Karl Rodman

Favorite Place: The Hudson River Valley

Karl Rodman is a native New Yorker, and the Hudson River Valley has always had a special place in his heart.  He's lived at least part of each year in the Hudson Valley since 1962, when he and his wife Anne left New York City to open a children's summer camp.

Years later, after returning to school for a PhD in comparitive education, he began leading tours of the USSR for his fellow educators studying Russian education.  As the group floated down Russia's Volga River, someone said "Why not do this on the Hudson?"

World Travel

Karl has spent a lifetime travelling, soaking in the flavors of different cultures across the world; he especially loves the Rhine, the Columbia, and the Hudson Rivers.

Spring in the Hudson Valley brings new growth to the stately gardens of the Hudson Valley School painters at Frederick Church's Olana, the Victory Gardens at Mohonk Mountain House, Boscobel, West Point, the Innesfree Estate, Kyrkuit (the Rockefeller estate), and Sunnyside, the home of Washington Irving.  Fall brings some of the most spectacular sights on the East coast.

For twenty years, Mr. Rodman has been leading tours of the Hudson, following in the footsteps of its namesake explorer, Henry Hudson, who traveled up the Hudson in 1609 in search of a sea route to Asia. Hudson found the river navigable for 150 miles upstream, to present-day Troy.  Karl's tours explore the rich history throughout the region, immersing his fellow travellers in the fascinating stories, rich traditions, and extraordinary delights the area has to offer.

Though one may tour the Hudson by train, bus or car, traveling by boat has a special charm, and Karl has led boat trips on a number of the world's historic rivers.  Pete Seeger started a movement in 1966 to clean up the Hudson river by building a replica of an 1800's Hudson River sloop, The Clearwater, which still plies its waters. 

Karl has largely retired from the rush of promoting tours, but is still availible for any groups interested in his superb skills as a tour guide, particularly in the Hudson River area, or any of his favorite trips detailed here.

For more information about Karl's services, email KarlRod@aol.com or call 239-395-2191.

THANKS!