Jaunted

Where to Stay: You won't find a cooler place to stay in the region than the 100-year-old, 45-room Castle on the Hudson. The castle, perched on a hilltop overlooking the river, was built in the style of Norman fortifications in the British Isles, and today its spacious rooms are rented out at royal prices.

What to See: Even the castle is rather unimpressive compared to Lyndhurst, the sprawling estate and Gothic revival mansion once owned by railroad tycoon Jay Gould. The 1838 building, now a museum, is surrounded by a maze of intricate, 19th century landscape design, and a climb up to the top of the hill offers the best view going of the Hudson.

For a more literary-minded daytrip, Sunnyside, Washington Irving's private home, has also been preserved as a museum, and tours of the grounds offer a peak into the writer's life.

What to Do: The Music Hall, on Tarrytown's Main Street, is one of the oldest surviving theaters in the Northeast. Built in 1885, upcoming shows at this grand old theater include concerts with singer/songwriter Andrew Bird and indie icon Aimee Mann; you'll also find an awful lot of events along the lines of "America's ultimate Pink Floyd light show experience."

Getting There: The Tarrytown stop on the Metro-North line is a 30-minute trip from Grand Central Station.

Related Stories:
· Castle on the Hudson [Official Site]
· Lyndhurst [Official Site]
· Washington Irving's Sunnyside [Official Site]
· The Music Hall [Official Site]
· Hudson Valley Escapes coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: liz_noise]