South of Saugerties down to just above Newburgh, the nature of the river is a bit narrower, hills and bluffs rise from the banks and the current quickens a bit. Lying within this section of the river the great and powerful 19th century barons of industry created their Great Estates and country homes. On both sides of the river, but mostly on the east bank, they erected massive homes, created romantic landscapes and pursued the country life. The Vanderbilts and Roosevelts settled in Hyde Park while the Livingstons and their kin continued to develop their vast holdings to the north in Dutchess County.

Kingston, New York's first Capital, is an old and historic town. Very friendly, Kingston welcomes boaters to many marinas and facilities both on the river and on the Rondout Creek. The section of the city on the Rondout, originally the terminus of the D&H Canal and an industrial and commercial powerhouse, is a walking hamlet, filled with interesting shops, museums and great eateries. Up in the Stockade, the old town, you can walk the historic trail exploring the colonial stone homes, the Senate House and later 19th century urban development.

As you pass Hyde Park, visit the mansions and explore FDR's Presidential Library. Grab a cab and make a visit to Val Kill, Eleanor Roosevelts private domain. In Poughkeepsie attend a performance at the Bardavon Opera House and have a memorable meal at the Culinary Institute of America overlooking the Hudson between Hyde Park and Poughkeepsie.

At Newburgh the river widens for a moment before it plunges into the imposing North Gate of the Hudson Highlands. Newburgh has spent millions redeveloping its waterfront at Newburgh Landing where restaurants line the quay and you can tie up and enjoy the food and drink. Across the river is Beacon, a newly "discovered" town. In Beacon, Dia, one of the most important contemporary arts museums in New York City has opened its largest and most impressive location. Easily accessible from the riverfront and several marinas on the bank, Dia takes you into the world of the arts. Vast galleries containing dizzying masterpieces of contemporary art await for you to experience and appreciate.

Just below Beacon on the east bank lies Denning Point State Park. Fairly undeveloped, it provides excellent protected anchorage between the point and the east bank. On the west bank just above the North Gate is Cornwall-on-Hudson, a charming little vest pocket village with some marina activity below their Riverfront Park. Cornwall-on-Hudson is the perfect jumping off point for exploring the majestic riverscape of the Hudson Highlands.

The Hudson Highlands lie between the mountains at the southern end of the Newburgh Bays, known as the North Gate, south to the precipitous mountain pass at Peekskill, the South Gate. In this dramatic section the river cuts directly through the Appalachian Mountains as they rise directly from the narrowing river on both banks, the current quickens and the river reaches it deepest points. The Highlands are a dramatic landscape, steeped in lore and history. The Highlands were fought over in the American Revolution and formed the hub around which General George Washington formed his strategy. The center of the wheel was West Point, now the United States Military Academy at West Point. The point forms a double 90 degree dog-leg around which any flotilla had to navigate through swift changing currents and unpredictable winds. Numerous redoubts and forts protected the southern approaches to the point atop the high bluffs commanding the river on both banks.

At the North Gate, seemingly guarding the northern entrance to the Highlands is Bannerman's Castle on Pollepel Island. Long abandoned and crumbling, the structure was a ammunitions dump created after the Civil War for a dealer in military surplus out of Brooklyn. Navigate around the island but don't land as the structures are in a dangerous state if disrepair.

Cold Spring is north of West Point and provides multiple opportunities to enjoy the village from the banks. Short term tie-ups are available at the village waterfront allowing you access to one of the most charming villages in the Hudson Valley. Filled with quaint shops and excellent cafes and restaurants, Cold Spring is a place to see. Across from West Point is Garrison, another potential day stop. From Garrison, West Point looms up from across the river.

In these dangerous times, be aware that there are restrictions on approaching or accessing West Point from the river. You will probably be politely warned away, but run the risk of stronger actions depending on the state of the world and the anxiety of the officials.

Bear Mountain State Park is located just north of the South Gate on the west bank. Formerly part of the Harriman Estate and donated to the State of New York in one of the opening gambits of the environmental movement, the park provides seemingly endless opportunities to hike the mountains and trails of the lower Highlands. The first segment of the Appalachian Trail, now stretching from Maine to Georgia, was created at Bear Mountain. In addition to hiking, Bear Mountain State Park provides all manner of recreational possibilities from swimming to biking to fairs & festivals and excellent ice skating in the winter months. Just below Bear Mountain is the Iona Marsh, the northernmost remaining brackish water estuary marsh on the lower Hudson.

Just below the South Gate be aware that Indian Point Nuclear Electric Generation Plant is located on the eastern shore, at the lower reaches of Peekskill Bay. This is a highly restricted area and should be avoided if you want to not experience the nervous anxiety of local, state and federal authorities.

Stretching from below Peekskill to just above the George Washington Bridge, this section of the river, named the Tappan Zee, is where the mighty Hudson stretches its shoulders to its widest point, nearly 4 miles wide at Haverstraw. Here the river becomes an estuary flowing in both directions with the tides. Tidal marshes line the western shore below Piermont and the historic rivertowns of Westchester line the eastern shore.

"The Big House", Sing Sing Prison, is perched on the east shore of the river at Ossining. One of America's original reformed prisons, Sing Sing entered into American legend in the 30's as the final destination of Hollywood movie gangsters who were shipped "up the river." Still in operation today, Sing Sing continues to holds some of New York's prison population behind its high security walls.

Towering above the river on the western shore of the Tappan Zee are the imposing Palisades. Remnants of the monumental geologic forces that shaped the Hudson Valley, the Palisades form the perfect backdrop against which the mighty river flows toward the sea. They were also the genesis of the ecologic movement in the late 19th century. Once established, it swept up river protecting the Highlands and finally spilled out over the river's banks forming the opening battles and strategies of today's modern environmental awareness.

Croton Point Park on the eastern shore provides a protected anchorage with many recreational possibilities, including one of the few swimming beaches on the river. It is one of the favorite day time anchorage points for many boaters on the river. To the south George's Island County Park provides another protected anchorage as well as ramp facilities. The old WWII Navy Pier at Piermont on the west bank, "Last Stop USA" where hundreds of thousands of troops shipped out for Europe, juts out into the river nearly a mile. Piermont abounds with marinas and is filled with charming shops, sidewalk cafes and galleries. North of Piermont, above Nyack, is Nyack Beach State Park, another location to anchor and access the land, and Rockland Lake State Park, contiguous with Nyack Beach State Park to the north.

Across the river from Nyack is Tarrytown whose banks are lined with marinas and parks. Tarrytown is the home of Washington Irving's Ichabod Crane and his nemeses the Headless Horseman. Several of the Hudson Valley's most important and interesting attractions are best accessed via Tarrytown, such as Lyndhurst, Phillipsburg Manor and Washington Irving's home, Sunnyside. Below Tarrytown is Yonkers with public docking and a multitude of onshore entertainment and eating possibilities.

By the way, the origins of the name "Tappan Zee" encompass two very different cultures. When Europeans first arrived, the Tappan Indian tribe inhabited the shores of this section of the river. In Dutch, the original European settlers, "zee" meant a wide body of water. Together, they create "Tappan Zee." Or so the story goes...