HUDSON RIVER COMMENTARY

The Hudson River offers a variety of experiences in lovely cruising grounds. The predominant feature of the Valley is the endless line of heavily forested hills that sweep gracefully up from the rivers banks for over a hundred miles. As one journeys along the waters silvery surface the turrets and spires of old 19th century mansions can occasionally be glimpsed rising above the dense foliage. More common however are the gleaming white pillars of elegant Neo-Classical houses perched on lofty peaks above the water. Aside from the odd cluster of condo colonies that crowd sections of beach or tumble down hillsides, the landscape is oddly vacant of human habitation—unusual in a place so easily accessible to one of the most densely populated cities on the continent. Many of the vast tracts of forest that line the shoreline are owned by moneyed families that hope to keep it that way or managed by the National Parks Service and preserved as a green belt.

The little historic towns and villages that do exist cater primarily to the cruising crowd and the tourist industry. There has also been a recent influx of people to these places from NYC eager to flee the city after 9/11. In recognition of this fact, the government has granted a ten year moratorium on taxes for New York developers to encourage them to rejuvenate and revive many of the “tired” sections of towns along the rivers so that they are more attractive to New Yorkers looking to resettle. The Hudson Valley is a beautiful national treasure. There are wonderful restaurants to experience, magnificent historic buildings to tour and rugged parks and paths to explore. We thoroughly enjoyed the time we spent here. It was an absolute pleasure to cruise.