Issue link: http://hvparent.uberflip.com/i/316749
6 Hudson Valley Parent n June 2014 Publisher TERRIE GOLDSTEIN tgoldstein@excitingread.com Editor KATY WEBER kweber@excitingread.com Media Advisors FELICE FEINBERG ffeinberg@excitingread.com KIMBERLY MAYER kmayer@excitingread.com ROANNE PATTERSON rpatterson@excitingread.com Executive Assistant to the Publisher MERLYN AKHTAR makhtar@excitingread.com Calendar Girls PAMELA PERRY CHRISTINE SCHIEFFELIN calendar@excitingread.com Social Media Coordinators ERIN JOHNSON GLORIA DARMANIN Web Ad Designer LESLIE CORTES Layout & Design ENGLE PRINTING also publishers of MY TripPlanner.com family MY TripPlanner.com family baby The HUDSON VALLEY G U I D E Hudson Valley Parent is published monthly by: The Professional Image Marketing & Public Relations Inc. 174 South Street • Newburgh, NY 12550 Phone: 845-562-3606 • Fax: 845-562-3681 hvparent.com This publication is copyrighted by the publisher. Reproduction without written permission of the publisher is prohibited. Hudson Valley Parent welcomes submissions, although we cannot accept responsibility for work submitted nor guarantee publication. A MEMBER OF Hudson River, one man's hubris torn asunder. We took a ferry from Newburgh, donned our hardhats (how cool!) and were led through Pollepel Island's overgrown path- ways among the dilapi- dated castle and gardens. We learned of the various island legends, and about the fascinating family of tycoon Frank Bannerman, who bought the island in 1900 and built the castle to store military ammunition. It was a truly magical day. Ten years later, the island now continues to host tours, as well as weddings, concerts and theater productions. We feature Bannerman Island this month as one of five treasured desti- nations that tourists love to visit but many of us locals tend to overlook. Vote for your favorite cover kid! We had a blast at our 2014 Cover Kid Event last month. It was so much fun meeting all the families and the adorable kids who entered to win a chance to be on our cover. The finalists have been chosen, and now it's your turn to vote for your favorites! Make sure to check out page 16 to learn more about how you can vote online. Summer giveaways! Starting this month, we're fea- turing 10 weeks of summer contests and giveaways! You won't believe all the great prizes we have in store for you, so make sure to "like" us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and check our website regularly at hvparent.com. W elcome to our annual Travel Guide! Our staff has been working hard all year to bring you a list of the best places to visit this summer in the Hudson Valley and the Capital District. Our region is rich with history, lore and national treasures — something it's easy to forget amid the daily grind of grocery trips and doctor's visits. If you and your family are looking for a breathtak- ing daytrip, we feature some great options right in our own backyard. And remember to check out My- FamilyTripPlanner.com to help you plan your next great day trip, over- night or weekend trip in the region. Speaking of exploring at home, I'll never forget the first time I visit- ed Bannerman Island with my hus- band and parents. It was a very hot day in August of 2004, and it was the first year they officially opened the island to tourists. Until then, the island for me had been a mystical vision I would glimpse on the train commute to New York City — magnificent ruins sprouting up in the middle of the Explore your own backyard KATY WEBER Editor's Journal Visiting Bannerman Island for the first time was a delightful experience I'll never forget.