Discover the natural and architectural wonders that abound along New York's Hudson River Valley in this lavishly illustrated travel and field guide. The unique scenery, plants and wildlife, and architecture of the valley, from Sleepy Hollow near New York City north to the town of Catskill, are showcased through 150 color photos. Brief essays relate the majesty of the four seasons in the valley, its waterfalls, bogs, people, history, and more. Whether it's learning about the recovery of bald eagles or the region's rare orchids, taking a tour through a historic Gilded Age mansion, or rambling to the top of a legendary mountain said to be the abode of mischievous imps, it will be hard, if not impossible, to avoid falling "under the sway of some witching power" that Washington Irving believed pervades this remarkable land. Includes a map with forty locations worth visiting and driving directions.

Through 15 additional stories on the Hudson River valley and Catskills, this fascinating and spooky follow-up explores the area's history and folklore. Picking up where the first volume of Hudson Valley History & Mystery left off, readers will learn little-known tales about heroic battles, famous individuals, mysterious creatures, and paranormal happenings. Helpful "Getting There" sections provide detailed directions and coordinates to each site. Featured stories include: 1. Hudson River Monsters, Cryptids, and Other Creatures; 2. Anne Hutchinson & Split Rock; 3. The Battle of White Plains; 4. Spook Rock of Sleepy Hollow; 5. High Tor; 6. "Mad Anthony" & the Battle of Stony Point; 7. The Leatherman; 8. Doodletown; 9. The Lost Silver Mine of the Hudson Highlands; 10. Seven Wells; 11. Esopus Island; 12. Martin Van Buren's Lindenwald; 13. Cohoes Falls; 14. Panthers in the Catskills; 15. Fawn's Leap. Written by a lifelong resident, the well-researched content in these two volumes provides an ideal guide for exploring a region that is booming in popularity.

The Hudson Valley is rooted in the mysterious. In fact, author Washington Irving called it "the spellbound region." But whether fact, superstition, or legend, the mystery of the region is detailed here through an amazing range of sites from enigmatic stone structures and ancient petroglyphs, to battlefields, haunted mountaintops, and popular waterfalls. Tales of ghosts and strange creatures, a hint of the supernatural, and attention-grabbing folklore and real-life experiences abound, including a fair share of lost treasure-from the infamous pirate Captain Kidd and outlaw Claudius Smith, to the more modern gangster, Dutch Schultz. Each of the 20 chapters includes mystifying stories, beautiful and expansive photography, and a "Getting There" section that provides coordinates and detailed directions to the location. So whether you're in the mood for an armchair vacation, or real visits to mysterious places, the Hudson Valley region is the place to be.