Bronze Medalist, 2008 Independent Publisher Book Awards in the U. S. Regional Northeast Non-Fiction Category

Hudson Valley Voyage offers a rich exploration of the Hudson River Valley's awe-inspiring beauty and the last 400 years of its history. From fishermen netting springtime shad to a frosty, pumpkin-filled field, Ted Spiegel's unforgettable photographs capture the valley's four-season splendor. These full-color images showcase the ways in which local residents and visitors alike enjoy all that the region has to offer—whether watching thoroughbreds race around Saratoga's historic track, admiring tulips in an Albany garden, or ice skating at Manhattan's famed Rockefeller Center.

Reed Sparling's eye-opening text—complemented by rare first-person recollections and historical documents—offers a vivid, "you are there" account of the history of this "landscape that defined America. " Invitations are extended. Sail aboard Henry Hudson's Half Moon in 1609. Storm the "impregnable" British fortress at Stony Point during the American Revolution. Take part in the festivities at the opening of the Erie Canal. Witness the birth of America's environmental movement on the Hudson's shoreline.

To help you plan your own explorations, the book features a four-page map highlighting ninety historic and cultural sites—house museums, Revolutionary War battlefields, art collections, and gorgeous gardens—as well as an extensive tourism guide that provides descriptions, addresses, and Web sites for each. So turn the pages and begin your own Hudson Valley Voyage. Whether a lifelong resident of the region or a first-time visitor, you're bound to be enchanted. And don't be surprised if you make some discoveries along the way!