BBC Series Highlights Poughkeepsie, Hudson Valley

The BBC traveled to the Hudson Valley, visiting local sites for this episode of "Great American Railroad Journeys."

The series follows host, Michael Portillo, on a railroad journey through New York State starting in the city of Poughkeepsie. In the episode titled "Poughkeepsie to Albany" Portillo visits Vassar college, explores the history of the Walkway over the Hudson and rides the rails through the rest of the Hudson Valley to the Catskills where he takes a ride on a zip line.

"Great American Railroad Journeys" explores areas throughout the U.S. using Appletons' travel guides, which were books published in the 1840s that helped direct tourists using the American railroad system.

Portillo travels on Metro North and the Catskill Mountain Railroad, stopping along the way to take in the sites. While not the most convenient way to travel today, the journey does takes viewers to areas that aren't usually seen on travel show.

Watching this episode is pretty interesting, not only because it educates the viewer about the history of the Hudson Valley, but because it shows how people living abroad view our area. Check it out and let us know what you think about this episode of "Great American Railroad Journeys."