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Must-See Attractions at County Colleges
DUTCHESS COUNTY is home to several renowned institutions that offer top-tier educations, but
that’s the tip of the iceberg. Hidden on these scenic campuses are breathtaking works of art, panoramic views of the Hudson and must-see events.
(Poughkeepsie)
One of the Seven Sisters, Vassar College is known for its renowned arts programs; in fact, their free-to-visit on- campus art gallery, The Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center, gives visitors an up-close look at works by masters like Georgia O’Keeffe, Francis Bacon and Pablo Picasso—plus a collection of Hudson River School paintings only found here. In summer, stargaze at the Maria Mitchell Observatory, a National Historic Landmark.
Did you know? Lin-Manuel Miranda and other members of the original cast of Hamilton debuted the musical during Vassar College & New York Stage and Film’s Powerhouse Theater in 2013.
(Annandale-on-Hudson)
Bard College stands on 1,000 scenic acres, which includes the Bard Arboretum, 19th-century walled Blithewood Garden and walking trails that reveal gorgeous views of the Catskill Mountains and Montgomery Place — the region’s only surviving Federal-era estate house. Architect Frank Gehry designed the striking Fisher Center at the heart of campus. Visit in the warmer months to experience the Bard Music Festival and SummerScape, an eight-week-long festival of contemporary dance, theatrical performances and concerts at the Fisher Center and inside the boisterous Spiegeltent.
Did you know? Rock band Steely Dan’s song “My Old School” is about founders Walter Becker and Donald Fagen’s experience attending Bard College in the late 1960s.
(Poughkeepsie)
For one of the prettiest
walks along the Hudson
River, visit Longview Park at the
edge of Marist College’s beautiful
campus. Shop at Mporium, a boutique run entirely by Marist fashion merchandising students, for curated collections of items featuring top trends in the marketplace.
Did you know? The Poughkeepsie Regatta was held off the shore of Marist College from 1895 to 1949 and was a pivotal win for the men’s eight team that won gold for the United States in the 1936 Summer Olympic Games in Berlin (recently depicted in George Clooney’s 2023 film The Boys in the Boat).
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Vassar College, Poughkeepsie
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Dine where most of the country’s top chefs learned the
art of cooking! Hyde Park has The Culinary Institute of America, a world-famous center for study in the techniques and fundamentals of the culinary, baking and pastry arts. Taste inventive dishes at one of the on-campus restaurants — American Bounty Restaurant, The Bocuse Restaurant, Ristorante Caterina de’ Medici and Apple Pie Bakery
Café — which serve as real-world classrooms. Take The
CIA Experience tour for a student-led interactive demo exploring the science of taste. Enroll in one of the CIA’s food enthusiast classes or boot camps and receive hands-on cooking instruction from culinary experts.
Did you know? Anthony Bourdain, Amanda Freitag, Cat Cora and Grant Achatz are just a few alumni who have made a massive mark on the modern culinary scene.
The Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park
MPorium at Marist College, Poughkeepsie
Spiegeltent at Bard College
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