55+ Living Guide Fall 2018 Issue | Page 20

The Magnificent... Hudson Porch and view from the Thomas Cole National Historic Site By Diana Loeffel CTC A quick glance as one crosses the Hudson River from any of the capital region bridges and it becomes appar- ent immediately, how magnificent and majestic the river we so casually cross actually is. If one looks north they can imagine this mighty river winding towards its natural beginnings far north in the Adirondack Mountains. We are fortunate to live in what has been designated, in 1996, The Hudson River National Heritage Area. This title reflects the uniqueness of the region with a magnitude of histori- cally significant sites together with sce- nic resources, breathtaking landscapes and many picturesque river towns on its banks as it winds its way, along its 315-mile length. With a plethora of fabulous places to visit there would need to a book to cover them all, so I have narrowed them down to some of my personal favorites with the caveat that the river valley has many more places worth a visit. 20 55PlusLivingGuide.com