The Pagodas and Temples of Bagan, Myanmar

It's hard to put this place into words.  There are so many structures here that it's impossible to describe them all.  The country of Myanmar was completely cut off from the rest of the world for decades, so we have very little travel experience there in the first place.  Everyone has ruled here from the Kings to the Khans to the British and now to the Tatmadaw organization that currently manages the country.  So, you to go and work very hard to get the visas, learn all the rules, take the train that shakes and bumps so bad that you need rails to stay in your tiny bunk, pay more fees, and hire a guide.  It's not easy to visit Bagan.  It is something that you won't see anywhere else in the world though, so I think it's worth it.



There are so many structures in this 26 square mile area, that it's impossible to see them all.  They were built over eons, so they vary in size and appearance.  They were created during different rulers' times, from the time of King Anawrahta around 1057 to the time that Kublai Khan conquered the area in about 1287.  It is believed that at one point there were over 13,000 structures in this area.  Now that many have become little more than piles of rubble, only about 2,000 remain intact.  They range from the simple and small to the ornate and gilded.  It is one of the most significant sites of this kind in the world.

Now, don't worry, there are resort hotels, great restaurants and shopping to do in Bagan City.  It's not just a collection of temples and pagodas sitting in a field in the middle of nowhere.  It's actually quite nice in Bagan City, and it's still pretty quiet.  They have built a tower there just so you can get a really good view of the temples and so on to help the tourism cause.  They are starting to learn to cater to tourists, but for now, it's still way under the radar for the norm, so it's a great time to visit here.

The tower is built to blend in as best it can with it's ancient surroundings.  It is hard to go and see all there is to see in this place, so having a photo op spot isn't a bad thing.

The amazing thing is that somewhere out in that huge collection of pagodas and temples is a pair of them that claim that they have actual hair and such from the Buddha.  Myanmar is extremely Buddhist, and the temples that contain the hair of the Buddha are extremely sacred sites to Buddhists everywhere.

Inside most of the temples is a Buddha.  The more elaborate the temple, the more elaborate the Buddha.  It's all an amazing experience.  The best part is that after you're done investigating the grounds for the day, you can go back to town and go to a buffet.  It's all the rage there.  They have discovered the buffet style restaurant.  There are good deals on them too.  Then you can go back and take a swim at your resort hotel.  It's past meets present in an extreme way.  It's also modern meets old world dictatorship at it's finest.  The world is full of contrasts.  An American traveling Myanmar is just one more.
 


So, throw off the ordinary once again.  If Angkor Wat seems interesting to you, then think about this spot which is the second most significant spot of this kind in the world only behind Angkor Wat.  The people here are still very curious about outsiders, so they will ask a lot of questions.  They are very friendly and love to haggle with shoppers, so remember to do that.  You'll love how new it all is to them.  You'll love the direct view you get of their world, since they aren't quite over run by tourists yet.  It's mystical and real.  It's forgotten and newly found.  It's a land of contrasts and that's what makes it fascinating.  Enjoy!

http://www.orientalarchitecture.com/myanmar/bagan/index.php
http://bagangolfresort.net/index.htm
http://www.myanmars.net/myanmar-travel/myanmar-bagan/bagan.htm
http://sacredsites.com/asia/burma_myanmar/bagan.html
http://www.baganmyanmar.com/bagan-pagodas-temples/others.html
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/myanmar-burma
http://myanmartoursoperator.com/
http://www.voyagetrek.com/Travel/Tours/Myanmar?tfa_SpecialFormNotes=Bing+Yahoo-Search&tfa_SpecialNotes2=Myanmar%20tour%20operator
http://myanmartoursonline.com/
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1077.html 
http://www.cafepress.com/artisticcreationsbyninakindred1
http://pixels.com/profiles/terri-dixon.html
http://www.zazzle.com/imagings

The Other Side of the Grand Canyon...Page, Arizona

Somewhere in the northeastern corner of Arizona, lies the town of Page.  It's past the narrow beginning of the Grand Canyon and above the Cameron Trading Post.  At the moment, they've had a partial road collapse on route 89 and you even have to take a 45 minute detour to get there if you come from the south somewhere like Flagstaff.  Here's the thing.  You can go to the Grand Canyon's south rim and see all the beauty you can absorb.  There's dining, lodging, hiking, burro travel, tours to Phantom Ranch, and even a train.  It's amazing.  I admit that.  But, if you never go to the lands along the north rim, you'll be missing something amazing.

Page, Arizona is the home of Lake Powell.  Lake Powell was largely formed when the upper Colorado River was regulated by Glen Canyon Dam.  The sandstone that is the lake and it's edges make for a colorful landscape that also gives the feeling of being on an entirely different planet.  There are many who would argue that it's the most beautiful lake in the world.  It covers an enormous area stretching up into Utah, and is one of the best places in the world to go house boating.   There are several companies along the shores of Lake Powell that rent houseboats out by the day and week for the tourists, as well as wave runners, speed boats and fishing equipment.  It's one of the biggest water recreation areas in Arizona topped only by Lake Meade.  Along it's shores you will find many tributaries to investigate, and with a permit, you can visit the Rainbow Bridge, the worlds largest natural bridge.  Be careful to be respectful when visiting this monument.  It's on Navajo land and it is a sacred point to them.

Page is a wonderful little town, and it's directly on the Navajo Reservation.  There's a good portion of this town devoted to the tourists.  There's every imaginable hotel chain, there's a Walmart, and they have a McDonalds with the best view I've ever seen.  Most people, myself included, don't really bother to take pictures of the town, because there are so many beautiful things around to look at.  It just gets overshadowed by the art that God provides.  I can say that there are a ton of shops devoted to both the ridiculous souvenirs that we all love to buy and the native handicrafts that are purely works of art.  So the shopping here is amazing.  I don't normally mention that, but there it is.  There is also the Indian culture to absorb.  There is amazing food to be tried, those beautiful handicrafts I mentioned and then there's the dance.  In the summer, which is the height of tourist season here, a couple of nights a week, the locals will put on a dancing demonstration, and if you like, they will teach you to join in.  Page is a great place to use as a hub for your north rim area adventure.

While you're in the area, you need to take the road trip out to the north rim of the Grand Canyon.  There's not as much to do out there as there is on the south rim, but the views are amazing.  Even the drive through the Kaibob Plateau on the way there is amazing.  The seasons  are more defined along the north rim.  It snows there in the winter...a lot.  You should check to see if the north rim is open if you plan a spring trip.  Sometimes the snow can block the roads well into May.


Once you arrive at the north rim, you will notice the difference between it and it's counterpart.  Here you can look back to the days of Teddy Roosevelt, when the national parks system was new.  The Grand Canyon Lodge was built in 1928 with all the grandeur of the day.  It's stone facade and rustic yet grand interior has made it a draw on the north rim even to this day.  There are rooms available in the lodge, excellent dining and cabins for rent on the property if you want to do it the old fashioned way.  But the best part to me was the view.  You can sit on the terrace of this amazing old lodge and look out over the Grand Canyon.  It's hands down the best view anywhere of this stunning natural wonder.
 
While you're out touring the nether regions of the Grand Canyon, you have to stop at both Lee's Ferry and the Cameron Trading Post.  If you like to stop along the way and find kitchy things to see, these are for you.  Lee's Ferry is an abandoned town, founded by the man who some credit with finding the Grand Canyon.  I'm sure lots of people knew it was there, but the story is good.  Down in Lee's Ferry there are more natural sights to see.  This is where you can hike amongst the red dunes.  They're a sandstone formation the looks like striped dunes.  They're fascinating and shouldn't be missed.  The Cameron Trading Post is a wonder perched along the edge of the river right at the bridge on the road headed for Page.  This place has great Navajo Tacos.  I had to throw that in.  It also has some amazing shopping.  The place is huge and has every handicraft and every stupid little souvenir you've ever seen.  They also have a complete clothing department, and groceries.  It's spectacular.
As you drive back to Page, you'll pass the Red Cliffs which glow in the sun, and you'll wonder what else could make your trip special.  This is where the adventure truly begins.

Antelope Canyon is one of the most unusual places I've ever been.  There are many slot canyons, as they're called throughout the Arizona/Utah area.  Antelope Canyon lies directly on Navajo land, is sacred, and is the most famous one in the world.  In order to go into the canyon, you must go with a native guide, so if someone who is not a native offers to take you there, don't go.  It's against the laws of the Navajo Nation.  Now, you can drive out to the desert and meet up with the tour, or you can just ride from Page.  The giant tired trucks that take you to the canyon are quite a fun ride.  They do bounce a bit, but it's all part of the adventure.

Antelope Canyon has an upper and a lower section.  The most popular is the upper section.  It's the easiest to get to and doesn't fill up with water very often.  The canyon is only about a quarter of a mile long, but it's amazing.  In the beginning, the red rocks glow in the sun, but as you get further into the canyon, the magic starts.

The walls grow higher, the pathway gets narrower, and the colors change almost continually as the sun moves across the sky.

Water carved these amazing slot canyons with their curves and twists, but the sunlight brings out the full beauty.

No two pictures are alike.  You feel like you've been transported somewhere when you're walking through the canyons.  It's an experience that you can't get from a picture.  You simply have to be there.

So, take a walk on the north side.  Come to Page and make it the hub for your north rim adventure.  Stay on a houseboat on Lake Powell, visit Glen Canyon Dam, see the Cameron Trading Post, Red Cliffs and Lee's Ferry.  Visit the north rim of the Grand Canyon, and enjoy the Navajo Culture in Page.  And, by all means, take the time to have the real adventure of a lifetime.  Visit the slot canyons--mainly Antelope Canyon, and have an experience that you'll never forget.
Things that you do have to remember for this trip.  Make sure that you go with a guide to Antelope Canyon.  Make sure that you have a permit to go to Rainbow Bridge.  Make sure you book your houseboat before the season begins.  Be prepared for detours on route 89.  Be aware that the seasons in the area are somewhat harsh at times.  Not all of Arizona is warm year round.  And by all means, have lunch at that McDonald's with a view.  Enjoy!
http://visitpagearizona.com/activities/adventures-and-tours.html?page=2
http://www.cityofpage.org/
http://www.page-lakepowell.com/
http://page.arizona.com/
http://www.zionnational-park.com/grand-canyon.htm
http://www.americansouthwest.net/arizona/grand_canyon/north_rim.html
http://www.americansouthwest.net/arizona/lees_ferry/
http://www.camerontradingpost.com/index.html
http://navajonationparks.org/htm/antelopecanyon.htm
http://www.lakepowell.com/glen-canyon-history.aspx
http://grandcanyonlodgenorth.com/lodging/
http://www.antelopecanyontours.com/pages/1/index.htm
http://www.antelopeslotcanyon.com/ 
http://www.cafepress.com/artisticcreationsbyninakindred1
http://www.zazzle.com/imagings
http://pixels.com/profiles/terri-dixon.html

Ten More Things That You May Not Have Been Aware of...USA

There are things that we just miss, because we've overlooked it, no one talks about it, or we just never even thought about it.  Here's some of those things.
1.  In Oklahoma City, OK this year, they will be holding the 62nd Annual Square Dance National Convention.  I know what you're thinking, but it's not the old barn dance that you've seen on TV.  These dancers have spent a long time in classes learning the moves that make square dancing popular.  If you think you've heard it all, try doing a move called a bucket of worms.


2.  Have you ever considered cruising the St. Lawrence Seaway?  It's not the Caribbean Cruises that we've all heard about, but then again, I haven't heard of them breaking down all over the place.  There are several cruise options on the Seaway, but one of my favorites is the Pearl Seas Cruise of the Thousand Islands area.  It's relaxing, old world and beautiful.

3.  How about a night on the town in Little Italy, New York City?  There is nothing quite like a warm summer evening dining outside in front of the restaurant with the streets blocked to traffic and street performers all around.  There's wonderful music to dance to, and as always, the great authentic Italian food.  Not to mention, it always looks like Christmas in Little Italy and the views are way better than you might think.
 
4.  My family talks non stop about the NASCAR Racing Experiences around the country.  But, did you ever wonder if you could drive an Indy Car?  Yes you can.  The Indy Racing Experience is waiting for you at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.  Here's your chance to get off the beaten path and away from NASCAR for just a moment and try a different kind of racing.

5.  Ithaca, New York is one of those unique places in the world.  It's green, it's gorges, and it's full of food of all kinds.  The Moosewood Restaurant is famous the world over for it's amazing vegetarian cuisine, and their cookbooks are some of the best sellers of all time for vegetarian.  There are also over 100 other fabulous restaurants in this amazing city.  You can find some of the best Thai food outside of Thailand, there's an authentic Irish Pub with music too, there's great Mediterranean and so much more.  Then if you need to bike it off, you can rent a bike from several locations around town.  You can also hike it off in any of the several beautiful gorges that give the town it's slogan...Ithaca is gorges!

6.  Here it is.  Did you know that Cedar Point has been ranked the best roller coast amusement park in the world for most of the last decade?  It's in Sandusky, Ohio, for heaven's sake.  They have, count them, 16 roller coasters, most of them world famous and some of them have been around for years, like the Blue Streak and the Corkscrew.  There are tons of other rides in the park, so there's something for everyone, but remember, the best amusement park in the world is just over in Ohio.

7.  It's here.  Sandboarding.  It's all the rage, and one of the best places to do it is the Imperial Dunes in southwestern California.  There aren't rental places that I know of just yet, but it is allowed, along with all the ATV's, dirt bikes, and dune buggys you can muster up.  It's a great sport, but remember to allow yourself to get used to it.  It's definitely not like being on the water.
 
8.  Just in case you missed this one, several years ago London Bridge was sold, and the owner moved it brick by brick to Lake Havasu, Arizona.  Not only is the Lake Havasu area a beautiful place to go boating and in general spend your time, but London Bridge is there too.

9.  I love this one.  Only in Vegas can you spend a couple of hundred dollars and have the privilege of playing with heavy equipment.  It opened only a couple of years ago, so if you haven't been to Vegas lately, you missed it.  They have bucket loaders, backhoes, and all kind of wonderful toys for your biggest boys and girls.

10.  Michigan is a great place.  There are so many unique things there to do and see.  I spent half my life traveling in Michigan, and I can attest to that.  But, if there's one thing that I can say is unique about Michigan, it's the dune rides.  There are dunes up and down western Michigan along the shores of the great lake that bear's it's name.  Silver Lake Dunes is the place to go however.  You can take a ride in dune schooners, or you can bring your own vehicle.  This is the only place in duneland that you are allowed to do that.  It's great fun.

So, if you are looking for something a little different to do this summer, I hope you enjoy these ideas.  It's all great fun, and it's all right here in the U.S.  Enjoy!

http://www.62nsdc.com/
http://pearlseascruises.com/store.php?crn=229
http://www.littleitalynyc.com/gethere.asp
http://www.indyracingexperience.com/t-DriveIndyCar.aspx
http://www.visitithaca.com/dining/
https://www.cedarpoint.com/things-to-do/roller-coasters#panel1-3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OZHRSWKvEc
http://www.golakehavasu.com/activities/more_to_do/london_bridge.aspx
http://www.grandcanyontourcompany.com/digthis.html
http://www.thinkdunes.com/ 
http://www.cafepress.com/artisticcreationsbyninakindred1
http://pixels.com/profiles/terri-dixon.html
http://www.zazzle.com/imagings

Leptis Magna...Yes, It's in Libya

We've all seen pictures from Libya.  We've seen them on television and on the web and in the paper.  They're pretty scary.  I'll admit that.  But, have you ever traveled to a place that you've heard on the news is scary?  I don't mean someplace that you will be killed, but someplace that's in flux and just becoming a solid free country?
It's not what you hear all the time.  Sometimes, you'll go there and find people who are just itching to tell you their story of freedom and conviction.  Sometimes, you'll find people who want to know all about where you come from, because they weren't allowed to have contact with people from your country until last year.  Sometimes they just want to show you the beauty that you never get to see on television.

They call it Leptis Magna.  It is an ancient city previously inhabited by the Romans.  It's perched along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea between Misrata and Tripoli.  Although the city has been around since the time of the Phoenicians, the Romans really made it spectacular.  Lucius Septimius Severus, a hometown boy became emperor and this was his favorite place on Earth.  It's probably the most in tact Roman ruins on the planet, and there are tons of things to see.

The theater is almost completely in tact.  It's almost as though it's just waiting for the people to arrive and the show to start.
 
The Four Season's Mosaic is just one of the many works of art that are still completely in tact from Leptis Magna.  The whole place is like an open museum.  It's a whole city lost in time.

You can see where the town forum use to be.

 The Romans even had bath rooms...well they had entire bath houses, but they're plumbing ideas were very forward thinking for the time.  There was a trough of water that ran below these seats.  You can figure out the rest.

They had roads, temples, basilicas, and many homes for their citizens.  It was a large city and a modern one for the time.  It stands today as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is probably what has kept it safe during the Gaddafi era.  One of the perks of visiting the site of Roman ruins is the fact that it is in Libya.  Let's face it folks, there aren't a lot of tourists yet in this land, and that makes it someplace that isn't crowded.   Many times you can visit the ruins and have the whole place to yourself.
   And then there's Misrata.  We're all used to seeing this city torn to pieces from the revolution.  It's coming along.  It still has a long way to go.  There are certain sections of town that look like a modern city.
There are other sections that still need work, but the locals are hopeful of their future.  The area is still largely in flux, because they are still in what they call a gray area as to where the country is actually going politically, but they hope that whatever is ahead, it is better than Gaddafi.
 The healing has begun.  As is necessary for any people that has been through hard times, the Libyans have made a War Memorial Museum to honor those who gave their lives for freedom.  This is not like any museum I've been to.
This museum, in addition to having many artifacts that they will protect for all time, has some things that you won't see anywhere else that I know of.  There are wall after wall of pictures of the people who were killed in the conflict while fighting for their country's freedom from tyranny.  They are honored in prayer by their visiting friends and family.  There are home made weapons out front.  It's the only exhibit I've ever seen of makeshift weapons from a war.  We all know that it was necessary for the rebels to make their own weapons, since there was no way to buy conventional ones.
I think the most shocking thing that I saw in this museum was the television.  They show footage of Gaddafi's  last days.  They show him being dragged through the streets in his blood stained shirt, crying.  It's sobering to say the least, but just like the museum at Auschwitz, it seemed necessary.  It's the victim's way of assuring that this will never happen again.
But what is it like to visit a place like  Misrata?  Well, you can visit the market, meet people, go to the beach, and enjoy the scenery just like you would anyplace else.  It's just that you will being doing this in Libya.  Isn't that enough to call this one an adventure?
So, get in touch with a Libyan tourism company.  Can't stress that enough.  You will need to make special preparations to visit this country.  I would only go with a local company.  There are tricky visas to get, there are language barriers, and the militia still has iron clad control over most areas of the country.  What does that mean?  Well, you will see people with machine guns in camo on the streets.  They are there for your protection.  There will be a ton of checkpoints.  They are there for your protection.  How dangerous is it?  Not as dangerous as you would think.  I'll be honest, I wouldn't go to Benghazi.  I don't know that I would spend a lot of time in Tripoli.  There is still a lot of unrest there.  But Misrata seems more calm and ready to move along.  The people are warm and friendly and love to tell their stories of triumph in the revolution.  It's a must see and do.
Enjoy!

http://www.libyatravelandtours.com/libya-tours/
http://www.africanworldheritagesites.org/cultural-places/frontiers-of-the-roman-empire/leptis-magna.html
http://looklex.com/libya/misurata.htm
http://www.politicaltours.com/tours/libya-after-the-revolution
http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/us/2013/05/11/ab-bourdain-libya-misrata-war-museum.cnn
http://worldblog.nbcnews.com/_news/2011/10/17/8366611-gadhafis-weapons-of-war-become-makeshift-museum?lite
http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/183
http://www.temehu.com/travel-guide-to-libya.htm
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_951.html
http://www.visitlybia.com/
http://www.livius.org/le-lh/lepcis_magna/lepcis01.html
http://libyacoast.com/
http://www.africaguide.com/country/libya/ 
http://www.cafepress.com/artisticcreationsbyninakindred1
http://pixels.com/profiles/terri-dixon.html
http://www.zazzle.com/imagings

I Love Hyde Park, New York!

I love Hyde Park, New York.  I'm a big fan of Poughkeepsie, it's next door neighbor on the Hudson as well.  Ever since I first saw the Hudson River through the eyes of the Roosevelt's, I've been hooked.  This is an area somehow partially lost in time.  There are old time diner's, roller skating rinks, drive in theaters, and of course a bunch of stately manors that once housed some of America's most elite.

First on our Hyde Park tour is the home of Franklin D. Roosevelt.  This is a beautiful home to stop and take a tour of.  It's not wildly fancy like some other homes that I have toured.  It's big, it's a labyrinth of bedrooms, but it's not gilded and has no thrones.  Also on the estate you will find the hub for historic homes and such in the area, the visitor's center.  This place is great, because you can get all your tickets for the area, shop in the gift shop, eat at the cafeteria, and watch a movie about the lives of FDR and Eleanor.  The movie is a must see, just in case you normally skip those like I do.  This one is really good and tells you things that you probably never knew about the Roosevelts. Also, there are the statues outside where everyone stops to pose for a picture.

There are several buildings on the property to look at from the stables, to caretaker homes, there's the library and museum, and a beautiful garden.  The library is under renovation, but will be reopening at the end of June.  It's a notable library, because it was the first presidential library and it was built while FDR was still in office.  Did he build it as a monument to himself?  No, he just needed someplace to keep his some 21,000 books.  In the garden you will find more than just flowers.  FDR loved his estate, and therefore, he is buried there with his wife and their two favorite dogs.

One thing that I love about the estates of Hyde Park is the views.  The grounds are the best parts of these mansions.

FDR's house is an expanded version of the original.  The lavish library/living room/office and parlor is the most elaborate room in the house.  I did love the stairway, which is one of many in the house.  Then there was the elevator that FDR used after he was confined to his wheelchair, which is the only elevator I've ever seen in an old estate home.  Most of the interior of the house was bedrooms.  The redesigning of the house is interesting.  The bedrooms are like a labyrinth with one room running into another so you have to pass through the front rooms to get to the back ones, which I would think would be intrusive if someone was trying to sleep.  It's different.
Now, one of the best things about the tour of FDR's house is the guides.  So what if the interior isn't really worth looking at?  The guides are going to tell you the best stories about FDR and his family.  It's totally worth the time for that.  So, let's recap.  Great movie to see.  Great stories from the guides.  Beautiful grounds to wander.  History in a whole new light.  Good trip.

 Right up the road is the Vanderbilt Mansion.  This place was built by Frederick and Louise Vanderbilt.  Frederick was the grandson of the Commodore himself.  This is the smallest of the Vanderbilt estates, with only four floors plus attic, one wing and 54 rooms.  Inside, where they will not allow you to take pictures, there are thrones, french furnishings, carved wood and all the gilding that the Vanderbilts were famous for.  If you like to look at the lavish lifestyles of this family, this one will not disappoint.
What you will enjoy about this tour once again are the stories.  Frederick and Louise had no children, so they left the place to a niece of theirs, who worked with FDR to turn the place into a historical attraction.  In the meantime, FDR used parts of the house to house his secret service agents.  You'll love the stories, I promise.

Now, once again, the grounds are magnificent.  The gardens are beautiful with all the arbors, brick structures, statues, ponds and fountains.  You could spend hours wandering the gardens of this fabulous estate.  The views of the river are amazing as well, and here they encourage you to take the trails that run along the river so that you can get a really good look.
The historic sites in Hyde Park are beautiful.  There is also Val-Kill, Eleanor Roosevelt's home, the Mills Mansion, Hyde Hall, and the CIA--Culinary Institute of America.
The Culinary Institute of America is one of the oldest and most respected cooking schools in the country.  If you don't know of anyone else who has studied there, how about Anthony Bourdain?  That's right, that travel foodie on television.  This school has been schooling some of the world's best chefs since 1946, and you too, can take part in all they have to offer.  There are restaurants on the premises where you can sample the student's wares that they've learned to prepare.  But here's the cool thing for you budding foodies out there who don't have the time to go and get a degree.  They have non-credit courses for non-students.  You can look at their catalog and choose from a huge selection of one day courses for only $250 apiece.  It's a great way to spend a day with world class instructors.  Then afterwards you can impress all of your friends with a gourmet dinner party.

Hyde Park is more than just mansions and cooking schools.  This community is somewhat frozen in time, and that's what makes it great and that's what makes it an "Adventure for Anyone."  You can look around the country these days and only find a handful of these places.  The Eveready Diner has been around since the 1950's.  It still looks the same, inside and out.  They still serve egg creams, but are still very highly regarded by critics.  They've even been featured on the Food Network program, Diners, Drive-ins and Dives hosted by Guy Fieri.  It's a great way to step back in time.
And if eating in the fifties isn't enough for you, there's a rollerskating rink right out back.  Roller Magic is a state of the art genuine roller skating rink.  And up the street from there, just across from the FDR estate, is the Hyde Park Drive in theater.  It's all right here folks.  You can spend a whole weekend in the 1950's.  It's nostalgia at it's finest.

 Now, if you want to see something amazing from old to new, there's a park for you in Poughkeepsie, which is Hyde Park's neighbor to the south.  The Walk Across the Hudson is a great reuse of old.  It used to be a train bridge, and was falling to ruin.  Now, with the help of several organizations, it's a completely restructured bridge, hundreds of feet in the air, providing a great view of the river valley and a really nice walk.  It's strong enough to hold a car, but made for pedestrians.

From up on this magnificent bridge you can see for miles with amazing panoramic views that include the Catskill Mountains and the lands almost all the way to West Point.  You will see commercial and personal boats alike traversing this shipping lane, and you will also hear and see the trains as they follow the shores of the mighty Hudson River below.  If you like the outdoors, this one's for you.
So, just to recap, FDR's house, Vanderbilt Mansion, old time diners, skating rinks and drive-ins.  A giant walking bridge over the Hudson.  Oh yeah, all the gourmet food you can both eat and cook.  It's a great place to visit.  I've always loved the area, and I would highly recommend it to anyone.
Enjoy!

http://www.nps.gov/hofr/index.htm
http://www.historichydepark.org/
http://www.fdrlibrary.marist.edu/
http://www.hydeparkchamber.org/tourism.htm#sites
http://www.ciachef.edu/about-the-cia/
http://hvnet.com/houses/vanderbilt/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/eveready-diner-hyde-park
http://hydeparkdrivein.com/
http://www.hydeparkrollermagic.com/
http://www.hydeparkchamber.org/services/lodging.htm
http://goldenmanorhydepark.com/
http://www.rooseveltinnofhydepark.com/
http://www.hudsonrivercruises.com/
http://www.hydehall.org/
http://walkway.org/
http://www.dutchesstourism.com/index.php
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Anthony-Bourdain-A-Cooks-Tour/162377963851170
http://www.foodnetwork.com/search/delegate.do?fnSearchString=eveready+diner+hyde+park&fnSearchType=site 
http://www.cafepress.com/artisticcreationsbyninakindred1
http://pixels.com/profiles/terri-dixon.html
http://www.zazzle.com/imagings