By now, the great big boy-fest that is New York Gay Pride should be on your calendars (it’s the last Sunday in June, FYI). It is the largest Pride in the United States, outdone only by São Paolo in term of size, and one of the biggest events on the Big Apple’s dance card—which is saying something
But there is a huge secret to New York, one even New Yorkers don’t know—there is a world outside the city. And it’s amazing. Welcome to the Hudson Valley.
Bannerman Castle
Take Metro North out of Grand Central and you’ll find yourself in the Duchess County town of Fishkill, and under the towering parapets of a medieval-looking citadel, Bannerman Castle. Empty and partly ruined, it looms up hauntingly from the forests of Pollepel Island in the Hudson River. Bannerman is as awesome as the Tower of London…and as out of place as a Playboy bunny in Saudi Arabia. Built in 1901, it is actually part of the old estate of munitions dealer Francis Bannerman, who, like a lot of moguls of the age, liked to show off architecturally. The castle was never a home; rather, it was solely an armory for Bannerman’s immense weapons collection (and I mean that, the man collected cannons). Gutted in a 1969 fire, only the atmospheric exoskeleton remains today, and with the low mountains of the Hudson Valley rising beyond, Bannerman Castle makes a particularly scenic day trip. It’s also one of those places that looks amazing year-round, equally atmospheric in the greening of Spring or a snowfall, so don’t be too surprised to bump into a few photographers and couples getting their wedding shots done.
Chuang Yen Monastery
A Buddhist monastery? In upstate New York? Believe it. Located in Kent, Putnam County, this Tang-style haven of tranquility has been zenning out since 1981, and has, if you can believe it, the biggest Buddha statue in the Western Hemisphere. Sort of a nice alternative after/before all the hanky-panky you’ll be getting yourself into in New York City.
Hudson
Think of Hudson as WeHo, only with less sprawl and more gingerbread houses. Despite being miles inland in Columbia County, Hudson was once a major whaling town, so be prepared to see a lot of marine décor. Stately and very “country elegant,” and a short jump from the Berkshires in Massachusetts (no sales tax in MA, BTW), Hudson got its gay on back in the 90s and now its own of the best art-and-theater towns in the state.
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