Hudson Valley Explorer

dining car train excursion

2008 Season:

Saturdays:  June 28, July 26, August 23, September 20, October 18

Sundays:  June 29, July 27, August 24, September 21, October 19

Its a fantastic one-day escape through the Hudson River Valley and into the Catskills.  Join us for a delightful day of majestic sightseeing, fine dining and fun entertainment. 

Travel in comfort free from traffic hassles aboard our exclusive 1950's era railroad Dining Car "Epicurus".  Relax as you wind along the mighty Hudson River for over 200 miles roundtrip.  Enjoy awesome views of the Hudson River Valley you'll never see from any highway including West Point, Bannerman's Castle, Storm King Mountain, Bear Mountain, Hudson Highlands, stately mansions, massive bridges, and a myriad of picturesque sailboats, barges, tugboats and lighthouses.  Never loose your sense of place as our GPS monitors continuously pinpoint location of the beautiful surroundings.  Learn the colorful history of the valley and experience firsthand why the Hudson has inspired so many artists, poets, and writers.

Dining aboard the Epicurus is an event as our chef fresh prepares both a tasty three-course service and hearty four-course dinner for your dining pleasure.  Delight-in restaurant-style service complimented by fine china and snow white linens.  We've even selected regional wines that showcase some of the splendid things the Hudson Valley has to offer.  Our lively entertainment will help get you "in the mood".

2008: Featuring wines from Rivendell Winery, New Paltz, NY

Leave the train at Rensselaer OR Hudson for a short exploration at your own pace.   Our knowledgeable onboard host will be happy to assist you in planning your own preferred activities.

Downtown Albany is just a short taxi ride across the river from Rensselaer.  At the vast New York State Museum you can stroll through turn of the century New York City streets, an IRT subway car, a beach boardwalk, the Sesame Street set, and a native Iroquois Longhouse.  The World Trade Center: Rescue, recovery, response exhibit is enthralling.   Natural history displays exhibit 100-million-year-old fossils, the bones of a prehistoric mastodon, minerals, and 170 species of native birds.  Thrill to a ride on the historic carousel located at the Windows on New York Terrace.   

Nearby the Amtrak Rensselaer station is Crailo State Historic Site.  This museum tells the unique story of early Dutch inhabitants of the upper Hudson River Valley.

You may also choose to leave the train at the historic city of Hudson and spend two hours strolling the quaint downtown where you'll find over 70 antique shops welcoming you to browse.  Hudson is also host to the huge FASNY Museum of Firefighting.  Nearby is Olana State Historic Site where Frederic Church's magnificent Persian-style home is open again for tours following a thorough restoration.