Manse [status]

[rebeccmeister]

Dear former self, Thank you for making this week's lab be one where we can all just kind of phone it in. We all NEEDED the reprieve!

When I am not frantically trying to keep up with the demands of the semester, this spring I am working with a friend to put together an itinerary for a bike touring expedition along the Erie Canal. I bought a copy of the guidebook put out by Parks & Trails New York, and have been browsing through it while eating breakfast and dinner. Along with that, at some point or another I also picked up some maps that highlight the historic mansions and gardens in the Hudson Valley (plus the companion Cycling the Hudson Valley guide). I think I was originally inspired to pay attention to the mansions of the Hudson Valley because of mallorys_camera's posts about visits to the Vanderbilt Mansion.

Anyway, the map and guide to Hudson Valley mansions made for some interesting breakfast reading this morning. I'm not sure if I'll ever make it a point to go out and visit all of the listed destinations, although I could imagine someone striving to do so, and it would certainly be an interesting project.

I do enjoy spending some time ogling interesting architecture, but I'm also sometimes repulsed by extravagant displays of opulence, which is why I have never tried to go inside Versailles to look around, in spite of passing through the area multiple times. (the Versailles kitchen garden, on the other hand, was AWESOME to visit!)

The map/guide presented the Hudson Valley mansions based on historic order, and as such, I think I might be more inclined to try and visit some of the earliest Dutch structures. I think I also like the idea of being able to go to these sorts of places to maybe drink some tea and enjoy a nice pastry there, if that's an option.

What about you? Is this the sort of thing you're ever inclined to check out? Or do you tend to favor other sorts of destinations?

Comments

[twoeleven]

Is this the sort of thing you're ever inclined to check out?

I'm always happy to look at other people's gardens. :)

Otherwise, sometimes yes, sometimes no. Tasteful architecture and interiors are interesting, even if they show piles of money to burn. And tasteless stuff is sometimes worth laughing at, sometimes an object lesson, and sometimes has good pieces, even if the whole thing should be burned to the ground.

[rebeccmeister]

Yeah, I have another map that I think might be gardens and landscapes, but I haven't opened it up just yet to take a look. I suspect I'll be more enthusiastic about it. It will also be interesting to see the extent to which the various types of destinations overlap with each other!

[ranunculus]

Donald and I have gotten Ordanance Survey maps in Britain and hiked from ancient monument to ancient monument....
I'm not much for going to big cities, much preferring to be outside.

[rebeccmeister]

Ohh, that sounds like a great way to experience aspects of Britain!

I tend to get tired of museums after ~2 hours of museum-going. I suspect I might be able to stick through a mansion visit, but only barely.

[bluepapercup]

I have more of an architecture interest these days than the bits and bobs of gilded life, but it is always fascinating to me when someone had collected a lot of something, usually some good historical interest.

Have you ever been to the Shelburne Museum in Vermont? They have an entire steamship. :)

[twoeleven]

That's pretty neat!

*looks at site*

Awww, it no longer steams. :(

[rebeccmeister]

I have not yet made it to the Shelburne Museum! It sounds like one of the many interesting corners to visit in this part of the country!

[cmcmck]

Historical sites will always lure me!

[rebeccmeister]

I suspected that might be the case for you! :^)

[cmcmck]

We're off to visit Conwy castle in Wales in May.

[zippybeta]

South of Hudson, is Olana (Frederic Church) https://olana.org Worthy of a visit if you have`t been.

[rebeccmeister]

Olana is definitely one of the destinations listed on the map! Glad to hear it's recommended. Thank you!

Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> I am working with a friend to put together an itinerary for a bike touring expedition along the Erie Canal. I bought a copy of the guidebook put out by Parks & Trails New York, and have been browsing through it while eating breakfast and dinner. <<

That sounds so exciting! :D Look for places off the beaten path. Or if you're into local history, talk with genealogists -- they'll know interesting lore about area families, which may lead to more places to visit.

>> I'm not sure if I'll ever make it a point to go out and visit all of the listed destinations, although I could imagine someone striving to do so, and it would certainly be an interesting project.<<

Often it helps to batch destinations by type, and try to get a representative sample rather than all of them. I like leaving some unplanned spaces to allow room for spontaneous explorations.

>> I'm also sometimes repulsed by extravagant displays of opulence, which is why I have never tried to go inside Versailles to look around <<

At some point, it just becomes hilarious. I've been in Russian and Mexican palaces, and the amount of sheer gaudiness starts to look like costume jewelry painted by sugar-crazed toddlers.

>> What about you? Is this the sort of thing you're ever inclined to check out? Or do you tend to favor other sorts of destinations? <<

Our family vacations typically mixed nature sites with historic interest. We have a particular fondness for tiny local museums.

[threemeninaboat]

yessss... I would like to do that.....