Fall Driving Tour to West Point Military Academy and Cold Spring on Hudson

Fall Driving Tour to West Point Military Academy and Cold Spring on Hudson th Sat, Nov, 8 2008 (Rain Date Nov, 9th)

Please join us for a relaxing scenic drive up the Hudson for a tour of West Point Military Academy.

Driving Itinerary

We will be leaving from Bayside Marina Park on Cross Island Parkway at 9:30am SHARP. Please come earlier (9:00AM) for coffee and donuts. This can be reached by the Long Island Expressway, Northern Parkway, or the Southern State Parkway exiting northbound onto the Cross Island Parkway going North towards the Throgs Neck Bridge. Bayside Marina Park is about one mile north of the LIE on the right. If you are late arriving at Bayside Marina Park and we are gone, please proceed to West Point and meet us there at 11:50am. Or if you choose you can meet us at Bear Mountain Park between 10:30 and 11:00am.

First stop will be the summit overlook at Bear Mountain State Park. From there we’ll caravan over to West Point. Going north on the Cross Island Parkway exit from the right lane onto the Throgs Neck Bridge. Stay in right lane for cash payment of toll. *Exit toll plaza to the left to get on Cross Bronx Expressway. Take Cross Bronx to the George Washington Bridge, take the lower deck to the right. *Exit right after going over the bridge onto the Palisades Parkway going north. *Take parkway north to Exit 19, Bear Mountain Park, onto Seven Lakes Parkway then a left to Perkins Memorial Drive and the road to the Summit of Bear Mountain Bear Mountain State Park Arrival time at the top of Bear Mtn. should be about 1.5 hours or less without significant traffic. Scenic Overlook, a visage of the Catskills to the west and north and the Hudson River and Manhattan to the south. Restrooms available, Expected stay: half an hour.

Second stop will be West Point Military Academy. * Depart Bear Mountain at 11:30am going east on Perkins Drive to exit Bear Mtn. park on 9W north. * At Roundabout take Rte 9W north to Rte 218 to Highlands Falls. *Take Rte 218 through Highlands Falls to Thayer Gate at West Point. Meet at the Visitor Center for tour of West Point.

West Point Tours Inc. offers a 1 hour guided bus tour of the academy. The 1 hour tour makes stops at the Main Cadet Chapel, Trophy Point, Battle Monument and the Plain. You are off the bus walking approximately 30 minutes. Please have photo ID with you for security check point. After the bus tour you will have 1 hour to visit the Museum behind the Visitor Center (no charge for the museum) or grab a quick lunch at The Park Restaurant Diner across from the Visitor Center. We recommend you bring a picnic lunch as it may be crowed at the diner.

At 2:30pm we’ll be leaving West Point for Cold Spring, our 3 rd stop. We will drive south towards the Bear Mountain Bridge and cross over the Hudson and drive North on scenic route 9D towards the quaint town of Cold Spring. http://www.coldspringliving.com/about.htm *Take Rte. 218 going south from West Point. *Exit 218 onto Rte 9W going south to Bear Mtn. *At Roundabout, exit across the Bear Mtn. Bridge [pay toll] *At end of bridge turn left onto Rte 9D, heading north to Cold Spring on the Hudson. You will pass through Garrison on the way to Cold Spring. * Turn Left onto Main Street in Cold Spring. *Turn left at the end of Main Street onto Lunn Terrace to take you over the Railroad Tracks and make a right onto Market Street. * Make left on Main Street to the end and Park around or near Gazebo Park on the river. COLD SPRING-ON-HUDSON

We’ll gather the Jags for a photo opportunity at the Gazebo Park with the Hudson River and Storm King Mountain in the background. There we will have time for shopping Main Street shops and Antique Stores. Dinner will be at 5:30pm at the Riverview Restaurant with spectacular views of The Hudson River and Storm King Mountain. (no credit cards, checks accepted) The following possible tours remain for the day if you choose not to stay in Cold Spring. # Drive into Garrison south on 9D. PHILIPSTOWN INFORMATION; GARRISON

# Return going south on 9D to Boscobel Restoration [18th century home and garden of Revolutionary War Hero Morris Dyckman. Boscobel Home Page

# Return on 9D south to Bear Mountain bridge drive "Oldstone Mtn." [Route 9D] down the mountain to Rte 9 A South to Tarrytown. There are 2 overlooks that you can see Hudson River south to NYC. Possible sites to see on the way home on Rte 9. Historic River Towns of Westchester County, New York: Historic Attractions -- Heart of the Hudson

Take 9D to Rte 9 to Rte 202 to Taconic Parkway or stay on 9 into Tarrytown or take 9A to the Sprain Brook Parkway and back to the Cross Bronx or Cross County parkway

# Shortest Route back from Cold Spring on the Hudson is to take Rte 301 to the Taconic Parkway and then south on the Taconic to Sprain Brook Parkway and New York. This is a beautiful ride along the "Cold Spring" with winding roads and lots of leaves on the way to the Taconic. This route will also take you past Fahnestock Park New York State Parks:: Clarence Fahnestock State Park which has an uncut virgin forest surrounding an Iron Ore quarry from the Revolutionary war [where the ore was mined to make the chain that crossed the Hudson River at West Point] that is now a lake and the walk around the lake in the old forest is a lovely shaded walk in the afternoon.

Driving Time and Distance Summery

Leave: Bayside Marina Park 9:30am SHARP

Arrive: Bear Mountain Park 10:30-11:00am 49 miles

Leave: Bear Mountain Park 11:30am

Arrive: West Point 11:50am 7 miles

Bus Tour 12:30pm

Bus Tour Ends 1:30pm

Museum / lunch 1:30pm – 2:30pm

Leave: West Point 2:30pm

Arrive: Cold Spring 3:00pm 15 miles

Dinner at Riverview Restaurant 5:30pm www.rivingdining.com

Please RSVP (leave your phone # so that we may contact you in case of rain) no later than Nov. 3rd to Larry Tullar at [email protected] or 516-967-0152 cell. Bus Tour Prices: Pre-Paid in advance. Adults $11 Children 2-11 -$8

Make payment payable to JDCLI and mail to: Larry Tullar 39 Shore Road Amityville, NY 11701 Lunch and Dinner are optional and are pay as you go.Please keep these phone numbers with you if you must get in contact with Larry Tullar or George Stephani during the driving tour. Larry’s Cell # 516-967-0152 George’s Cell# 516-448-9691