# Stuff to do somewhere between Albany & Poughkeepsie **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 26, 2007, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-to-do-somewhere-between-albany-poughkeepsie/397556 "2007-03-26T16:16:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2007, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-to-do-somewhere-between-albany-poughkeepsie/397556/1 "2007-03-26T16:16:34Z")
Is there anything? My friend lives in Po-town, I live in Albany, and we want to meet somewhere halfway between. Weekend of April 7th. Are there any fairs or anything that I’ve missed? I remember the Hudson Valley was boring, but this much??? ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2007, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-to-do-somewhere-between-albany-poughkeepsie/397556/2 "2007-03-26T16:32:11Z")
The Catskill Game Farm is about halfway between the two. ---
**Author:** ![Hunter\_Hawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@Hunter\_Hawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hunter_Hawk)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2007, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-to-do-somewhere-between-albany-poughkeepsie/397556/3 "2007-03-26T16:42:38Z")
Opus 40 is very cool, but make sure to check whether it’s open. Woodstock is nice to walk around. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2007, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-to-do-somewhere-between-albany-poughkeepsie/397556/4 "2007-03-26T16:46:45Z")
[QUOTE=Anaamika] I remember the Hudson Valley was boring, but this much??? [/QUOTE] Yes, this much. There really isn’t much between the two. The Catskills are a long, dull, area of New York. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2007, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-to-do-somewhere-between-albany-poughkeepsie/397556/5 "2007-03-26T16:47:42Z")
Closed. > **[Catskill Game Farm](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catskill_Game_Farm)** > > Catskill Game Farm Inc. was a family owned petting zoo in the town of Catskill, New York, United States, which operated from 1933 to 2006. The Game Farm closed permanently on Columbus Day October 9, 2006, after seventy-three years of operation. > The property was purchased by new owners in 2012 and the former giraffe barn has been developed into a hotel and opened in October 2019 following an extensive renovation of the existing building. > The Catskill Game Farm was opened in 1933 by Roland Linde... ---
**Author:** ![2pelo\_honey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/ecb155/32.png) [@2pelo\_honey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2pelo_honey)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2007, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-to-do-somewhere-between-albany-poughkeepsie/397556/6 "2007-03-26T17:25:33Z")
Initially I thought there might be alot, but then checked my Atlas…looks like more to do either close to your home, or your friend’s. What about the mansions - isn’t there Vanderbilt or Rockefeller estates in there somewhere? Or wineries? I wanted to check out the Gilded Otter brewery in New Paltz when I first heard about it, but it’s right down by Poughkeepsie, for your purposes. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2007, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-to-do-somewhere-between-albany-poughkeepsie/397556/7 "2007-03-26T17:40:06Z")
I don’t mind driving a bit more in that direction. I hate to say it but I don’t want her driving any closer as I don’t particularly feel like inviting her back! I know that’s bad…I like her a lot but I just hate trying to entertain at my house, plus she and I have very few of the same interests anymore. It’s odd how far we’ve grown apart. Anyway - wineries sounds like a good idea. I also suggested the FDR home, which is all the way in Hyde park but now that I have a reliable car I don’t mind as much. ---
**Author:** ![2pelo\_honey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/ecb155/32.png) [@2pelo\_honey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2pelo_honey)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2007, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-to-do-somewhere-between-albany-poughkeepsie/397556/8 "2007-03-26T18:01:38Z")
[QUOTE=Anaamika] I don’t mind driving a bit more in that direction. I hate to say it but I don’t want her driving any closer as I don’t particularly feel like inviting her back! I know that’s bad…I like her a lot but I just hate trying to entertain at my house, plus she and I have very few of the same interests anymore. It’s odd how far we’ve grown apart. Anyway - wineries sounds like a good idea. I also suggested the FDR home, which is all the way in Hyde park but now that I have a reliable car I don’t mind as much. [/QUOTE] That 1st paragraph made me laugh out loud…sorry! Been there, unfortunately. So…you kinda need something entertaining enough to stave off uncomfortable silences? Wine tasting oughta do that, then go giggle at the mansion tours. How about shopping areas? Isn’t there something down towards Harriman? ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2007, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-to-do-somewhere-between-albany-poughkeepsie/397556/9 "2007-03-26T18:22:28Z")
I don’t know what your and your friend are interested in, but both the Catskills and Taconics offer great hiking - OK not directly inbetween but not that far off center. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2007, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-to-do-somewhere-between-albany-poughkeepsie/397556/10 "2007-03-26T18:28:25Z")
She won’t hike. ☹ And I love hiking. 2pelo honey, glad I could make you laugh! But it’s true. We used to be best friends in college and we still love each other dearly but sometimes I wonder if it’s not totally an uphill effort. Ah well…I’ll figure it out. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2007, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-to-do-somewhere-between-albany-poughkeepsie/397556/11 "2007-03-26T20:28:19Z")
I was going to say [Olana](http://www.olana.org/visit_index.php) but it looks like they’re closed until Memorial Day. [Here](http://www.hudsonrivervalley.com/index.cfm?section_id=10&suggested_itinerary_cat_id=1&page_id=114) is an index of events in the Hudson Valley National Heritage Area. The April calendar has a variety of entries. I grew up in Kingston and my family used to go picnic on the grounds of the Claremont estate which overlooked the Hudson. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2007, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-to-do-somewhere-between-albany-poughkeepsie/397556/12 "2007-03-26T21:00:45Z")
Rhinebeck has a independent movie theater that sometimes has interesting stuff playing. ---
**Author:** ![Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laughing_Lagomorph)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2007, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-to-do-somewhere-between-albany-poughkeepsie/397556/13 "2007-03-27T00:49:02Z")
[QUOTE=Anaamika] … I remember the Hudson Valley was boring, but this much??? [/QUOTE] I went to High School in Poughkeepsie, and much of my family lives in the Kingston area. “Boring” is the operative word. I’ve never been to the wineries, they might be your best bet. The Vanderbilt and Roosevelt mansions are right next to each other in Hyde Park and I believe you can get a combined admission to both. They are both worth seeing once. The Gilded Otter in New Paltz knows how to make a nice beer or three. There is apparently another brew pub in Hyde Park: [http://www.hydeparkbrewing.com/about.html](http://www.hydeparkbrewing.com/about.html) I’ve never been but I think I have heard my brother say good things about it. ---
**Author:** ![Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laughing_Lagomorph)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2007, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-to-do-somewhere-between-albany-poughkeepsie/397556/14 "2007-03-27T00:50:47Z")
[QUOTE=kanicbird] Rhinebeck has a independent movie theater that sometimes has interesting stuff playing. [/QUOTE] [Upstate Films](http://www.upstatefilms.org/index.php). Actually, that does look potentially interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Terrorcotta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dbc845/32.png) [@Terrorcotta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrorcotta)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2007, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-to-do-somewhere-between-albany-poughkeepsie/397556/15 "2007-03-27T02:29:45Z")
[QUOTE=Anaamika] Closed. > **[Catskill Game Farm](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catskill_Game_Farm)** > > Catskill Game Farm Inc. was a family owned petting zoo in the town of Catskill, New York, United States, which operated from 1933 to 2006. The Game Farm closed permanently on Columbus Day October 9, 2006, after seventy-three years of operation. The property was purchased by new owners in 2012 and the former giraffe barn has been developed into a hotel and opened in October 2019 following an extensive renovation of the existing building. The Catskill Game Farm was opened in 1933 by Roland Lindema... [/QUOTE] Aw heck! I loved that place as a kid! That was where I first saw an Okapi and fell in love. (I was 11) ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2007, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-to-do-somewhere-between-albany-poughkeepsie/397556/16 "2007-03-27T02:36:33Z")
Anaamika: > [@](#): > > Closed Bummer. I used to like that place. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2007, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-to-do-somewhere-between-albany-poughkeepsie/397556/17 "2007-03-27T03:49:23Z")
Yeah, it was really heartbreaking when she had to close and auction off all the poor little animals. And a big controversy, too. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2007, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-to-do-somewhere-between-albany-poughkeepsie/397556/18 "2007-03-27T04:17:50Z")
Is Kingston too far south? [Trolley Museum of New York](http://www.tmny.org/) 89 Rondout Landing Kingston, NY 12401 (845) 331-3399 [Hudson River Maritime Museum](http://www.hudsonrivervalley.com/index.cfm?section_id=6&page_id=62) 50 Rondout Landing Kingston, NY 12401 (845) 338-0071 [Senate House Museum](http://www.hudsonrivervalley.com/index.cfm?section_id=6&page_id=61) 312 Fair St Kingston, NY 12401 (845) 338-2786 [Old Dutch Church and Museum](http://www.hudsonrivervalley.com/index.cfm?section_id=6&page_id=281) 272 Wall St Kingston, NY 12401 (845) 338-6759 [Fred Johnston Museum](http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/travel/kingston/k9.htm) 63 Main St Kingston, NY 12401 (845) 339-0720 In addition to all this, Kingston is a great little walking town. Jim ---
**Author:** ![Orville\_mogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/aeb1de/32.png) [@Orville\_mogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orville_mogul)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2007, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-to-do-somewhere-between-albany-poughkeepsie/397556/19 "2007-03-27T10:24:22Z")
[QUOTE=Anaamika] Anyway - wineries sounds like a good idea. [/QUOTE] Are there wineries in the Hudson Valley? I know the Finger Lakes wines well, but I didn’t know there were any more in NYS. Are you two baseball fans? How about Cooperstown? It’s probably a 60 minute drive from Albany and 90 minutes from Poughkeepsie. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2007, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-to-do-somewhere-between-albany-poughkeepsie/397556/20 "2007-03-27T13:12:16Z")
We actually do love Kingston, only we’ve been there many a time and are planning to do something else. We’ve decided - neither of us have been to the FDR home so we’re going to go there. And then maybe Vanderbilt. But that should keep us entertained long enough, then lunch and some talking! Thanks guys…i was kinf of at a loss. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-to-do-somewhere-between-albany-poughkeepsie/397556.md?page=2)