Fall along the Hudson

The last Saturday was a perfect fall day. With the temperature in the 70s and the leaves at their peak, we have picked a idyllic day to drive north. Nelson had made reservations at the CIA campus in Hyde Park for lunch. We enjoyed the beautiful views from campus as well as the food at the American Bounty restaurant. It was interesting to see the students managing the restaurant in every aspect and we really did have great service.

Our main feature of the day was the Walk Way Over Hudson, the longest pedestrian bridges in the world. It has been a once prominent rail road track which has been abandoned due to a fire in the 1970s. But due to great pubic effort has been restored as a national park. It was a busy day on the bridge with a diverse group of people.We parked a few streets away to avoid paying the $5 fee. There were rudimentary snacks sold at both ends. Hopefully with the number tourists it can expand and improve in the coming years. It took us about 30mins each way for a leisurely walk while taking in the picturesque views.

On the drive back we drove through Newburgh and decided to stop at Bear Mountain State Park. As we arrived late enough in the evening, we were able to drive in without any admission fee. There was a festive atmosphere due to a month long Oktoberfest events on Saturdays. With a band playing, the area was active with beer, food and crafts stalls. We drove up to the top for some great views of the bridge and town below.

After a fabulous day outside I was terribly sick on Sunday with a sore throat. But it was worth having a fabulous day outside.