River Ramble showcases the Hudson Valley's heritage

Goshen — Those who wish to explore local history and culture may wish to join the Hudson River Valley Ramble over the next two weekends. A variety of guided walking, hiking, kayaking, canoeing, and biking events will highlight nationally significant historical, cultural, and natural resources in the Hudson Valley. This year's Ramble, on Sept. 17 to 18 and Sept. 24 to 25, will feature more than 150 events in 10 counties of the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area, from Westchester and Rockland counties to the Capital Region. Participants will start the day with lunch or Sunday brunch in one of Marlborough's restaurants, where they can pick up a copy of the brochure, published by the Marlborough Agricultural Alliance to promote sustainable agriculture and preserve the farming landscape. With the guide in hand, participants will then spend the day touring the countryside, stopping at family farms where there will be activities for everyone. "Meet Me in Marlborough" signs will lead visitors to wineries, antiques shops, and other local sights. Participating restaurants include the Ship Lantern Inn (795-5400), Marlo Inn (236-4177), Brick House (236-3765), Casey's (236-4125), and Raccoon Saloon (236-7872). For more information about the restaurants, visit www.meetmeinmarlborough.com. Several Ramble events offer an in-depth exploration of heritage themes, such as the Revolutionary War, the Hudson River School of Art, the Great Estates, and the Hudson River Estuary. All Revents are led by naturalists, ecologists, geologists, historians, and trained volunteers from participating groups. These include nearly 100 environmental, land conservancy, trail and historic preservation organizations, such as Scenic Hudson, the Open Space Institute, The Nature Conservancy, and The Riverkeeper. Many New York State historic sites and parks, as well as the National Park Service, will also participate. Most events are free. For a complete listing, visit the Ramble website at www.hudsonvalleyramble.com. The site groups events by region — Lower Valley, Middle Valley, Upper Valley — and by county, and has a map that allows a "Rambler" to locate events. The site also offers information on tourism and lodging. For a print copy of the Ramble program guide, call 1-800-453-6665, or e-mail ramble@hvc.rr.com. For Hudson Valley tourism information, call for a free Hudson Valley Travel Guide at 1-800-232-4782, or visit www.hudsonrivervalley.com.