Franklin D.Roosevelt travel tips

As dynamic and exciting as New York City is, America's biggest and boldest metropolis can feel a little overwhelming — and crowded — at times. Fortunately, you'll find an array of bucolic yet sophisticated towns relatively close by.

Nestled along the promontory overlooking the St. Lawrence River, with distinctive architecture including its iconic soaring turrets, the Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac is the stuff of hotel legend. One glance at the fortresslike structure and it's easy to see why many consider it the most photographed hotel in the world.

As repositories of valuable historical documents and other records, U.S. presidential libraries have long been important destinations for scholars. But you don’t have to be an academic or even a history buff to appreciate these destinations, as many increasingly offer museums, special exhibitions and unique programming — ranging from interactive situation room experiences to musical performances — to the general public.

You could practically hear the gasp of "Finally!" among the hotel fan circuit this month as IHG Hotels & Resorts announced this week an "extensive global brand evolution" for its namesake InterContinental brand.

For decades, authors, artists and presidents have all been drawn to the Hudson Valley in New York.