"I look forward to that time of the year when the Mohonk Preserve gives free one month passes to Ulster County residents. I went to the Spring Farm Trailhead this year and took in the amazing vista of the Catskill Mountains. As you leave the parking lot, you are treated to a panoramic view of the mountains, no hiking required! I did hike along some of the trails and fell in love with a view of the mountains from up on a hillside there. It just made you stop and take it all in, the fields, the trees, the mountains. We live in such beauty, and I make every effort to never take it for granted and to take a fresh look around me." Photo and description by Lisa Martine.

Click here to learn more about Mohonk Preserve.

"Esopus Meadows Preserve in Port Ewen is one of my favorite places to relax and just enjoy the beauty of the Hudson Valley. I got there on a foggy morning and was treated to a misty view of the Esopus Light House. I walked around a bit and found a spot where the tree branches made a nice frame around the scene. The fog was lifting and I hurried to get a shot. It was a quiet, peaceful moment and I think it captures some of the majesty of the Hudson River, even in one of its quiet moments. Every day on the river is different and I never tire of it!" Photo and description by Lisa Martine.

Learn more about the Esopus Meadows Lighthouse, here.