Columbia County (New York)

By air

• Albany International Airport, 737 Albany-Shaker Rd, Albany, . Close, but not very international.
• Stewart International Airport, 1180 First St, New Windsor, +1 845 564-2100, . An alternative to Albany, but at present offers few direct flights to major destinations.

By car

Taconic State Parkway runs through the county and connects Albany and the I90 east-west portion of the Thruway system to New York City via the Saw Mill River and the Henry Hudson Parkways.

By train

• Amtrak, . Runs on the Hudson River side of the county. Long distance connections are available at the station in the city of Hudson.

• Martin Van Buren National Historic Site

  address: 1013 Old Post Rd
  Kinderhook. Lindenwald is the retirement home of the 8th president. Van Buren was the first US president born after the nation's independence and, to date, the only Dutch speaking president. House is open for guided tours daily from Memorial Day weekend through the end of October; Saturday and Sunday, November through the first week of December. Grounds open year round dawn to dusk. Visitor center open 9AM to 4:30PM on dates the mansion is open.

• Olana

  phone: +1 518 828-0135
  address: 5720 Route 9G, Hudson
  The mountain-top villa of Frederic Church, one of the most prominent Hudson River painters and one of the United State's most significant artists. From the hilltop home there are sweeping views of the Catskills, the Hudson River, and the Taconic Hills. Interior of the house is closed for rehabilitation work through July 2007. Grounds are open.

• Mount Lebanon Shaker Village

  phone: +1 518 794-9100
  address: Darrow Road (off Route 20), New Lebanon
  Once the largest Shaker village—at its peak, over 6,000 acres and 100 buildings. Now the village is mostly in ruins or demolished, but the shell of the massive stone still stands. For 2006, open only for special events. Call or check web site for schedule. See other Shaker villages in the northeast United States through the itinerary Touring Shaker country.

• Shaker Museum and Library

  address: 88 Shaker Museum Rd
  Old Chatham. Probably the premier collection of Shaker artifacts. The collection includes items from Shaker communities in New York, Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. Museum season runs from Memorial Day weekend through fall: open daily 10AM-5PM, closed Tuesdays. Adults $8, children ages 8 to 17 $4. Library open year round by appointment.

Fresh sheep's milk cheese and yogurt at Old Chatham Sheepherding Company, 155 Shaker Museum Road, Old Chatham, +1 888-743-3760, . Award-winning cheeses produced on site from a flock of 1,000 sheep. Visitors welcome. Cheese is available at a 24/7 self-serve shop in a restored Shaker barn on the farm.

• Destino

  address: 112 Hudson Ave
  One of Chatham's, if not Columbia county's best Mexican restaurants. They feature a full menu of specialty margaritas using fresh ingredients. Be sure to stop by on a Wednesday or Thursday evening from 5-7pm for happy hour which features drink specials on beer, wine, and... you guessed it... margaritas. In addition to fantastic drinks and service, the food is outstanding, it's difficult to choose because everything looks so good!

Telephone area code 518.