Driving from New York City to Montreal presents several choices.

The most scenic is the 9W highway with views of the Hudson River, which follows I 87 almost entirely. It’s best to avoid the 9W south of Poughkeepsie as an endless string of strip malls borders it. 9D is a scenic alternative as are the Palisades and Taconic Parkways which forbid trucks.

The most obvious (and easiest) is to stay on the interstate 87, the New York State Thruway, which goes almost straight north from New York City to Montreal. The 200 miles north of Albany to the Canadian border, the Adirondack Northway section of Interstate 87, is toll-free. Exits on I – 87 are numbered sequentially and not by distance.
The parkways were constructed with lowered bridges and overpasses as Robert Moses wanted to discourage busloads of immigrants from visiting the state parks.

Stopping in the Hudson River Valley is an absolute must. The following recommended sites are all within a one-and-a-half to two-hour drive from New York City (three + hours to Montreal) and are easily accessible from the routes mentioned above.

Kingston, NY, the state’s first capital, and the site of the largest Dutch settlement in the state is at exit 19. The historic Stockade district is well worth a walking tour, which can be completed in an hour or less. Highlights include the Dutch Reformist church (open on Sundays) and the beautifully preserved Hoffman House Tavern. With its intimate stone and dark wood interior and pretty garden terrace, the Hoffman House Tavern is a good lunch stop.

Beacon, NY is home to the 300,000 square-foot DIA Galleries that house a huge collection of contemporary art from the 1960s to the present day. Highlights include permanent works by Richard Serra and temporary exhibits of Sol Lewitt’s drawings. The naturally lit space is a reclaimed Nabisco factory.

Art lovers can check out the big names in contemporary sculpture found at the Storm King Art Center in Mountainview, off 9W. Most of the large works are outdoors and can be seen from a guided trolley tour. The Edward Hopper house in Nyack is worth a peek, though none of his works are housed here.

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