Harlem Valley Pathways


Book Description

The residents of Harlem Valley have shaped both the history and culture of our nation with bravery and integrity. Quakers in the Harlem Valley stood firm against slavery, and the Amenia Conference, organized by Joel Spingarn, strengthened the NAACP. The Harlem Valley served as a transportation center, linking New England to the west, and was also a major supplier of iron ore in the eighteenth century. Well known for their educational endeavors, the residents of Harlem Valley established one of the oldest libraries in the state of New York. The images in this collection were made available through the efforts of many groups in the Harlem Valley area, including the historical societies of North East, Little Nine Partners, Amenia, Dover, Dutchess County, and Pawling and Quaker Hill. Join Joyce Ghee and Joan Spence for a remarkable trip down memory lane to the wonders of the Harlem Valley. This historic collection of images will serve as a valuable tool in discovering and understanding the area's history as well as appreciating its beauty. Harlem Valley Pathways is sure to be enjoyed for generations to come.




Rail-Trails Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York


Book Description

Across the country, more than 1,600 unused railroad corridors have been converted to level, public, multiuse trails, where people can enjoy a fitness run, a leisurely bike ride, or a stroll with the family. In this newest addition to the popular series, the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy presents the Northeast’s finest rail-trails. Rail-Trails Northeast covers one hundred of New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania’s rail-trails. With a rich industrial and passenger rail history, the Northeast is one of the densest rail-trail regions in the country. Rural, suburban, or urban, rail-trails serve as the backbone of an impressive trail system. This two-color book includes succinct descriptions of each trail from start to finish, plus at-a-glance summary information indicating permitted uses, surface type, length, and directions to trailheads for each trail. Every trip has a detailed map that includes start and end points, trailhead, parking, restroom facilities, and other amenities.




Rail-Trails New Jersey & New York


Book Description

Explore 50 of the best rail-trails and multiuse pathways with this official guide All across the country, unused railroad corridors have been converted into public multiuse trails. Here, the experts from Rails-to-Trails Conservancy present the best of these rail-trails—as well as other multiuse pathways—in New Jersey and New York. You’ll appreciate the detailed maps for each trail, plus driving directions to trailheads. Quick, at-a-glance icons indicate which activities each trail can accommodate, from biking to fishing to snowmobiling. Best of all, the succinct descriptions are written by rail-trail experts, so you know it’s information that you can rely on! Many rail-trails are paved and connect communities, such as New Jersey’s 6.5-mile Pleasantville to Somers Point Bike Path. Some feature dramatic scenery, like the Ken Lockwood Gorge on New Jersey’s 11.3-mile Columbia Trail or the ultra-urban, lower Manhattan views from New York’s elevated High Line. Whether you’re on feet, wheels, or skis, you’ll love the variety in this collection of multiuse trails—from beautiful waterways and scenic areas to the hustle and bustle of the states’ urban centers!




Taconic Pathways


Book Description

For motorists traveling in Dutchess County on the Taconic State Parkway, the dominant impression is the beauty of a seemingly unchanged natural landscape. Nestled under the shadow of the Taconic (Berkshire) Mountains to the east with views west to the Catskills, the parkway follows a ridge halfway between the towns and cities on the Hudson River and those in the Harlem Valley bordering New England. The parkway, as envisioned by a commission appointed in 1925 and initially chaired by Franklin Delano Roosevelt, was built ato open up a very beautiful section at present inaccessiblea and ato provide a new through road from New York City.a Roosevelt later claimed the road as his ainvention.a Taconic Pathways shows in part what has happened to the parkway and to five remote towns that it opened to accelerated growth and considerable change. In the beginning, the parkway was a leisurely recreational experience that offered breathtaking views, many of which were previously reserved for circling hawks or the fortunate locals who knew the back trails to the heights; today, the parkway has become a route for commuting residents. Before the parkway was built, Beekman, Union Vale, LaGrange, Washington, and Stanford were dotted with farms and hamlets; with the parkway came the rise of suburban living and an accelerated decline of the family farm.




100 Great Places Just North of New York City


Book Description

Exploring the Hudson Valley's 100 Great Places...Just North of New York City offers a plethora of historic and scenic locations for New York and New Jersey residents to visit. The 350-page topical guide is a comprehensive book for those visiting the Hudson Valley region. The book offers up-to-date descriptions, hundreds of websites for additional information, and more than 90 illustrations by Patricia Smith. New York State Senator William J. Larkin Jr. recently stated, The beauty and history of the Hudson Valley is vividly brought to life in Steffen Kraehmer's book Exploring the Hudson Valley's 100 Great Places. He highlights the area's best sites to visit, including one dear to my heart - The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor in New Windsor. This book is destined to become the premier visitor's guide for the Hudson Valley.




The Rotarian


Book Description

Established in 1911, The Rotarian is the official magazine of Rotary International and is circulated worldwide. Each issue contains feature articles, columns, and departments about, or of interest to, Rotarians. Seventeen Nobel Prize winners and 19 Pulitzer Prize winners – from Mahatma Ghandi to Kurt Vonnegut Jr. – have written for the magazine.




Downstate New York Rock Walks


Book Description

Downstate New York Rock Walks is both a hiking guidebook and a history book, calling attention to some of downstate New York's most spectacular and historic rocks: balanced rocks, perched rocks, rock shelters, talus caves, glacial potholes, split rocks, rock profiles, historic rocks, and massive, larger-than-life boulders. Many large glacial erratics have a history going back thousands of years to when they were moved to their present location by advancing glaciers. Many served as points of navigational reference at a time when the landscape was featureless and heavily forested, and still others were ceremonial sites for Native Americans. Rock shelters and talus caves have also been used for thousands of years by Native Americans and Europeans seeking refuge from the elements. It is important that these amazing natural wonders of stone be remembered and recorded before they are lost to collective memory or destroyed by the encroachment of civilization. Providing precise GPS location information along with length and degree of difficulty for each hike, Downstate New York Rock Walks will appeal to casual hikers, serious rock explorers, historians, geologists, and anyone wishing to explore some of nature’s greatest wonders within the reach of the lower Hudson River valley.







Moon Hudson Valley & the Catskills


Book Description

The Hudson Valley is a breath of fresh air: explore historic estates, hike wild mountain terrain, and bask in small-town charm with Moon Hudson Valley & the Catskills. Inside you'll find: Strategic, flexible itineraries, from day trips from New York City to week-long road trips, designed for outdoor adventurers, history buffs, art-lovers, foodies, and more Must-see highlights and unique experiences: Cycle along rolling hills and quiet country roads, hike to rushing waterfalls, hit the slopes in the winter, or discover the best spots to see the striking fall foliage. Take a tour of Washington Irving's romantic home, admire the historic Kykuit Estate, go antiquing in Cold Spring Village, or stroll through Sleepy Hollow. Take a cooking class at the Culinary Institute of America, browse for produce at a local farmers market, sip your way along a Hudson Valley wine trail, or savor innovative cuisine at a farm-to-table restaurant The best hikes in the Hudson Valley and the Catskills, with trail descriptions, elevation gains, and trailheads Honest advice from Catskills native Nikki Goth Itoi on when to go, where to eat, and where to stay, from full-service resorts and historic inns to secluded cabins and campsites Full-color photos and detailed maps throughout Thorough background on the culture, weather, wildlife, and history, plus how to get there and get around With Moon Hudson Valley & the Catskills' practical tips and local know-how, you can plan your trip your way. Exploring more of the Northeast? Check out Moon New England Road Trip. Headed to the Big Apple? Try Moon New York City Walks. About Moon Travel Guides: Moon was founded in 1973 to empower independent, active, and conscious travel. We prioritize local businesses, outdoor recreation, and traveling strategically and sustainably. Moon Travel Guides are written by local, expert authors with great stories to tell—and they can't wait to share their favorite places with you. For more inspiration, follow @moonguides on social media.




Birding the Hudson Valley


Book Description

A guide to birds and birdwatching in the Hudson Valley