Your Itinerary

1New York City- Embark
This evening, we embark National Geographic Sea Lion and sail out of New York Harbor north into the Hudson River.

2Cruising the Hudson River / Constitution March
With the dawn, we awake to the beauty of the Hudson River Valley. The place to be is on the deck as we spend the early hours of the day cruising with the river unfolding before us. We cruise slowly by West Point Military Academy before arriving at Constitution Marsh, where we launch kayaks to explore the protected wetland. Watch for birds: belted kingfishers sitting quietly or darting up a slough sounding their rattling call, or hawks like northern harriers quartering over the marshland. Or, simply stop for a moment and relish the stillness of the wetland. The island protecting the marsh was presented to the nation on behalf of early American authors, Anna & Susan Warner, to be forever preserved as a historic landmark.

3Catskill / Rogers Island / Hudson
This morning, we call at the village of Catskill. Visit the home of renowned landscape painter Thomas Cole, now a National Historic Landmark Site. Passionate about American Wilderness, Cole is recognized as the founder of the Hudson River art movement. Later, as our ship is anchored near the picturesque Hudson-Athens Lighthouse, opt to join a kayak excursion through the waterways of Rogers Island Wildlife Management Area or choose to visit the quiet town of Hudson.

4Kingston, NY
This morning, we are at Kingston, where the Rondout Lighthouses marks the entrance to the creek with the town a short distance from the river. At Kingston, we learn the story of the sloop Clearwater and the organization, founded in part by legendary American folk musician Pete Seeger and dedicated not only to the care of the vessel, but to many conservation and environmental projects in the area.

5Esopus Island / Cruising the Hudson
Today, we are off exploring the Hudson in the Esopus area. By kayak and zodiac, we cruise Esopus Island, now a quiet less visited mid river islet. Our day of exploration takes us to Esopus Meadows Lighthouse, considered one of the most scenic on the Hudson. Later, meandering slowly along the great riverway, the splendor of the river surrounds us.

6Storm King Mountain


7Bear Mountain Bridge / Popolopen Creek / Sleepy Hollow
We awake in sight of Bear Mountain Bridge, the morning's golden hour offering the opportunity to photograph the bridge against the backdrop of the Hudson fall. If conditions look good, we set out for a morning kayak exploration where Popolopen Creek meets the Hudson at Fort Montgomery. Soon we arrive at Sleepy Hollow. In the late afternoon we stop at the Sleepy Hollow cemetery as the sun sets on our Hudson River adventure.

8New York- Disembark
This morning we disembark in New York Harbor to begin our homeward journeys.