Between the cities of Poughkeepsie and Hudson lies one of America's most scenic natural treasures - the Mid-Hudson Valley. For decades, naturalists, inventors, artists, writers, wealthy industrialists and famous politicians have all made the Valley their home. Many landmark estates, including those of the Vanderbilts, Roosevelts and Livingstons, are open to the public.

Rhinebeck is the Valley's "crown jewel," beautifully situated in the area's center. A quaint, historic village, Rhinebeck embodies a unique combination of rural simplicity and cosmopolitan flair. As you stroll the tree-lined streets, or peer into the charming storefronts, you cannot help but feel that the essence of a gently past is alive and well.

In Colonial days, sailing vessels could be seen on the Hudson River, bringing regional products to New York City, the West Indies and Europe, and returning home with luxuries and finished goods. The Romantic Period of the 19th century saw such esteemed artists as Fredric Church and Thomas Cole rendering the ever-changing moods of the Hudson and the Catskill Mountains - and founding the Hudson River School of painting in the process.

Rhinebeck is also home to the Beekman Arms, the oldest Inn in America. Yes, George Washington really did sleep there. As have Alexander Hamilton, the Marquis de Lafayette and countless other luminaries since 1766.

Today, Rhinebeck is a mecca for shoppers, tourists and gourmets. Art galleries, antique shops and, thanks largely to the nearby Culinary Institute, world-class restaurants fill the town's streets. And every weekend from June to October, the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome and Museum presents World War I aircraft in flight and lighthearted mock battle.

The 140-acre Dutchess County Fairgrounds on the edge of Rhinebeck hosts the state's second largest agricultural fair every August, a week-long event that regularly draws nearly a million visitors. The site is also home to regularly scheduled antique and craft fairs, car shows and Native American festivals.

As for housing options, northern Duchess and southern Columbia Counties offer a wealth of choices, from the classic to the contemporary, from the modestly priced to the very grand. Happily, whatever the style, whatever the price, all of them share the boundless beauty of this incomparable Valley.