Have you ever traveled into a painting, your mind wandering, becoming a part of the scene yourself? The colors. The atmosphere. You can see that a story is there within it and it just draws you in. I have. Certainly in a museum or a gallery. I have some favorites that I visit over and over again. I love a good story. Our house is filled with the art created by my husband's grandfather and great grandfather, the former a painter and potter and his father, a painter. Art runs d

Palisades Parkway North njpalisades.org/parkway.html The Palisades Interstate Parkway (PIP), a 38.25-mile highway, where commercial vehicles are prohibited, was designated as a national landmark by the National Park Service in 1998. The highway is named for the beautiful and protected cliffs that line the western side of the Hudson River. From the Rockefeller Lookout you can get an incredible view of the mighty Hudson, as well as a prime view of NYC day or night. Every time I

214 S. Dean St., Engelwood, NJ (201) 503-9717 balthazarbakery.com @balthazarbakery If you are heading north up the Thruway, stop in at Balthazar Bakery, an artisanal bakery with homemade breads and pastries, designed to feed the mighty Balthazar on Spring Street in NYC since the French brasserie opened in 1997. A dozen hard-working bakers prepare 1,000 each of plain, chocolate and almond croissants daily! Stop in on your way to grab a loaf of bread for a picnic or, if you’re

2741 Route 9, Cold Spring, NY (845) 809-5557 rounduptxbbq.com @rounduptxbbq If you are coming from Connecticut or Westchester, and you get a hankering for some BBQ en route this is the real deal. Stop at this shack-like hole in the wall with Texas-style dry-rubbed and smoked brisket, ribs and catfish, so you don’t get hungry on the road. My friend Alli swears that the ribs are “mmmm” and the cornbread is “to die for!” Sit inside or out. Dogs are encouraged to sit quietly and

243 Route 9 West, Palisades, NY (845) 359-9000 tfsburgerworks.com @tfsburgerworks A roadside burger joint with organic beef, delectable fries and a good selection of brewskis. If you’re hungry on the road, stop in to fill ’er up. Frequented by bikers — both kinds — and anyone with an enviable convertible. A veritable car (and hog) show awaits. This is one of those “worth it” burgers. Never too big. Hot off the grill. Just right fries. And even the ambiance adds to the flavor.

89 Main Street, Old Tappan, NY (845) 365-2100 ilportico.com @ilportico89 While heading up the Palisades, we decided to take a #gettinglostandfound detour to Old Tappan. Once we found Main Street, we were transported back to 1776. All of the flags bear the 13 stars of the original colonies and most of the fanfare centers on the 76 House, now a restaurant, where Major John Andre (the British Spy), who conspired with Benedict Arnold to deliver West Point to the Brits, was impri

99 Service Road, Bear Mountain, NY (845) 786-2701 visitbearmountain.com @bearmtninn With 5,200 acres to explore, take your pick. Summit any of three mountains: Bear, Dunderberg and West. Or just drive up Perkins Memorial Drive for a view of four states and the Manhattan Skyline. The park opened in 1913 at a time when visitors poured in by steamboat and would stay an average of eight days. The rustic Bear Mountain Inn has been welcoming guests since 1915 and recently had a spr

2107 New South Post Road, West Point, NY (845) 938-2638 usma.edu @westpoint_usma Founded as a military academy by Thomas Jefferson in 1802, West Point is the oldest continuously occupied military post in America, first recognized by General George Washington for its important location along the Hudson River during the Revolutionary War. Graduates from West Point have distinguished themselves in wars since the Mexican-American War and the US Civil War. Women were first enrolle

1 Museum Road, New Windsor, NY (845) 534-3115 stormking.org @stormkingartcenter Founded in 1960 and seated near its namesake mountain, Storm King is a 500-acre outdoor sculpture park featuring works from many of the best artists of the 20th century — Andy Goldsworthy, Maya Lin, Isamu Noguchi, Roy Lichtenstein, Alexander Calder and Richard Serra. Storm King is a little bit out of the way (a 15-mile detour one way), but completely unforgettable and worth it. It’s the great outd

84 Liberty Street, Newburgh, NY (845) 562-1195 To be fair, the area around the HQ is a little rough around the edges, if I am being generous. But if you’re into history, it’s a good stop. Plus Caffe Macchiato is across the street and the Newburgh Brewing Company is just down the road. Now a state historic site, Washington spent 16 months here from 1782-83 where he led our nation to reject the ideas of a monarchy and a government controlled by the military. He laid the groundw

44 Main St., New Paltz, NY (845) 255-1311 rockandsnow.com @rockandsnow The Rock & Snow team have flexed their expert muscles and know-how in rock climbing, ice climbing hiking and cross-country skiing since 1970. They can make even a scaredy-cat novice want to scale the face of The Gunks and can also deftly temper an eyes-bigger-than-your-stomach approach with a just-right hike and all the right equipment and directions. They are better than any trail guide you will ever buy.

498 Red Apple Court, Central Valley, NY (845) 928-4000 premiumoutlets.com @wcpremoutlets If you want to do a little outlet shopping on your way to the Catskills or back, I’m not going to stop you. This is probably the nicest outlet ever made. It’s pretty, has a lot of good stores and a food court housed in a quaint-but-expansive shopping village. That said, I have included many other shopping destinations in Farm Girl's Guide and invite you to “shop small.” More often than no

Exit 113 off US 86/17 W Follow State Route 209 to Haven Road thebashakill.org Whether or not you are in touch with your inner bird nerd, this is an amazing place to visit. It’s a marsh with beautiful cattails growing strong along the shores and plenty of places for fish and birds to land and hunt. Migratory birds find this a haven and you will too. You will likely notice the Bashakill from your drive down 17 West, the new US 86. When it’s fog-enshrouded, it’s ominous. And you

32 North Church Street Goshen, NY Exit 124 off NY-17 W Since stepping foot inside Angelita's Mexican Kitchen, all I can think about is when I might be going back. I happened upon Angelita's on a recent trip to Goshen where the plan was to #getlostandfound in search of the site of a family painting. Well, mission accomplished, but missions make you hungry. Cue Angelita's. The bright, clean restaurant shares a porch with the town barber. Once inside, a few brightly colored tabl