Hudson Valley in One Day: Beautiful Gardens, Sweeping Views & Presidential History

A day in the Hudson Valley is a chance to enjoy beautiful scenery—and discover the stories behind it. On this sightseeing tour from New York City, we’ll explore elegant gardens, admire an extraordinary feat of engineering, take in panoramic views, and visit the home and museum of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the 32nd President of the United States.

Our journey begins at Untermyer Park and Gardens in Yonkers, where landscaped gardens, striking architectural details, and views of the Hudson River make a lovely introduction to the region. It’s a place to slow down, explore, and keep your camera close at hand.

Next comes New Croton Dam and Reservoir. Supplying water to New York City may be its practical purpose, but its monumental stonework and dramatic spillway make it a memorable sightseeing stop, too. Here, we’ll discover how an essential part of the city’s water supply became a destination worth visiting in its own right.

At Bear Mountain, we’ll enjoy sweeping views of the Hudson River and the surrounding hills. After the gardens and the dam, this is another perspective on the valley: open landscapes, winding water, and plenty of reasons to stop for photographs.

Then we’ll continue to Hyde Park, a Hudson Valley town where American history becomes personal. This was Franklin D. Roosevelt’s lifelong home—a place he returned to throughout his presidency.

At the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum, we’ll explore the challenges and decisions that shaped his presidency, from the Great Depression and the New Deal to World War II. The exhibits bring us closer to both Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt and their relationship with the American people.

We’ll also visit Springwood, the Roosevelt family home. Seeing the house adds a more intimate dimension to the museum’s story: this is where the president’s public life meets the familiar surroundings of home.

Our final stop is the gardens and grounds of the Vanderbilt Mansion, where we’ll enjoy a walk and a glimpse into the world of the Hudson Valley’s grand country estates.

We’ll return to New York with beautiful photographs, new stories to share, and a deeper appreciation of how much there is to discover just beyond the city.