Thoughts on Hudson Valley or Albuquerque as trips next year

[Deleted]

The group folks that sponsor our travels are looking at the Hudson Valley and Albuquerque as possible destinations in 2024.  Has anyone traveled to either of those and what did you think?  What's a must-see in either area?  All input valued!

[Tennesseer]

Jun 24, 2023 17:50:55 GMT -5 soupandstew said:

The group folks that sponsor our travels are looking at the Hudson Valley and Albuquerque as possible destinations in 2024.  Has anyone traveled to either of those and what did you think?  What's a must-see in either area?  All input valued!

Work brought me often to the Hudson Valley area. Visited Albuquerque often to visit sister and her family. Also Santa Fe and Taos. I will probably end up in my very final years in the Albuquerque area. Niece will watch over my aged butt.

Hudson Valley: The Catskill Mountains and Washington Irving country. Ticonderoga? American Revolutionary War. Lots of history. Up to Plattsburgh and Lake Champlain. More history. Pretty in the fall.

New Mexico is nicknamed the Land of Enchantment. And it is. Lots of history in that state too. Taos and Santa Fe are known for the arts. Albuquerque is overlooked by Sandia Peak. Take a cable car up to the top of the peak for lunch or dinner. Daytime and nighttime vistas are really nice.

Plenty to see in Hudson Valley or Albuquerque/Santa Fe/Taos areas.

If you ever find yourself in the Taos area Christmas Eve, attend Christmas Eve services at the Taos Pueblo. Church is private for the residents of the pueblo but the procession of the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus is throughout the Pueblo for everyone to attend. Great aromatic bonfires everywhere.

[Tennesseer]

Check with the poster swamp. She lives in upstate NY but can give you some suggestions.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Hudson Valley is pretty far south of upstate NY and the area where Swamp lives.  It’s the area between NYC and Albany, and about 200 miles from Swamp.  Plattsburgh is 150 miles directly north of Albany, and on Lake Champlain, so not quite the same area.  Ticonderoga is north of Albany, at the lower part of  Lake Champlain.  

[nidena]

I was just in ABQ.  I'm not a desert lover but it's a beautiful place.  I've been there in January, too, and it's really pretty with the snow on the mountain.  I haven't done a lot in the few short trips that I've been there but hiking up the huge mountain was great.  Eating delicious food.  Some great night spots, too.

[giramomma]

I have nothing positive to contribute.

However, if I took a trip to Albuquerque,  I would be doing my best Bugs Bunny impression the whole entire time.

When we went to Atlanta,  I must have said "Yankees! In Atlanta" about 100 times. We were there for like 3 days

[swamp]

Jun 24, 2023 17:50:55 GMT -5 soupandstew said:

The group folks that sponsor our travels are looking at the Hudson Valley and Albuquerque as possible destinations in 2024.  Has anyone traveled to either of those and what did you think?  What's a must-see in either area?  All input valued!

Screw the Hudson valley. 

hit up the finger lakes or the Adirondacks instead. 

[Cookies Galore]

Jun 25, 2023 9:22:25 GMT -5 swamp said:

Jun 24, 2023 17:50:55 GMT -5 soupandstew said:

The group folks that sponsor our travels are looking at the Hudson Valley and Albuquerque as possible destinations in 2024.  Has anyone traveled to either of those and what did you think?  What's a must-see in either area?  All input valued!

Screw the Hudson valley. 

hit up the finger lakes or the Adirondacks instead. 

The Finger Lakes are my favorite!!!!!!!

[plugginaway22]

We loved Albuquerque and Santa Fe. That old road from Alb to SF is so charming and there was a movie shot there, can't remember now. I was there as a child when we lived in Houston, and then took a girl's trip as an adult.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Jun 25, 2023 9:22:25 GMT -5 swamp said:

Jun 24, 2023 17:50:55 GMT -5 soupandstew said:

The group folks that sponsor our travels are looking at the Hudson Valley and Albuquerque as possible destinations in 2024.  Has anyone traveled to either of those and what did you think?  What's a must-see in either area?  All input valued!

Screw the Hudson valley. 

hit up the finger lakes or the Adirondacks instead. 

  
In Sept it should be gorgeous.  The Finger Lakes have wineries to visit too.  

[finnime]

Agreed on upstate NY vs Hudson Valley. It's goregous up there in the finger lakes area. I'm taking my first trip to New Mexico--Albuquerque--this September.

[Deleted]

Thanks to all for the input.  Upstate NY is not an option, the trip will be to the Hudson Valley area; the tour operator is focusing on off-the-beaten-path destinations.  Ditto on Albuquerque which would be during the annual Balloon Festival so could be cool.  We've been to Santa Fe, Taos, and Ruidoso many times, just never to the ABQ area.  

These tours would be sponsored by the group that organized our Alaska adventure and they demonstrated respect to the indigenous cultures there, telling the honest stories.  That would be a big consideration for us in trips to NYS and NM as well.  

[finnime]

What month or season would you be going in, soupandstew? I'd think that might make a big difference in your assessment.

[Deleted]

Jun 25, 2023 21:13:33 GMT -5 finnime said:

What month or season would you be going in, soupandstew ? I'd think that might make a big difference in your assessment.

The Hudson Valley trip would be sometime during the summer; NM would be in October.  

[swamp]

If you are doing the Hudson Valley, there is a shack of a seafood restaurant in Ossining called the Boathouse.  It looks like a disaster.  The food is excellent.  While you are in Ossining take a drive by Sing Sing prison.  

Visit Lyndhurst Mansion

Walk around West Point. 

Walk over the Mario Cuomo Tappan Zee Bridge

Walk the Old Croton Aqueduct. 

There are wineries.  

Go kayaking on the Hudson 

Take a self guided tour of about the Legend of Sleepy Hollow. 

ETA:  The Adirondacks are still better to visit that the Hudson Valley, 

[myrrh]

I've lived in New Mexico my whole life so I feel like I can contribute to this thread.

Things to do in Albuquerque besides the Balloon Fiesta:
Indian Cultural Center
Albuquerque Old Town
Sandia Peak Tramway
Petroglyph National Monument
(these last two require you to take a hat, sunscreen, and plenty of water, but I definitely recommend.)
If you want to look at turquoise/silver jewelry, Palms Trading Post on Lomas and 15th is great.

Sadie's, Casa de Benavidez, or Duran's Pharmacy for New Mexican food.

If you have time to get out of town, I can recommend some things to do in Santa Fe or Los Alamos as well. 

[pulmonarymd]

Jun 26, 2023 9:02:35 GMT -5 swamp said:

If you are doing the Hudson Valley, there is a shack of a seafood restaurant in Ossining called the Boathouse.  It looks like a disaster.  The food is excellent.  While you are in Ossining take a drive by Sing Sing prison.  

Visit Lyndhurst Mansion

Walk around West Point. 

Walk over the Mario Cuomo Tappan Zee Bridge

Walk the Old Croton Aqueduct. 

There are wineries.  

Go kayaking on the Hudson 

Take a self guided tour of about the Legend of Sleepy Hollow. 

ETA:  The Adirondacks are still better to visit that the Hudson Valley, 

Walkway over the Hudson better than the cuomo bridge. No cars/trucks. Can then go to rhinebeck from there. Nice little town. Farmers market is fun, good restaurants

[happyhoix]

DH and I are considering an early October trip to New England. We would drive to Virginia and catch Amtrak up to north NY - his bucket list items are to see Fort Ticonderoga and Cooperstown.

I know nothing about the area, but I would love to see a New England lake or ocean town. Something charming, but not crammed with tourist crap (like Niagara or Gaitlinberg). Doesn’t have to be close to Cooperstown, but should be not too far from an Amtrak station that we would use to get back down South. Anyone have an idea?

Thanks.

[pulmonarymd]

Burlington, VT is real fun. Middlebury, VT is a cute small town. Woodstock, VT is the quintessential small Vermont town. Mystic, CT is a nice waterfront town. I love Newport, RI. Could also consider Old Lyme, CT, Madison, CT, and Old Saybrook, CT are all nice waterfront towns. Lobster rolls, fried claims, shops, and waterfront

[Cookies Galore]

Jun 26, 2023 18:28:41 GMT -5 happyhoix said:

DH and I are considering an early October trip to New England. We would drive to Virginia and catch Amtrak up to north NY - his bucket list items are to see Fort Ticonderoga and Cooperstown.

I know nothing about the area, but I would love to see a New England lake or ocean town. Something charming, but not crammed with tourist crap (like Niagara or Gaitlinberg). Doesn’t have to be close to Cooperstown, but should be not too far from an Amtrak station that we would use to get back down South. Anyone have an idea?

Thanks.

My husband proposed at the Landmark Inn in Cooperstown! The Hall of Fame is great, of course, but so is Ommegang, the restaurants, the lake, so much in that area!

[Tennesseer]

Jun 26, 2023 18:28:41 GMT -5 happyhoix said:

DH and I are considering an early October trip to New England. We would drive to Virginia and catch Amtrak up to north NY - his bucket list items are to see Fort Ticonderoga and Cooperstown.

I know nothing about the area, but I would love to see a New England lake or ocean town. Something charming, but not crammed with tourist crap (like Niagara or Gaitlinberg). Doesn’t have to be close to Cooperstown, but should be not too far from an Amtrak station that we would use to get back down South. Anyone have an idea?

Thanks.

For an eastern New England lake, you might consider Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire. As for an ocean town, you also might consider Portsmouth, New Hampshire. It's an old whaling port now an artsy town. Very pretty.

Below Portsmouth is the North Shore of Massachusetts above Boston (where you can pickup Amtrak). Towns in the North Shore area include Gloucester, Essex, Ipswich (fried whole Ipswich clams!), Marblehead, and my favorite, Rockport. All close to or right on the coast.

[Tennesseer]

Jun 26, 2023 18:37:21 GMT -5 pulmonarymd said:

Burlington, VT is real fun. Middlebury, VT is a cute small town. Woodstock, VT is the quintessential small Vermont town. Mystic, CT is a nice waterfront town. I love Newport, RI. Could also consider Old Lyme, CT, Madison, CT, and Old Saybrook, CT are all nice waterfront towns. Lobster rolls, fried claims, shops, and waterfront

When I lived in New Haven, CT we often went to a place in either Guilford or Madison. An outdoor, weather permitting restaurant where one sat on wooden cable reels and ate steamed lobsters on even larger wooden cable reels. Cannot remember the name of the joint.

And Woodstock, Vermont is pretty much a must-see, especially in the Fall.

[Tennesseer]

Jun 26, 2023 18:37:21 GMT -5 pulmonarymd said:

Burlington, VT is real fun. Middlebury, VT is a cute small town. Woodstock, VT is the quintessential small Vermont town. Mystic, CT is a nice waterfront town. I love Newport, RI. Could also consider Old Lyme, CT, Madison, CT, and Old Saybrook, CT are all nice waterfront towns. Lobster rolls, fried claims, shops, and waterfront

And if one finds themselves in Burlington, Vermont, consider driving about 100 miles north and you will be in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

[tallguy]

Jun 26, 2023 9:25:51 GMT -5 myrrh said:

I've lived in New Mexico my whole life so I feel like I can contribute to this thread.

Things to do in Albuquerque besides the Balloon Fiesta:
Indian Cultural Center
Albuquerque Old Town
Sandia Peak Tramway
Petroglyph National Monument
(these last two require you to take a hat, sunscreen, and plenty of water, but I definitely recommend.)
If you want to look at turquoise/silver jewelry, Palms Trading Post on Lomas and 15th is great.

Sadie's, Casa de Benavidez, or Duran's Pharmacy for New Mexican food.

If you have time to get out of town, I can recommend some things to do in Santa Fe or Los Alamos as well. 

GF and I were in Santa Fe for a while a few years ago.  Did some really cool hiking in Bandelier and Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monuments.  Enjoyed the city, including the Plaza, the architecture, the arts, the Canyon Road galleries, etc.  Had a friend of hers come up from Albuquerque to visit, and invited us back to visit there.  Were going to do the Tramway, but we never found the time to make it down there.  Also went to Los Alamos for an afternoon.  "Enchanting" land you live in.      

[TheOtherMe]

Jun 26, 2023 21:27:57 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Jun 26, 2023 18:37:21 GMT -5 pulmonarymd said:

Burlington, VT is real fun. Middlebury, VT is a cute small town. Woodstock, VT is the quintessential small Vermont town. Mystic, CT is a nice waterfront town. I love Newport, RI. Could also consider Old Lyme, CT, Madison, CT, and Old Saybrook, CT are all nice waterfront towns. Lobster rolls, fried claims, shops, and waterfront

And if one finds themselves in Burlington, Vermont, consider driving about 100 miles north and you will be in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

In hope that my legs will be greatly improved by next summer, this is the route I want to take and then drive on to Toronto on my way home.  Have to see the Toddler.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Jun 27, 2023 9:42:59 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

Jun 26, 2023 21:27:57 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

And if one finds themselves in Burlington, Vermont, consider driving about 100 miles north and you will be in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

In hope that my legs will be greatly improved by next summer, this is the route I want to take and then drive on to Toronto on my way home.  Have to see the Toddler.

Unless you are visiting Montreal, doing this drive to Toronto is really lousy.  It’s just a multi laned freeway with zero charm.  It’s fast though, not scenic.