The road to 9-d
It may be hard to believe, but about forty minutes outside of Manhattan due North is an amazing two lane road called 9d. For those unfamiliar with the New York metropolitan area, for those who get their information on what New York looks like from the movies or television, the beauty of this road as it winds along the Hudson River, is hard to fathom.
The road lies just over the Bear Mountain bridge, and if you are lucky enough to drive up to 9d from Manhattan, here’s the route you take to get there: take the West side highway to the George Washington Bridge(about fifteen minutes with no traffic) and then take the Palisades Parkway due north about twenty-five miles until you cross the Bear Mountain bridge and hit 9d. By the way, the Palisades Parkway, which as you drive North begins in New Jersey, then goes back into New York State, is a beauty in itself: cutting through forests along the pre-historic cliffs of the Palisades, then winding through suburban hamlets as it cuts through the forest. The overall effect on a beautiful spring day is akin to skiing down one of the most beautiful mountains you have ever been on, especially if you are driving a vehicle with the top down. Once again, the unbelievable part of this journey: it begins just fifteen minutes from midtown Manhattan.
Once you get to 9d, here’s what you can expect: a winding road through small towns, fields, and open vistas hugging the Hudson River, with views of cliffs and mountains in the distance. The overall effect is one of being hugged by the beauty that is Mother nature. When you get to one of the small towns and decide to stop for a bite to eat, or to just browse, you are met by a “Northern California” vibe, with Victorian houses, courteous people, and abundant hiking trails everywhere. It’s as if you have stepped into a Norman Rockwell painting, but it’s 2012, and you are barely one hour north of Manhattan. For this trip, you can leave your Ipad at home.
