon to 4:30 p.m. on Saturdays during the summer. For more information, call 831-8780.

Thompson Pond Nature Preserve: Located on Lake Drive, off Route 82 in Pine Plains. Hikers have the run of 426 acres, including a pond at the foot of Stissing Mountain. Site features a 525-foot boardwalk crossing marshes and stream. Trails cross pine and birch forest. Open all the time. Purchased in 1958 by a group assisted by the Nature Conservancy. For information, contact the lower Hudson chapter of the Nature Conservancy at (845) 244-3271.

Vanderbilt Home and Museum: Route 9, Hyde Park. Beaux Arts mansion. Construction of the mansion started in 1896 and was completed in 1898 by Frederick Vanderbilt, grandson of railroad magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt. The mansion was designed by McKinn, Mead and White. Visitors can take advantage of the ongoing restoration of Vanderbilt's Italian gardens, likely to be embellished in the near future by fountains. Visits, open seven days, are by tour only. Open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. April through October. The grounds are open all days except Tuesday and Wednesday, November through March. For more information, call 229-9115.
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Greene County

Catskill Game Farm: Route 32 between Cairo and Saugerties. A longtime favorite of children, the outdoor zoo features more than 2,000 animals from all over the world, including rare horses and cattle. A petting zoo and animal rides area a plus for youngsters. The zoo is open May 1 through Oct. 31. Daily from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.. For information call (518) 678-9595. More information: www.catskillgamefarm.com.

Orange County

Trotting Horse Museum: What Cooperstown is to baseball, the Trotting Horse Museum is to horses. The museum in Goshen is the official hall of fame of the trotter, and also features harness-racing memorabilia, Currier and Ives prints, and photographs. Open Mondays through Saturdays, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and from noon-5 p.m. on holidays and Sundays. The 150-year-old Historic Racetrack adjacent to the museum has races periodically in the summer. For more information, call 294-6330. More information: www.harnessmuseum.com.

U.S. Military Academy at West Point: The nation's 186-year-old military academy, sprawling on 17,000 acres skirting the Hudson River in Orange County, welcomes visitors to designated areas. Self-paced walking tours are available to visitors who may pick up maps at visitor's center. Tours feature the academy's chapels, training areas and quarters. Picnicking available at designated riverfront sites. For more information, call 938-2638.
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Ulster County

Hudson River Maritime Center and Museum: Rondout Landing, Kingston. The museum features Hudson River artifacts, paintings, exhibits, rigging loft and boat rides. Open Mon., Wed.-Fri., 11a.m.-5 p.m.; Sat. and Sun., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Donations suggested (no admission) 338-0071.

Ice Caves Mountain: Even in summer, the temperature in an ice-laden glacial cave half a mile underground rarely gets above 50 degrees. The landmark also features a half-mile trail passing through rock crevasses in the Shawangunk Mountains in Ulster County. Open daily from 9 a.m. to dusk. For more information, call 647-7989.

Mohonk Preserve: Mohonk Lake, New Paltz. The preserve offers 15 miles of hiking trails, open daily from dawn to dusk. Day visitors may also hike, tour gardens, and rock climb at Mohonk Mountain House. For more information, call 255-0919.

Opus 40 and Quarryman's Museum: The site in Saugerties offers environmental sculpture by the late Harvey Fite, who purchased the quarry in 1938 and spent 37 years on his work. Visitors tour his terraced works as well as the quarries. A museum features quarrymen's tools, and 19th century farm tools and gadgets. Open Fridays through Sunday, noon-5 p.m. until the end of October. For more information, call 246-3400. More information: www.opus40.org.

Tubing on Esopus Creek: Near Phoenicia (Ulster County). Chilly Esopus Creek waters offers an exhilirating break from the heat ... to anyone willing to sit in an inflated tire tube. Tubes, some with built-in seats, are available along Route 28 or in Phoenicia. Town Tinker Tube Rental also operates buses to headwaters and returns tubers to their cars. Tubers should either bring two cars or take advantage of transportation offered by some tube rental firms.

Delaware and Ulster Rail Ride: Route 28, Arkville (Ulster County). Excursion train rides with plenty of peril, robberies, fiddlers and special shows Wednesdays through Sundays from July 4 to Labor Day. Open for weekends only in the fall. For more information, call 586-3877. More information: www.durr.org.

Outside New York State

Lime Rock Park: Lime Rock, Conn., near Lakeville, across the state line from Millerton. The park hosts sports-car racing, open to spectators on weekends from May to October. Admission varies according to the event. Children under 12 are admitted free. For schedule and prices, call (203) 435-2571. Schedule for races, etc., at www.limerock.com.