See the light in saugerties

Stop #1

Even kids that aren't all that into dolls love this this museum for the sheer volume of the collection. Every inch of this 25 room, 1800's house is filled with overstuffed Victorian furnishings and over 2,500 dolls. There are dolls from different nations, different time periods, and different manufacturers (including local dollmaker Tonner).

The price is steep ($25/adult, $15 kids) but slightly alleviated knowing it includes a one hour tour by the collection's owner, Erika.

Stop #2

In 1929, a German family, the Krauses, brought their chocolate centers recipes to Saugerties, New York and set up this shop. From the looks of this homely red and white striped store, neither the chocolates nor the structure has been changed in the ensuing almost 100 years.

The hundreds of varieties of hand dipped chocolates span the 50 foot width of the store, right at kid-eye level. Most are decorated to appeal to kids: with colorful sprinkles and nonpareils.

True chocophiles, adjust your expectations and you won't be disappointed by the quality. It's more Russell Stover than Maison Du Chocolat or Kee's. It's down-home old fashioned in every sense of the words including using ingredients that have long since been superseded by healthier, more flavorful or natural equivalents: e.g. vanillin. Still, the novelty makes it worth a small purchase for the kids.

Stop #3

The highlight of your child's trip to Saugerties in the summer will be the fully functioning lighthouse. The romance is partly in the approach: kids walk a half-mile trail of terrain altering from deep bird-filled woods (we heard owls and Cardinals), to reed-flanked sandy boardwalk. The lighthouse remains completely hidden until the final turn in the path when it reveals itself in totality much to the kids surprised delight.

During daylight hours, anyone can walk the trail and hang out on the docks. People often bring picnics or snacks. On weekends, there is a guided tour sharing the history of the once-decrepit lighthouse's revival by band of dedicated preservationists and incomparable views of the river from the lantern. Thanks to Robert Kennedy Jr. who crusaded to clean up the pollution in the Hudson River, swimming here is a wonderful experience. Because of the barrier-type function of the dock and lighthouse, there is a nice sandbar where kids can play safely (about 2-4 feet deep) with no current, the water is warm, and you can see down to the bottom.

We had the good fortune of staying for the night which gave our daughter hours to climb the lantern, swim, play with the local kids and dogs that come out in the evening, watch the restoration movie, and have the inside of the lighthouse "all to herself!" (or so it felt to her).

• Locals bring their kids and dogs to swim and hang out on the dock between 3pm and 7pm. This is a good time to come if your child likes to meet others or play with dogs.
• If the weather is warm enough, bring a swimsuit for the kids and yourself.
• Bring water shoes: when the tide comes in you may wade through a few inches of water to get to the lighthouse. During the week only guests sleeping at the lighthouse can go inside