Arrival at La Guardia airport and transfer by private motorcoach to The Hudson River Valley. En route, an architectural historian will talk about the artistic significance of the Hudson River Valley and the school founded in and named for this region. Our lecturer will also discuss some of the highlights of the visits we will make within the next five days.

Visit a private sculpture garden/collection called Buckhorn located in Pound Ridge, NY. This outstanding contemporary collection includes a 15-acre sculpture park featuring the works of many modern artists, including Richard Serra, Joel Shapiro, Ursula von Rydingsvard, Andy Goldsworthy, Susan Rothenberg and others all set in a beautiful landscape environment. More of the art collection is located in the large house and in a newly-built art barn. See works by Chuck Close, Andres Serrano, Richard Serra, Joel Shapiro, Kiki Smith etc.

Lunch will be served in the Art Barn on the property.

Continue on to Rhinebeck and check into The Beekman Arms, the oldest landmark inn in America. It has served as a fort, a stagecoach stop, Rhinebeck's Town Hall, its post office, and even the local newspaper office. During Franklin D. Roosevelt's many presidential campaigns, he made some of his liveliest speeches from the inn's front porch. Other famous guests include Aaron Burr, Benedict Arnold, Alexander Hamilton, Martin van Buren and Theodore Roosevelt. The group will be staying in The Delamater House.

Depart for dinner in High Falls, NY.

Enjoy a gourmet dinner at the 18th century DePuy Canal House. Chef and proprietor, John Novi, has been singled out by food critics for his innovative touches and flair for early American cooking. Our architectural historian will talk after dinner about the treasures found in the Hudson River Valley.

Beacon Day

Continental breakfast will be served in the Courtyard, which is part of the Delamater Inn. (Breakfast served between 7:00 am and 10:30am)

Gather in the breakfast area of the Courtyard.

Depart promptly for Tallix.

Tallix is one of the world's most respected foundries for art casting and fabrication. Guests will observe the intricate ways that sculpture is cast in bronze, aluminum, silver and numerous other metals. Founded by metallurgist Richard Polich, this foundry has attracted a roster of sculptors which includes Nancy Graves, Bryan Hunt, Roy Lichtenstein, Willem de Kooning, Claes Oldenburg and more. We will be given a complete process tour of how sculptures are made from concept to delivery.

Tour the new Max Protetch Sculpture Garden on the grounds of Tallix.

We will take a tour of the spectacular newly-opened Dia:Beacon in Beacon, New York. This museum, said to be one of the most significant cultural initiatives in decades, has over 250,000 square feet of exhibition space. The museum was created in a renovated Nabisco box factory, and the galleries will be bathed in reflected light under 40,000 square feet of glass. Dia Beacon’s impressive size will allow it to present large-scale masterpieces that most institutions are unable to accommodate, such as Walter De Maria’s monumental floor sculpture, Richard Serra’s massive steel Torqued Ellipses, and Warhol’s Shadows, a single 434-foot long painting composed of 102 canvases.

Enjoy lunch in the Café at Dia:Beacon.

Visit an artist’s studio nearby.

Take a private cruise on the Hudson River aboard the luxury motor yacht, Mariner III, with our architectural historian to view the many 19th century villas from the water.

Dinner on your own in the village of Rhinebeck with over a dozen restaurants within two blocks of the hotel.