What is there to see and do during the summer and fall of 2009? Exploring the Hudson Valley’s 100 Great Places…Just North of New York City offers a plethora of historic and scenic locations for New York and New Jersey residents to visit. The 350-page topical guide is a comprehensive book for those visiting the Hudson Valley region. The book offers up-to-date descriptions and hundreds of websites for additional information.

      New York State Senator William J. Larkin Jr. recently stated, “The beauty and history of the Hudson Valley is vividly brought to life in Steffen Kraehmer’s book Exploring the Hudson Valley’s 100 Great Places. He highlights the area’s best sites to visit, including one dear to my heart – The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor in New Windsor. This book is destined to become the premier visitor’s guide for the Hudson Valley.”

      Steffen T. Kraehmer, author and photographer, also released Volume I of Exploring the Hudson Valley. Kraehmer provides visitors and long-time residents an impressive journey through the scenic Hudson River Valley. As a computer screensaver or as a travel guide slide show, viewers are presented with 120 spectacular photographs and computer access to regional travel information. In addition, the Explore the Valley weekly excursion series on this web site offers a review of "must see" historic and recreational sites from Albany to the outskirts of New York City. The Exploring the Hudson Valley CD and the Explore the Valley web site are photographic passports to experiencing the Hudson Valley's grandeur and exploring the noteworthy estates, forts, museums, and parks and preserves.