River run
The Hudson River Valley has just been designated a National Heritage Area by the federal government. That means that the feds have acknowledged the region’s status as “an area of significance to the nation’s history,” and will be printing one of those nifty National Park Service maps. Get in touch with the country’s roots by attending the Hudson River Valley Ramble Sept. 20-21, a festival of more than 120 walking, canoeing, biking and horseback riding opportunities throughout the historic area; http://www.hudsonvalleyramble.com.
Get out of town
Jazzing it up in Kansas City, a brewery crawl in Denver, tracking Tejano roots in south Texas; National Geographic’s “Guide to Weekend Getaways: 74 Mini-Vacations Across America” is pricy ($25), but it does spell it all out. The hotel and restaurant recommendations are a bit stodgy, but the “Not to be Missed” sidebars that accompany each tour are amusing.
Wine not?
Northern California is well-known for its wine regions, but what’s the best way to get the most out of a tippling trip? “The Napa Valley Expedition Guide,” a self-drive guide, includes a beautifully illustrated book, a CD or cassette tape that takes you along five routes and a CD-ROM with lots of extras. Led by local wine authority Antonia Allegra, who gives inside info on 11 wineries and five historic locations, plus fascinating insights into the tricky world of wine; (888) 458-6475, http://www.travelbrains.com.
With David Landsel and Amy McCloskey