If you look north as you cross the Tappan Zee Bridge (I-287) over the Hudson River, you take in what Dutch explorers saw almost 400 years ago. The river here runs nearly three miles wide, carving between mountains and promontories—a glittering path into an emerald land. You will follow the trails of Indians, adventurers, George Washington's Continental Army, and Gilded Age millionaires, while enjoying vistas that inspired the Hudson River school artists more than a century ago. Sharp peaks, deep valleys, woodlands, and farms divide artsy, gentrified communities. Historic sites and many of the grandest mansions in the nation—including FDR's longtime home at Hyde Park—abound.

Overview
The drive runs from the town of Nyack, on the Hudson's western bank, northward to Kingston and Rhinebeck, then south along the Hudson to Tarrytown. Highlights include museums, grand estates, West Point, and an aerodrome.

Start in Nyack
Begin in the funky town of Nyack, an old Dutch farming community settled around 1680 that now lures city folks seeking weekend refuges. Trendy boutiques, galleries, antiques shops, and ethnic restaurants give Nyack something of a Greenwich Village feel. Edward Hopper, the 20th-century painter known for Nighthawks and other stark portrayals of loneliness, grew up here. His home, the Edward Hopper House Art Center, contains materials depicting his life and provides exhibit space for local and national artists.

Bear Mountain State Park
From Nyack, head north on U.S. 9W along forest and rolling hills through the town of Stony Point. As the forested mountains rise above the misty Hudson, you reach 5,067-acre Bear Mountain State Park. Take the George W. Perkins Memorial Drive to the top of 1,284-foot Bear Mountain, where you'll find commanding views of the river far below. During the Revolutionary War the Americans commanded two forts here. The park also offers a wildlife center, camping, hiking, golf, boating, and the Bear Mountain Inn, with a restaurant. U.S. 6 and NY 17M lead west to the village of Monroe, and the Museum Village, which re-creates a 19th-century village.