By Julie O’Brien Deasy
Question: Can you suggest some local attractions that would be good to visit this summer?
Answer: Continuing our series about good local excursions to take this summer, this week’s featured spots are the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Home National Historic Site and the “Walkway Over the Hudson.” Located about an hour from New Canaan, these two sites can be combined into one day.
The Franklin Delano Roosevelt Home, Springwood, is located in Hyde Park, New York, and managed by the National Park System as an National Historic Site. Springwood was the birthplace, lifelong home, and burial place of the 32nd President of the United States. His wife, Eleanor Roosevelt is buried alongside him. This National Historic Site was established in 1945.
The grounds include several buildings and places of interest including the Henry A. Wallace Visitor Center, Springwood itself, the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum, the Working Gardens, the burial site of both Eleanor Roosevelt and FDR, and the Walled Garden at Bellefield.
The site itself is open daily from 7:00 am – 8:00 pm through October. If you would like an interior tour of Springwood, guided tours are offered everyday between 9:30 am and 4:30 pm. Self-guided tours are offered on weekends and holidays between 2:30 and 4:30 pm. All visitors must purchase tickets ($15) in the Wallace Visitor Center before the tour or self-guided visit. Tours are approximately 40 minutes.
Tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis. In the summer months tours may sell out early.
For more information, visit www.nps.gov/hofr/index.htm.
The Walkway Over the Hudson is a steel cantilever bridge spanning the Hudson River between Poughkeepsie, New York, on the east bank and Highland, New York, on the west bank. Built as a railroad bridge in 1889, it was taken out of service in 1974 and then re-opened in 2009 as a pedestrian walkway as part of the new Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park.
At 212 feet above the Hudson River, visitors can walk this 1.28 mile linear park enjoying scenic views to the north and south. The Walkway is free to enter and is open daily from 7:00 am – sunset.
Until August 27, the park hosts “Twilight Music in the Park”, a free music event every Tuesday and Thursday night from 6:00 – 7:00 pm.
The Walkway is accessible via flat, paved walking trails from both the 61 Parker Ave entrance in Poughkeepsie or the 87 Haviland Rd entrance in Highland. These entrances are wheelchair and stroller friendly and no stairs are required.
The parking entrance in the City of Poughkeepsie is at 61 Parker Avenue, Poughkeepsie NY 12601 and is operated by NYS Parks. The fee is $5 for 4 hours.
Before your walk, there are several options for lunch or dinner near the Walkway entrance including Erin O’Neils Pub and Grill, the Palace Diner, or Tavern 23.
For more details on the Walkway, visit www.walkway.org/visit.
Future columns will feature additional places to visit in our area. Let us know if you have a specific interest and we can make suggestions of places to visit this summer!
What do you want to know about living in New Canaan? Is there a resource you are looking for or something you need in our area? We want to hear from you! Send in your ideas or queries to Julie@NewCanaanSentinel.com and your question may be featured in a future column.
